CHAPTER 5: THE CAPTAIN'S RULE
648 Words
"Everyone out."
Adrian's voice carried across the locker room.
The players exchanged confused looks.
Practice wasn't supposed to start for another fifteen minutes.
Liam understood immediately.
He nodded toward the others.
"Give him a minute."
One by one, the players left.
Elena remained standing near the doorway.
Adrian closed it behind them.
"You shouldn't have come here."
She folded her arms.
"You've said that already."
"And you're still not listening."
"Because nobody has given me a reason to."
He looked exhausted.
Not angry.
Not cold.
Just exhausted.
Elena had never seen that expression on him before.
"Who was the man in the photograph?"
Adrian sat on the bench.
"His name is Daniel Mercer."
"Who is he?"
"Someone my father knew."
"That's not an answer."
"It isn't supposed to be."
Elena's frustration rose.
"You expect me to just accept that?"
"No."
"Then tell me."
Adrian looked at her.
"Five years ago, my father was involved in something that had nothing to do with hockey."
"What kind of something?"
"I can't discuss it."
"Why?"
"Because it isn't finished."
Elena stared at him.
"Then why did you leave me?"
His silence answered before his words did.
"Because I thought you would be safer if I stayed away."
She laughed bitterly.
"You thought abandoning me would make me safe?"
"I was trying to protect you."
"You didn't protect me."
Her voice cracked.
"You destroyed me."
Adrian lowered his head.
"I know."
Those two words stopped her.
There was no defense.
No excuse.
Just regret.
Elena looked away.
"You should have trusted me."
"I was nineteen."
"So was I."
"I thought I could handle everything myself."
"You couldn't."
"I know."
She looked at him again.
"Then why didn't you come back?"
Adrian's eyes met hers.
"Because every time I thought about coming back, I remembered what could happen if my father found out you were still in my life."
Elena's anger faltered.
"You were afraid of him?"
Adrian didn't answer.
She understood anyway.
Before she could ask more, the locker-room door opened.
Liam stepped inside.
"Practice starts in five."
Adrian stood.
"Everyone needs to understand something."
He looked at Elena.
"This season comes first."
Elena raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not here to interfere with your hockey."
"Good."
"I'm here to do my job."
"Then do it."
She grabbed her notebook.
"Gladly."
She walked toward the door.
"Wait."
She turned.
Adrian's voice softened.
"If anyone contacts you again, tell me."
"Why?"
"Because whoever sent those photographs knows something about my past."
He paused.
"And they may know something about yours."
Elena frowned.
"My past?"
Adrian looked like he'd said too much.
"Forget I said that."
"No."
"Elena—"
"No. You don't get to do that."
He stared at her.
She stared back.
For the first time, neither of them looked away.
Then Adrian finally said,
"Your family wasn't the only reason I left."
Her heart stopped.
"What does that mean?"
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Then the door burst open.
A teammate rushed inside.
"Adrian, we have a problem."
Adrian turned.
"What happened?"
"Someone broke into the equipment room."
Silence.
Liam appeared behind him.
"Anything missing?"
The teammate shook his head.
"No."
"Then what's the problem?"
The player swallowed.
"They left something."
Adrian's face hardened.
"What?"
"A photograph."
Elena felt cold.
"Of what?"
The teammate looked at her.
"Of you."
Nobody spoke.
Adrian's expression changed completely.
He stepped toward Elena.
"Stay here."
She shook her head.
"No."
"Elena."
"I'm coming."
"This isn't a discussion."
She stared at him.
"And I'm not one of your players."
For a moment, something almost resembling the old Adrian returned to his eyes.
Then he nodded.
"Fine."
He turned toward the corridor.
"But stay beside me."
And this time, Elena followed.
Because whatever had happened five years ago was no longer buried.
Someone was digging it up.
And they had just made Elena part of it.
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