Feint left.

Mason's not clear - shit.

Where the fuck is Hugo?

"Turner!"

I look to my right - ah, there's Hugo.

I pass to him but Sam steals.

So I chase, down the rink faster than these buff boys can go. I intercept, and steal the puck back much to Sam's annoyance. He yells and chases after me but I've already passed the puck to Mason and continued on as if I still have it - the perfect distraction.

Mason passes to Hugo and he takes a shot, blocked by Anthony at first but Mason gets the rebound and hits the net in the upper left corner, ending the scrimmage and giving us the win over fellow junior Oscar Bradshaw's team.

I whip my helmet off and pull the elastic out my hair, shaking it out so it falls across my shoulders. 

I'm tired, hot and overwhelmed by the prospect of my first game this weekend but my smile doesn't falter as I skate over to Mason who's smiling proudly at me from the end of the rink.

"Well Cap? How am I shaping up?" I ask.

"Baby you know I'm obsessed with your shape." he replies with a wink.

I wack him with my stick as he chuckles.

He closes the small distance between us and kisses my forehead.

"You're doing brilliant Lex, you know you are. You've got half the team quaking in their skates that they'll lose their spot to make way for more figure skater transfers."

"Would that be such a bad thing?"

"If it's my temperamental cousin who makes the switch then yes, it's a bad thing." Anthony chimes in.

"Lay off her Anthony. She's no more dramatic than you." I counter.

"Now now Lexi, you're on my team now. You've gotta be on my side." he protests.

"I don't have to do shit Preston." I chuckle, "Besides, it's rather enjoyable watching you be emasculated by a sweet, 5ft 3 version of yourself."

The guys chuckle and Anthony shoves them off as we're recalled to the centre line by Coach.

"Gentlemen, I suggest you thank your new team member. With Turner on the rink you actually look worth your funding."

 I chuckle, "Thanks Coach."

He winks at me and I know he said what he did mostly because he enjoys messing with his players. He's aware of the calibre of talent he has on his team, I don't doubt he's using me as a challenge to push them harder and I don't mind one bit. I'm back in my sport because of him. If he wanted me to skate naked to work on their ability to focus I think I'd have a hard time denying him.

"Go shower, then get some rest. You have a rest day tomorrow but I expect you all here bright and early Saturday morning. I'll be dammed if St. Augustines get a practice in on our ice before the game and if you're on it, they can't have it."

I think Coach told us to be here early for a pre-game session but I can't be certain. I didn't hear much after 'St. Augustines'.

"The line-up..." I whisper to myself.

"Lex?... Lexi you good?" Sam calls out but I jump when he touches my shoulder.

His eyes flare with alarm as I fall into Mason.

"Woah, falling for me again are you princess?" he chuckles.

But the jokes stop when he looks between Sam and I, his gaze lingering on my face.

"What's going on?" he asks, his jaw setting in concern.

"The line-up." I repeat but it's still too quiet. I turn to Coach Rickards and clear my throat, "Who's in the line-up for St. Augustines?"

Coach raises an eyebrow suspiciously but looks down at his clipboard nonetheless.

"Jonah Reeves, Ollie Stevens, Uriah Jameson..." The list continues, my panic rising anytime I hear him begin a 'J' name. It reaches a crescendo when the syllables roll off Coach's tongue. "Jason Lowell"

Mason's gaze snaps to mine but I close my eyes, unable to look at him.

"Shit!" Mason curses and I can feel the confusion reverberating through the team without having to look at them.

"Everyone but Jennings and Turner, go. Now."

The team startle and skate from the rink, leaving Coach, Mason and I looking like the 'no evil' monkeys. I see no evil with my eyes shut, Mason hears no evil as he rants expletives and Coach is speaking no evil when I crack my eyes open and see him rubbing his hand over his mouth in deep thought.

"One of you spill it."

Mason doesn't even spare me a glance before he turns to Coach and says, "Lexi's off the line-up for Saturday."

His blunt words hit me so hard he may has well have physically slapped me.

"Excuse me?" I screech.

"Coach, as Captain it is my duty to put the team's best foot forward but also to keep them safe. Having Turner on the rink not only puts her in danger but will distract several members of the team in ensuring she isn't harmed. We will lose this game."

Coach is silent and I can't find the words to fill the empty space.

Mason has no faith in me. To him, I'm still the 13 year old girl who needs protection from the monsters in her life.

"Alexandra." Coach says, grabbing my attention.

"Yes Coach?"

"I want to know in short, to the point words why Jennings is so concerned."

"Coach I-" Mason tries to intervene but Coach holds up a hand.

"I want to hear it from her."

I swallow the bile in my throat, "Jason Lowell is my step-brother."

"And that presents an issue because?" Coach nudges, though from the dark look on his face I think he already suspects the worse.

'We will lose the game'

Mason's declaration plays over in my head.

Not if I can help it.

"There is no issue Sir."

Mason looks at me, eyes blazing with alarm.

"Don't lie to me Turner." Coach snaps.

"I'm not lying Coach. He's not a good person but we have no contact and no relationship. He's as good as a stranger to me."

"Then why the extreme reaction from the both of you?"

Mason opens his mouth but I jump in first.

"I don't enjoy seeing him Coach, as I said he's not a good person. But he will not affect my game," I turn to Mason, "Though I can't say the same about my Captain. He's seems emotionally charged Coach."

Mason looks furious at my remark but Coach taps his shoulder with his stick before he can say anything.

Holding the bridge of his nose he release a sigh, "Both of you, leave your HBO drama off my rink. Play fair and play well. If I catch even a glimmer of interference during the game aimed at or because of Jason Lowell I'm pulling you both off. Understood?"

"Yes Coach" Mason and I say in tandem.

"Dismissed." He finishes and I skate off the rink without a second look at my boyfriend.

I make it ten steps at most down the hall before Mason is on me, blocking my path with his body.

"What the fuck are you thinking?" he snaps.

I glare up at him, "Well I was thinking you're a misogynistic prick who doesn't think a little girl like me can handle herself but now I'm just thinking how easy it would be to knee what you value most from this angle."

"Stop pissing about Lexi. This isn't a joke."

"I wouldn't say that. I think this macho act is downright hilarious." I quip.

"Fuck sake Lexi! Take this seriously!"

I step into his personal space and push his back, "I am taking this seriously. Newsflash Mason, it's my life we're talking about. My step-brother, my past, my place on the team. You need to stop abusing your rank to get your way. I'm a damn good player and I deserve to be on the rink on Saturday."

"I never said you didn't deserve it, stop putting words in my mouth. You surely can see the problem though?"

"You're the only one with a problem Mason." I snap.

Mason places his hands on my shoulders, "Think about it Lex. Who do you think Jason is going to target, hm? It won't be Sam or Hugo or Seb because he doesn't know them from Adam. Hell it probably won't even be me. He's going to go after you and he's was 6ft 2, 6ft 3 now? Probably benches more than you weigh? If he barrels into you, there's no maybe - you will get hurt."

"I'm glad you have so much faith in me." I scoff.

"Jesus Lexi, this isn't about you. It's not you I don't trust. Even with how fast you are, it only takes one hit and instead of you partying your way home, you'll be blue lighted all the way to the ER."

I push Mason's hands off me, "I've fought off bigger men than Jason and I'll do it again if I have to."

"You're being reckless." Mason snaps.

"No, no you're being overprotective and narrow minded. Your concern is suffocating me Mason! Would you behave like this if it was someone from Sam's past, Hugo's, hm?"

"I'd be concerned about anyone with a past like you have with Jason." He bites out.

I shake my head, "Not like this you wouldn't. You'd keep an eye on them sure, but you wouldn't bench them like you're trying to do to me."

"They can-" Mason starts but he stops himself.

I chuckle, "They can what? Take care of themselves?" I move into his space again, "Newsflash Mason, I've been taking care of myself a long time - as my own knight in shiny fucking armor. So stop treating me like the damsel."

I barge past him and walk off, only to here him call out after me, "I just want to keep you safe."

I take a deep breath and turn to look at him, my tone disappointed, "And I just want you to trust me."

"I do." he replies instantly.

I shrug my shoulders, "Not enough."

And I walk back to my locker room without another word to him.

~~~~~

"Knock knock." Kate says as knocks on the door frame to our room, "Can I come in?"

I sit up, still under my covers, "It's your room Kate. You don't have to ask."

"I know." She shrugs, walking in and sitting on the end of my bed, "I was just trying to give you some space. You looked like you needed it."

I chuckle, "That obvious huh?"

She smiles, "Sam called me."

"Why am I not surprised?" I sigh.

"He said they're all worried about you for the game this weekend."

I growl, "Mason must have whipped out his manipulation playbook."

"Actually... he hasn't told them anything. Seb remembered the name of your step-brother from the article he read a while back on the rink. They put two and two together and have come up with ten."

"But if Mason hasn't said anything, how do they know there's anything to worry about?"

"Because if it wasn't serious, he wouldn't hide it from them."

I sigh, "Jason is a disgusting person... but he is not his father. I'm not afraid of him. He's just the lovechild of a coward and a sadist."

"They don't know that though Lexi. Sam and Mason didn't tell them what they found out from your notebook, about your step-father and what happened to you and Mason as kids... but everyone has noticed how jumpy you are and the guys know a little about Mason's past. They've made assumptions about yours and it's not pretty. Sam thinks they're under the impression Jason has hurt you before and they're ready to throw the game just to get even."

"It's not their place. I don't need to be protected." I snap.

Kate smiles sadly, "You don't need it no, but it's not a bad thing to have people who care enough to do it."

She stands up and walks from the room, picking something up from outside the door and then coming back in to hand the box to me.

"Sam dropped it off." she explains and I begin to open it.

I pull back the cardboard, revealing a note and a Bridewell Bisons' jersey.

I turn over the note card, instantly recognizing the handwriting.

'I believe in you Princess Annika. Always have, Always will.'

I place the note on my bed and lift the jersey out the box. Kate smiles as she sees the back of it.

"Turn it around" she says and I do so.

Emblazoned on the back is my surname and the number 15 - my birthday. I turn the jersey back around and see a symbol that will rest over my heart as I play.

It's a miniature Princess crown.

"Guys can be macho assholes Lexi, but this one?" Kate says picking up the note card, "This one means well. He's just afraid of losing you and that means he's holding on too tight. He's slowly learning he doesn't need to."

I nod.

"Fancy a drive?" I ask.

Kate pulls her keys out her pocket, "I thought you might say that."

~~~~~

We knock on the front door, hearing Anthony then yell out that it's open so we go on in.

"Hey Sexy Lexi, to what do we owe this pleasure?" he says as he kisses the back of my hand in a bow.

I hold up my jersey and he smiles at me, nodding over to the living room.

"Make yourselves at home, I'll go get him."

"Thanks." I say as Kate and I walk over to the couches and sit down. 

It takes less than a minute to hear foot fall coming down the stairs and I stand to meet him. Anthony passes me as he goes to join Kate and I walk into the entrance hall.

"Hey." Mason says, somewhat nervously.

"Hi." I reply.

He looks down a my hand and the jersey in it, a smile gracing his features as he does.

"You got the delivery then?"

"You could've given it to me yourself." I retorted.

He shrugged, "I thought you'd probably throw it back in my face."

"If I'd had it on me at the rink I definitely would have." I reply and we both chuckle.

Mason sighs, "I shouldn't have-"

"Stop." I interupt before taking a deep breath and continuing, "I can take care of myself Mason... but I need to learn that just because I can do it alone, it doesn't mean I have to. It doesn't make me any less strong or independant to allow myself to be protected." I let out a breathy chuckle, "And truthfully, if it was the other way around and you had some evil step sister, I would want a couple feet of concrete between you guys. So I can't really blame you for worrying."

Mason looks startled, "I... was expecting to have to do a helluva lot more grovelling than that..."

"You should know by now I like to keep you on your toes" I chuckled.

He smiles, "So you're not mad?"

I shrug, "I'm irritated your first instinct was to remove me from the roster and you of all people should know better than to treat me like I'm fragile."

Mason grimaces, "I am sorry Lexi. That was never my intention. I just-" He stops as if the words pain him, "I can't see you get hurt again Lex."

I cup his cheek and rest his forehead on mine, "I understand your concern and I'm grateful you care so much. So no, I'm not mad at you anymore."

Mason leans down and gently presses lips to mine, "I love you."

"I love you too."

"I say we kick his ass."

"So you're ending your campaign to bench me?" I query.

Mason shrugs, "We'll all be watching you like a hawk but if you say you've got this then I believe you."

"I do." I nod, "I've got this."

Mason smirks, "Then what better way to ruin his day that to get thrashed by his own step- sister?"

I grin,  "I totally agree Cap."

Mason brushes his hands over my hips, "Good." He leans down to whisper into my ear, "I look forward to rewarding you when we win."

He smirks and the son of a bitch walks away casually whistling, leaving me tingling in his wake.

We have got to win Saturday.

~~~~~~

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hi! It's been a hot minute.

I appreciate everyone waiting patiently. It's been difficult to write lately.

I'm bringing this book to a close with the same tension, love and chaos I started it with. I hope you enjoy the final 10 or so chapters X

Spread kindness guys, the impact of a single action can be unfathomable. Make it a good one. <3