I don't, but he doesn't need to know that.
Reaper's face is getting redder. "You can't threaten me?—"
"It's not a threat. It's a promise." I step even closer, close enough that I have to tilt my head back to maintain eye contact. "Touch Tyler again, and I will destroy you. Your reputation, your captaincy, your career.All of it."
He's staring at me, and I can see the moment he realizes I'm serious. That I'm not bluffing.
And that's when I slap him.
Not hard enough to hurt, but hard enough that the sound echoes through the silent arena. Hard enough that every single person watching flinches.
Reaper's hand flies to his cheek, his eyes wide withshock.
"That's for every time you hit Tyler and got away with it," I say calmly. "Consider it a warning shot."
I turn on my heel. Coach has stepped forward, opening his mouth to say something, but I don’t wait to find out what. With Tyler right behind me, I take Harper from his arms.
“We’re leaving.”
“Red—”
“Now, Tyler.”
Behind me, Reaper scoffs. I refuse to look back at him. Instead, I walk out of the arena with my head high and Harper babbling happily against my chest, oblivious to the fact that her nanny just slapped a professional hockey captain in front of her dad’s entire team.
Tyler catches up to me in the parking lot, still in his practice gear, his face a mix of horror and something that might be awe.
"What the hell was that?"
"That was me handling it." I unlock the car and start buckling Harper into her seat. "Since no one else seems capable."
"You slapped him. You slapped Reaper. In front of the entire team."
"He deserved it."
"That's not—Nora, you can't—" He runs his hand through his damp hair. "Do you have any idea what you just did?"
"I protected you. Since you won't protect yourself."
"I can handle Reaper?—"
"You shouldn'thaveto!" I whirl on him, all the anger and fear from last night finally breaking through. "You shouldn't have to take it while he beats you up and everyone watches. You shouldn'thaveto come home covered in bruises and pretend it's normal. And youdefinitelyshouldn't have to do it alone."
Tyler's quiet, staring at me.
"You're going to get in trouble," he finally says. "The team's going to ban you from the arena. Reaper might?—"
"I know."
"You don't, though. You really don't, Red." His voice isshaking slightly. "The team has lawyers. The league has procedures. He could file an assault report by tomorrow morning. There could be PR people calling within the hour. I'm not telling you that you shouldn't have done it. I'm telling you that what you just did doesn't end at the parking lot."
"Then it doesn't end at the parking lot." I don't look at him, continuing to buckle Harper in. "I knew that going in."
He's quiet for a long second.
"You knew?"
"Tyler, I'm not stupid. I knew there'd be consequences. I came anyway." I straighten and finally look at him. "I broke our agreement. I know I did. We said we'd keep this quiet for Harper's sake, and I just walked into your workplace and made it impossible for anyone in that building to think I'm the nanny. I know. I made the choice. I'd make it again."