Kane

“Nothing’s changed in the last ten minutes,” Blake says gruffly, when I check my phone for a message from Brynne.

I grunt and put it in my bag before starting to undress.

It’s the first game we’ve played without Coach on the bench, and the locker room is filled with tension. There’s a strain between the men and I know it’s because of me. Blake has been a moody son-of-a-bitch since we got on the flight to come here. Sebastian won’t speak to me. And the other guys keep tiptoeing around me like I’ve got the fucking plague.

No one speaks. Only the odd muffled curse. There’s just this bloody silence filled with accusation and suspicion.

Until Tyler Slade walks into the room. Black hair slicked back, dark eyes shiny with mischief, he’s got a smirk plastered on his ugly, pot-marked face. The kid is like adding gasoline to an already simmering fire, and I know there’s going to be trouble the second he opens his mouth.

“Holy shit, man,” Tyler says, punching my shoulder and laughing raucously. “Rumor has it you knocked up Coach’s daughter. No wonder the man had a heart attack.”

“Fuck off, Slade.” I give him a warning glance, but he doesn’t seem to notice, or he doesn’t care.

“I don’t blame you. The chick is hot.”

“Shut it, asshole,” Sebastian grumbles beside me.

“Jesus, you guys are too fucking serious. I’m just saying, if I’d had the chance, I’d totally have done her.”

I place my palm on Sebastian’s chest when he starts to stand.

Tyler throws his jacket down on the bench and continues like he’s not aware of the friction he’s causing. “I mean, since we’re all into family sharing, mind if I have a go at that sister of yours when Starowics is done with her?”

He doesn’t see the punch coming. Neither do I. One second Blake is sitting on the bench, the next he’s on top of the kid, his fist smashing into Slade’s jaw.

Sebastian and I jump on him, pulling him off, but he fights us.

“Calm down.” I slam him up against the wall, my forearm against his throat.

“Did you hear what he said?” Blake struggles against me. He’s big, but I’m bigger. And I’m able to hold him back.

Tyler touches his bloody lip, then spits. “It was a fucking joke. Jesus, man.”

I have no clue how the kid even knows about Kiley, but there’s something in the way his lips curve up slightly, a hidden knowledge in his eyes, that makes me uneasy.

“You’re a douche, you know that, Slade?” Sebastian says, standing in Tyler’s way so he has to go around the other side of the benches.

“How does he even know about her?” I hiss, releasing Blake.

“He lives in the building.” He glares at Tyler, who’s still smirking at him, albeit on the far side of the room. “He saw us together.”

No. It’s more than that. The kid isn’t smart enough to put two plus two together, let alone figure out that Kiley’s my sister.

The guys are watching us, and more than a few brows are raised.

I turn on them, and growl out, “None of this shit is any of your business-”

“When it messes with the team, it is our business,” Sebastian says, leaning against the wall, arms crossed. “You’ve been a real asshat this past year. And now Blake has a pickle up his ass about something, which obviously has something to do with you.”

“We can talk about this later.”

“No. Fuck this shit. Since when do we hide things from each other? And why the hell does the kid think you’re screwing Kane’s sister?” He scowls at Blake, then at me.

“Kiley’s been staying with me,” Blake mutters. “I’m just helping her out.”

“Helping her with your tongue down her throat,” Tyler says, a cocky ass grin spreading across his face.

“Fuck off, Slade,” the three of us say in unison.

“As entertaining as this is,” Matt says, tossing a towel at us. “We’ve got a game to get ready for. Think you can get along for a few hours?”

“Yeah,” Sebastian grumbles, sitting down on the bench and pulling out his skates. Blake nods as well.

“You’re acting like pussies,” Austin Branson says across from us, dragging his hand through his blonde hair, then placing his helmet on. The kid is just as vulgar as Tyler, but when he speaks there isn’t the same animosity in his words. Just the boorish truth. “And why, because of a pair of tits? Hope they’re worth it. Because if you assholes don’t get your head out of your asses, you’ve already lost the game for us.”