Chapter 7

I was supposed to go home and lock my doors exactly as Dante instructed. I was supposed to hide under my heavy blankets and pretend the monsters in my life did not exist. But trauma does not allow you to simply walk away when you know someone is about to bleed because of your actions.

I had run all the way to the arena, slipping quietly into the dark upper bleachers just as the violent ambush began. I watched the entire brutal confrontation unfold from the freezing shadows. I watched Dante completely dismantle the strongest enforcers on our campus without breaking a single sweat.

The entire arena went completely dead silent at the impossible, spectacular shot. The explosive sound of the plastic water bottle shattering echoed endlessly through the freezing metal rafters. A mist of cold water rained down over the white mesh of the goal net.

Dante stood perfectly still on the ice, pointing his composite stick directly at Roman. I pressed my trembling hands tightly over my mouth to stifle my ragged breathing. My heart hammered against my ribs so violently I thought it might crack my chest wide open.

Roman was completely frozen behind the thick plexiglass of the home bench. His face was entirely drained of blood, making him look like a terrified ghost under the pale security lights. He had just watched his greatest weapons get completely destroyed in less than sixty seconds.

Dante smiled coldly at the champion, offering a silent promise of absolute ruin. Roman could not handle the intense humiliation radiating from the ice. He desperately needed to regain his shattered power, and he needed a helpless victim to do it.

Roman tore his eyes away from Dante and scanned the dark arena frantically. He was looking for any excuse, any pathetic scapegoat to blame for his catastrophic failure. His frantic gaze swept over the empty lower bowl and snapped sharply up to the dark bleachers.

I crouched lower behind the metal railing, praying the deep shadows would completely hide my trembling frame. But the pale overhead lights caught the bright white fabric of my heavy winter coat. Roman locked eyes with me, and his terrified expression instantly morphed into pure, unadulterated malice.

"You!" Roman screamed, his voice tearing violently through the silent arena. He slammed his heavy fists against the glass, pointing a shaking finger directly at my hiding spot. "You told him everything about my plan!"

Dante dropped his stick slightly, turning his dark head to follow Roman's furious gaze. He saw me shaking in the stands, and his pale eyes narrowed in immediate, dangerous concern. I had completely disobeyed his direct order to stay safe in my dorm room.

"I did not tell him anything!" I shouted back, my voice echoing weakly across the massive rink. I stood up slowly, my legs shaking so badly I could barely support my own weight. I needed to defend myself before Roman completely lost his fragile mind.

"You lying traitor!" Roman roared, abandoning his spot safely behind the glass. He stormed toward the exit tunnel, his heavy boots echoing violently on the thick rubber mats. He ignored Dante entirely, his bruised ego demanding immediate and brutal retribution against me instead.

I gripped the freezing metal railing, entirely paralyzed by the raw hatred burning brightly in his eyes. Roman completely blamed me for his public emasculation. He truly believed I had orchestrated this entire humiliation just to ruin his perfect championship season.

"Roman, please stop this right now," I pleaded desperately, my voice cracking under the intense emotional weight. "He is just a much better skater than your boys. I had absolutely nothing to do with this ambush failing."

My words only fueled his explosive rage further. He ripped his expensive designer jacket off and threw it aggressively onto the cold concrete floor. He was entirely unhinged, breathing heavily like a wild animal cornered in a steel trap.

"You were supposed to steal his plays and bring them directly to me!" Roman screamed, his voice breaking violently. "Instead you sold me out to the enemy. You let him humiliate my boys on my own ice."

"I tried to help you," I lied frantically, tears finally spilling hot and fast down my freezing cheeks. "I told you to call off the night practice. I warned you he was entirely too dangerous for your defenders."

"Shut your mouth!" Roman commanded, taking a massive step toward the concrete stairs leading up to my section. His hands were curled into tight, violently shaking fists. The dangerous promise of physical violence rolled off him in heavy, suffocating waves.

I stepped backward away from the railing, my boots scraping loudly against the metal bleachers. I was completely trapped in the upper section with absolutely nowhere to run. The exit doors were entirely blocked by his hulking teammates dragging themselves into the dark concourse.

Dante moved rapidly on the ice below. He skated fiercely toward the boards, his powerful strides chewing up the frozen distance in mere seconds. He slammed his heavy gloves against the top of the glass, forcefully demanding Roman's attention.

"Leave her alone," Dante commanded, his deep voice carrying absolute lethal authority. "Your fight is with me on the ice. Step away from those concrete stairs right now."

Roman stopped at the bottom of the steps and laughed maniacally into the empty arena. He turned his head slightly to glare back at the icy king who had just ruined his perfect life. His golden boy facade was completely shattered, leaving behind nothing but a cruel, vindictive monster.

"She is my girlfriend," Roman spat aggressively over his shoulder. "She belongs entirely to me, and I will punish her however I see fit tonight. You cannot protect her from behind that thick glass."

The words hit me like a massive physical blow to the stomach. He truly viewed me as property, a broken toy he could discipline whenever his fragile pride was damaged. The profound realization finally shattered the last remaining chains of my deep trauma bond.

"I do not belong to you," I shouted, my voice suddenly finding a tiny shred of genuine courage. I wiped the wet tears from my face aggressively. "I am absolutely done being your silent pawn, Roman."

The entire arena fell completely silent once again. My sudden defiance echoed clearly off the high concrete walls, ringing loudly in the freezing air. Roman slowly turned his head back to face me, his eyes completely wide with pure disbelief.

I had never spoken back to him in the entire two years of our miserable relationship. I had always bowed my head, taken the emotional abuse, and apologized for things I never actually did. My sudden public rebellion was the absolute final straw for his shattered ego.

"What did you just say to me?" Roman whispered dangerously, his voice dropping into a terrifyingly calm register. He placed one heavy boot onto the first concrete step.

"I said I am entirely done with you," I repeated, my voice shaking but completely resolute. I looked down at the fallen champion and felt absolutely nothing but pure disgust. "You are a pathetic coward, Roman."

Dante watched the exchange from the ice, his pale eyes burning with intense, violent pride. He slammed his stick against the boards again, a loud warning shot meant entirely for Roman. But Roman was far too consumed by his own narcissistic rage to care about the new transfer student anymore.

Roman cracked his knuckles slowly, the loud popping sound echoing up the metal stairwell. His handsome face twisted into an ugly mask of absolute malice. He was going to make me bleed for humiliating him in front of his new rival.

"You are going to regret those words for the rest of your miserable life," Roman snarled viciously.

He lunged forward, taking the concrete steps two at a time with terrifying athletic speed. I scrambled backward, tripping heavily over the metal bleachers as absolute panic consumed my fragile bravery. Roman marched into the stands directly toward me with pure physical rage in his eyes.