On Ice, A Hockey Romance

by Trisha Harley McCarthy

  Ki

  The sight before me was perplexing. Zoe and Jesse hugging and crying. I thought I would never see the day. Flynn was sporting a broad smile on his face. My own lips curved up as well. Given how this night had begun and hearing all the shit Jed had done to ensure Zoe kept her mouth shut, I almost dreaded coming home. My temper had gotten the better of me. I also realized that I needed space to think things through. I didn’t want to say or do anything in the heat of the moment to cause any more turmoil. Jed had done enough of that along with my mother. They suited each other. Two self-absorbed individuals who had been corrupted by life with little regard as to how their actions affected anyone in their immediate circle. If family got in the way, we simply became collateral damage, the consequences be damned. Maybe Zoe was right. Neither of them really deserved to be in in our lives. What kind of role model would I be exposing our child to such tainted individuals like our parents? Family wasn’t necessarily blood, rather people who we chose to be our family like Flynn, and by the looks of things, now Jesse.

  I rubbed the back of my neck, unsure if I should announce my presence. I knew Zoe would be worried. I regretted having walked out on her. After what happened to Joe, I felt so torn. A part of me wanted to tear the bastard limb from limb for the part he’d played in Zoe’s kidnapping, but he was also the one who helped her after we had split up. Damn, why did everything have to be so complicated?

  “Zo?” I said softly.

  Pulling away from Jesse, Zoe headed straight for me and threw herself in my arms. With her nestled against my chest, the rest of the world fell away along with all the problems plaguing us. At the end of the day, Zoe and our child were my entire world. Nothing else mattered. I just needed to remind myself of this every day.

  Flynn’s voice intruded on our reunion. “Well, thanks for showing up man.” He smirked as he placed an arm around Jesse, who gazed up at him adoringly.

  I flipped him the bird. He laughed and returned the gesture.

  I would’ve sworn I’d never live to see this moment. It seemed surreal. Flynn and Jesse back together and Zoe and I married and expecting our first child. The world had righted itself, and things were the way they were supposed to be. Love was in the air. It seemed we had been given a fresh start. At least, I hoped so.

  “Are you okay?” Zoe whispered. Her lavender eyes held nothing but the love they reflected at me, despite my absence. Jesus, I needed to get my act together. Zoe depended on me as much as I depended on her.

  “I’m fine. I’m sorry for storming out on you,” I said and kissed her temple, holding her tighter.

  “I understand. My asshole father gave me little choice,” Zoe explained.

  “I know that now. I don’t blame you. You were caught between a rock and hard place.”

  “What the hell are you two talking about?” Flynn interjected.

  “Joe Wharton has been arrested,” Zoe said.

  “The fuck you say?” Flynn’s brows furrowed with concern.

  “It’s not public knowledge. This information is strictly confidential and doesn’t leave this room,” I added.

  “I can’t believe this.” Flynn sat down, as if his legs refused to carry him any longer. He and Joe were close, and he had a deep respect for the man. I could only imagine what this revelation would do to him.

  Zoe gave me that look I knew so well. She didn’t want any more secrets between any of us.

  I cleared my throat. “Joe was the one behind Zoe’s kidnapping. The investigation is still ongoing, so the details are still under wraps. Of course, our illustrious leader only cares how this affects him and the organization. And oh, by the way, I am your new boss.” I smirked. I needed to cut the tension somehow and telling Flynn I was his new boss seemed to do the trick.

  By the look on Flynn’s face, I had shocked him into silence. A difficult feat in itself. Silence wasn’t something I was used to from Flynn Austin, the swaggering showman of the Otters.

  “Are you shitting me?” Flynn looked like he had just swallowed something sour.

  “It’s all true.” Zoe nodded confirming the news.

  “I can’t believe this. I mean Joe…everything.” Flynn shook his head as if I had just told him a pack of lies.

  I couldn’t blame him. I was shocked when I learned the truth also. You never knew what went on in someone else’s head—least of all Joe Wharton’s. We had collectively underestimated our old boss.

  “Jed manipulated Zoe into staying quiet about the entire thing, including telling me until a few hours ago when him and my mother showed up here and flaunted family loyalty in my face. Even Vivienne knows. How he could confide in my mother is beyond me. When I heard the news, I stormed out rather than pummeling Jed into the ground for what he did to Zoe. I understand the FBI is still investigating Joe. However, the way Jed went about this fiasco is totally disgraceful. The man needs a coming to Jesus talk and soon. If he thinks for one minute, he can manipulate either Zoe or myself he has another coming. He knows damn well I won’t take his shit. I didn’t take it as a player, and I’m sure as hell not going to take it as his general manager.”

  “How can you stop him?” Jesse interjected.

  Our focus fixed on her. She had a point. How the hell could I stop Jed and his underhanded ways? The only thing I could think of was restricting his access to his only grandchild—a rule that was going to apply to Vivienne as well. I knew Jed assumed that he would play a role in our child’s life. How wrong he was.

  “He won’t be allowed anywhere near our child, and I’ll quit,” Zoe snapped.

  My eyes landed on my wife, who looked like she was ready to spit nails.

  “I think I know how fix this.” Jesse offered. “Think about it. What’s important to Jed? His hockey team, Vivienne, and his impeccable reputation. And guess what? I happen to know the real reason why Jed and Vivienne are an item.”

  “You mean it isn’t a love match?” Zoe scoffed.

  “Ha! Far from it. Have you ever known Vivienne not to have an ulterior motive?” Jesse added.

  I couldn’t say was surprised at what my mother was capable of anymore. I did, however, find it interesting that she had some sick hold over Jed Simmons. Now that was the kind leverage, I could use as new general manager. After all, knowledge was power. Jed thought he was in complete control of his vast empire, but he’d evidently forgotten to take my mother into account. If I were Jed Simmons, I wouldn’t underestimate Vivienne Connery. The woman could best any man without batting an eyelash.

  “Well, are you going to tell us or not?” I prodded.

  Jesse smirked at me. “On one condition.”

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  “You buy pizza. I’m starving.”

  “Deal.” I smiled.

  Chapter 22

  Zoe

  My eyes were swimming with tears. I couldn’t believe it. Jed wasn’t my biological father. Joe Wharton was. This was the Golden Goose Vivienne had been dangling over my father, well Jed’s, head. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place. After my mother’s death, Jed no longer had to hide his contempt for me, his bastard offspring. Being the loving caregiver when I was but a child had been nothing than an act on his part. The man had ice water in his veins. I dared to bet he had only hired me as assistant to the general manager in some sick ploy to torment Joe. Or hadn’t he been aware of my heritage until Vivienne came along? That woman always had an angle and Jed might just have played right into her web. I doubted he could endure another scandal smearing his or his organization’s reputation. Regardless, as much as I loved the Otters, a father was supposed to love his daughter more. But not in my case. Jed Simmons was ruled by power and greed while playing the doting father in the public eye and the selfish bastard in private.

  “I can’t believe this happening. What did I do to deserve all this?” I cupped my hands over my face in disbelief.

  “You didn’t do a thing, Zo.” Ki whispered against my temple.

  “
Did I do the right thing telling you?” Jesse voice was laced with worry.

  “You did the right thing, Jesse,” Ki answered on my behalf.

  “If you look back at my kidnapping it all makes sense. I don’t think Joe was trying to hurt me rather protect me the only way he knew possible.”

  “Zo, stop making excuses for that piece of shit. You were kidnapped, tied up, and thrown in the back of a van by two thugs. If it hadn’t been for the tip off to the cops and the security gate, god knows what could have happened to you,” Ki snapped.

  The fury in Ki’s voice matched the dangerous way he narrowed his eyes, the same look he got right before outscoring an opponent on the ice. Nothing or no one could get in his way, not even my father. Or was Jed Simmons my ex-father? This situation was too bizarre for words. All this while my real father was rotting away in a prison cell for kidnapping and other serious felonies which I could only assume he hadn’t committed. I was convinced Joe wasn’t the criminal he had been made out to be.

  “I think Joe is being set up,” Flynn added.

  Ki stared at him in disbelief. “You can’t be serious?”

  “Trust me when I tell you Joe wouldn’t hurt a fly. This has Jed’s fingerprints all over it. Think about it, man. When Jed feels threatened, he acts. We’ve seen it time and time again. Now add your mother into the equation and you have Jed by the balls. He is desperate. But the real question is why? What does he have to lose?”

  “I know why!” I blurted. “I’m coming into my trust this year.” I looked around at everyone waiting for them to make the connection. “Don’t you see? My trust includes my mother’s stock in the organization. She was the majority shareholder.”

  The room went quiet. I could practically hear a pin drop as three pairs of eyes stared at me incredulously.

  Flynn whistled.

  “Holy shit,” Ki muttered. “You will be the new official owner of the Otters.”

  Jesse laughed. “I’m sorry, but it’s so ironic. Jed is losing everything. I hope Vivienne doesn’t know about the trust. She’ll go ballistic if her evil plans are derailed and is left with nothing.”

  “No one knows about the trust except my attorneys and me. Not even, Jed. Vivienne was left a sizeable sum by my mother upon her death. She’s gotten her share, and I’ll be damned if she takes anything more away from me, the conniving bitch.”

  Ki gave me a sideways glance after the insult to his mother. He couldn’t blame me. From day one, Vivienne had done nothing but interfere in our lives and left nothing but destruction in her wake. Nearly three long years, Ki and I had been separated. And all because of his mother. No more.

  Maybe my mother knew more than she was letting on about her husband. She ensured I would be protected after her death. I wouldn’t officially be able to access the trust for another thirty days. The clock was ticking.

  “We need to plan this carefully,” Ki interjected.

  “How long have you known about the trust?” Flynn asked.

  “For five years. I only recalled the detail about the shares when you mentioned Jed must be involved somehow. Now it all makes sense why I am a liability to him. He probably set up Joe to be his fall guy. I agree with you, Flynn. Joe wouldn’t hurt me. I just know it.”

  He nodded in agreement. Ki looked skeptical, but all the signs were pointing to Jed Simmons as the mastermind behind my kidnapping and his incentive to have me removed permanently. He was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. We needed to tread carefully.

  “I need to call agent Bond. He’ll be very interested with this new angle.”

  “What about Vivienne?” Jesse asked.

  “I’ll handle her,” Ki said with conviction. His eyes gleamed with determination as he took hold of my shoulders. “Zo, I don’t want you involved in any of this. You need to distance yourself from this shitshow for the sake of your health and my piece of mind. It’s going to get ugly before it gets better.”

  “I agree with, Ki,” Flynn added.

  Jesse laughed. “I think you are outnumbered, Zo.”

  When Jesse called me by my nickname, memories resurfaced. I admitted I had missed the closeness between the four of us. I had so much hope for the future. I rubbed my belly. Our baby was the future. I needed to focus on that instead of the drama swirling around us.

  “I have to agree with you, Jesse.” I smiled brightly at my astonished husband, who looked ready to defend his position. Those grey eyes held mine and took my breath away like they always did when he stared like he wanted to devour me. Jesus, being pregnant was making me horny to the point of embarrassment.

  Flynn coughed to break the awkward silence filling the room. Jesse chuckled softly.

  “I think the newlyweds want to be alone, Flynn.” Jesse bumped his shoulder.

  I turned beet red. “Is it that obvious?”

  “She can’t keep her hands off me lately.” Ki winked.

  “Too much info, Connery. Christ, get a room,” Flynn interjected.

  “When did you turn into such a puritan, Flynn?” Ki teased with a grin.

  “Asshole.”

  Ki laughed, prodding Flynn in the ribs.

  “Are you two done with your bromance?” Jesse asked, mildly amused.

  “Jesse’s right. Enough of your BS. We have plans to make.” I gave both men a fake glare.

  “We?” Ki quirked an eyebrow at me.

  “I finally got your attention, Mr. Connery.”

  “I’m all ears, Mrs. Connery.”

  “Just because I won’t be involved doesn’t mean I can’t help you devise a plan.”

  “Touché. What did you have in mind, Mrs. Connery?”

  Vivienne

  “Nice going. A diplomat you are not, Jed.”

  “Zoe is a goddamned traitor. Siding with Connery instead of her own father.”

  His face and neck turned bright red. This was the second time I’d seen him lose it. By nature, Jed was a self-contained man, who hadn’t gotten to where he was by being a hothead. I wasn’t about to let him blow our chances now. Things were too precarious with Ki and Zoe. My own son had shut me out of his life because of that slut he married. I had warned him about Red, but some lessons you had to learn on your own. I would be lying if didn’t feel like he had knifed me in the back when he stopped speaking to me. If it wasn’t for the information I held over Jed’s head to keep him in line, I would have moved on to my next quarry. The sex was incredible, but that was all between us—pure lust. We put on a front in public. In private, it was like cohabitating with the devil himself, though, if I had a choice between Jed and the devil, I would take Satan any day of the week.

  “Watch it. Ki is still my son. I won’t have you trash my boy. How quickly you forget how he delivered you the Stanley Cup and almost paid for it with his life. So, I advise you to tread carefully. Not to mention he is your new GM and son-in-law. Your temper is making you reckless. You’re acting like a child who hasn’t gotten their way. Besides, there is the little matter of vital evidence in Zoe’s kidnapping I’m sure the FBI would find very interesting. I will only tell you this once so listen carefully. Don’t fuck with me, Jed. Or you will find yourself wearing an orange jumpsuit and end up being someone’s bitch in federal prison.”

  If it was even possible, Jed turned an even darker shade of red. His green eyes looked almost black, filled with hate and vengeance. I was grateful for the long sleeves covering my goosebumps. I’d rather die than admit my fear. Instead, I tilted my chin with pride and stood my ground. Before I could react, I felt the searing pain of his hand across my face. The force snapped my head back. I fell onto the sofa. Moisture filled my eyes as shock took over my body. I refused to look at him. No man had ever laid a hand on me. My cheek stung. And as I touched it, my hand trembled something fierce. It was time to reconsider my options. No goldmine was worth being assaulted. I needed to get the hell out of here before he completely lost it and did something, we both would regret.

  “You need to learn your place
if you want continue with our arrangement.”

  Jed straightened his shirt and smoothened his locks, which were noticeably grayer than they were only a few weeks back. His conscience must’ve been eating him alive. The kidnapping, setting up Joe Wharton, his attack on me, and now my threats had taken their toll on him. Karma was hot on his heels, and he knew it.

  “Our arrangement ended when you assaulted me.”

  “Is that so, Edith Rigley?”

  I froze. The venom in his voice made my blood run cold. He knew. I hadn’t heard that name in nearly forty years. I thought I’d covered my tracks well. Apparently not. Any reminders of my upbringing were too painful to recollect. My parents had treated me like the outsider I was. Sure, they had adopted me, but it had more to do with duty, not love. They lavished all their attention on my saintly sister, Charla, except she wasn’t so saintly—more like a fallen angel. She even had a prettier name than I did. When the fallen angel confessed her sins to me on her death bed, I finally had leverage over Jed Simmons. She told me all about how she’d had an affair with Joe Wharton and that Zoe was his biological child. If my parents could’ve seen Charla’s fall from grace, they would have been horrified, including Jed, if he got wind of that little bombshell. When I found out Charla was dying, I became the dutiful sister and stayed by her side during her final days. That little act was worth every dime I inherited. Along with the men who helped me maintain my lifestyle and Ki’s generosity, I had done very well for myself the past few years. As Ki grew older, he increasingly became disapproving of the way I made a living even though it paved the way for the career he had now. All the money for equipment, personal trainers, and hockey camp was expensive. Once he becomes a father, it was going to give him an entirely a new prospective. A parent does everything in their power to provide for their child, including having men pay their way.