Deenah writes 的作品

I sat frozen in the press box high above the ice while the Blades battled Boston without me and Kade pushed through hell with every stride. "What the hell is going on down there?" I muttered to the reporter next to me, gripping the edge of the table. The guy glanced over. "Ryder, you should be out there, man. Coach really bench you for that flu bug?" "Doctor orders," I lied through my teeth. "But look at Kade. He is moving different. Tell me I am not seeing things." The reporter leaned closer to the glass. "He looks fired up. Boston is hitting hard though. Score is tied at two two late in the third." I grabbed my phone and texted Kade quick even though I knew he would not see it. Come on. You got this. But do not be stupid. Down on the ice Kade won a faceoff clean. I stood up halfway. "Yes! Go, go, go!" I yelled even though he could not hear me. The Boston defender smashed into h

Kade hit the training room floor hard right as the final buzzer sounded and I knew the tape had finally given out. I bolted down from the press box two steps at a time, heart slamming in my chest. When I burst through the training room door, two assistants were already trying to help him up. "Everybody out," I barked. "Now. Captains orders. Clear the room." One assistant looked up. "But Ryder, he collapsed. We need the doc in here." "I said out," I snapped, stepping forward. "I will handle this. Go tell Coach the team played great but stay out until I say. Move." They hesitated then backed off quick. I locked the door behind them and dropped to my knees next to Kade. "Hey, talk to me. You still with me?" Kade blinked up at me, face white as the tiles. "Leg gave out. Tape failed in the last shift. Hurts bad, Evan." I grabbed a clean towel and pressed it to his thigh. Blood soaked thro

Kade slammed the equipment room door shut and locked it before I could even catch my breath. "No doctors, Evan. I mean it. Viktor will bench me for the rest of the season if he sees this." I stood there with blood on my hands from helping him inside. "You are out of your mind. That cut is bad. Let the doc look at it before it gets infected." He dropped onto the bench and pulled up his pant leg. The gash looked even worse under the lights. "Viktor has been gunning for me since day one. One real injury and he tells the owner I am a risk. Gone. Traded or scratched forever. I cannot let that happen." I knelt down fast and grabbed the tape from the kit. "So your plan is what? Hide a knife wound and hope it heals by itself? Talk to me. How are we doing this?" "Please Evan," Kade said, his voice dropping low. "Just tape it tight for me. Real tight. I can skate if it is wrapped good. I have done it before."

The tires screeched as I slammed my truck into the arena parking lot the next morning. I never expected to see Kade fighting for his life against three thugs with knives. I spotted them right away near the back row where the players parked. Kade had his back to a concrete pillar, blood already streaking down his leg. The biggest guy lunged with a blade while the other two circled like dogs. "Get the hell away from him!" I shouted, jumping out and sprinting over. Kade swung hard and caught the big one in the jaw with a crack that echoed off the cars. "You picked the wrong morning, Vance's bitch," he growled, voice thick with that Russian edge. The thug staggered but laughed. "Boss said make it hurt, Volkov. You think you can keep digging into our shit and walk away clean?" I got closer fast, heart hammering. Kade moved like a street fighter, low and mean. He grabbed the second guy's wrist when he slashed, twis

My father stood in my apartment door and I finally said what burned inside for years. "Dad, I know about Nikolai and Project Black Ice. Stop pretending you are clean."Christian Ryder froze. His face went pale like someone sucked the blood right out. "Evan, what did you say?"I closed the door behind him hard. "You heard me. Nikolai. Project Black Ice. I know enough. No more lies."He stepped back, hands shaking a bit. "You do not know what you are talking about. Those names are dangerous. Where did you hear them?""Dangerous for you," I answered. "I pieced it together. Whispers from Kade. Old files. Your name linked. Time to talk straight."Christian sat down slow on the couch. His usual sharp suit looked wrinkled now. "Straight? Son, you defy me now? After all I built for you?""Built on secrets," I said. "First time I say no to your plans. No more golden boy script. I know Project Black Ice involves deals with Nikola

The knock on my door came late and I opened it to Kade standing there with food bags and tired eyes. "Come in," I said. "Team needs you more than me right now."Kade stepped inside and set the bags down. "Team feels heavy without you, Evan. I carry it best I can but it is not the same. How you holding up?"I closed the door soft. "Holding. Suspension bites but seeing you helps. Sit. Talk."He sat on the couch close. "Talk about everything. The guys ask for you every practice. I tell them captain fights for us. They listen but miss your voice.""My voice rests," I replied. "Yours leads now. How does it feel carrying that weight?"Kade opened the bags and handed me a container. "Feels big. Guys look to me for fire. I give it but inside I worry. You always balanced us.""Balance comes back," I said. "Eat. Tell me about today. Any bright spots?"He took a bite. "Bright spot was Rico scoring in practice. Looked shar