Pucking Road Trip (Bay Rebels #3)

Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The Rose Palace, San Jose

S hay

I lie next to Robyn on the luxurious bed in The Rose Palace hotel suite.

I’m exhausted but I don’t look away from her still face. I haven’t, since D’Angelo carried her here almost twelve hours ago.

A deep dread claws at my insides that if I do, then she’ll die.

I can’t bear to see her like this.

I need her brightness, laughter, life .

My hands shake, as I brush her hair.

I’m wearing the silk black pajamas that D’Angelo bought me. I wasn’t going to change, but after a couple of hours, D’Angelo insisted that I did.

I was too hyped up and jittery to do it myself. I couldn’t even undo the button on my jeans, my fingers were shaking so much.

D’Angelo calmly but firmly stripped me, therefore, and put these pajamas on me himself.

D’Angelo’s still dressed in his suit, even if it’s creased. His hair is a mess because he’s run his fingers through it so many times.

I know that Robyn’s only sleeping, unwell with fever.

The private doctor that D’Angelo hired checked her out.

This situation is a fucking trigger for me, however, and I can’t control my reaction.

Eden is lying on the other side of Robyn.

He’s sprawled on top of the dusky pink bedding in his joggers.

He hasn’t slept either.

There are deep shadows underneath his eyes, and he grimaces like he’s holding back showing just how much pain he’s in.

When he catches my gaze, I can tell that he understands my anxiety.

Eden lays his palm on Robyn’s chest over her heart. “It’s still beating.”

I drop the brush on the nightstand, avoiding his gaze.

Dee, Dee, don’t close your eyes. What if you don’t wake up and leave me alone with the monsters?

As kids, every time that Eden was hurt, ill, or starving and would pass out, I’d desperately shake him and say that.

For years, I could only sleep by lying with my head on his chest, listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat.

I had to know that he was still alive.

I glance at D’Angelo, who’s leaning pensively against the wall next to the archway through to the bath, talking quietly to Cody.

Of course D’Angelo ignored Robyn and called Michael.

Despite being woken from deep sleep and initially panicking that Cody was either in hospital or jail, Michael calmed down and gave us some medical advice, as well as the name of a good private doctor in the area.

I wanted to take Robyn to hospital, but Michael said that it was better to let her rest and be cared for where she was.

After all, she had three private nurses.

Perhaps, we should have hired nurse outfits to wear as a nice surprise to cheer her up.

I’d love to see D’Angelo in one.

Actually, she has four nurses, since Michael called his husband, and Cody caught a taxi from across the city and the staff hotel immediately.

Cody looks as worried as the rest of us.

Suddenly, Robyn’s eyelashes begin to flutter.

“She’s waking up,” I say, excitedly.

D’Angelo straightens.

Eden sits up, adjusting the sheet around Robyn.

Robyn’s hair is damp. Sweat trickles down her neck.

Eden has changed her into one of his long t-shirts, which has the picture of a puffball of a kitten on the front under the words FLUFF AND FIND OUT , to keep her cool.

Robyn turns her head toward me like a wild flower searching out the sun.

When her wide, emerald eyes meet mine, my heart bloody melts.

“Shay…?” Robyn’s voice is raspy.

“You’re awake.” I kiss her forehead. “You’re cooler than you were.”

“You didn’t leave.” Why does she sound surprised?

“Of course we bloody didn’t. You need us,” I whisper against her heated skin. “Don’t worry, love, we’ll always keep you safe.”

She reaches out and takes my hand, entangling our fingers.

Shit, her touch feels brilliant.

Her life.

“Eden.” Robyn turns to my brother, but a cough catches in her throat.

“Don’t talk yet.” D’Angelo’s voice is guarded. “Your throat is still sore.”

“Drink.” Eden reaches for a warm honey tea that he’s mixed the medicine into, which the doctor prescribed for us to give her, in order to make it taste less nasty. I smile, remembering that he’d do the same for me at college. “Medicine.”

I assist Robyn to sit up.

Eden gently lifts the mug to Robyn’s lips and helps her to drink.

Robyn looks weak but better than she has since we entered the hotel.

Cody bounds to sit cross-legged on the end of the bed. “It’s good to see you awake, Ryn. I’ve been worried. Still, this hotel is luxurious. You should see the place that us staff have been stuffed into. FYI, I’m stealing your fruit basket for them.” He tuts. “I can’t leave you alone with these three for a single journey, huh?”

I freeze.

Guilt slams through me.

D’Angelo looks stricken, before his face smooths into a cold mask. “I should have taken better care of my principessa. Coach can bust my balls about that, when we see him. I pushed her too hard. Pushed everybody because I—"

“Woah, I was kidding.” Cody glances between us. “Protective as I am of my sis, even I can’t battle a virus. Mike says that he spoke with the doctor himself, and Ryn’s fine. She’ll be feeling okay in a couple of days.”

“You called Mike.” Robyn pushes away the medicine, staring accusingly at D’Angelo.

D’Angelo fiddles with his cufflinks. “Circumstances changed.”

“Cheat.”

“Creative thinker.”

“Did Mike have a coronary?”

“Is this a list of things that begin with ‘c’?” I ask. “In which case, cock .”

Eden gives me a disapproving look.

“Mike better not have had cock , since I’m not with him,” Cody chips in. “But he had as close to a coronary as it’s possible for him to have, seeing as he never panics. He rang me up straight after to check on me. He gave this awesome romantic speech. He thought something terrible had happened to me. I have a feeling that I’m going to be showered with kisses and possessive love the moment that I return home.”

“It’s great that my illness has a silver lining for you.” Robyn sniffs, loudly. “Now, what’s wrong with me?”

“A virus,” Cody explains. “You wouldn’t feel so shit right now, if you’d used the scale that I gave Eden earlier, rather than pushing through your limits.”

“Mean,” Robyn mutters.

“Professional,” Cody replies, “as well as caring brother. You have a virus, coupled with lack of sleep, and dehydration.”

Robyn coughs. “Thanks for coming to be with me, Code.”

“Hey, where else would I be, when you’re sick?”

Eden places the mug back on the nightstand. “What matters is that she’ll get better.”

“It also matters how you’re feeling.” Cody looks at him, pointedly.

“I did the exercises.” Eden meets Cody’s gaze with a challenging air.

He sounds like he did at high school, when he was covering for reading his library books, rather than studying for a science test.

He’s always been a terrible liar.

Cody hums, looking unconvinced. “What number are you?”

“Three,” Eden replies in a determined way.

I know that he means: This isn’t about my shit, it’s about Robyn, so I’ll handle the pain.

Cody settles closer to Robyn on the bed. “Tell me if you hit four.”

I love the way that Cody sees through my brother’s bullshit, ignores it, then insists that Eden cares for his own needs.

Robyn glances between us. “Have any of you slept?”

I quirk my brow. “No, but don’t worry, insomniac here, love. Anyway, it gave me the chance to kick your brother’s arse at Candy Crush.”

Cody’s eyes twinkle. “In your dreams.”

Robyn’s gaze becomes steely. “All of you in bed. Now.”

Cody looks startled. “You’re not well enough for an orgy, Ryn. I’d better call my husband. You’re delirious and horny.”

Robyn laughs, and fuck, it’s incredible to hear that sound after her terrifying silence. “I meant to sleep. They have an important game tomorrow, and I’m not jeopardizing that. Imagine the headlines if they fall asleep on the ice.”

“You’re more important than a game, cara mia,” D’Angelo replies, stubbornly.

“We can curl up in bed in a couple of hours.” I stroke over Robyn’s fingers. “We just want to know that you’re getting better first, right?”

Eden lays the back of his hand across Robyn’s forehead. “You’re still too hot. The medicine should help bring down the fever in about half an hour.” Eden catches Robyn’s gaze, before his lips twitch. “Maybe you’re an Omega going into heat.”

D’Angelo snorts, but Robyn laughs.

“Is this my nest?” Robyn picks up a rose shaped cushion and weakly bats Eden with it.

I blink in confusion.

What is all this about Omegas, nests, and heats?

Sometimes, I think that Robyn and my twin have their own private language, which only they understand.

Eden and I had a secret way of communicating as kids.

I like that Eden has that with somebody else apart from me.

Yet does it mean that they have a deeper love than Robyn and I do? Will anyone truly love me , rather than simply want to use my body?

I’m grateful that someone as special as Robyn and D’Angelo want me to fit between them in their lives.

I can swallow the hurt that I know my own worth in the relationship. And it’ll never be the same as my brother’s.

“Help, where will I find an Alpha’s knot in time…?” Robyn jokes.

I try not to show the pain the in-joke makes me feel.

Yet Eden’s steady gaze sweeps over me, and I know that he notices.

Eden’s an observer. He doesn’t miss much, especially about me.

“Why don’t we make a bet on these three away games?” Eden suggests.

My eyes widen at his sudden change of topic.

I know that it’s for me. He’s drawing me back into the conversation.

Cody rubs his hands together. “A bet. I’m listening. Also, as King of Bets, officiating.”

Robyn shakes her head. “I’m out.”

Eden tilts up his chin. “A bet between Shay and D’Angelo.”

D’Angelo looks wary. “It depends. I’d never abuse my power, but this seems a good moment to remind you that I’m your boss.”

Eden slicks back his hair. “ Boss , the stakes are: Whoever scores the most goals, gets to choose their kink from our list once we’re home.”

Home.

It’s powerful when Eden calls it that. I can see the way that it hits each of us.

“A kink contest rematch,” I say, eagerly. “Every hockey team should use it for motivation. I’m in.”

D’Angelo’s shoulders finally relax, and his expression softens. “I accept. And I’m winning, cucciolo.”

I smirk. “That’s what you think, darlin’.”

I have a kink on there that I really want to share with the others.

They have no idea how sexy I’d look in a bondage red corset with ribbons.

My smile widens at the image, at the same time that D’Angelo’s smile becomes wicked like he’s imagining a devilish scene.

Now, I don’t know which of us I want to win.

I know what Eden is doing by raising this bet.

He’s not merely letting me back into his private world with Robyn but he’s distracting me — all of us — from worrying about Robyn.

But especially me.

Inside, I’ve been freaking out from the moment that Robyn became ill.

As kids, when Eden shivered with flu, wheezed because of bronchitis, or hurled from a concussion, his focus would still be on me .

He’d be checking was I okay? Sleeping? Being punished for school refusal because it terrified me to be apart from him, when he was ill?

Eden is the best brother in the bloody world.

But I know his secret.

He’s just as freaked out as I am. He simply doesn’t show it like I do.

But I can tell.

D’Angelo taps his thigh three times. “How are you feeling now, principessa?”

“My head hurts.” Robyn scrunches up her nose. “So does my throat and ears. But actually, better than I did before.”

“Excellent.”

When D’Angelo’s phone rings, it’s loud and breaks the peace that’s woven like a cocoon around us.

D’Angelo frowns, pulling it out of his trouser pocket to answer. “What? Why are you phoning me? Well, that’s because she’s too sick to be answering her own phone, which is switched off. Take the hint.”

“Who is it?” Robyn mouths.

D’Angelo’s frown deepens. “Neve.”

Perhaps, Neve and D’Angelo need to have an old-fashioned duel, possibly with dildos rather than swords, to get over their issues with each other.

Or possibly, it’s a personality clash.

Asshole vs asshole.

That sounds either sexy or painful.

Robyn holds out her hand to D’Angelo.

D’Angelo stalks to the bed, sitting on the side next to Eden. Reluctantly, he passes over his phone to Robyn.

I lay my head on her shoulder, unrepentantly listening in on her conversation.

Robyn glances down at me, but I innocently look up at her through my lashes.

Robyn meets D’Angelo’s glower. “Sorry about him, Neve, he turns into a Giant Grump, when I’m sick.”

“Don’t you mean Giant Dick?” Neve’s tinny voice says on the other end.

I chuckle.

D’Angelo sends me a death glare, as if to ask what the joke is.

I don’t share.

But still, accurate , as my poor arse can attest.

Robyn covers her mouth as she coughs. “He’s been taking care of me. They all have.”

“So, you’re alive then,” Neve says.

“Actually, you’re talking to a ghost.”

“D’Angelo drinks enough for this to be a spirit line,” Neve replies. Now I’m glad that D’Angelo can’t hear her. “What’s up with your throat? You sound like you were over ambitious and attempted to deepthroat two of those giant dicks at the same time.”

I stick my knuckles into my mouth to smother my laughter.

Robyn becomes even more flushed than she is with her fever. “My brother is just here.”

“Say hi for me,” Neve says, blithely.

“Neve says hi.”

“Hi,” Cody calls.

“Now, rest that sore throat of yours.” Neve’s voice softens. “Get well, RH. And the Bay Rebels had better kick ass in their game. I’m setting the television up in Merchant’s Inn, so that everyone back here in Freedom can watch the game together.”

“Thanks, Neve.”

Robyn turns off the phone.

Her eyes look heavy.

“Do you want me to tuck you back to sleep, love?” I push a strand of hair away from her face.

She nods.

But then, the phone rings again.

Sighing, Robyn answers. “What do you want this time? To make another joke about blow jobs?”

There’s a long silence.

Then a man’s voice, which feels like it should be familiar to me but I can’t place it, replies, “Actually, sweetheart, this isn’t a joking matter.”

“I’m s-sorry,” Robyn blurts. “I thought that… I m-m-mean… Who is this?”

She slips the phone onto speakerphone.

“It’s funny how people who are so important to you, don’t even know who you are.” The man’s voice is tight with rage.

To my surprise, Cody scrambles to his knees.

He’s pale, looking like he may vomit.

He gestures at D’Angelo like somehow D’Angelo is dominant enough to even bust the balls of a voice.

Instantly, D’Angelo is on the alert.

The man answers, “I’m Larry Gibbs, coach of—”

“The Ducks.” Robyn’s gaze shoots to Cody.

It feels like an entire conversation is passing between them in that look.

Why would a coach of another team be calling D’Angelo?

I glance at D’Angelo, but he shakes his head, as confused as I am.

He gestures for Robyn to take the call.

It’s inappropriate for a coach of another team to be calling the captain of the Bay Rebels directly. Especially this close to a game.

It’s not like they’re friends outside hockey.

What the fuck does Gibbs want?

“As PR Director for the Bay Rebels, I take the players’ calls,” Robyn says, more diplomatically then I would have. “Or I could put you in touch with Mr. McKenna.”

“Why would I want to talk to your dad ,” Gibbs’ voice becomes low and dangerous. “The man who attacked me on the ice and ruined my career. The man who tried to kill me.”

Cody and Robyn both hiss in a breath at the same time.

“That’s it.” D’Angelo tries to snatch the phone from Robyn, but she dodges, holding the phone more firmly against her ear.

I slip my arm around her shoulders in support.

Cody is trembling and trying not to show it.

Eden holds out his hand to Cody. “Come here.”

Gratefully, Cody scrambles across Robyn to join us in the center of the bed. He grasps onto Eden’s hand like it’s a lifeline.

“Mr. Gibbs,” Robyn says firmly, despite how croaky her voice is, “I know that my dad has a history with you. But that’s in the past. Let’s not add slander into the mix. Our teams are here to play each other. We need to be professional about it.”

Gibb’s laugh is bitter. “Was your dad professional, when he viciously attacked me on the ice?”

“It was an accident.”

But there’s doubt now in her voice.

Shit, is coach a violent man?

Eden is ashen now too. He lost his career just like this man did because of a concussion caused by other players attacking him on the ice.

They targeted Eden deliberately.

Stole his hockey career from him.

Could have killed him.

Was it the same for Gibbs?

Yet what makes true terror grip me is the thought that this means coach could have been violent off the ice as well.

I’ve always been haunted by the fear that my own anger issues on the ice would follow me off them as well.

Coach has been helping me with them. I don’t mind that he’s harsh and exacting with what he…or Colton…demand of me.

He’s also given me therapy, as well as one-to-one time with himself to help me face my demons.

But has coach ever hurt Robyn?

I’d fucking kick his ass.

Eden would kill him.

I know that coach is tough. He’s hard on me, and even harder on D’Angelo.

Yet he’s good with Robyn, right?

But at the same time, not good at all with his son.

I glance at Cody.

Cody is staring intently down at where Eden’s holding his hand.

I know that look.

I’ve worn it too many times, and so has my twin.

Fuck.

“It was deliberate, sweetheart.” Gibbs sounds calmer now and more sure of himself. “It’s taken me years to get over what happened and to try and bury it. But when Austin started up that team of misfit losers, it was like fucking salt in the wounds. When you began to actually win …” He takes a deep breath. “Then to find out that the captain, rising star, and his kids who he appears to spend so much time nurturing were on their way to play my own team… Well, let’s just say that my therapist is on speed dial.”

“That sucks.” Robyn’s voice hardens. “But it’s only your slanderous opinion. It’s not evidence. I still don’t see what—”

“How do you think the press will react, if I go public with my side of the story? I haven’t all these years. I have secrets about what happened. Do you think that your dad is a good man? He’s not. The whole scandal will be dragged up again, your dad’s reputation and legacy will be in the dirt, and your team’s best season will be destroyed before it’s even started. As the PR Director, are you prepared to be responsible for letting that happen to him, yourself, and the entire team? It’s your choice if I go public with the coach’s dark past or not.”

Robyn’s breathing too fast.

Trembling.

She’s going to bloody pass out again.

I hold her more firmly by the shoulders.

“Jude…” I meet D’Angelo’s gaze, helplessly.

D’Angelo growls, lunging for the phone.

This time, he manages to grab it from Robyn’s weak grasp. “Listen here, asshole, you’re not in control. We don’t need to make any decisions because we’re not going to play your game.”

“But you already are.” Gibbs sounds smug. “The only way that you can stop me telling the truth is to continue playing. I dare you .”