ICY GAMES: My Brother's Rival

2.THE CLAIM

CHAPTER 2: THE CLAIM

~QUINTESSA~

Until the next three days that I fully resumed duty, Maddox Jakes kept looking at me like he wanted to either kill me or consume me.

The heavy silence on the team bus to our away scrimmage in St. Lakes was deafening.

When I had tried to sit in the empty row next to him, he didn't say a single word.

He had simply picked up his heavy leather gear bag and slammed it down onto the empty cushion, his eyes fixed firmly ahead as he plugged his wireless earphones into his ears.

Fine. Two could play that game.

I had marched straight to the front of the bus, taking a seat next to Ryder, the team's starting goalie.

Ryder was everything Maddox wasn't—approachable, quick to smile, and eager to talk.

I forced myself to laugh at his jokes, meticulously logging team notes on my note but the entire three-hour drive, I could feel Maddox's icy, burning stare drilling into the back of my neck like a physical weight.

He wasn't listening to music; when I turned, his stare was so intense it felt like he was tracking my every breath.

When the bus finally pulled up to the rival arena, the underlying tension exploded.

"Welcome to our territory, Ice Titans," a smooth, arrogant voice called out as we filed out of the vehicle.

Three guys in grey sports jerseys were lounging near the heavy glass entrance of the St. Lakes facility.

The speaker, an incredibly handsome, muscular defenseman with a dangerous smirk, stepped directly into my path as I hopped down from the final step of the bus.

His eyes immediately locked onto my fresh internship tag.

"Well, hello there," he purred, closing the distance until he was completely blocking my path to the double doors.

"I'm Daniels. Kane Daniels. I didn't know the Titans started hiring actual models as coordinators this season."

I threw an awkward, professional smile, stepping back to create some distance. "I'm Quintessa. Just the new welfare intern."

"Quin–tes–sa," Daniels repeated, dragging out the syllables as if he were tasting the name.

He reached out, his fingers casually brushing against the fabric of my jacket sleeve.

"If you ever get tired of managing a losing team with a captain who has one foot out the door, you should come over to the Wolves. I can show you how a real player treats a lady."

Suddenly, a heavy, iron-clad grip clamped down on my shoulder with bruising force.

Maddox appeared out of absolutely nowhere. His massive, towering frame completely shielded me from Daniels, his scent of mint and leather immediately wrapping around me like a physical territorial claim.

His jaw was clenched so tightly a muscle was violently jumping in his cheek.

"She's off-limits, Kane," Maddox growled, his voice dropping into a lethal, low register that promised absolute violence.

Daniels raised his hands in a mock surrender, his smirk only widening as he eyed Maddox's possessive stance. "Just being polite, Jakes. No need to get your skates in a twist before the puck even drops."

"We don't mingle with rivals during tournament week," Maddox snapped, his grip on my shoulder tightening as he forcefully ushered me past the group and into the concrete corridor of the arena.

The moment we were out of sight of the other team, I violently wrenched myself away from his grip, my chest heaving with anger.

"What the hell was that, Maddox? I was just trying to be polite! My job is to maintain good relations, not start locker-room brawls!"

"There is no politeness in this game," he hissed, turning on me and pinning me against the concrete wall with a furious, dark gaze. "Rival teams are the enemy, Wren. You smile at the wrong person, you let your guard down, and they take everything we have. They look for weaknesses."

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a harsh, possessive whisper that sent a thrill straight through my veins despite my anger. "Stay away from him. I mean it. You don't talk to him, you don't look at him, and you definitely don't smile at him."

Before I could fire back a witty retort, he turned on his heel and stormed toward the locker rooms, his heavy duffel bag slamming against his thigh.

"Tessa."

I jumped, my heart leaping into my throat as I turned to find Mr. Dave, the team manager, standing just a few feet away in the shadows of the hallway.

His usual warm, grandfatherly face was completely serious, his eyes fixed on the clipboard clutched tightly against my chest.

"While we were on the bus, Maddox told me you've been taking extensive notes on our practice formations since you resumed" Mr. Dave whispered, stepping closer and looking over his shoulder to ensure we were completely alone. "I need to give you a grave warning, girl. One you must never forget."

My stomach did a sudden, violent drop. "Sir?"

"Every strategy, every player weakness, every private routine you write down for your academic project must stay inside that notebook," Dave said, his voice dropping to a deadly serious tone. "If our tactical data ever leaks to a rival team—especially during tournament week—it's a campus crime. The athletic board will ruin you. Your academic record will be flagged, and your career will be over before it starts. You must never let anyone outside this circle see those files."

"I... I understand, Mr. Dave," I swallowed hard, a cold sweat breaking out on the back of my neck. "I keep everything locked away."

He patted my shoulder gently, his warm demeanor returning slightly, and walked away toward the coaches' room, leaving me entirely paralyzed in the middle of the empty hallway.

My hand trembled as I reached into my pocket. My phone had just vibrated against my thigh. I lit up the screen, my eyes widening in absolute horror as a text from my Aunt stared back at me.

Aunt: Honey, your big brother Ethan is so proud of you. He's captaining his team at Calgary now, but he's coming to surprise you on campus in two days! He wants to rebuild our family, Tess. He misses his little sister.

Ethan. My brother.

Except he didn't go by Ethan Wren anymore. He had changed his name to Evan Ren after the divorce to match our father's new corporate identity.

Evan Ren. The star captain of the Calgary Skaters. The Ice Titans' biggest, most brutal, and most unforgiving rival team.

If Maddox, Mr. Dave, or anyone on this campus found out who my family really was, my notes wouldn't just look like an innocent internship project anymore.

It would look like high treason.