Chapter 77: Terms and Conditions
Kayden
"Where the hell do you think you are taking me!" Rhys continued screaming as we stormed down the corridor.
We passed Coach Reddick and Miller, who both tried to stop us, but I didn’t stop. I didn’t even look at them. I just kept my grip tight on his uninjured hand and continued to drag him toward the clinic.
"Idiot!" I finally yelled, stopping abruptly and turning to face him.
Rhys’s eyes widened in shock, his mouth hanging open. When he tried to speak, I cut him off by raising my hand sharply.
"Stop talking and listen to me," I snapped. "I know you are mad at me about everything, but right now you are bleeding due to your own impulsive attitude. I shouldn’t care at all after what you said to me, after the accusations you threw in my face, but I am not going to stand here and watch you bleed because I still care."
"You..." he started, his voice cracking, but I didn’t let him finish.
"And don’t try to act like you are strong," I added, stepping closer until I was forced to look up into his burning eyes. "I am just doing this because it’s what I should do. Our situationship aside, you are still our Captain. We have a game this weekend, and if you can’t accept my genuine concern, then think of this as compensation for saving me last night. Nothing more, nothing less."
I didn’t wait for him to argue. I turned back around and pulled him toward the clinic, passing by the fans at the gates. The instant they saw us, Rhys hid his bleeding hand and waved at them.
I also waved and continued walking, and Rhys stopped arguing until we reached the doors.
I was still terrified of what was next, but I wasn’t going to let Rhys destroy himself just because he was too stubborn to handle the truth.
The clinic was silent as we walked in, with Leo seated behind his desk, rubbing Starlight’s head. When he saw us walk in, he raised his head until his gaze met Rhys’s bleeding knuckles.
"You punched one of the reporters? Or maybe the CEO?" he asked.
"He had a disagreement with a wall," I said, forcing Rhys down onto a bed.
Leo rolled his eyes and placed Starlight on his desk. Then he stood up and grabbed a tray of medical supplies. "The wall is inanimate and structurally sound. Punching one of the reporters would have been better," he said as he walked toward Rhys and grabbed his hand.
Rhys winced in pain and tried to pull his hand away, but Leo threatened him with the scissors.
"Stay still or I might use this on your knuckles instead."
Rhys let out a groan but followed Leo’s instructions. "You talk big for someone who might lose their job for faking medicals."
"It makes me wonder why you haven’t reported it yet, Rhys Calder."Leo fired back.
"Because it will affect this team. We are close to another..." Rhys shut his eyes, wincing in pain as Leo cleaned his wounds with a stinging antiseptic. "If this won’t affect the team," he opened his eyes as he continued, his eyes boring into mine, "I would have placed a call to the top news outlet and informed them that you two are frauds."
Leo didn’t react and continued cleaning his knuckles, but I winced at his words and then spoke up. I couldn’t stay silent anymore.
"I know you hate me now for what happened, but I did what I had to do, and I don’t regret it, and if you..." I paused and heaved a deep sigh.
"If my presence is such a burden to your integrity, Rhys, then give the word. If you want me to leave your house, I’ll be out by tonight. I won’t stay where I’m not wanted, but I won’t stop playing hockey."
Rhys let out a harsh laugh and shook his head in pity. "How long do you think you can continue doing this?"
"As long as I can?"
"By pumping chemicals into your system until you kill yourself, is that it?"
"You act like you care!"
Rhys yelled back at me. "Of course I care, even though I hate that you lie to me!"
"What the hell was I supposed to do?" I retorted, finding my voice, the one I lost after the truth came out. I was tired of being weak, especially in front of Rhys. "Who in their right mind exposes their deepest secret?"
"Me! I told you about everything!" Rhys yelled again, his chest heaving. "Ouch," he winced when Leo pulled his hand. "That hurts!"
"Then stop screaming, Rhys," Leo replied and went back to stitching his hand. "I meant it when I said I will use the scissors on you," he threatened again.
The room went silent yet again until Rhys spoke up. "You want to leave my house? You think it’s that simple? You leave and then someone else finds out about you. What if you forget to use your suppressant or something happens on the ice? How the hell am I supposed to monitor you? To know what’s going on when I am not around you? How?"
I rolled my eyes at his words. What the hell was he insinuating? One moment he acted like I had committed a crime, and now he was acting like he cared about what happened to me.
"What is it to you? I have been able to do this myself for years, so why do you care?"
"Because I found out." He lowered his head, and when he raised it again, he stared at me with a serious look. "I want your full medical report, Kayden. Every suppressed cycle, every hormone level. If I’m going to protect this image, I’m going to monitor you myself. I’m not leaving your health or my career to chance anymore."
I felt the blood drain from my face. "You want to monitor me? Like I’m some kind of project?"
"I want results," Rhys said, standing up as Leo finished stitching his knuckles. "And if you are going to remain on this team, I have to know about everything. You will stay in my house, do everything that I ask of you, else..." He took steps toward me and lowered his head, smirking at me. "Else I will put my career on the line and reveal your secret to the world."
"You wouldn’t do that," my voice shook as I spoke.
"Try me, Kayden, and see. This is what I can do for you, at least until the season is over." He placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed gently. "Right now, I own you, Kayden Vale, and you will do everything I ask of you if you want to remain on Northern Avalanche team."
I felt the walls of the clinic closing in. My breath hitched, and I instinctively turned my head to look at Leo.
I was desperate for a lifeline, for Leo to say something, anything, to stop this. Leo was the one who helped me hide. Surely he wouldn’t stand for this.
"Leo..." I whispered, my eyes pleading.
Leo didn’t look up from the counter where he was meticulously cleaning the surgical instruments. He set a scalpel down with a soft clink before finally speaking.
"While the owning terminology is outdated and logically flawed, the reality remains unchanged," Leo said, and finally turned to look at me. "From a practical standpoint, Rhys is the only person with the resources and the standing to protect you right now. If you want to keep playing, if you want to keep your secret, his protection is the only variable that works in your favor. I can only do so much as a doctor because I wouldn’t be on the ice with you all the time."
He looked back at his work. "Rhys can be trusted to maintain the secret because his success is tied to yours. It should remain that way. It’s the only way you survive this season. I hate Rhys Calder but he is your only hope this time."
I looked back at Rhys, and he was smirking at me.
"You heard him," Rhys whispered, leaning in so close I could feel the heat radiating off his chest. "We’re going back to the house. You’re going to stay exactly where I can see you," he pulled away, his bandaged hand dropping from my shoulder, leaving a lingering chill where his touch had been. "This is the least you can do for lying to me."