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“Save that back talk for later, when I have more time to deal with you, you difficult woman.” I couldn’t tear my eyes from the sight of her in my jersey. It was the same one she’d been wearing when we’d had the phone call. Just the thought made me hard.

“Well, I don’t mess with losers, so you better make sure to win,” she goaded and then checked her watch. “What happens if you’re late back to the game?” She arched a brow at me.

Shit.

As soon as the buzzer rang for the start of the second period, Nick was on my fucking list. Not only had he been attempting to corner her and chat with her during the break, but he’d had the audacity to hold his shirt toward her, like he was going to ask her to wear it. It was an aggressive move for someone who had barely had one date.

The wanker needed to understand that his little attempt at romance with Selena was over. We were only a few minutes in when I had my chance to teach him. He got in the way as I went in to swipe the puck out from the opposite team’s stick. I sent it flying across the ice toward Asher, who raced it down the side of the ice, while I used my momentum to crush Nick into the boards.

“Sorry, man,” I tossed at him and skated away.

A few minutes later, I had another chance, and then one more to check him, sending him into the boards, and then down on the cold icy rink.

“What the fuck?” Nick shouted.

One of the Rioters had gotten in Beckett’s face, and I knew it was only a matter of time before the ref was distracted with their fight.

Nick was recovering from his fall. I stuck out a hand to help him up.

“Here, man. Sorry about that.”

He took it slowly, and I pulled him to his feet.

“But stay away from Selena, and we won’t have any problems, going forward.”

“What?” Nick demanded, pushing against me and getting far too in my face for his own good.

“I said I don’t like you sniffing around Selena. Stop it, now, or I’ll be forced to make you.”

Nick appeared to lose it at this statement. He lunged for me, and we tussled a little. He was pretty ineffective, honestly. How was this guy a hockey player?

I slammed him back against the plexiglass partition behind us.

Nick scoffed, but there was fear in his eyes. “Make me how?”

“How?” I mused, still holding him in place by the shoulder. “I’m not sure,” I confessed.

Relief filled Nick’s face, but it was premature.

“There are so many ways, really. Getting you kicked off the team, or expelled from school. Having your family go bankrupt, orget your house foreclosed on. There are so many options when you’re a Sinclair.”

“You’re a fucking bastard,” Nick snarled.

I nodded. “Surely, you’re not just working that out now. I am a fucking bastard, and I’ll do anything I have to, to keep you away from Selena. Got it? So, just drop it now, before you really piss me off.”

Nick skated away as the game restarted. Only a few minutes passed before he took a long, leisurely loop and saluted to Selena, sitting with Winter again in the stands.

Motherfucker. It looked like he was choosing the hard way.

He might be starting with a face only a mother could love, but I was about to make it that much worse.

Selena

The party was at the Hellions’dorm. I’d been here a hundred times before my life had turned upside down. I hadn’t set foot inside since everything had changed. Tonight, I stuffed down my nerves and walked in. It was loud, chaotic, and full of motion.

“God, it’s too busy here, let’s go up to the rooftop,” Winter shouted in my ear.

I nodded and followed her up the stairs.