All Chapters of THE CAPTAIN AND THE KILLER: Chapter 31 - Chapter 39

The phone buzzed on the table like a bomb going off and my gut told me everything just got worse.I snatched it up, heart already racing. "Evan, you see this? Coach Miller is dead. They found him in his car this morning. Overdose."Evan stood across the kitchen, coffee cup frozen halfway to his mouth. The morning light cut sharp across his face. "Dead? What the hell, Kade? He was fine yesterday."I stepped closer, showing him the screen. "Cops say pills and booze. But timing feels wrong. Way wrong. I swear to you, I didn't touch him."Evan set the cup down hard. "You swear? After last night with Toby and how mad you got? I need more than swear, man.""I didn't do it," I said fast, voice low. "Look at me. I was with you the whole time after we dropped Toby. We talked till late. When would I even get to Miller?"Evan rubbed his face, eyes tired. "I don't know who to trust right now. You were so intense with Toby. That dark side. Mi

The burner phone in my pocket buzzed with a dead man's secret and my hands shook as I read the message."Evan, get over here quick," I called across the parking lot. "Miller's burner had a code. I tracked it to a bank box. Local branch on Fifth."Evan jogged over, eyes wide. "Bank box? How? We got minutes before Viktor notices we're gone."I showed him the screen. "Clues in texts. Safety deposit box under fake name. Number 247. We need in. Your name opens doors."Evan glanced around. "My name? High profile might work but risky. Kade, you sure this leads somewhere good?""Sure as I can be," I said, starting the car. "Drive. We talk on way. Miller hid stuff. Probably about Viper or the crew."Evan climbed in, buckling fast. "Talk. What clues exactly? Burner passcode?""Birthday and team number," I answered, pulling out. "Led to bank app login. Box paid six months. Evan, you use that family name at desk. They bend rules for

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

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