Cage's Misconduct (NHL Scorpions #3) by Nikki Worrell Read Free Book Online Page A

Their goalie is one of the best in the league. You have to constantly pepper him with shots. Every fucking time you’re in their zone, I want that puck shot on goal.” He bent down and scooped up the broken pieces of his clipboard, but he wasn’t done. “Each and every goddamn one of you better kiss Cage’s ass on the way out of here. He stopped sixteen shots in that period alone. Sixteen shots for New York to your three! Get out there and shoot the goddamn puck. And maybe the defense could help out our goalie, eh? Are we clear?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “You got it, Coach.”
    “We’re clear.”
    All heads swung toward Keith after the coach’s exit. “You heard him. We sucked. We sat on our heels the whole period. Cage is the only reason we’re still tied. Well, fuck that. Let’s go make the game a little more interesting.”
    I got some slaps to my pads on the way out in recognition of my play, but it wasn’t as heartfelt as it should have been. What did I have to do to make them appreciate me? They’d treated Vlad like he was a fucking god when he was their goalie. I knew I’d rubbed a few people the wrong way in the past, but I’d gotten better—and Vlad was gone. I even made sure I fucking smiled more, for Christ’s sake! Was it too much to ask that maybe a few of them could be a little friendlier? Maybe just a little bit more encouraging? You know what? Fuck ‘em. Did I really even need them? Hell, no. I just needed to win.
    The third period went much like the second, with one fortunate exception. We scored the only goal. It wasn’t pretty, but we’d won. Granted, it could have been a much sweeter victory, but I’d take the win anyway we got it. And I was absolutely the reason we won. You think it was cocky for me to think that way? Maybe, but if I wasn’t so sure of myself, there was no way I could’ve saved forty-two shots. Well, forty-one. The end tally was forty-two shots for New York and sixteen for San Diego. Fucking pathetic. Pretty amazing we pulled a win out of that shit.
    ***
    Karen
     
    “Well, at least we won.” The lot of us were still in the club box waiting for the crowd to thin before attempting to exit with the masses. I planned on going to wait for Cage in the players’ parking lot anyway. I figured I had plenty of time before he got out there. He’d be a while, celebrating with the team and showering after.
    Vlad got up to stretch his hip out. He’d had issues with avascular necrosis, which affected the bone tissue in his hip. While the surgery to repair it was a success, he still tended to get stiff when he sat for too long. “Thank God for Cage. Shit, did I just say that?”
    “Funny, Dad. Cage was the star player and you know it. They never would have won if he wasn’t in net.”
    “Oh, no. Of course not, Crystal. Cage is just about perfect, isn’t he?” Zoe teased her, and Vlad ran a hand lovingly over her hair. Right at that moment I felt something funny inside. I think it was envy. They were a family. There was a lot of love there.
    “He may not be perfect, but he certainly has some great qualities.” I knew he was caring. I knew he’d go to great lengths for the people in his life. And I knew he was one hell of a goalie.
    I started toward the door with the last of the stragglers. “I think I’m going to grab a bite to eat before I go out to meet Cage.”
    “Can we go too, Daddy?”
    Vlad shook his head no, but smiled to soften his negative answer. “We can’t, sweetheart. We’re meeting your Uncle Aidan and Uncle Gary at home for your movie marathon, remember?”
    “Movie marathon?” I was curious. I loved movies.
    Crystal had Zoe’s brother and his partner wrapped around her little finger, and since all three of them loved horror movies, they got together once a month for a horror movie marathon. Zoe was vocal about their chosen genre. “I don’t know what you all see in those scary movies. I’d have nightmares for a week! I still can’t believe my