Rushing the Goal (Assassins #8)

by Toni Aleo

  Because, in the years since he laid Ava and Leary to rest, he hadn’t found anyone who could spark even an ounce of the happiness they sparked inside of Benji.

  But, if he was honest, he hadn’t really been looking. He had gotten so used to feeling sorry for himself, he didn’t know how to get what he wanted. On the ice, no problem, he fought to the point of exhaustion, but that was the player he was. He knew how to handle hockey, he knew how to win at that—but life, he kind of sucked at that. He had no fight. Probably because he had nothing to fight for.

  God, he was pitiful.

  And this wasn’t the man he wanted to be. It was time to change.

  “You’re right.”

  “I know. It happens a lot. Ask my wife, she’ll tell ya,” Jordie said, flashing his pearly whites.

  “You forget I know your wife very well, and she wouldn’t say that at all,” Benji teased back as his phone rang. Jordie laughed as Benji reached into his pocket, pulling his phone out. Looking at the screen, he saw it was the new captain of the Assassins, Jayden Sinclair. He liked Jayden, strong leader and cool dude. He was young, but the kid could lead like no one he had ever seen. They had formed a good friendship, especially now that they played on the same line together. He respected the guy.

  “Hey, Cap,” he answered as both Vaughn and Jordie started to eat the food that had been forgotten while they all discussed Benji’s love life.

  Or lack of one.

  Whatever.

  “BP, I need a favor.” He sounded desperate.

  Benji laughed. “Should I be scared?”

  “Eh, that’s debatable. And if, after this, you want to kill me, I fully understand.”

  “Oh, shit, what?” he asked, even though he knew he’d do it. That’s the way the Assassins team worked. They helped each other. No matter what. Their boss, Elli Adler, was a prime example of that. She went above and beyond the role of owner of the Assassins. She was their friend, and they all followed her example.

  “So I volunteered to help Adler out with his hockey team. But Baylor’s appointment got pushed back, and now we have to meet with another specialist, and, well, I’m not gonna make it.”

  “Okay, I’ll go,” Benji said. He knew all about Adler’s hockey team that he had retired to coach. He loved his kids and he wanted to coach them. Benji would do the same if he had a family. “No big deal.”

  “Thanks, man, really. But it’s more than that.” Again, he sounded very nervous, which kind of made Benji nervous.

  “Okay?”

  “My niece, Angie, is playing on the team. I’m supposed to meet my sister at four thirty to get Angie ready for the ice. I know you’ve never met her, and this is a lot to ask, but can you help her out—on and off the ice?”

  “Yeah, no problem,” he said without hesitation. Jayden had made it seem like way more than that.

  “Okay, awesome, but one thing…”

  “Yeah?” he asked, and why was Jayden so nervous?

  “My sister can be a bitch, and she’s gonna be pissed I’m not there. But I know if I tell her I can’t be there, she won’t take Angie, and Angie really wants to play. So I’m not gonna tell her, and if she attacks you since you’re the messenger, I’m really fucking sorry. But, man, Angie is awesome and you’ll love her, if that makes it any better. Did I mention the team is a bunch of seven- and eight-year-olds? Girls. They are girls. All girls. Are you sure?”

  He said it all so quickly that Benji couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Dude, it’s no big deal. I love kids, and I doubt your sister is that bad.”

  When Jayden didn’t answer right away, the only noise coming from him one of hesitation, Benji would have been lying if he said he wasn’t a little nervous, but also intrigued.

  How bad could this chick be?

  “Can I just apologize now?”

  Hm. That bad?

  That should make him not want to go, but Benji wasn’t normal.

  Instead, he was kind of excited.

  Or a glutton for punishment.

  Who knew?

  “What’s her name?”

  “Lucy. She’s tall, thin, green eyes, brown hair, and she has permanent resting bitch face. She’ll look pained.” Before Benji could ask why that was, Jayden went on. “Listen, gotta go. Thanks, bro, call me afterward.”

  “No problem.” He hung up then, and as he leaned back in the chair, he found that he still wanted to know why Jayden’s sister would look pained. He knew he shouldn’t care. He hadn’t even met the chick, but for some reason, he wanted to know.

  What was up with that?

  Why was Lucy in a group text with her brothers? She hated group texts, she did, but for some reason, she was in one with her brothers. As each chime of her phone sounded, it only made her realize how much she really hated the ongoing messages.

  Jude: Is anyone else weirded out by the fact Mom is getting married again?

  Jace: Hey, at least we won’t be married to our sister. Can’t say the same for Jayden.

  Jayden: Fuck you, and it is weird. That’s my wife’s dad.

  Jace: You might want to get used to calling her your sister-wife.

  Jude: Ewwww, Jay is doing his sister! Haha

  Jace: Maybe you guys can go on that TLC show? You know, make some money for your unfortunate situation.

  Jayden: Get real, how old are we? And the only unfortunate (which by the way, I’m surprised you can spell that) situation is that I’m related to you losers.

  Jace: Hey, I wents to skool.

  Jayden: Yeah, we can tell.

  Lucy: OMG! Leave each other alone and can we not be immature children about this? Just be happy for her and Jayden’s stepdad?

  She could have left off that last comment, and maybe that made her as immature as them, but if she was going to deal with this, she was going to do it the only way she knew how. Either with sass or making fun of someone. Because Lucy was far from happy about this, and she was weirded out by the fact her mother was getting married again. Though that was more because, let’s be honest, she could be a jealous, unhappy bitch.

  News of their mother’s engagement had run through the family like wildfire. That was the problem with being such a close-knit family who were in each other’s business all the time. They all acted very happy for their mom, and they were, but it was odd. Lucy and her siblings had only known their mom and dad together. Now that their sperm donor, cheating-ass father was out of the picture, it had been only a matter of time before their mom moved on.

  It just seemed so soon.

  Or maybe that was the jealousy speaking again.

  It had been four years since Lucy had gotten divorced, and she hadn’t even had a boyfriend. Mom, though, only two years after a nasty divorce, and she was back on the horse and getting married.

  If she gets pregnant, I quit, she thought to herself as she parked the car, her phone going off like mad.

  Jayden: Shut up! He’s not my dad! Gross! And I am happy. Just weirded out.

  Jude: Yeah, what he said ^^ and technically, he’s all of our stepdad.

  Jayden: Shut up, dude, you’re making this worse.

  Jace: For real, but Lucy, sounds like someone is guilty cause they aren’t happy for our sweet, amazing mother and our new, gag, dad.

  Jayden: Ugh, don’t call him that.

  Jude: Coach, his name is Coach.

  Lucy: For fuck’s sake, shut up, of course I am.

  Jace: Sure you are. Crazy mom got married before you and she divorced way after you.

  Lucy: Wow. Really? You used to be my favorite.

  Jude: We were all thinking it, and plus, you’re the only one who hasn’t made a congratulations Facebook post for Mom and Coach. Even Jayden did it, and soon his wife will be his sister.

  Jayden: I hate you guys.

  Lucy: Since I’m not a child like you assholes, I don’t need to blast all over Facebook my happiness for my mother. Y’all know she loves me more, so fuck off and leave me alone.


  When she was answered by them laughing out loud at her, she shoved her phone in her purse before pushing her door open with more force than needed, but man, they just pissed her off. Stupid brothers.

  “Dumbasses,” she muttered as she popped the trunk while Angie bounced beside her.

  “I get to be the flower girl, right, Momma?”

  Sucking in a breath, Lucy smiled. “I’m sure you will be.”

  “Yay! Today is, like, the best ever. Grandma is getting married, and I’m playing hockey! Isn’t it the best?”

  Not really, but she wouldn’t tell her baby that. “Yes, honey. Come on, we’re kinda late, even though I don’t see Jayden’s car.” Lucy looked around as they made their way into the ice rink, still not seeing her brother’s big truck.

  “I wish Jace and Jude were here. I like when I get to play with all three of them.”

  “I know, but Jace and Jude will be home for Christmas.” Still looking for Jayden’s truck, Lucy felt an uneasiness settle in her gut as she reached for the door handle. Maybe he parked in the back? Apparently, she was the only one worried about it because Angie was giggling with excitement. As they entered the building and went toward Rink B where they would be practicing, according to the email she received that morning, she kept looking for her brother. Thankfully, the texts had come to a stop. She loved her brothers, really, but they were exhausting.

  When her purse vibrated, though, she closed her eyes, figuring she could answer it later. She needed to find Jayden, but she still didn’t see him and that made her anxious. She may have grown up with the sport and loved it, but she sure as hell didn’t know how to get Angie ready to hit the ice. Plus, Angie was looking forward to being with him on the ice.

  Pulling her phone out, she turned her phone on to see it wasn’t Jayden who had texted her, as she had hoped. It was Rick.

  Fuck.

  Ignoring the text since she was already on edge, she sent Jayden a quick message asking where he was. When she looked up, hoping to see him, she didn’t. Instead, a very big and well-known man was coming toward her with a grin on his face. To say Shea Adler was a looker was an understatement. If he weren’t a devoted husband and an amazing father, Lucy would climb that man like a tree and attach herself to him with no plans of letting go. Even with the years starting to be visible on his face, Shea was gorgeous. A fine wine that man was, and wine always made Lucy want to take off her clothes. God, she was going to hell. But Jesus, he had thick, dark hair, blue eyes that looked into your soul, and a smile that could stop a room.

  Man, that Elli Adler was one blessed lady.

  Lucky bitch.

  “Hey, Lucy,” he said, his Boston accent still very much present even after living in Tennessee for so long.

  “Hey, Shea,” she said with a dreamy smile.

  Why couldn’t she meet a Shea Adler type who would look into her eyes and make her feel like Ed Sheeran was singing in the background?

  All she ever got was Rick the Dick.

  Horror music played when he was around.

  Directing his attention to Angie, his smile grew. “Angie! Girl, you ready? Posey and Shelli have been asking all day if you were coming.”

  Angie beamed. She loved the Adlers. Everyone loved the Adlers. They were just great people. “Yup, Coach Adler. I can’t wait. I’m so excited! My uncle should be here to help me get ready.” She was so excited, but Lucy didn’t miss the same little fairy-tale look in her eyes that probably mirrored hers.

  Shea was dreamy.

  But when his face displayed confusion, the dreaminess Lucy felt disappeared and her eyes narrowed, the uneasiness back in full force.

  Fucking Jayden.

  “I thought he wasn’t coming.” He looked back and forth between Angie and Lucy as the annoyance started to bubble inside her chest.

  Damn it.

  “What?” Lucy breathed. “He told me he was meeting me.” Pulling out her phone, she dialed his number, but it went straight to voice mail.

  “Momma, I thought Jayden would be here.”

  “Hold on, baby,” she said, a little panicky as she redialed his number.

  Again, voice mail.

  Instead of hanging up, though, she waited until the beep and muttered very quietly so Angie wouldn’t hear her, “You shall die, Jayden Mitchell Sinclair. I don’t know where you are. I don’t care where you are. But when I find you, I will kill you.”

  Shea heard her though and smiled nervously at her. Kind of funny since he wasn’t supposed to be scared of anything. “From what Elli said, something happened with Moore’s doctor, so they are seeing a different one. But no worries, we’ve got Angie. A lot of guys came to help me today, so don’t stress. It’s cool.”

  “So Jayden isn’t coming?” Angie asked, her eyes wide, which felt like daggers in Lucy’s heart. Looking back at Shea, probably so she wouldn’t scream, Lucy could see he was only trying to help. She got that, but of course, she stressed. Angie had enough disappointment in her life from her fucked-up dad; she didn’t need this from her family. Lucy also didn’t like asking for help from people who weren’t her family. Shea had a team full of girls to worry about, Angie wasn’t his…unfortunately—she was only half kidding—and it was her responsibility to get her daughter ready.

  Damn it.

  Jayden was going to die.

  “No, I’m good. I’ve got her. You’ve got a whole team. I got this,” she said, flashing an overly fake grin. She was sure he didn’t believe her by the way he eyed her, but thankfully, he smiled and nodded.

  “Okay, if you need anything, let me know. Make sure you’re on the ice by five, Angie.”

  She was nervous, Lucy could tell, but she smiled brightly as she looked up at him. “Yes, sir!” Angie said with a salute to him as she bounced on her heels. When he turned away, her grin was gone, and worry was back in her eyes. “Uncle Jayden really isn’t coming?”

  Typing very violently on her phone to Jayden that he was an asshole and that she hoped Baylor was okay because she was going to have to learn to live without her husband, she hit send and then tried to smile at Angie. “We got this.”

  “Mom! You do not.”

  “I do! I used to get your uncles ready for games.”

  She eyed her. “You did not.”

  “Okay, I didn’t, but how hard can it be?” Lucy said with a shrug and Angie glared.

  “Momma…” she whined and Lucy was going to kill Jayden. Or at least, make it to where he couldn’t have kids. Opening the browser on her phone, she typed: how do you put gear on a seven-year-old for a hockey game?

  Before the results could generate, damn faulty Internet in the rink, obviously, someone said, “Um, excuse me?”

  She ignored it at first because who the hell would be talking to her as she waited for her phone to spit out the answer.

  “Come on, Google. Don’t fail me now,” she muttered as she tapped her phone, Angie looking up at her, all kinds of nervous. Damn it, Jayden.

  “Excuse me? Miss?”

  Miss? What in the ever-loving fuck? Turning toward the very deep and very male voice, Lucy had to look up to meet a pair of gray eyes. Lucy was a tall woman, almost six feet, and still this guy towered over her. He was huge, big shoulders, and for a second, she was a little taken aback. He must have noticed that because he held his palms up, his eyes boring into hers.

  Taking a step back, she eyed him. But then, he tried to smile and, God, it was so awkward, she found herself fighting her own smile. What the hell? Who was this guy? But soon, she was lost in his eyes. They were soft, his lips puffy, his face chiseled in all the right spots. His hair was shaved up the side but thicker at the top, while dark hair dusted his jaw and upper lip. He looked like a damn underwear model, yet something about his face didn’t stun her the way, say, Shea’s did. He was good-looking, hot even, but he was kind of awkward and she found that…adorable?

  Hm.

  As she eyed him, he did the same to her, his eyes drinking her in as silence s
tretched between them. She wasn’t sure why she felt all girlie under his gaze, but she sure as hell didn’t like it one bit. So finally, she asked, “Are you talking to me?”

  Clearing his throat, he nodded. “Yeah, um, are you Lucy? Sinclair’s sister?”

  Tilting her head, she took in the familiar purple and black Assassins warm-ups and the hockey stick in his hands, along with a pair of skates. “Who’s asking?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.

  He smiled, his lips curving and his eyes lighting up a bit. “Okay. Hi, I’m Benji Paxton. I play with Jayden on the Assassins, and he asked me to come and help you with your daughter…Angie?”

  Her gaze deepened into a scowl. So Jayden knew he wasn’t going to be here and sent someone as a replacement. “That asshole sent you and didn’t even tell me?”

  He shrugged. “Um, I think so.”

  “And you think I’m gonna trust you with my kid?”

  He looked unsure about it himself, yet the grin remained on his lips. He was really cute. “Yes?”

  She glared. “How about no. I’m good.”

  His brows rose. “What?” he croaked out.

  “I got it. I can do it.”

  “Momma!” Angie stressed, her eyes pleading.

  Lucy tore her gaze from Benji Paxton’s and looked at her daughter. “Baby, I Googled how to do it. We can do this,” she said reassuringly, holding out her phone with a YouTube video on deck. “How hard could it be?

  But Angie was not convinced.

  “You Googled it?” she cried out, and when Benji laughed, Lucy glared. She knew it wasn’t his fault, but he wasn’t needed. So he needed to go.

  “You can leave.”

  That didn’t seem to bother him any as he said, “Google can’t help you, I can.”

  Angie looked hopeful, but Lucy wouldn’t admit to needing help. Cutting a look to him, she held his gaze. “Do you doubt Google?”

  His eyes were dancing with laughter as his lips curved. This time, it didn’t seem forced, and hell, he was cute. Like a little bulldog puppy or something. “No, but I’m sure it doesn’t have the experience I do. I’ve been playing hockey since I was three. I’ve won two Stanley Cups, and I play on the same line as your brother. So, I mean, word is I’m good, and I’m sure I know more about it than Google.”