Page 29 of Dario

He opens his mouth to speak but pauses. "I do."

"Good. I wasn't sure if I was off my game with everything going on."

"You're doing fine."

I smile. "That means Dover will be living in Boston."

He rolls his eyes. Levi pretends not to hear, but I see his lips twitch.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

DARIO

Doc patchesup those who need it. Including me. These New Yorkers are no pussies. I hate for Gemma to see me like this. It's not like I haven't come off the ice with a few cuts and bruises before. It's the first time since she's been mine. It won't be the last.

It wasn't a good idea to fight on the ice so soon after being thrown around by a car bomb. My hands hurt worse and so do my ribs.

The two new idiots on the team laughed at our sorry state as we walked off the ice. Just wait! Next season they'll be where we are now.

It wasn't my fault tonight. It had been Bradford's. He'd come storming out of the goal, went after the New York right winger. I still don't know what set him off in the first place.

Doc gives me a nod as I gingerly get up from the treatment chair. "Let me get you some ice packs. Use them when you get back to the room."

"Thanks." I walk away, leaving Nikoli to hop on the chair. Back in the locker room, I give Bradford a glare. He smirks in return.

Asshole.

My friend comes over and helps me out of my shoulder gear because I'm hurting. "What did he do?"

"Called me a pussy."

Surprised, I ask, "And you let that get to you?"

"It wasn't what he said, it was the way he said it."

"Well, can you behave tomorrow? My ribs can't take much more right now."

He winces. "Sorry. You should have stayed out of it after the bomb."

"Bomb?" Nash repeats in a high-pitched voice. I didn't know he was behind me. "You said bomb, right?"

"Nothing big," Bradford says.

"Wait a minute! The bomb that was at the arena. Last night. That was you?"

"Let's not rehash it," I say, hoping he's listening. I don't want Gemma to be reminded of it, or how close I came to being dead.

The shower feels good, but it ends too soon.

My girl is waiting for me.

Half dressed, I place the ice packs on my ribs and button my shirt. I wave to Dover and Nash as I head out. But Rhodes stops me. "Rosie just texted. We're meeting them at the hotel bar. Apparently Dodge and Levi took Gemma back to the hotel via a small private airstrip to drop off Wyatt and Dallas."

"I thought the girls were staying here until we were done." I'm a little annoyed that she didn't watch the end of the game. On the other hand, at least she didn't see me get punched in the face.

"She saw the game, Dario. They left as soon as it was over, so Rosie tells me. She's traveling with Gemma."

"Okay." To the rookies, "Looks like you get to ride the bus." I grin.