Bear Meets Girl
Page 95
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I cant Crush began and Cella went up on her toes, placing her hand over his mouth.
You can. You will. Its not like we just bribed you guys so we can bring in drugs or something. Im just sorry I didnt think of it myself. Youd be all over me if I had, she teased.
And she knew thats what had him upset. I dont need this stuff from you, Crush insisted. I dont want it.
Im kidding, she told him.
Shes kidding, the coyote promised, not willing to give up those badges anytime soon.
Cella gave Conway directions to the owners seats, worried that Crush would go back to his nosebleed seats out of some sort of Crushek-morality thing.
She kissed him once more. Have fun, she ordered him. Or Nice Guy Malone will hear about it.
Oh, God, Crush said, appearing truly horrified. Your father
Is here and will be glad to see you. Laughing, she went to the locker room to get the rest of her gear on.
Jai stopped by on her way to check on everyone else shed been caring for since the last game.
Heads-up, Jai said, briskly writing damn notes on her damn clipboard.
Heads-up on what?
That Minnesota team.
What about em?
They have a reputation. So be careful. Id rather not have to repair your arteries tonight.
Got it. Cella winked at her and finished suiting up.
She met the rest of the team waiting in the hallway, where Van Holtz felt the need to say, I like him.
Who?
Your bear.
Hes not my bear. Hes a bear that I happen to be fucking at the moment.
Have you realized, MacRyrie asked her, that youre just like Novikov but with more charm and no OCD?
The direct thing?
Yeah, both bear and wolf said at the same time.
I like being direct. Then no one can hold shit over your head. Like when I got pregnant in high school. I ran around telling everybody. The nuns were horrified. But no one could shame me because Id already put it all out there. For everybody!
The team laughed until the announcer came on. Thats when Cella motioned to Reed and the other rookies shed been working with. Remember what I told you guys. Dont panic, dont get pissed. Just play. Got me? Now get out there and kick ass.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Crush again looked at his friend. This is your fault, he mouthed at him, and all Conway could do was shrug helplessly.
You know what I mean, right? Cellas fatherasked.
Uh-huh.
Because if you kill them, how can you get your money? You cant. Every good bookie knows that, which is why they liked me. I knew how to break bones and heads without actually killing anyone. Thats a skill, you know? A skill I have.
Crush nodded. Uh-huh. He looked at Conway again. Your fault!
Im sorry!
Shes out of the penalty box.
Thankful, because Nice Guy seemed to talk less when his daughter was on the ice, Crush focused on Cella. Hed have to admit, it was a tough game. The Minnesota team had a healthy mix of predators, but their best players were the hyenas. They were all from the same Clan and didnt like to give up their puck. They especially seemed to hate the Marauder. Must be the lion thing, because they kept going after him and Cella just kept getting in their way. There was a lot of blood on the ice and for once he couldnt just say it belonged only to the opposition. The team was fighting hard tonight to just keep the no-score going.
It was at times like this that Crush could see the benefit of Cella. She didnt back down, did she? And she always protected the Marauder. She kicked ass.
But as Crush watched the teams go at it, fighting for that puck, he noticed something right away. It was between the hyenas. Three of them. They skated around by their teams net, something silent passing between them. Then they shot off in three different directions.
Crush thought maybe it was his imagination, until Nice Guy stopped talkingthe man rarely stopped talking altogetherand leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, fingers steepled together.
Focusing back on the ice, Crush watched the hyenas circle around and behind the Carnivores goal. They were heading for the Marauder, again, and several players moved in to protect him. As they did, the hyenas broke off and went around them. It seemed normal. Until Crush realized that Cella was out on her own, away from the rest of the team, moving toward Novikov. She was focused on him, always watching out for her team more than herself. So she didnt see them coming. Didnt see them gunning right for her.
Jesus was the last thing Crush heard from Nice Guy Malone seconds before two hyenas ran right into Cella. Hit hard from two sides, she went airborne, her body spinning up and over. Yet she was feline and when she landed, she landed on two legs. Crush winced, knowing her bad knee must have felt that.
But as soon as Cella landed, the third hyena was there, ramming into her, low and at an angle. Right into her lower body. Her legs collided with the rink wall. The entire crowd roared with rage and awe at the bold move, but Crush heard Cellas roar above everything else and he knewknewwhat had just happened.
You can. You will. Its not like we just bribed you guys so we can bring in drugs or something. Im just sorry I didnt think of it myself. Youd be all over me if I had, she teased.
And she knew thats what had him upset. I dont need this stuff from you, Crush insisted. I dont want it.
Im kidding, she told him.
Shes kidding, the coyote promised, not willing to give up those badges anytime soon.
Cella gave Conway directions to the owners seats, worried that Crush would go back to his nosebleed seats out of some sort of Crushek-morality thing.
She kissed him once more. Have fun, she ordered him. Or Nice Guy Malone will hear about it.
Oh, God, Crush said, appearing truly horrified. Your father
Is here and will be glad to see you. Laughing, she went to the locker room to get the rest of her gear on.
Jai stopped by on her way to check on everyone else shed been caring for since the last game.
Heads-up, Jai said, briskly writing damn notes on her damn clipboard.
Heads-up on what?
That Minnesota team.
What about em?
They have a reputation. So be careful. Id rather not have to repair your arteries tonight.
Got it. Cella winked at her and finished suiting up.
She met the rest of the team waiting in the hallway, where Van Holtz felt the need to say, I like him.
Who?
Your bear.
Hes not my bear. Hes a bear that I happen to be fucking at the moment.
Have you realized, MacRyrie asked her, that youre just like Novikov but with more charm and no OCD?
The direct thing?
Yeah, both bear and wolf said at the same time.
I like being direct. Then no one can hold shit over your head. Like when I got pregnant in high school. I ran around telling everybody. The nuns were horrified. But no one could shame me because Id already put it all out there. For everybody!
The team laughed until the announcer came on. Thats when Cella motioned to Reed and the other rookies shed been working with. Remember what I told you guys. Dont panic, dont get pissed. Just play. Got me? Now get out there and kick ass.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Crush again looked at his friend. This is your fault, he mouthed at him, and all Conway could do was shrug helplessly.
You know what I mean, right? Cellas fatherasked.
Uh-huh.
Because if you kill them, how can you get your money? You cant. Every good bookie knows that, which is why they liked me. I knew how to break bones and heads without actually killing anyone. Thats a skill, you know? A skill I have.
Crush nodded. Uh-huh. He looked at Conway again. Your fault!
Im sorry!
Shes out of the penalty box.
Thankful, because Nice Guy seemed to talk less when his daughter was on the ice, Crush focused on Cella. Hed have to admit, it was a tough game. The Minnesota team had a healthy mix of predators, but their best players were the hyenas. They were all from the same Clan and didnt like to give up their puck. They especially seemed to hate the Marauder. Must be the lion thing, because they kept going after him and Cella just kept getting in their way. There was a lot of blood on the ice and for once he couldnt just say it belonged only to the opposition. The team was fighting hard tonight to just keep the no-score going.
It was at times like this that Crush could see the benefit of Cella. She didnt back down, did she? And she always protected the Marauder. She kicked ass.
But as Crush watched the teams go at it, fighting for that puck, he noticed something right away. It was between the hyenas. Three of them. They skated around by their teams net, something silent passing between them. Then they shot off in three different directions.
Crush thought maybe it was his imagination, until Nice Guy stopped talkingthe man rarely stopped talking altogetherand leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, fingers steepled together.
Focusing back on the ice, Crush watched the hyenas circle around and behind the Carnivores goal. They were heading for the Marauder, again, and several players moved in to protect him. As they did, the hyenas broke off and went around them. It seemed normal. Until Crush realized that Cella was out on her own, away from the rest of the team, moving toward Novikov. She was focused on him, always watching out for her team more than herself. So she didnt see them coming. Didnt see them gunning right for her.
Jesus was the last thing Crush heard from Nice Guy Malone seconds before two hyenas ran right into Cella. Hit hard from two sides, she went airborne, her body spinning up and over. Yet she was feline and when she landed, she landed on two legs. Crush winced, knowing her bad knee must have felt that.
But as soon as Cella landed, the third hyena was there, ramming into her, low and at an angle. Right into her lower body. Her legs collided with the rink wall. The entire crowd roared with rage and awe at the bold move, but Crush heard Cellas roar above everything else and he knewknewwhat had just happened.
