21. Emma

The chill in the air doesn"t deter Lily and me as we step onto the ice at the rink. The familiar sound of blades cutting through the ice and the distant echoes of hockey sticks hitting pucks create a comforting backdrop. I"m here to work with Lily, to teach her some new techniques that will hopefully elevate her game. The rink is our canvas, and the ice is where we paint our stories.

"Lily, let"s start with your footwork," I call out, as she glides across the ice. She nods, determination in her eyes. As we delve into the lesson, the rhythm of her movements syncs with the pulse of the rink. Lily"s passion for skating is evident in every stride, and I feel a surge of pride for how far she"s come.

Midway through our session Callie approaches with a furrowed brow. "Emma, have you talked to Drake today?" Her tone carries a sense of urgency.

I guide Lily to the side of the rink, giving Callie my full attention. "What"s going on?"

Callie takes a deep breath, her eyes flickering with concern. "The league is forcing him to sell the team to Loughlin. He stands to lose a lot of money, and the town might lose everything—the team, the rink, everything we"ve built."

My heart sinks at the news.

I could lose the rink?

"What? Why would the league force him to sell? And to Loughlin of all people?"

Callie lowers her voice. "I overheard some league members talking. They believe Drake"s ownership is a liability after Zane"s accident. Loughlin is pushing for it, and it seems like the league is giving in."

I clench my fists, frustration and anger bubbling within me. "This isn"t fair. Drake doesn"t deserve to lose everything because of one unfortunate incident. Zane made that choice, not him."

Callie nods sympathetically. "I know, Emma. It"s a mess. We need to figure out a way to help Drake and the team."

As I contemplate the gravity of the situation, a figure catches my eye outside the rink. Kade? What's he doing here? He waves and I walk over.

"Hey," I call out, trying to gauge his mood. "What brings you here?"

Kade turns to face me, a mix of determination and uncertainty in his eyes. "I have a meeting."

"Here? Are you going to see about playing? Rumor has it they're in the market for a new star player."

"Something like that," he chuckles. "I'll let you know after the meeting."

As Kade heads inside, Lily and Callie walk out, catching my eye. Lily"s expression is a mix of curiosity and concern. "Do you know that guy?"

"Yeah, he helped me start my car one day. We're friends although I think he wants it to be more."

"That's the Loughlin guy's grandson," Lily says.

Callie and I both look at her in surprise.

"Say again," Callie says.

"The other day when we were leaving and Zane got into a fight with that guy. I heard Loughlin ripping him a new one and that guy called him grandpa."

Surprise registers on my face. "What? Kade and Loughlin are related?"

Lily nods. "It seems that way. I don"t know the details, but it might explain why he"s here. Maybe he can help."

I shake my head. "Why wouldn't he tell me that?"

"Because, I think they were trying to get dirt on Drake. Do you think Loughlin was using Kade to get in between you and Drake?"

"No … I mean, maybe."

"How much do you know about him?"

"He said his family owns a skate manufacturing company and they wanted me to be the face of the company. He said he used to play hockey and his dream has always been coaching or owning."

"What does he do for a living?"

"He says he's the CEO of his family company."

"I'll do a little digging," Callie sighs. "Loughlin's grandparents founded a skate manufacturer and he's just on the board of it right now."

"Shit. How did I not know this?"

"Why would you think to ask? It's not like he ever approached you about the rink."

I nod my head before I shake it and blow out the frustration. Drake isn't responding to my calls or texts so I give him some space.

There are amends I need to make and air that I need to clear if I want to move forward in any fashion with Drake. The other day when he announced that he loved me, I'm not thrilled with the anxiety that clutched me in that moment.

I went through a lot of things to understand what that feeling was and why it was there. I didn't have a relationship with my father at all, there was so much hurt there and although I've been working on it I'm not ready for that conversation.

My relationship with Chasity is shattered, for the first twenty years of my life she was my best friend, my confidante, my savior, and we were constantly together until we weren't because I let my issues get in the way. I've always been so terrified of being abandoned because of my parents that I abandoned her before she could when she got married.

And then there's Zane. He was my first love. I'd had a crush on him and Drake for as long as I can remember but Drake never even noticed me. Zane did.

Zane and I bonded on our mutual abandonment issues from our parents" crappy existences. He'd made me promise so many times that I'd never leave him, but he never promised me those things. He cheated on me and that's something I couldn't come back to. I completely shut him out of my life because I wasn't strong enough not to continuously run back to him.

I've wondered recently if it was really the toxic love Zane and I shared, coupled with my toxic relationship with my father that drew me back to Willow Creek. The dopamine hit from the chaos Zane brought into my life. All I've ever really known was chaos and I've only just realized that over the last few months.

I make my way to Zane"s house, the weight of recent events hanging heavily on my shoulders. As I knock on the door, anticipation gnaws at me, wondering how he"s coping with the aftermath of the accident and the surgery that ended his hockey season, possibly his career.

Zane opens the door, a forced smile on his face. "Hey, Emma. What are you doing here?"

I step inside, taking in the subdued atmosphere of his house. "How are you holding up?"

He shrugs, the weariness in his eyes betraying his attempt at nonchalance. "I"ve been better. Sit down, let"s talk."

I settle into a chair, the concern evident in my gaze. "How are you really?"

He takes a deep breath, his facade crumbling. "It"s tough, Emma. Knowing I won"t be playing for who knows how long, the pain, and everything else."

"I get it. It's hard when something is your whole life and then suddenly it's gone."

"I've been trying to find a way to talk to you about something."

"Zane, I'm engaged to Drake. I love him. It's not …"

"It's not that," he chuckles. He blows out a breath. "But there"s something I need to tell you, something I"ve been keeping from everyone. There have been so many times over the last week that I was going to tell you and then … I didn't. The accident made me realize there's a problem and I have to fess up to my failures to purge them and move on."

"That's very wise. What is it, Zane?"

He hesitates, as if choosing his words carefully. "Emma, the person you"ve seen since you got home, the one who"s been making a mess of things—that"s not really me."

I furrow my brows, confusion settling in. "What do you mean? Zane, I"ve known you for years. Are you saying you"re not being yourself on purpose?"

He nods, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I was paid a substantial amount of money to act out, to cause trouble, and to create chaos. The person you"ve been dealing with is just an act. It"s not who I am anymore."

"Paid? By who? And why would you agree to something like that?"

Zane runs a hand through his hair, a mix of shame and regret in his eyes. "I had gambling debts, Emma. I owe a lot of money to some really bad men. They were threatening to kill my family or anyone I got close to. That's why I was such a dick to you, I had to push you away to keep you safe. I thought taking the money would solve my problems, that it would be a one-time thing. But whoever this is kept wanting more, and when I finally said no, things took a dark turn."

My heart sinks at the weight of his confession. "I'm not sure I understand."

"They wanted me to look into a few names, to dig up dirt on Drake. And then, they told me to expose Drake for murder."

My breath catches in my throat. "Murder? Zane, this is serious. You need to tell me everything. Who"s behind this, and what exactly do they want with Drake?"

Zane takes a deep breath, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and regret. "I don"t know who they are. They contacted me anonymously, through text. They would send money to me through Apple Pay. I never saw their face, and I never agreed to expose Drake for something he didn"t do. But after I refused, the pressure kept building, and then the car accident happened. I can"t help but think it"s not a coincidence."

"You were drunk."

"I wasn't that drunk. I only had a couple."

"Susie said you'd been there all day after practice."

"I had, but I was going slow trying to figure out what to do about the text messages and what I learned about Drake. It didn't help that he admitted to being in love with you. That was a hard pill to swallow. I guess I always thought you and I would end up back together."

My mind races, trying to make sense of the tangled web of deceit and danger. "Zane, you need to show me those messages. We might be able to trace the number and find out who"s behind all of this."

Zane nods, reaching for his phone. He scrolls through the messages, his hands slightly trembling.

"Sorry, I … I haven't had a drink since the accident and … I'm having withdrawals."

I grab his hand and hold it for a minute. "I'm so proud of you for that."

As he hands me the phone, I take screenshots of the messages and the anonymous number, determined to get to the bottom of this.

"Should I have taken this to the police?"

"I don't know," I sigh. "I'll see what I can find out and we'll go from there. If we have to involve the police we will. They're trying to take the team from Drake and possibly from Willow Creek. We have to …"

"I'll do whatever I can."

I nod before leaving Zane"s apartment, my mind is a whirlwind of emotions. The gravity of the situation sinks in—I"m dealing with a web of deceit, a dangerous game that has put Zane"s life at risk. It has the potential to hurt a lot more people too.

As I head home, I pull out my laptop and start digging into the messages, trying to trace the anonymous number.

Hours pass, and I uncover a trail of breadcrumbs leading to a dead end. The number seems untraceable, and frustration builds within me. I need answers, for Zane, for Drake, for the entire team. As I delve deeper into the investigation, I stumble upon a connection that sends shivers down my spine.

Drake"s past, a chapter he"s kept hidden, surfaces in my research. His former partner, now deceased, was involved in a mysterious incident that has left lingering questions. The details are murky, but the whispers of foul play are undeniable.

Fear grips my heart as I realize the gravity of what I"ve uncovered. The person behind Zane"s torment isn"t just after chaos; they"re targeting Drake for a dark secret buried in his past. The fear isn"t just for Drake"s reputation or the team—it"s for his safety.

I gather my findings, determined to confront Drake with the truth. As I head to the rink, my mind races with the weight of the revelations. The familiar sight of the rink, once a place of joy and camaraderie, now feels ominous.

Drake is in his office, the weight of the world evident in his eyes. I take a deep breath, pushing open the door. "Drake, we need to talk."

He looks up, exhaustion etched on his face. "Emma, what"s going on?"

I sit down, placing the evidence before him. "Zane"s been manipulated, Drake. The person behind all of this is after something more than chaos. They"re targeting you, and they"re using Zane to do it."

Drake furrows his brows, studying the screenshots and the information before him. As the pieces fall into place, a mix of shock and realization washes over his face. "I don"t understand. Why would someone do this? What do they want with me?"

"Tell me who Toby is."

Drake"s gaze darkens as he stands up and begins pacing.