Blindsided: Renegades 7 (The Renegades Series) Read online

  Blindsided

  Renegades 7

  The Renegades Series

  by Melody Heck Gatto

  Blindsided – Renegades 7

  By Melody Heck Gatto

  Copyright © 2017 by Melody Heck Gatto

  License Notes

  All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite e-book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Editing by Bree Scalf - Vivid Editing

  Cover Art by Kat McCarthy - Aeternum Designs

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Blindsided

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  DEDICATION

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  EPILOGUE

  DEDICATION

  When Angels send inspiration down from heaven,

  give them a story and they’ll live on forever,

  in our hearts, in our minds, and more importantly, in the pages of a book.

  Special people leave a bigger impression on this Earth than we realize.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Trina

  Trina was happy to relax in the gorgeous Caribbean sunshine and get a break from the cold. It was February, and snow was falling back in Pittsburgh. Winter in Western Pennsylvania reminded her a lot of Banff, where her sister lived, and where she’d spent a good bit of time before she met Sam. Not that she wasn’t used to the cold, having lived in Winnipeg most of her life, but once she’d moved to San Jose with Sam, she had started to enjoy the constant sun and warmth. She’d always thought she should’ve been a beach bum. Guess that’s what happens when you move from a home in Banff to the California Coast.

  She had reluctantly dusted off the sand and put away her bikinis when she and Sam moved to Pittsburgh after he was traded to the Renegades. In Pittsburgh she was closer to her brother and his wife, but this is what she missed: the sun, the sand, the warmth on her skin. Lying in the bright light and heavy heat relaxed her body and mind.

  She whispered with a soft exhale, not really meaning to say it out loud, “We need to vacation more often.”

  “You are so right,” Kat agreed from beside her. “This is heaven. I’m not looking forward to going back to the cold and snow in Pittsburgh. Do you think we can just stay here? Would the guys miss us that much during the rest of the season?”

  “I imagine they would. We’re pretty awesome hockey wives, if I may say so myself,” Gia commented from where she was building a sandcastle with Ian and Willow.

  Kat was married to Kris Lafleur, and her sister Gia was married to Patrick Dubois. “I’d say you’re not wrong, G. And I’m pretty sure Patrick would agree. That man adores you.”

  “Oh please!” Trina groaned from behind her big sunglasses. Both Kat and Gia turned to her with questioning looks. Realizing that what she said could be taken the wrong way, Trina backpedaled. “I mean… Yes, Pat does adore you, Gia. Everyone can see that. I keep hearing how you turned him from a life of bunnies to a one-woman man. That boy only has eyes for you, G, and not everyone has that kind of love.” She was speaking from experience, because she and Sam were still madly in love, like newlyweds.

  “I do,” Kat chimed in and laughed, interrupting Trina’s thought.

  “Oh, I was getting to you, Kat. I just thought it was funny that you, of all people, were making comments about how Pat adores Gia. Your husband holds you at the center of his universe. Kris acts like you hung the moon and the stars. You, of all people, know what being adored and spoiled by your husband is like.”

  Gia nodded with attitude in agreement. “And to answer your question, sis. I know Pat would definitely miss me. I know exactly what he likes, if you get my drift.” She winked at Trina and Kat before turning her attention back to the kids.

  Kat groaned. “Thanks for keeping that PG, sis.”

  “I didn’t realize how much I missed the beach until now.” Trina closed her eyes, taking in the sunrays. “But I wish the guys were on a break and could be here with us. I miss Sam.”

  The wives had been getting restless with the Pittsburgh winter being so cold, and had decided it was time for a vacation. Kat, Gia and Trina chose Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean. It had become a favorite among the three. Trina had tried to get her sister-in-law, Paige, to take some time off and join them, but as the Renegades PR Assistant, time off wasn’t possible.

  Trina checked the time, knowing she would need to go inside before long. She had suffered from multiple sclerosis for years, and sunbathing was something she always had to limit.

  Since she’d become pregnant with Willow, however, even her mildest symptoms had disappeared, despite the fact that she hadn’t been allowed to take her injections during that time. Research told her that MS symptoms tended to come back once the baby was born, but she’d been lucky.

  It was unusual, and there was not much documentation of this occurring, but she hadn’t been showing any signs of MS since she’d had Willow. Her doctor had even kept her off the injections. He claimed she was still in remission, although that rarely ever happened following a pregnancy. She wasn’t questioning it; she was simply grateful.

  “Have you talked to Sam today?”

  “No. After morning skate, there was a team meeting. I probably won’t talk to him before the game tonight. Knowing his ritual,”—Trina highlighted the word ‘ritual’ by using finger quotes when she said it—“he’ll eat a lunch of baked chicken, prepared by the team chef at the arena after the meeting, then he’ll go home for a nap before the game. Then a bowl of pasta before he suits up and heads back to the Rivers Arena.”

  His game-day “ritual” always made her laugh, because it wasn’t much of one, but he sure thought it was. Talking about her husband made her chest ache a little. She missed him, and while it was nice to be on vacation, she wouldn’t mind being curled up in bed with him during his nap. That is, if Willow decided to sleep, too.

  She’d call him later or maybe tomorrow. His sexy smile and flirty blue eyes crept into her thoughts as she soaked up more sun.

  “Mummy!” Willow ran, as well as one can run in sand, to her. Jumping up and down in front of Trina, her little white-blond curls bounced as the cutie giggled and coo
ed. “Bubbles. Please!”

  Gia shook her head. “Seriously, you guys should model. You’re a family of three blond and gorgeous people.”

  “Please.” Trina waved Gia off. “Didn’t you used to model, G?” she asked, as she searched through her beach bag for Willow’s bubbles.

  “Yes, she did,” Kat answered quickly.

  “Yeah, I did. It was a lifetime ago. But I’m just saying, you guys are all beautiful. Seriously.”

  “Like surfer beautiful,” Kat said with a chuckle.

  It was a joke around the locker room that Sam looked like a surfer-dude, with his sun-touched, shaggy blond hair, and his easy smile that could light up a room. Thinking about her handsome husband made Trina’s stomach flutter.

  “Alright, enough, you two. I think we’re all pretty beautiful, don’t you?” Trina motioned to Kat and Gia.

  “I guess.” Gia looked at Trina, directing her next comment to her. “I’m just lucky to have such good friends on this crazy ride.”

  It hadn’t been easy getting there, but Gia and Trina were finally close. It had been awkward for a while, seeing as how Gia used to date Trina’s brother, Tyler. Things got messy between Gia and Tyler, and she chose Pat. Trina hadn’t liked Gia before she even knew her.

  But that was all in the past. Gia was now happily married to Pat. And since her brother, Ty, was now happily married to Paige, Trina saw no reason to hold onto hard feelings.

  “We’re at a beautiful resort; let’s concentrate on having fun. Who’s up for drinks tonight?”

  Gia’s hand shot up in the air first.

  “The sun is taking a lot out of me today,” Trina said, leaning back on her elbows. “I’ll stay with the kiddos tonight. You two go and get ready. We’ll play for a little longer in the sand, and then go get some dinner.”

  “You sure, Tri?” Kat asked.

  “Absolutely. Gia looks after the kids a lot; it’s my turn. Make sure to drink one for me.” Trina smiled, adding any reassurance needed. It eventually worked, because Kat and Gia gathered their things and after giving Ian a kiss and hug, headed back to the room.

  “Well kids, looks like it’s just us tonight.” Trina smiled at Ian, while Willow gave her mommy a big hug. “How does movies and chicken nuggets sound?”

  Trina’s evening with the kids was calm and relaxing. The suite was quiet after the little ones fell asleep. That was the beauty of being out in the sun all day. Sun and fresh air always made kiddos tired. She was looking forward to putting her feet up and diving into a good book before watching the game.

  Until she got an unexpected phone call. A phone call no hockey wife ever wanted to get.

  She pushed the tears back, as she cleared the lump that had formed in her throat. Instincts had told her that going away during the season was a bad idea. Normally, she would’ve been at the game. She would’ve been in the family suite with Willow, watching Sam and the Renegades play.

  But tonight, the kids were tired and had fallen asleep early, and she was enjoying some quiet time. She’d completely lost track of time while reading a romance novel. It wasn’t like her not to have the game on.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” She wanted some sort of confirmation from Sam. The fact that he was the one who called her meant it wasn’t too bad, but injuries were scary. And not being there to see for herself made her leery. “I know you well enough. You don’t usually complain, so are you positive you’re okay? And babe, please don’t lie to me.”

  “Tri, I’m fine. It was an awkward hit into the glass. Took me off guard, and I won’t lie, it shook me up. Maybe even knocked the wind out of me for a second. They put me through concussion protocol and kept me out for the rest of the game as a precaution. But, yes, I’m fine. I really could’ve gone back into the game.”

  She checked her phone and saw that the game was over.

  “Take it as a good sign that I’m the one calling you, babe. If it was Sal or Coach Walker, then you should worry. But it’s me. I’m taking it easy, per team doctor’s orders. He wants me to come in first thing in the morning for an exam, just to be thorough. But it’s nothing, I swear.”

  Her phone buzzed as he was talking. Checking it, she found a text from her sister-in-law. Paige was also the assistant PR person for the team, and she obviously knew Trina would need the reassurance. She was one person Trina would trust.

  Paige: He’s fine.

  But although Trina had confidence in Paige, she still worried. While on vacation and too far away to rush to his side, no wife wanted to get a call letting her know her husband had been injured. She didn’t like how Sam sounded. His voice cracked and his words were heavy, as if he were clenching his jaw. She’d been with him long enough to know his telltale signs.

  “You’re gritting your teeth.” Why wasn’t I watching the game? I should’ve been. Then I would’ve seen what happened.

  “No, I’m not gritting my teeth. I’m fine. Tri, please don’t worry about me. Just enjoy your vacation.” After a heavy sigh, he continued. “Look, I have a headache. It’s dull, but it’s there. Right after the hit, things went weird. My hearing, my vision, it was all wonky. But that wore off by the time I was in the training room with the doc. He said I got my bell rung, and that I would probably still have a headache tomorrow, but it will go away. The point is, he wasn’t worried, so you shouldn’t be, either.”

  She had to trust him, because without that, what did a couple have? If he says he’s fine, I have to believe him. Reluctantly, she answered, “Okay.”

  “Good. Now enjoy the rest of your trip, and give our little girl a kiss for me. Have a margarita and tell the ladies that I said hello. I’ll talk to you soon. I love you, babe.”

  “I love you too. Sam, I love you so much.”

  His reassurance wasn’t enough to settle her mind. A margarita would do the trick, but seeing as she was responsible for the little ones, a traditional alcoholic margarita was out of the question. Looked like it would have to be a frozen virgin margarita for her tonight. Was it even worth it? Checking in on first Ian, and then their little Willow, Trina lightly kissed her daughter’s head before retiring to the balcony with her drink.

  Sitting in the ocean breeze, she breathed in the salty air. She was still sipping at her drink and watching the moonlight over the ocean, when Gia and Kat arrived home.

  “Hey Tri. Everything okay?” Kat popped her head out on the balcony, looking at Trina with a suspicious eye.

  “I don’t know.” Their balcony faced the ocean, and the dark beach was now quiet from vacationers. The calming crash of the waves as they washed onto the beach was the only sound. A cool breeze brushed over her. The sounds and the feel of the ocean reminded her of when she first met Sam at the beach. It was her favorite place and calmed her like no other.

  Except right now. She settled into a lounge chair with her alcohol-free drink and did her best not to worry.

  “He’s going to be fine. You know that, right?” Kat squeezed her hand before settling back in her own chair. She already had a fresh drink in her hand.

  “That’s what he says, too. Wait—you know about the hit Sam took tonight?” Trina hadn’t had the chance to tell anyone yet, since she’d just gotten off the phone with Sam not too long ago.

  “Well, yeah. Paige texted me. She said it was a few minutes before he got his bearings, but he left the ice on his own. And, well, I wasn’t going to mention this, but it’s online too.”

  “The hit?”

  “Yep. It looks worse than it probably was; doesn’t it always? So I suggest that you probably shouldn’t go looking for it. You’re better off, trust me.”

  Kat was wasting her breath, and she knew it. Now that Trina knew the video was posted somewhere online, she was going to have a tough time staying away from it. “Was it worse than that hit Ty took a few seasons back?”

  Kat shook her head, keeping her attention on her cup. She swirled her drink before taking a long sip, possibly trying to keep herself from saying mu
ch. But Trina knew Kat was never good at keeping to herself; she cared too much. That’s one reason they loved her so much.

  Closing her eyes, Trina did her best to breathe. She still had to take care of herself and Willow, and stressing was not good. Breathing in the salty air and concentrating on the sounds of the ocean, she struggled to keep her mind from racing.

  “You look tired. Why don’t you go to bed? Willow is sound asleep, and even if she wakes up, I can get her. Go get some rest; you look like you need it.”

  These days she was tired, all the time. But with a toddler, who had time to rest? “Yeah, maybe you’re right. G’night.” Leaving her drink on the balcony, she gave Kat a quick hug before heading towards her room.

  She changed into an oversized comfy t-shirt and sleep shorts, and crawled into bed with her laptop. She wasn’t going to be able to sleep until she’d looked up the footage of the hit. Snuggling into the soft covers, she typed “hit on Sam Morris” into the search engine. The video was the first thing to pop up.

  I shouldn’t watch this. He said he was fine.

  Ignoring her own advice and Kat’s suggestion, she clicked on the link. Seeing Sam’s head pushed into the glass made her sick to her stomach. Him lying on the ice for those few moments made her want to puke. Just like she’d been told, he never lost consciousness, and was talking to the doctors. Kat was right; Sam left the ice on his own power, but it didn’t make her feel any better.

  Her chest hurt to watch it, but she couldn’t stop. Her eyes burned, as tears slid down her cheeks. Her brain knew he was okay, but her heart ached, and being so far away from him didn’t help her pain. There was no way she was going to be able to sleep now. Maybe she should’ve grabbed a shot before she retired to bed. She dug into her secret chocolate stash and snacked as she watched.

  Continuing to hit “replay” over and over, she watched her husband get hit again and again. She watched him lie on the ice. She watched him sitting up with a glazed look to his eye, as though he had no idea where he was. Then she watched it again.