Chapter 26

Chapter Twenty-Six

T he game's gone into overtime. We're at the shootout stage. O'Neil is up first. We're all waiting, ready to jump the boards if he scores.

I watch as he skates towards the net. He fakes a left, then a right. And as the goalie leans to one side, O'Neil contorts his body in an inhuman way to slap the puck to the left again. That little black disc flies right over the goalie's right glove and hits the back of the net.

"Fuck yeah!" I yell. Jumping over the boards, rushing towards Travis, and landing on his back. "Yes!" I slap his shoulder while the rest of the team piles on top of us. "You did it."

Anyone would think we just won the Cup, but the thing about the Knights is we treat every game like it's the playoffs. And this year, we will be returning. We will be keeping that title in Vancouver.

After all the presentations, I finally get to hit the showers. I can't wait to get back to my wife. I want to take her to the hotel and spend the night celebrating this win with her, preferably buried between her legs.

Montana is waiting with Liliana and Enzo when I walk out of the locker room. "Everything okay?" I ask, my eyes flicking between the three of them .

"Everything's good. Where you heading now?" Enzo says.

"The hotel." I look from Enzo to Montana. "Unless you wanted to go somewhere else?"

She bites her bottom lip. "No, I'm really tired. The hotel is exactly where I want to go."

I take Montana's hand in mine and smile before turning to Liliana. "Where are you guys headed?"

"I'm waiting for Travis. He's following you two back to the hotel," she says.

"You sure? You don't have to do that," I reply as Gray walks out of the locker room to join us.

"Yeah, I'll come. There's a circus of paps out front," Enzo tells me.

"Okay. Appreciate it."

"We're going in through the back," Gray says. "I've already made the arrangements. A driver's picking us up now."

I don't know what I'd do without my friends. I mean, I'd hire security for Montana, of course. There's no amount of money I wouldn't spend to keep her safe. That much I know. But their support is invaluable. It's nice knowing these guys have our backs.

Once we're in the car, Montana turns to Gray. "I have a favor to ask. "

"You do?" he replies, looking just as shocked as I feel.

"I heard you have an ice rink in your house, and I was kind of wondering if I could see it," Montana clarifies.

"That's not a favor," Gray tells her. "Luke has keys. He can bring you ?round whenever you want."

"You guys have keys to each other's homes?" Montana looks between us. "Is this the kind of bromance where I'm going to have to share my husband's time with you?" She directs the question to Gray.

"Absolutely, fucker couldn't last a day without me," he deadpans.

"Fuck off. I could live plenty fine without seeing your ugly mug," I tell him, then turn in my seat to look at Montana. "If you want an ice rink, I'll build you one of your own. But first… say it again."

"I don't want one." She laughs. "I was just curious. I've never seen an ice rink inside someone's house before. And say what again?"

"Who am I to you?"

"My husband." She smiles at me.

"That. That's what I wanted to hear. I love hearing you say that." I lean over, grip her chin between my thumb and index finger, and drop my mouth to hers. If we were alone in this car, I'd have her moaning beneath me in minutes. But we're not, and I don't like to share.

Montana is nervous, scared, and I can tell she'd rather be literally anywhere but back in our hometown. Gray arranged to have the Monroe jet make a detour so we could stop here before returning to Vancouver.

We've just left my parents' place. I haven't brought up visiting her father again. I think that's something we can discuss another day. When she's ready. There is one other stop I need to make though. And I really don't know how Montana will feel about it. Although I get my answer as soon as the car pulls into the cemetery.

"Why are we here?" she asks.

"I need to talk to Sean." I watch her face, looking for the slightest hint of discomfort.

"Why? You do know he can't hear you, right?"

"Maybe, maybe not. But I just married his baby sister, and I need to tell him. You want to come with me?" I hold out my hand when I step down from the car, more than a little surprised when Montana accepts the offer. Honestly, I thought she'd opt to stay behind.

"I've been writing to him," she admits as we make our way through the cemetery towards Sean's headstone. "In my journal."

"Do you think it helps?"

"I don't know."

"Well, it can't hurt, right?" I say, stopping when I spot his name in stone. A wave of emotions hits me. I haven't been back here since he was put in the ground. I didn't trust myself enough to risk seeing her again. "Did you come here a lot?" It's clear the site has been well cared for.

"At first, I did. I, um, after the third time Andrew hit me, I came here. I begged Sean for help. Like I said, he can't hear you." Montana won't look me in the eye.

My hand tightens around hers. "I'm sorry." I pull her closer to me and my arm wraps around her shoulder. "I don't even know where to start," I admit.

"Just say whatever's on your mind. Who knows? Maybe he'll listen to you?" She smiles. "He might have just been busy when I came. I bet they have the best ice up in heaven."

"I fucking hope so." I laugh.

Dropping my arm from her shoulders, I take hold of her hand again and together we kneel in front of his headstone. I try to find the words, try to figure out how to tell him what I need to say.

"I know you're not going to approve or like what I'm about to tell you, but you're going to have to find a way to get over it. Because this is real. I married Tanna, Sean. I guess that makes us brothers now. I would have loved for you to have been there. She looked beautiful. She is beautiful. But I needed you to hear it from me. I don't know if there's like angel gossip lines or whatever, but I didn't want to risk you finding out from someone else." I sigh, running my free hand through my hair. "I should have told you how much in love with your sister I was when you were here. Who knows? Maybe if I did, a lot of things would have turned out differently." I glance across to Montana. She gives me a reassuring smile so I keep going. "I want you to know that I'm going to look after her. I'm going to love her right, Sean. I promise I won't let anyone hurt her ever again."

"Sean, I love him and he makes me happy. He treats me right. Don't be too hard on him," Montana says.

We sit here for a few minutes, silently holding hands. And when I feel the first drops of rain, I bring Montana up to her feet as I stand. "Thank you for doing this with me," I tell her.

"You and me together, always, right?"

"Always." I lean in and kiss her.

The sound of a gunshot has me pulling away from her mouth. Montana gasps for breath as I pick her up and run for the car, where Gray is holding the back door open for us. Just as I reach him, another shot sounds out, and I practically throw Montana to safety. As soon as the door is closed behind Gray, the SUV screeches out of the cemetery. It's only then that I look at Montana. Her face is pale, and she's holding a blood-covered hand over her stomach.

"No!" I scream and my vision blurs. No. This isn't happening. "We need a fucking hospital, now." I don't know who I'm telling, but I do hear Gray give the driver directions. My hand covers Montana's. "It's going to be okay. You're going to be okay, Tanna. You are going to be okay," I repeat.

"I love you," she says, her voice quiet.

"No, you stay awake, Tanna. Do not go to sleep. Don't leave me," I plead with her .

"I love you, Luke." She heaves a breath. "Always. Thank you for marrying me." Her voice is a whisper as her eyes close.

"No, Tanna! Please wake up." I scoop her onto my lap. "Drive faster. We need a fucking doctor!" I yell out while holding Montana's lifeless body against my chest.