Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Claimed by the Rival Hockey God novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: Game Six

Annette's POV

The recording kept going.

"She signed the power of attorney in my kitchen with a plate of cannoli in front of her," Gianna said. "Eighteen years old, crying, signing anything I pushed across the table."

Dario's voice, younger and thick: "Ma, it's her parents' money."

"It's in the family. She's family. By the time she asks, you'll be a star and she'll be so proud she won't care."

"What if she asks?"

"She won't. Hug her. Feed her. Call her bella. And don't ever tell her, Dario. If she leaves, the money goes with her."

There was the clink of a spoon against a cup.

The file ended.

I sat very still on Cillian's bed with the phone in both hands.

Cillian was on the edge of the mattress with his coffee, not moving.

"You can take it to your lawyer," he said. "Or mine. It's enough."

"It's enough for a courtroom."

"Yes."

"I don't want a courtroom," I said. "She'd cry in front of a judge. She'd make cannoli for the jury."

His mouth twitched.

"I want a room full of the people she needs," I said. "I want her to hear her own voice in front of all of them. Not before we win."

"Why not before?"

"Because they'll say I'm doing it to distract the series. Winning first means nobody gets to say that."

He looked at me for a long time.

"All right," he said. "Win first."

By Game Six we led the series three to two.

The Harbormen had won two, and we had won three, and the rink at Harbor Garden was as loud as a train.

Gianna sat behind our bench again, in the red jersey.

← Chapter 19 · All chapters · Chapter 21 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend