Page 27 of Sticks and Stones (Shadow Valley U)

“Money?” I question. “For what? Your books?”

This isn’t my first rodeo. It’s a whole new world behind bars. Prisoners could buy things—snacks, attire,drugs.I eventually stopped putting money on my father’s books when I moved in with Evan because that was when I learned whatnormalwas.

My father chuckles. “No. Not my books. You put me in a bad spot. You didn’t deliver when I needed you to, and that came with a price, and that price has been gaining interest since I’ve been here. If I don’t find a way to pay…well, let’s just say, I’m not safe.”

“And what about all the times I wasn’t safe while you were away?” My nerves tangle even further.

“You think you’ll be safe if I don’t pay up?”

I pull my knees up to my chin and rest it against them. The longer I talk to Jessie Davis, the more numb I become. I stare across the hallway, wondering when practice is over. The last thing I need is for Evan to find me like this because he’ll know exactly why I’m in this catatonic state, and not to mention, it’ll give Stone more ammunition.

“What does that mean?” I continue to stare. My nerves have disappeared, and I feel myself slipping. The fight-or-flight reaction is nonexistent, and now I’m in my dissociative phase, which almost always ends badly.

“Do you want my death on your hands, Wren?”

I swallow. The words leave my mouth without a second thought to what I’m actually saying. “You’re already dead to me.”

I know I’m still mentally here somewhere, because after I hear what I say to him, there’s a sense of hurt somewhere in the back of my head. A tear slips down my cheek, but I’m too frozen to swipe it away.

There is a long pause on the other side of the phone, and more tears slide down my cheeks, but they’re not backed with hurt. Instead, they’re jammed full of unyielding fear.What did I just do?

“Remember this moment when the time comes, Pumpkin. Because I gave you an out, and you’re going to wish you took it.”

The phone call ends, but I keep my phone up to my ear for so long my fingers grow numb. There is ringing in my ears, so I don’t hear the footsteps in front of me. There’s movement, and the door is opening and closing, but I can’t move. I focus on my breathing and the rising and lowering of my chest.

Archer’s mouth moves, and that’s when I see that he’s crouching low, head dripping with sweat and his gray shirt speckled with wetness. His bag is beside him, and his blue eyes are darkened with worry. “Are you crying?”

All I can hear is my heart pounding in my ears.

There’s a hand in front of my face and a snapping of fingers. I flick my eyes back to Archer and see that we’re the only ones in the hallway. I take another breath, and after Archer bellows my name again, everything comes rushing back in.

A sob scrapes up my throat, and my shoulders shake.No, no, no.I don’t cry, and it isn’t easy to break me. There aren’t many people who could even attempt to do so, but leave it to Jessie Davis to continue his main act and take me down with him every single time.

“Hey, hey.Shh.”

Archer’s hands are around my shoulders, and then I’m pulled to my feet and crushed into his body.

I shake my head against his warm chest. I refuse to say a word.It’s fine. Get it together right fucking now, Wren.

“Is it Stone? What did he do to make you storm out onto the ice like that? I can piss in his Cheerios tomorrow morning if you want me to.”

I try to laugh, but it comes out as another sob. Archer’s hand dips into my hair, tangling with the ends as he keeps my face pressed against his chest. His heart is steady, and I try to match the rapid beating with mine.

But it doesn’t work.

My father’s words are an echo in my head, taunting me with fear just like he’s been doing since I was young enough to know what fear was.

CHAPTER12

STONE

I’mstarving.More than usual after a practice. All I want is to go home and eat a giant plate of pasta, chicken, and salad. Which is weird, I know. But it’s what we used to have when I’d get home from practice as a kid, and it’s what I crave now.

That, and a little freaking stability.

But those days are in the distant future. Once Wren is out of the picture and I can just focus on hockey and nothing else,thenI’ll be able to concentrate.

With my bag slung over my shoulder, I wave goodbye to the teammates left in the locker room. Under normal circumstances, I’d wait for Evan and Sully, but they’re both dawdling, Sully still getting dressed, and my growling stomach dictates my movements.