Fuck.
I drop my stick and my gloves, and toss my helmet as I make my way toward them. I reach Ivanov first, and I lift him off the ice by his jersey and rip off his helmet so I can pummel his stupid, smug face.
That was an illegal hit, and nobody touches my captain and gets away with it.
Both teams erupt in a fight, and I’m in such a blind rage that I don’t realize what’s happening around me until Jason pulls me off of Ivanov and shouts, “Alex is hurt.”
I drop Ivanov and my eyes dart to Alexander. He’s lying on his back, eyes closed, his arms and legs sprawled out and unmoving.
My pulse pounds in my ears.
Get up.
Open your eyes.
I crouch down beside him. “Hey, big guy. You good?”
He doesn’t move.
I nudge him gently. “I know Giuliana had you up late last night, but you can’t nap in the middle of the game.” I let out a nervous laugh. “Come on, Alex. Time to get up.”
Come on, Alex.
Open your eyes.
I glance up at our teammates, and each of them are wearing the same worried expression.
The medical team comes out onto the ice, and Jason pulls me away to give them space.
It feels as if time stops while we wait for them to finish checking Alex. I watch helplessly as they secure a neck brace on him, and then haul him onto a stretcher. A pool of red stays behind where his head just was. I stand frozen as they carry him off the ice.
His eyes still haven’t opened.
Jason tugs on my jersey. “Come on. He’s going to be okay. Let’s finish this game so we can get to the hospital.”
Hospital.
They’re taking him to the hospital because he hasn’t opened his eyes.
Bile rises in my throat as my thoughts immediately land on sweet Giuliana’s face. What is she going to think when she hears her father is in the hospital?
My head jerks up to find Aarya in her seat behind Trenton’s goal. Standing with her hands pressed against the glass, she looks beyond terrified—which is something I’m not used to seeing on her.
Ignoring the referee’s whistle blows, I skate toward the wives in the stands.
I hold up my palm and press it to the glass. “He’s going to be okay.”
A tear slips down Aarya’s cheek. It’s a lie. She knows it, and I know it. We don’t know if Alexander is going to be okay.
All I know is that an incident like this didn’t need to happen. It wasn’t necessary. Sure, players get hurt on the ice all the time, but two playerspurposelyslamming into him like that? That was calculated, and violent.
I swing my gaze to Chance.
The man I love just played a part in hurting my best friend.
On purpose.
My skates move before I even realize what’s happening. Trenton yanks me back by my jersey, but I shake him off.