Goal Line (The Dartmouth Cobras Book 7) (36 page)

The facts wouldn’t make Jami feel any better though. Sahara considered her words carefully. “What does Sebastian have to say about everything?”

Rolling her eyes, Jami hugged herself. “He thinks it’s the right choice. He went with Sam to talk to Oriana and Sloan and Max. They’ve set up a room for her, and they’re going to take care of her until she has the baby. After too. Their lawyers are drafting all the paperwork for an open adoption.”

“Sam has a lawyer?”

“Yes. Sebastian hired one for her. And I kind of hate him for it.” Jami dropped her head to her hands. “Ugh, not like I really hate him. I love him. But I’m so mad. We could have given Sam’s baby a good life. She could do everything she’s doing with Oriana with us!”

Pulling Jami into her arms, Sahara made a soft shushing sound while Akira rubbed Jami’s back. “I’m so sorry, babe. This isn’t your fault. It’s not really anyone’s.”

“I know, but…this isn’t over. Will you come with me?” Jami sat up, her teary eyes wide. “Sam’s with Oriana right now. Maybe if I talk to her, she’ll change her mind.”

Bad idea. Very bad idea.
“Jami—”

“Please! It’s not too late, and she should know she has options.” Jami pushed to her feet, pulling away from both Sahara and Akira. “Oriana can have someone else’s baby.”

Akira met Sahara’s eyes as Jami headed out the door. “This will go ten times worse if we’re not with her.”

True.
Sahara nodded, stopping by the door to look over at Bran and Kimber. Both seemed to be having fun. Becky was sitting on the floor beside Bran, exclaiming over the colorful lumps he’d formed with Play-Doh. The kids were in good hands.

She slipped out the door and ran to catch up with Jami and Akira.

They reached the press box and Jami strode in, not even looking at her father when he called out to her.

Walking straight up to Oriana and Sam, Jami touched Sam’s arm. “Sweetie, we need to talk.”

“Jami, please don’t be mad at me. This is the first time that I feel like I’m doing something good for my baby.” Sam pulled away, shifting closer to Oriana. “You’ll still get to see him. So will Luke and Seb.”

The third period had started. Sahara split her attention between what was happening on the ice and the drama unfolding in front of her.

“You need to think about what you’re doing, Sam.”

“I have! Jami, you and Luke and Seb are trying to have your own baby. As much as he pisses me off, Luke is right. I want to go to school and get a good job. I’m not ready to raise a kid.” Sam pushed her red-streaked blond hair away from her face irritably. “I’m a fucking mess. Tell me you don’t know that?”

“You’re confused.”

“Not about this.”

The argument continued, both Sam and Jami getting more and more irate. Oriana tried to speak up, but Jami rudely cut her off.

On the ice, the Islanders crashed the net. The ref called the goal. It was sent for review.

Good goal. The game was tied.

“Are you sure this is what you want, Sam?” Jami’s voice broke. “I know Luke’s not the easiest person to live with sometimes, but he does love you. You can’t do this because you’re giving up on him.”

Sam shook her head, reaching out to pull Jami in for a hug. “I’m not giving up on him. This feels right. You know Oriana. You know Max and Sloan. They’ll give my son a great life.”

Holding Sam tightly, Jami nodded. “I know. And I’m sorry. I guess I pictured everything differently, you know?”

“So did I. I wasn’t planning to get knocked up so young.” Sam let out a teary laugh. “But my kid won’t pay for it.”

All right, this was good. Jami and Sam had worked things out. Maybe the discussion hadn’t been pleasant, but better now than after the baby was born.

Sahara went over to hug both girls and excused herself so she could check on Bran and Kimber. When she got to the wives’ private box, Becky was holding Bran, and Kimber and Casey were staring down at the ice with their hands over their mouths.

Heath was down on his hands and knees, spitting blood. Dominik was beating the hell out of an Islander forward, and every player on the ice was fighting. Including the goalies.

“Sahara!” Bran held out his arms, squirming in Becky’s hold. “Heath’s hurt!”

Taking Bran into her arms, Sahara whispered thanks to Becky and stroked the little boy’s hair. “He’ll be all right, buddy. Look, the trainer’s with him. He’s skating all on his own.”

“Is that good?” Kimber whispered.

Nodding, Sahara watched the teams being separated. She bit her lip as the refs handed out the penalties. Dominik would be in the penalty box until the game ended.

Luckily, the game ended with a tie.

Her phone went off in her pocket. She pulled it out and checked the text.

Jami: Sam just went in to labor. This is all my fault.

Sahara: It’s not your fault. She’s almost nine months along, isn’t she? Maybe it was just her time.

Jami: We’re bringing her to the hospital now. Can you come meet us there?

Another text came in. It was Dominik.

Dominik: Can you come down for a minute?

This was crazy. Sahara stared at her phone, torn between wanting to be there for Jami and needing to be there for Dominik. Jami had Akira. Dominik had his teammates.

“Do you need me to watch them again, honey?” Becky asked.

Sahara nodded, happy to see neither Bran nor Kimber seemed upset that she’d have to leave them again. She quickly sent a text and hurried out to the hall to jump on the elevator.

* * * *

Dominik had gotten an earful from both Sloan and Coach Shero for his penalty, but he wasn’t hearing much of anything. After coming to the locker room, he’d picked up his phone to text Sahara and seen the message from his brother.

Joshua had been called for another mission. He wished Dominik luck. Couldn’t say where he was going. He’d be in touch.

Barely managing not to put his fist through the wall, Dominik sank to the bench in front of his stall and blocked out the entire world. He couldn’t fucking do this anymore.

But he had to.

“Dominik?” Sahara approached him, sinking to her knees and placing her hands on his thighs. “Talk to me.”

Fuck, just seeing her face calmed his racing pulse. He slid his hands over her cheeks and into her hair. Pressed his eyes shut as he leaned in to kiss her.

“How are Bran and Kimber? They know Ladd’s okay, right?” He opened his eyes and looked over at Ladd, who was getting checked on by the trainers. The kid had lost a tooth from the slash and had gotten a few stitches on his lip. No big deal.

The kids might not see it that way though.

“They’re good. You’re not. What happened?”

He sighed, feeling stupid for asking her to come down. Seeing her was amazing, but he was a professional. He needed to pull his shit together. “I’m good. I kinda flipped when that guy took a swing at Ladd. Stupid fucking penalty, but Hunt kept us in the game.”

“From where I was standing, it looked like a good penalty. They need to know not to fuck with our players,” Sahara said, all bloodthirsty and sexy as hell. She gave him a wry smile and cleared her throat. “There’s more though, isn’t there?”

“Josh was called up for another mission.” Dominik rubbed his hand over his eyes. “He’s doing his job. I need to do mine.”

Lacing her fingers behind his neck, Sahara met his eyes. “Yes, you do. But you get to be worried about him.”

Maybe, but Dominik was supposed to be leading his team to a fucking victory. They were so damn close. His head had to be in the game.

“What about you? You were awesome in the pregame show. Sucks that they took out your performance between periods.”

“Naw, people are too riled up to enjoy it anyway.” Sahara dropped her gaze. “But I have to go.”

What?
“Go?”

“Sam just went into labor. Jami freaked out because she tore into her about letting Oriana adopt the baby. It’s a mess.” Sahara stroked his thick beard with her thumb. “If you ask me to, I’ll stay, but I’ve been trying to be a better friend. Jami needs to be there when Sam has her baby. And she asked me to be with her.”

“You should be.”
I want you here, but I won’t be that kind of man.
Grant had come between Sahara and her friends. He’d isolated her to the point that she’d lost many friends. She had to see how different life would be now.

She pressed her forehead to his. “I’ll still be watching the game. And Becky’s with Bran and Kimber.”

“Good. Becky will be fine with them.”

“Yes, but you need to listen to me.” Sahara took a deep breath. “Do you remember when I asked you to score a goal for me?”

“Yeah.”

“Now I need more. Win the game. For me, for the team, for your mother and your brothers, because you know they’re watching. Take this round for all of us.”

Dominik nodded. He could do that. And she was right.

She didn’t need to be in the stands to support him. He’d taught her how to feel him with her even when he couldn’t be. And after he kissed her, after he walked her to the locker room door, he still felt her presence.

Even more so when he stepped back onto the ice.

* * * *

Climbing into the back of the cab she’d called since she’d come here with Dominik and couldn’t take his truck, Sahara gave the cabbie directions and pulled the game up on her phone. The puck was dropped. The play was fierce, rushing from one side of the ice to the other. Hunt made a spectacular save.

She’d worried that she’d made the wrong choice in leaving, but Dominik looked amazing out there. With powerful hits, moving faster than the younger players, he was on his fucking game. His passes were crisp, and soon, she had no reason to doubt the choice she’d made.

The excitement in the announcer’s voice mounted as he called out every play.

“Mason snaps up the puck on a pinch. Whips the puck over to Perron. Perron passes it back. Mason dodges a check and tucks the puck back to Ladd… Ladd scores! The Cobras win!”

THE END

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Game Misconduct

THE DARTMOUTH COBRAS #1

The game has always cast a shadow over Oriana Delgado’s life. She should hate the game. But she doesn’t. The passion and the energy of the sport are part of her. But so is the urge to drop the role of the Dartmouth Cobra owner’s ‘good daughter’ and find a less . . .conventional one.

Playmaker Max Perron never expected a woman to accept him and his twisted desires. Oriana came close, but he wasn’t surprised when she walked away. A girl like her needs normal. Which he can’t give her. He’s too much of a team player, and not just on the ice.

But then Oriana’s father goes too far in trying to control her and she decides to use exposure as blackmail. Just the implication of her spending the night with the Cobras’ finest should get her father to back off.

Turns out a team player is exactly what she needs.

“Ms Sommerland takes us on an extremely incredible journey as we watch Oriana’s master her own sexuality. She comes to realize that there is more out there that she craves and desires, than she has ever realized.” Rhayne —Guilty Pleasures

“With a delicious storyline and kinky characters outside of the norm, Game Misconduct pushes you outside of your comfort zone and rewards your submission with phenomenally erotic sex. If you’re a fan of hardcore BDSM, then this book is going to top your list of must reads!” Silla Beaumont —Just Erotic Romance