42. Zane

42

ZANE

I didn't expect the wedding to change much in my life, but somehow, everything feels different.

Mira and I still live together, but we're in a house that we own.

We already had Aiden to take care of, but now, we're trying for more kids and talking about baby names while we lie in bed.

At the risk of sounding like some happy schmuck in a movie montage, my world is so much bigger now. There are so many possibilities—and Mira is in every single one of them.

It's a good fucking life.

"How's marriage treating you?"

I spin around, ready to tell Davis or one of my other idiot groomsmen that the news is still on the down low.

But instead, standing behind me is the very last person I want to see.

Carson fucking Deluth is wearing a smirk he has no right to. He leans in, speaking in a harsh whisper. "Sorry, was that supposed to be secret? You and Mira were just so cute at the charity event. She was so happy to be your wife. I thought it was public knowledge."

I run my tongue over my teeth. "It's rude to eavesdrop."

"It's also rude to cheat on your brand new wife."

I slam my locker closed and turn to face him fully, arms crossed. "What?"

"That's good." He circles a finger at my face. "That's a very believable frown. If you do this with Mira, she just might believe you haven't been fucking another woman for the last six months."

I can't help it, I laugh. "I think you've Googled my name one too many times, man. You're deep in the trashiest tabloids if you believe that."

"I don't need to believe it; I just need enough other people to. And since your past is checkered at best and I have a firsthand witness willing to go on the record—" He lifts his shoulders in a shrug. "Well, I like my chances. Let's put it that way."

Adrenaline is thrumming through my veins, but my body is oddly still. My heart rate is steady. My head is clear.

"Why?" I grit out.

"Because I deserve to be captain," he spits. "You've fooled a lot of people, but I know better. So does your assistant. Or your ex-assistant, I suppose. It was actually her idea to start the cheating scandal. Apparently, she wants to destroy your wife as much as I want to destroy you. We have that in common."

There are still people in the showers, but otherwise, Carson and I are alone. It's dangerous. I could kill him and no one would see a thing.

And fuck, do I want to kill him.

"Mira won't believe you or Hanna."

"Maybe. Maybe not." He seems relaxed for someone carrying out blackmail. "If you drop out of the race for captain, you won't have to put that theory to the test."

Again, I laugh. But it comes out sharp and bitter. "This is really about being captain?"

He ignores me, lifting his chin in challenge. "Between the cheating scandal and making the announcement that you're now a married man, reporters are going to be crawling all over you. It'll be bad press for the team. Coach would never let you become captain after that."

Carson is threatening my future career, but all I can hear is that he's sending the media my way. Mira's way .

I've finally carved out some peace and quiet for her, and he wants to shatter it with cameras and publicity. If Dante doesn't know where our new house is yet, he will once my face and a million ridiculous, scandalous headlines are plastered all over the internet.

He'll find her. He'll come for her.

I hear Mira's voice from the other night in my head. I can take care of myself.

I know she can. I also know she didn't mean it the way it sounded—she didn't mean that she doesn't want me to take care of her—but the words still stuck.

How many years are we going to have to be together before she realizes that I will take care of her? That she doesn't have to do it alone anymore?

I'm not sure, but that thought is the reason I don't waste time saying another word to Carson Deluth…

I just launch myself at him.

Carson yells as I slam into his chest, but the sound dies when the air rushes out of his lungs when I take him to the floor. My vision is red. I'm operating on some deep, animal level as I rear back and drive my fist into his stupid fucking face.

Again and again.

Carson gets a few shots in, mostly to my ribs and my chest. I grunt, but I don't slow down.

Not until hands grab me from behind.

"Whoa, Zane!" Jace is shouting in my ear, utilizing every decibel of his captain's voice. "Back off. Enough. Stop!"

Davis and Nathan are picking Carson up off the floor, but I'm still lunging for him. I can't stop. Not when he's threatening my family.

Not when he's coming after what is mine.

Jace spins around to face me and plants both hands on my chest. "Zane, look at— Look at me! "

Finally, I tear my eyes from Carson's bloody nose and his split lip. Jace's face is red, but his eyes are pleading.

"Stop," he growls. "Don't do this."

"He threatened Mira!" I spit loud enough that my voice echoes off the stone walls. "He came for my family because he wants to be the fucking captain. How—" I lean around Jace, talking only to Carson now. "How do you not realize I'm out of the running for captain? I have been since I walked out of this locker room before we played the Firebirds. If you haven't put that together, maybe you're too stupid to be captain."

A few whispers echo through the locker room. It's the first time I've said out loud what everyone has been thinking.

I'm not going to be captain.

But I don't care.

"I don't regret leaving, by the way. I don't regret it because, as much as I love this team, I'll do anything to protect my family. From the media, from people who want to hurt them, or from fuckheads like you?—"

I lunge again, but Jace pins me against the locker. "Zane, seriously. Enough."

I fight him for a second before I sag back, hands raised. "I'm done. I'm done. He isn't worth it."

Jace doesn't buy it, though, and I don't blame him. He keeps his hands on my chest as the rest of the team starts to file in like a bunch of rubberneckers here to see an accident.

But I don't care about any of them. I jab a finger at Carson as he swipes his wrist over his bloody lip. "You're a piece of shit, Deluth. You're shady and you don't give a fuck about anyone but yourself. I can put up with your bullshit—until you start fucking with my family. Don't ever," I spit, leaning over Jace's shoulder to get as close to Carson's face as I can, "threaten my family again, or I'll end you."

"That's enough." Coach is standing in his doorway, leaning against the frame. I'm not sure when he got here, but he looks as tired of this shit as I am. "Show's over. Clear out and go home."

Carson's face flames red. He dips his head as he passes the office door. "Sorry, Coach."

Maybe I'm still high on adrenaline, but I swear Coach's eyes narrow.

I may not be in the running for captain—but after this little stunt, Carson might not be, either.