Novels by Deenah writes

The plane touched down in Montreal and the media circus hit us like a storm. I stepped off the bus at the arena and cameras flashed everywhere. Reporters shouted questions from every side. "Evan is the rivalry with Volkov still boiling? What happened in Toronto?" I kept my head down and pushed through. "No comment right now. We are here to play hockey." Inside the locker room the guys were loud but tense. Everyone felt the pressure. This rematch against Montreal carried extra heat after our last game here. Coach Viktor stood at the front with his arms crossed looking serious. I dropped my bag and sat down. Kade took the spot next to me. "They are out for blood tonight," he said low. "You good Captain?" I nodded but my stomach stayed tight. "I am fine. Just tired of the questions. They keep asking about us. Like we are the main story instead of the game." Kade smirked. "We kind of are. After tha

The puck dropped and I played like my life depended on it.I won the faceoff clean and drove hard toward the net. Montreal defenders came at me fast but I slipped through. My first shot rang off the post. The crowd roared. I circled back quick.Kade yelled from the bench. "Evan nice move. Keep going."I nodded and lined up for the next shift. My body already ached from the hits but I did not care. "Let me know if you see anything," I called to the guys.One of our defensemen skated past. "Cap they are targeting you. Watch your back.""I know." I took a deep breath. "We push anyway."The second period started and I scored my first goal. A quick wrist shot from the slot. The lamp lit up and the Toronto fans in the stands went wild. I pumped my fist once then skated back.Kade stood at the boards. "That is how you do it. Beautiful shot."I grabbed water on the bench. "Felt good. They are hitting hard though. My rib

The numbers on that page hit me like a punch to the gut."Kade come here right now," I said spreading the crumpled ledger sheets across the shaky motel table. My hands would not stop shaking.Kade leaned over my shoulder still pulling on his shirt. "What is it? You look sick.""Not sick. Destroyed." I pointed at the lines. "They rigged individual stats. Not just final scores. Look at this. My hat trick against Boston three years ago. The defensemen got paid to let me through on every rush."Kade dropped into the chair next to me. "Read it out loud. I need to hear the exact words.""Page nineteen. Payment to two Boston D men. Five grand each. Instructions say make sure Evan gets clear lanes. Goalie told to cheat left on the third shot. That was my breakout game Kade. Everyone said it was pure talent."Kade rubbed his face hard. "Holy shit. Keep going. How many of yours are fake?""At least seven big ones listed here." I f

The truth hit me so hard I could not breathe.I dropped the last ledger page and backed away from the table like it burned me. "Kade my whole career. My father. Vance. They set it all up."Kade stood up fast. "Evan talk to me. What did you just see?"I pressed my hands to my head. My chest felt too tight. "Page twenty eight. My father paid Vance to feed me the puck in college. Vance my best friend. He got money to make me look like a star. Every big goal in juniors. Every scout visit. All of it rigged."Kade moved closer slow. "Sit down. You are shaking."I could not sit. I paced the small motel room. "My father. He bought my entire path. Vance helped him. The guy I trusted most. They turned me into their project. Everything I thought I earned was fake."Kade caught my arm gently. "Hey look at me. Breathe. We will talk through this."I pulled away but not hard. "How do I breathe when my whole life is a lie? I thought I w

The red light on the vault panel started flashing like it knew we did not belong there.Kade snatched the worn leather folder from the shelf and flipped it open fast. "Evan look at this. Half the Black Ice ledger. Names dates accounts. This is it."I crowded in close heart slamming against my ribs. "Let me see. Holy shit. Victor Hale signed off on everything. And there is the mayor right there on page eight. We got them man. We actually got them."Kade stuffed most of the pages into his backpack but I tore out three key sheets and shoved them down my shirt. "These are the worst ones. Backup in case we lose the bag. Now move. Service elevator in the back. Go."We ran across the vault floor sneakers squeaking on the cold tile. My lungs burned from the tension. Every second felt like it stretched too long.The first soft beep hit. Then another. Red lights flashed along the baseboards."Silent alarm," Kade hissed. "They know. Elevato

The motel door barely clicked shut before I slammed Kade against it my hands already grabbing his shirt."We are still alive," I said breathing hard against his mouth. "But those sirens are still in my head. I need you right now."Kade gripped my hips tight enough to bruise. "Then take it. I am wired too. Feel like I could run forever but I would rather be right here with you."I kissed him rough teeth clashing. My fingers yanked his shirt up and off. "Good. Because I want marks. Want to feel every second of this tomorrow when we run again."He spun us so my back hit the thin door. "You got it." His mouth attacked my neck sucking hard. "Like this? Big one right here so everyone knows you got fucked after barely escaping.""Yeah." I dug my nails into his back. "Harder Kade. I want your teeth. Make it hurt good."Kade bit down on my collarbone. The sharp sting shot straight through me. "Fuck you taste like sweat and fear. Makes me