Captain

NOAH

“It really doesn’t matter, dad.”

I lean back against the leather seat of Angel, my black Mercedes, phone pressed to my ear while the engine idled away in the quiet streets of Frosthaven. The morning sun is still low, painting the rooftops in pale gold. Dad’s voice comes through the speaker, as measured and calm as always.

“You know you don’t have to transfer schools for this one, son. A hotel two or three nights a week should be enough. Your mother misses your complains about her dinner, and she keeps testing my patience by asking about you every night.”

I cannot help the little twitch of my lips forming a half-smile. “I know, Dad. Tell her I’ll be home soon. But this is the best way to handle something like this. I’ve already got missions pulling me into this area every few days anyway, so might as well move somethings over. Plus this mission is just to stake it out properly and watch until I know exactly what the guy’s doing, then I kill him when the meal is hot. Rushing it now would be sloppy.”

There’s a pause on the other end. I can picture the great Christopher Carter rubbing his temple the way he always did when he’s weighing the risks of my job.

“Fine. But don’t get comfortable. This isn’t a vacation.”

“I know, daddy,” I reply, ending the call.

I toss the phone into the passenger seat and drum my fingers on the steering wheel. Despite what my father believes plus what he doesn’t know, it is time. The Frosthaven campus has been on my radar for almost a year now, and not just because of the target. I have my own reasons for wanting to settle in deeper.

I spend the next three hours tailing the stupid as fuck politician, Mr. Blake, who keeps visiting the brothel here and spending all the tax money people pay on the ass of strippers and what not. I keep my distance, switching vehicles once, noting every stop, every meeting, and every nervous glance over the shoulder. Before midday, it’s clear Blake won’t be doing anything special.

It’s time to get this hockey thing out of the way.

The University arena smells like ice, sweat, and rubber mates. I follow Coach Harlan down the corridor toward the locker room, duffel bag slung over one shoulder. Every gear I have is new, the blades freshly sharpened.

“You’re late, Carter,” the coach grunts without looking back. “Practice is over. That’s not how we do things on this team. You either respect the schedule and time or you’re out, kid. Got it?”

“Won’t happen again, Coach.”

The coach pushes open the locker room door. Like every locker room, the place is loud—guys laughing, slamming doors, half-dressed, still riding that post-practice high. Every single conversation dies down as heads turn.

“Listen up…”

I tune the coach out as I scan the room. Most of the guys offer nods, a few stare blankly, but my eyes stop on the one person near the back.

Theodore Bennett, caption of the Frosthaven Blizzards hockey team.

His blond hair is still damp from the shower, jaw tightened, blue eyes narrowed into a full-on glare. The guy stares down at me like I personally burned his house down, but even with that, I can’t help but notice how… innocent he looks. Even when pissed off. Especially pissed off. The scowl does something to my features that make my interest sharpen instantly.

“…so let me be the one to announce it officially. Noah Carter is your new teammate.” Coach says a few words about practice schedules, then claps me on the shoulder and leaves me with the wolves.

Theodore doesn’t bother trying to get to know me unlike the rest of the team. He just starts moving immediately, heading for the exit.

“Please, excuse me…” I don’t think. I just follow.

“Hey,” I call out, lengthening my stride. “Hold up.”

The guy doesn’t stop. I have to add more pep to my step just to catch up with him outside the locker room, in the quieter hallway.

“You got any instructions for me? Questions? I’m new, so…”

“No!” He doesn’t even look back at me. “Get the fuck away from me.”

Woah… woah… what’s happening here?

I keep walking alongside him anyway. “I’m Noah Carter… okay, you knew that already. Look, I don’t know what your deal is, but…”

Theodore wheels around suddenly, stopping me in my tracks. His eyes flashes with rage. “What the fuck is your problem?”

My problem? “I don’t have one,” I say evenly, keeping my tone light. I step closer to the man, offering him my best smile. “I just want to be friends with the captain. We’re on the same team now, and might as well.”

A step closer to him is as far as I get. Theodore moves fast—faster than I expected. One second I’m standing there, the next my back hits the wall with a dull thud. He presses his elbow hard against my throat, cutting off my air just enough to make it clear nothing about it is a joke. The guy’s face is inches away from mine, minty breath brushing my lips.

“Stay. The. Fuck. Away. From. Me,” he hisses, staring me down. “I mean it.”

My pulse thrums. The hallway seems to narrow to just the two of us—the pressure on my throat, the heat of Theodore’s breath fanning my face, the way those stormy eyes burns into me with something deeper than a simple dislike. Did I do something that I couldn’t remember or what? Something was clearly wrong.

But there’s no way I’m backing off now.

Theodore releases me after some time, shoving as hard as he can before stalking off down the hall without another word. I stay against the wall, rubbing my throat, just so I can watch the man retreat while the corner of my lips twitches.

Interesting.

I wait until I’m sure the guy have enough of a head start, then slip out to the parking lot. Time to start my favorite activity of the day.

Theodore doesn’t waste any time. I follow at a distance, watching the blond drive to campus for two afternoon classes. Clearly a good student. The normal only lasts until evening. His car heads downtown as the sun dips low. I stay three cars back, blending into traffic. When he pulls up near a nondescript brick building with a pulsing red neon sign Devil’s Knight, I feel a spark of anticipation light up in my chest.

I park a block away, kill the engine, and wait a few minutes before approaching on foot. The bouncer at the entrance barely spare me a glance before handing over a black mask. I slip it on, loving how it covers the upper half of my face, matching the ones worn by the growing crowd inside. Perfect anonymity.

The club is dark and loud, full of people I won’t want touching me any day. Bass thrums through the floor. I move to my favorite seat—the shadowed booth along the side with a perfect view of the main stage. I order my usual drink and settle in.

I don’t have to wait long.

The light dims gradually and a new track starts, slower than the last. The men don’t waste any time coming out, with Theodore being last. Once he steps onto the stage, everyone disappears. He’s wearing a crisp black tie that hangs loosely around his neck, paired with sheer black pants that leaves nothing to the imagination. That fabric clings to every part of that lower body, especially the curve of his ass as he moves. He has on a full face mask, but I will recognize that posture, that walk, and those shoulders anywhere.

My dessert.

I take a slow sip of whiskey, the burn sliding down my throat as he begins to move, teasing the crowd with rolls of his hips. The pants shimmer under the light with every shift.

I lean back, a low chuckle escaping me. “Let’s see how feisty you are now, Captain.”