All Chapters of Puck My Sins On Ruthless Ice: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Gianna’s POV I walked into Ryker’s private bathroom. It was large, clean, and smelled like cedar wood. I went straight to the sink and pulled open the bottom drawer to look for the medical kit.Inside the drawer, there was a roll of athletic tape, a bottle of pain pills, and a thick wrap for ice. But under the tape, the corner of an old photograph was sticking out.I picked up the wrap first, but my hand stopped. I couldn't help it. I reached down and pulled the photo out from under the heavy tape.It was a picture of Ryker when he was younger, maybe fifteen or sixteen. He was standing on an outdoor ice rink, holding a hockey stick. Next to him was a tall, older man with bright red hair and thick wire glasses. The man had his arm around Ryker’s shoulder, both of them smiling at the camera.My chest felt tight. The man with the red hair and glasses looked familiar. His sharp nose and the shape of his jaw made a small alarm bell ring in the back of my mind. He looked a little bit like

Gianna’s POV The camera lights were bright as we walked into the courtyard. Ryker kept his arm steady under my hand. He smiled at the old donors and nodded at the coaches. He looked like a perfect, charming star athlete. No one could tell his shoulder was hurting under his nice blazer.We sat down at a large round table near the front. Two other hockey players and their dates sat with us. Plates of expensive fruit and pastries were placed on the table, but I was too alert to eat. My eyes kept scanning the crowd, looking for any danger."You're doing great," Ryker murmured, leaning close to my ear as if to whisper a sweet comment. "Just keep smiling.""I am smiling," I whispered back through my teeth, keeping my eyes on the crowd.Before he could answer, a woman with a notepad and a small microphone stepped up to our table. She had a press badge that read Campus News. Her eyes were sharp as she looked straight at me."Ryker, Gianna, do you have a minute for a few quick questions?" she

Gianna’s POV Friday night arrived too quickly. The university’s annual mid-season athletic gala was held in the grand ballroom downtown. It was the biggest event of the semester, filled with flashing cameras, wealthy donors, and the entire hockey team in formal suits.I stood in front of the mirror in my bedroom, taking a deep breath. For the first time since running away, I wasn't wearing baggy clothes or a hockey jersey. I wore a fitted, dark emerald-green silk dress with a low back and a high slit up the left leg. My blonde hair was pinned up, leaving my neck bare. I looked like a completely different person.When I stepped out into the living room, Ryker was waiting by the door.He was wearing a tailored black tuxedo that made his broad shoulders and chest look attractive and tempting. His hair was styled perfectly back. When he heard my heels click on the floor, he turned around, but stopped dead on his tracks immediately. His gray eyes darkened instantly, sweeping down the le

Gianna’s POV The applause for the athletic director died down, but Ryker’s hand immediately found mine again. He held my fingers in a firm grip, anchoring me to his side as the waiters began serving champagne.But before we could take a step toward our table, a shadow fell over us."Barrett," a sharp, gravelly voice barked.Ryker froze. The relaxed, intense look in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, professional look. He turned around smoothly. "Coach Vance. Good evening."Coach Vance was a short, thick-necked man with graying hair and an icy stare. He was the head coach of the university hockey team, and he ran the program like a military camp. He didn't look at me. His eyes were locked completely on Ryker."I saw what happened on the dance floor with Reed," Coach Vance said, his voice low so the nearby donors couldn't hear. "You're the captain of this team, Barrett. You are already on thin ice with the athletic board because of that locker room incident. The scouts a

Gianna’s POV The apartment felt too big and too quiet after Ryker left. I tried to study, but the words on my textbook pages didn't seem to make sense. My mind kept drifting back to the way his eyes looked in the dark car. I needed to get out of the penthouse. Around noon, I noticed Ryker’s black knee brace sitting on the small table by the front door. He had forgotten it. I knew from his injury file that his right knee suffered from chronic swelling after long practices. If he skated all day without it, especially with his shoulder already bruised, he would be in no shape to play against Jaxson Reed on Friday. I grabbed the brace, threw on a big black jacket, and pulled a baseball cap low over my eyes. ****** The campus ice rink was on the south side of the university. The building was a massive concrete structure that smelled like old ice, damp gear, and hot chocolate. I walked through the side doors, avoiding the main lobby where students usually hung out. The hallway lea