Penalty Kill (Love on Thin Ice Book 4) Read online

  Red haze had taken over his vision as he punched the wall next to his stall. The locker room, which had been a buzz of post-game energy, turned still and eerily silent. Vasily was surprised he even noticed as the different ways of killing George floated through his head. Strangling the other man seemed to be winning out when Curtis dared putting a hand on his shoulder.

  “I know you need to leave, but Hannah just texted and wanted me to tell you Nina sent some muscle to keep an eye on them.”

  The other man was lucky Vasily wasn't too far gone at the time. If he'd loss sense of his surroundings, like often happened when the rage came, Curtis would've been lucky to not have a broken arm.

  Vasily didn't wait around to offer thanks for someone else looking out for Lacey and the kids. That was his job, and he should've thought of the necessity sooner. He knew the jackass was in town and there would be moments when he couldn't be with them. Of course, he'd thought at the time that the jackass would be otherwise occupied during those moments.

  “Fuck!” he screamed, hitting the steering wheel again.

  He was already driving down her street, only two houses away. He could see there were no cars in her drive, but he couldn't shake the fear and anger inside of him. What the fuck did the bastard want?

  It didn't help that part of his brain was thinking logically and realized George would've more than likely got a ride since he now lived out of town. The bastard could be in there hurting Lacey.

  Jerking the gear shift into park. He flew out of his car and up the paved path to the door. He was a second away from barging right through it when it opened, and Lacey stood on the other side, her face looking up at his with big wide eyes. There wasn't fear in those eyes. All he saw was relief, which made him forget his need to tear through anything in his way.

  He pulled her into his arms and held her close, nuzzling his face into her hair. He breathed in the lingering smell of her shampoo. He knew it had been almost twelve hours since she'd taken a shower, but he could still smell the hints of the somewhat floral shampoo she used.

  “You're okay?” he said.

  He didn't think the question needed an answer, or at least not immediately, because he nudged her head to the side, so he could feel the touch of her lips against his.

  “Ugh.” Vasily heard at the same time he heard a soft giggle. “Please, puhleeeze don't do that in front of me. I have no doubt that it goes on behind closed doors, but I really don't want to see the two of you making out.”

  Lacey froze when she heard her son’s voice. Vasily managed to cringe and at least attempt to be surprised by the words. It didn't seem right to be happy in the moment when Lacey looked so horrified. Did she honestly think he hadn't picked up some cues that there was more to the relationship than Vasily just wanting to hang out with them? Kevin hadn't said anything to Vasily, but observancy wasn't something the kid lacked.

  “Sorry about that,” Vasily whispered as he straightened a little more. “I kind of worked myself up on the way over.”

  Lacey shook her head and sighed. “That's my fault. It feels like I pulled you like a gun or some other kind of weapon and maybe I shouldn't have.”

  Really? She thought it wasn't his place to be a weapon for her to use against the world? She was crazy, and the way she nibbled on her lip as she waited for a response spelled that out clearly for him. Why in the world did she think he'd said they were getting married? He wanted there to be legal documentation that he was her protector, hers and their children. And, yes, he included Kevin and Rachel in that mix.

  “I will always be your weapon to wield, lyubimaya.”

  Vasily paused to see the surprise and hope in her eyes. Did she really not understand that? Had he been too subtle in all the time they'd spent together. He'd have to remember to make it clear where he saw things standing, but they had more pressing matters.

  “Since I'm getting the sense the reason you wanted me here isn't actually here, maybe we should take this conversation out of your threshold.”

  He'd managed to push himself a little into the house, but the door remained open behind him. At least he hoped it was, because otherwise the crickets were extremely loud that night. It vaguely registered that car doors we're opening and closing somewhere outside. Vasily really didn't care what the neighbors were doing, so he looked down at Lacey for confirmation that he was welcome.

  “I think taking this conversation inside is a great idea. Because I know I sure as hell want an explanation for what my wife is doing in your arms.”

  It only took two words for the slight smile Lacey had managed to put in her eyes to disappear, and complete horror to refill them. Vasily couldn't be certain what was in his eyes, but the redness he'd seen in the locker room and on the drive over quickly came back.

  He was already between the threat and Lacey, so he attempted a smile for her. Whether his lips turned up or not was questionable, but he didn't want her scared of his temper, which he knew had to show.

  “Maybe you should go and sit with the kids, while I discuss the appropriate times and protocol for a visit with George.”

  Lacey looked like she was going to protest, especially after a low rumble of laughter sounded from behind Vasily. There was a hint of menace in the sound, which brought a real smile to Vasily's lips and made the hairs on his arms stand. The excitement before the battle always did that, whether it was a physical fight or just getting ready to step out onto the ice.

  “Are you sure?” Lacey's words were soft, only for him.

  He didn't trust himself to speak, so he simply nodded. She looked hesitant, but one glance behind her showed what Vasily could see over her head. Rachel had snuggled in to her brother on the couch. Kevin's eyes seemed to be a mix of defiant anger and fear. The look panged at something inside of Vasily, but he didn't have time to worry about it.

  Once Lacey was a few feet away, he turned to take in her ex blocking the doorway. Unlike Vasily, who hadn't had time to worry about getting dressed after the game, George looked impeccable in a dark suit. Vasily wasn't naked, nor was he in his jersey and pads. He'd stripped the latter off, so he was down to a tight pair of black shorts and matching long-sleeved shirt. The fabric was stretchy, so he considered it a step up over the suit if things came to blows.

  “What the fuck are you doing here, Vasily?”

  The calm in George's voice made Vasily's eyes narrow. He'd already sized the man up, taking note of the clenched fists at his side and the way his jaw locked when he wasn't speaking. George was just as pissed as Vasily, but he was trying to hide it.

  He was doing a piss poor job trying, but he was. Vasily wondered if the other man could see the same thing in him. He wasn’t known for containing his inner demon, but with Lacey and the kids around, he controlled his need to kill.

  “First, we need to get one thing straight. Lacey is your ex-wife. You gave up your right to show up here anytime you want once you made that decision.”

  Vasily didn’t want him there ever, but midnight on a school night was a definite no-no. The latest he’d ever been there was ten, even on the weekends, so he used that as a reference. He understood completely that he really didn’t have a say in any of it, but he knew Lacey didn’t want George there. That was all that mattered in the end.

  “My relationship with my wife is none of your business. And last I checked, I’m paying for this house, so there’s something wrong with this picture here,” he said as he motioned between himself and Vasily.

  There was a lot wrong with the picture, but that didn’t change it. And if the man who’d broken Lacey’s ribs and made her lose their baby thought he was getting inside that house without getting a few broken ribs of his own, he had another thing coming.

  “She is not your wife, and as much as I’d like to stand around and explain that to you and what it means, the kids need to get some sleep, so they aren’t walking zombies tomorrow at school. If you want to have a conversation, come back tomorrow around nine. We’ll have dropped
the kids off and cleaned up after breakfast by then.”

  None of what he’d said was false. That was exactly how every school day went. There had been a few days he’d been forced to miss the domestic stuff, but if work didn’t call, he was there.

  “You think you’re going to keep me away from my kids?”

  Not necessarily, Vasily thought to himself. He was going to keep him away from his own kid, though. Kevin and Rachel were up to Lacey to decide. There were no restraining orders against George, and while Lacey had full custody, Vasily didn’t know of anything that said George couldn’t see his kids.

  “I never said anything about keeping you away from your kids. From what I can tell, you’ve done a great job of keeping yourself away from them.”

  “You really think you can keep me out of this house?”

  Away from his kids, out of this house, did he really need answers to either of his last questions with Vasily standing right there in his path?

  ““I know I'm going to keep you out of this house tonight. Lacey and the kids need sleep and their going to have enough trouble doing that because of you just showing up. Come back in the morning when everyone has had a chance to clear their head.”

  The words were downright diplomatic coming from Vasily. If he wasn't trying to control the situation, he'd let his eyes show how surprised he was that they came out of his lips.

  “And you think I'll just leave, knowing that means you're staying.”

  George let a little more of his anger appear in his eyes. He'd seen hints of the anger in Kevin's eyes, which sadly were the same shade of blue as his father's. They were even the same shape, slightly oval with lashes thick on both lids.

  Vasily had hoped George wouldn't bring up the topic of where he was sleeping. He knew where he preferred to spend the night, but Lacey hadn't given him a specific indication she'd be okay with it.

  Sighing, he looked behind the man filling most of the doorway and realized why he'd heard so many car doors just before George spoke up. It wasn't neighbors. At least he assumed Lacey didn’t have neighbors who liked to dress in dark clothes and lean against their cars around midnight.

  The two men were in the shadows, so it was hard to get a good sense of what they looked like. Vasily only knew they were men by their general stance. Not that women couldn't stand stiff and assessing, it just felt masculine.

  With them there, and hopefully staying for a while, Vasily would feel better when the time came that Lacey kicked him out for the night. She never had before, but tonight, he wasn't leaving until she made him.

  “I'm only here as long as Lacey wants me here. It's the guys behind you that will be making sure the people inside the house get their sleep.”

  It hurt saying the words. Not physically, of course. Just something inside him hated the idea of leaving and it felt like a sharp stick or something punctured his chest. He'd been sensing the same feeling a lot in recent months, and like always, he did his best to ignore it.

  George looked over his shoulder, not hiding the scowl that took over his face. He'd been pissed about Vasily being there, but the backup evidently was even worse.

  “That reeks of Nina. One of these days, that woman is going to learn not to meddle in other people's business.”

  Maybe the scowl wasn't about the bodyguards and more about the woman he assumed sent them. Since he was right, and she did seem to get in everyone's business, Vasily couldn't blame him for that. In this case, he was obviously on Nina's side.

  “I'll let you handle whatever conflicts you have there on your own. Are we good here, or are you going to make this an issue tonight?”

  Vasily was torn which way he wanted George to answer. He wanted to kill the guy, so a little provocation from the other man would help that along. At the same time, he didn't think Kevin and Rachel needed to see the shit beat out of their dad.

  “As long as the protection detail you idiots think my family needs from me stays outside, I'm fine with catching up with Lacey in the morning. My plane doesn't leave until six, so I have plenty of time.”

  Part of Vasily's ease with offering a morning meeting was that he'd hoped the flight out would make it impossible or at least less than an hour. He didn't know where George's team played next, but if they were out on this coast, there was a good chance it wasn't far.

  Before Vasily could agree that anyone guarding Lacey and the kids would be outside, she decided to answer for herself.

  “I promise that whoever is out there won't be coming in tonight.”

  “Yeah, and what about your Russian bulldog?” George asked.

  He'd turned around and was trying to see around Vasily to where Lacey remained on the couch. Vasily wasn't sure how much he could see, but he made no move to help the man.

  “Last I checked, Vasily doesn't sleep here, so you have nothing to worry about.”

  There was something in Lacey's voice that made Vasily want to raise his eyebrows, but he kept them neutral. Just a subtle inflection seemed to be on the word sleep.

  “You sure about that, gummi bear? You do remember I caught you in his arms only a few minutes ago, right? And you know how much I hate lying.”

  It was hard to tell who the nickname was meant for. Obviously, he was calling Lacey by it, but was it supposed to cow her into George's side of things or to irritate Vasily. Vasily had his own nickname for Lacey. He could have shared it, but no one in the room would've understood it, and if George did, he wouldn't leave the house.

  “I'm aware of what you'll do to a person who's lying, which is why I asked Vasily to come over when you stopped by to talk. Some of the other guys on the team are a little hostile towards you, so I thought he'd be a better choice without some of the history.”

  She was good, Vasily had to give her that. It sounded plausible, especially after knowing about his own troubles with the guys as far as she went.

  “Those idiots have always thought they control everything.” His eyes squinted tighter before George sighed and shook his head. “I'll be back at nine. We're having our talk whether you want to bring back-up for it or not. You and the kids will be moving to L.A. with me, so you might as well start packing your bags.”

  Ice ran through Vasily's body as the words sunk in. George didn't bother for an answer, turning and walking away from the house. It took everything Vasily had to not go after him and snatch him up. He knew in the moment he would kill the man. He'd thought it many times, but nothing solidified his death like hearing he planned on taking Lacey and the kids away.

  Did he really think anyone in her life would let that happen? The guy was completely demented to think she'd agree to that. Vasily didn't have to know her life story with George to know that, and he knew enough to understand why she'd wanted him there. She wouldn't have wanted to go with George, but the man had already proven he didn't care what she wanted.

  Chapter 21

  “I am not moving to L.A. with him,” Kevin said.

  Vasily had barely gotten the door shut before Kevin was off the couch, facing his mom. Lacey saw the anger and fear shining in his eyes. She wasn’t sure how his face had turned so red so fast, but her little boy wasn’t hiding a bit of his emotions.

  The anger had been building up in him for months, but Lacey thought it was always directed at her, like she was the reason their family wasn’t together anymore. The boy before her was mad, but for the first time, she could see it wasn’t at her. Had it always been this way, or did George showing up without saying a single word to his son have more to do with it.

  Lacey was busy studying Kevin, so she didn’t realize Rachel had scooted closer to her until she felt her small arm wrap around Lacey’s waist and pull her closer. Lacey looked down at her and wrapped her arm around her.

  “I don’t want to move either,” Rachel said softly.

  “We aren’t moving, sweetie.” Lacey kissed the top of Rachel’s head and then rested her head on her soft hair.

  “But he said we were. Dad always g
ets his way.”

  Kevin still sounded mad, but the fear edged into his voice a bit more. He went from sounding close to an adult right back to sounding like he was maybe six or seven. There was a hint of pouting child in the voice, even though he tried to mask it.

  “If your mom says you’re not moving, you’re not.”

  Focusing on her kids took Lacey’s attention away from the man she’d noticed taking deep breaths as he visibly tried to fight the anger inside of him. She’d been surprised at how well he kept it controlled. She’d done plenty of research about his fights and battles with the courts because of them. Vasily wasn’t known for controlling his temper.

  He’d moved closer to them but was still about ten feet away. His breathing wasn’t as noticeable, even though his fists were clenched tightly at his sides. Looking at those fists, the right one looked a little swollen and had scrapes with deep red splotches visible on the broken skin.

  “What happened?” Lacey asked.

  She wanted to get up to go look at the wound more closely. Her shoulders shifted to do so, but Rachel’s arm around her waist stopped her.

  Vasily followed her eyes and looked down at his hand. His eyes squinted with what looked like confusion, but he ended shrugging it off. He probably saw similar injuries most nights after games, although bruising was a little more likely from all the hits. He didn’t fight too often, and he hadn’t that night, or she’d assume they were normal battle injuries.

  “I was a little frustrated when I saw your text. I figured it better to hit a wall than pummel George here.”

  His words were calm, like when he was talking to George, but Lacey knew he was pretending with George. She could hear the undercurrents of hostility with her ex-husband. It was like a switch flipped and he was back to being the Vasily she was used to. Most people probably wouldn’t have seen the change, but she did. It was more than just the tension that was on the way out of his body.