Vlad sulked the following day, unsure how things with Rachel had spiraled out of control. He wanted to turn her over his knee and spank her like a child, but instead he’d thrown his shit in his bag and stormed out of the house. He’d done a hundred miles an hour out on the open road once he got past the Los Angeles city limits and was home in less than three hours. Then he paced, cursed, and finally got shitfaced before passing out.

He woke to the sound of his alarm and stomped into the bathroom, more frustrated now than he’d been in Russia. Nine days off, practically ruining his hockey career for her, and he’d made no headway at all with her. He didn’t believe her story about not wanting to adopt kids; she was still trying to protect him. He only wished her reasons were easier to figure out. This was no longer about what he’d done the day of their wedding or even her inability to have kids. His gut told him Rachel was so angry about what fate had thrown at her, she wasn’t even willing to let the man who loved her get her through it.

He wanted to be there, even if she yelled, stomped, and cried, but walking away from hockey for a woman who was deliberately sabotaging what they had wouldn’t be prudent. Especially since he’d done something similar on their wedding day and had learned first-hand how impactful the repercussions could be. Unfortunately, she wasn’t listening, and his immediate focus had to be on getting his legs back under him.

He hadn’t been on skates in ten days and that was far too many in the middle of hockey season. He’d ran, swam, and done as many crunches, sit-ups, and pull-ups as he could manage every day, but it wasn’t the same as skating. As much as he loved her, he’d seen the angry, bitter side of her and realized she needed space. She was the one with demons now, and though he’d drop everything and go to her if she reached out, for now he had to work on his own needs. He’d put his own disappointment aside to be there for her, but that wasn’t feasible anymore.

Grabbing his bag, he headed out so to get to the arena early. He desperately wanted to see his teammates and enjoy the camaraderie and friendship they shared. Being immersed in his past and then Rachel’s illness was sucking the life out of him. In a perfect world, it wouldn’t have been his first choice, but in his world, he needed a little break. Maybe she did, too.

* * *

He walked into the locker room and was happy to see a few of the guys already there. They welcomed him back with friendly greetings, asking about his injured ankle and how Rachel was. He kept the conversation focused on hockey and was relieved when Brock came in.

“Hey.” Brock started changing into his gear. “Good to have you back.”

“It’s good to be back.” As much as it hurt to have left Rachel, Vlad was almost surprised at how much he’d missed hockey.

“You talked to Rachel?” he asked under his breath.

“Not since I left, no.” Vlad pretended to search for something in his bag to avoid eye contact.

“Ash said she’s being really weird.”

“No shit,” Vlad muttered in response.

“All this and you’re not back together?”

“Not my fault this time. Everything was great and then she started some bullshit about not being interested in adopting.”

“Huh?” Brock looked as confused as Vlad felt.

“Yup. She said if she couldn’t have her own kids, she didn’t want to raise someone else’s, and since she knows I want a family, we should be done now instead of later.” He threw up his hands. “I don’t know what she wants or how to help her. For now, I’m giving her space. I love her but the constant pushing me away is exhausting. Maybe we both need a little time.”

“Sounds reasonable.” Brock put a hand on his shoulder. “Just don’t give up. She’s going through a lot, you know?”

“I do know. But I have to do what’s right for me while she’s getting her head on straight. If she calls, I’ll be there in a heartbeat. If not, well, I guess we just have to see. She was kind of…mean? Like she was trying really hard to push me away. I can see through it, but how much do I endure while she’s pushing me away? She waited until our last day together, so I know she did it on purpose, knowing I had to get back to Vegas.”

“I’m sorry, man.”

“It is what it is.”

Most of the team was there by then and Vlad put Rachel out of his mind. He’d call her on his next day off, but for now, he wasn’t going to think about anything but hockey.

* * *

Rachel moped after Vlad left, too, hating herself for hurting him and hoping she’d done what was best. If only she hadn’t broken her own heart in the process. The things she’d said were out of character for her and she was certain he hadn’t believed them, but she’d finally managed to make him mad enough to leave. She hadn’t known how else to handle it because she’d fallen back in love with him so hard it was difficult to think straight when they were together. It was that easy to love him.

Her phone rang, and Ashleigh’s name flashed on the screen. She’d been avoiding her, too, yet something else that made her feel like shit, and as she boarded her flight to Arizona, she sent her a quick text instead of answering.

I’m on a plane, getting ready to take off. Going off-grid for a week at a spa, need to get myself together. Don’t worry, I’m taking care of myself and I’ll text once a day. Sorry I’ve been a bitch, I’ll talk to you when I get back. Love you.

She turned off her phone and closed her eyes. The next thing she knew they’d touched down and she was walking out the gate towards the waiting car service. It took an hour to get to the spa and she was immediately checked in.

When she was finally able to lay down and rest, her feelings for Vlad were the only thing on her mind. The hurt in his eyes as she’d threatened to call the cops. What a horrid thing to do, she thought miserably. She’d tried to make excuses to herself, but she’d been rotten to him solely to make him leave and go back to hockey. He’d hurt her on their wedding day, but he’d been willing to give up everything to make it up to her and that wasn’t an option. No matter how much she loved him. He was important enough to her to let him go back to what he loved, which was hockey. At least that part of her tirade had been honest.

Coward. The word made her cringe as it settled in her gut as though it were a real thing. She was so busy feeling sorry for herself, she’d let her fears about the changes in her life cost her the man she loved, her soulmate.

She fell into a restless sleep, waking when her alarm went off for dinner. She didn’t feel social tonight, so she requested it be delivered to her room and turned on the TV. Were the Sidewinders playing tonight? She flipped around until she found the game, grateful it was televised. And there he was. Her heart beat a little faster watching him on the ice. Hockey was truly his calling, what he was born to do. She’d always loved watching him play, but it was particularly poignant now, knowing he wasn’t hers anymore. This hurt more than when he’d left her at the altar; willingly giving him up had been spectacularly stupid.

When he scored the first goal, she jolted up in bed, pumping her fist in excitement and then wincing at the pain in her abdomen. She was okay, though. The doctor had said as long as she didn’t overdo it, she could start walking and light yoga, so she wasn’t worried about the occasional twinges. Besides, watching Vlad was fun and made her feel closer to him. She was torturing herself by doing so, but he was worth it.

She sent a spontaneous text to Ashleigh: Was that a beautiful goal or what?

You’re watching?

Of course. They’ll always be my team, especially with Brock there.

Holy shit, he just scored again!

What?

Rachel turned to the TV in time to see him one-time the goal right through the goalie’s legs and a smile spread across her face. He was out there showing them how important he was to them and nothing made her prouder. Even though the way she’d sent him away filled her with shame. Even though she ached for him now more than ever.

His third goal brought on tears and she let them fall unchecked as she watched the team pile on top of him in celebration. He’d scored a hat trick the first time she’d attended a game after they’d started dating and the memories came flooding back.

Damn, girl, what’d you do to him? He’s on fire!

Rachel stared at her phone and smiled through her tears. At least he was okay. Her heart was gutted, but he was kicking ass and taking names on the ice, which made her happy.

* * *

Vlad scored three goals his first game back with the team and four the following night. It was nuts, and his teammates and coaches all joked he should get injured more often. Coach Barnett was quieter than the others, eyeing his current star player worriedly, but Vlad assured him he was fine. After how supportive he’d been, there was no way Vlad would let his coach know anything other than he and Rachel were taking things one day at a time. She was doing better physically, and he tried to tell himself that was all that mattered.

Coming back from a quick trip to Dallas, he got off the plane feeling a little less excited than he’d been on the road. Playing well kept him distracted but going home to his lonely apartment would most likely bring everything going on crashing down around him and he didn’t have time for that. He tried to tell himself hockey was more important than anything else, but neither his heart nor his brain was having it.

He was so lost in thought, at first he didn’t notice Toli fall into step beside him when they got off the plane and headed towards their vehicles.

“What’s up?” he asked, eventually looking up at him.

“Why don’t you come over to the house?” he asked quietly.

“Now?” Vlad frowned. “What’s going on?”

“I have to show you something, and I think it’s better to do it in private.”

“What is it?”

“Just come over, okay?”

“Sure.” Vlad followed him home and into the house. It was late and Tessa and the children were asleep, so Vlad followed him quietly. Toli went right to the kitchen counter and picked up a FedEx envelope, holding it out to Vlad.

“I apologize for being sneaky about this, but I wanted answers, too.”

“About what?” Vlad was confused.

“As we discussed, my father could have simply denied everything and gone about his business. Instead, he went off on me, which can only mean he’s hiding something he wants me to know.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“I stole your toothbrush.”

Vlad cocked his head. “That’s where it went? I couldn’t figure out what the fuck happened to it and I had to ask the hotel for a disposable one. What the fuck?”

“I needed it to do a DNA test.”

“A DNA test?”

Toli snatched the package out of his hand, ripped it open and pulled out the papers.

“What is that? What’s going on, Toli?”

Toli glanced down and started to read. Then he just shook his head, handed Vlad the papers and sank onto the nearest barstool. “Wow,” was all he said. “I thought I’d be wrong, but I guess not.”

“What does…?” Vlad’s voice faded, and he frowned as he tried to decipher the results of a test he didn’t understand.

“I sent a sample of my own DNA along with yours.”

“This says familial match. What does that mean?”

“It means we’re brothers. Half-brothers, to be specific.”

“Brothers.” Vlad repeated the word but couldn’t seem to comprehend the meaning.

“My father is your father, Vlad. My father is the married man your mother had an affair with.”

“Oh my God.” Vlad sank onto the stool next to Toli’s and his breath left him in a rush.

“Holy shit.”

They were quiet for a long time, each lost in thought as they tried to sort through myriad emotions.

“I’m sorry,” Vlad said after a moment.

“You’re sorry?” Toli stared at him in surprise. “For what? You didn’t do anything. This was my father’s doing, not yours. If anyone should be apologizing it’s me, for living a great life while you grew up in hell.”

“This isn’t on us,” Vlad said quietly. “You and I had nothing to do with what they did.”

“What are you thinking?” Toli was eyeing him.

“Nothing,” the younger man admitted. “I’m blank. I can’t even…” He took a breath. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I need to go. I need time to process all of this. I’m not upset with you, I just need to be alone.”

“You know this isn’t something you can tell anyone, yes?”

Vlad met his gaze. “Other than you, I don’t have anyone to tell.”

“Vlad, you sure you don’t want to stay? You can crash in the guest room and we can sit and talk…”

“Not tonight.” Vlad put a hand on his shoulder. “Really. I want to be alone, think about things.”

“You’ll call if you need anything?”

“Of course.” Vlad nodded and hurriedly pulled out his keys, making a hasty exit. This wasn’t what he’d been expecting at all. He hadn’t given much thought to the idea his father might be someone he knew, but he’d met and spent time with Anatoly. He had a close, intimate relationship with his father’s son, his half-brother, and it was overwhelming. With far too much information to process, all he wanted was to be alone.