Chapter 1 Beginning

PROLOGUE

Zane's POV

The roar of the crowd was addictive.

No.

It was better than addictive. It was fucking oxygen.

"Eagles! Eagles! Eagles!"

Twenty thousand people chanted my name like I was some kind of messiah in shoulder pads while my teammates crashed into me against the boards.

A hat trick…Game-winning goal…First star of the night…Another record. Another headline with my name plastered across it by morning.

I skated the length of the rink with my stick raised, the lights burning down on me, and for a moment, I let myself believe I was untouchable.

Because I was.

Zane Chandler, twenty-eight years old franchise player. Endorsements out the ass. A penthouse, a mansion, and more zeroes in my bank account than I could spend in three lifetimes. Kansas City was my kingdom, and tonight, I'd just proved why.

Then I ripped off my helmet, grinning so hard my cheeks hurt, and raised my stick toward the stands. The arena erupted all over again.

Yeah. This was exactly where I belonged. People didn't pay to watch hockey… they paid to watch me.

The reporters were already gathering near the tunnel before I'd even stepped off the ice.

"Zane! Over here!"

"What was going through your head before the overtime winner?"

"Think you'll hit fifty goals this season?"

I flashed the camera my best smile.

"The puck found the right guy."

A few reporters laughed, while the others rolled their eyes. They'd heard enough of my confidence over the years to know I wasn't joking.

Inside the locker room, there was celebration. Music blasted from someone's speaker while bottles of water and sports drinks flew through the air. Someone shoved my shoulder.

"You cocky bastard."

I laughed.

"Say all you want bro, I prefer gifted."

"But man…that shot was filthy. Absolutely disgusting. They're gonna play that on SportsCenter for a week.”

The room erupted into laughter.

Coach shook his head as he walked past.

"Listen up, boys! Metro News. Eight tomorrow morning. Every single one of you will be there. No excuses. We're going to look straight into those cameras and remind the whole damn state why we're the best hockey team in Missouri.”

He said, shouting.

“Yeah!!!!”

The chants of my team players went up in the air.

"Bar!"

"Bar!"

"Bar!"

Logan threw an arm around my shoulders.

"Come on, Chandler. We just embarrassed the best team in the conference. Drinks are on me. The usual spot tonight. I'm texting the owner now. Bottle service, VIP section and those hot sexy blonds. We're painting the town red.”

"No man…I'd love to but...."

I checked my phone. One message.

Hurry. I'm outside.

I smirked.

I grabbed my duffel and slung it over my shoulder. Already, I was thinking about the texts I'd seen on my phone. The brunette from the charity gala. Long legs, red dress, and incredible set of white sparkling teeth. What was her name again….Abby? Ashley? Amanda? Something with an A. It didn't matter. What mattered was that she was waiting and I've got plans for her tonight.

“Whoa….whoa…whoa…You're seriously ditching us?”

"I've got better plans."

"Oh, you've got company. The only time you ever miss free drinks are when you've got those sexy things waiting for you"

"When don't I?" I shrugged.

The locker room groaned.

"Unbelievable…I can't believe this…”

Logan said, putting up a face.

I grabbed my duffel bag.

“Between getting wasted with you idiots and taking a gorgeous woman home... Sorry, boys. The gorgeous woman wins every time.”

"Boo!"

"Traitor!"

"You'll regret this when she kicks you out."

"That has literally never happened."

I replied to them.

"There's always a first time."

I pointed finger guns at them.

"Have fun drinking."

"And you have fun... whatever her name is!"

More laughter followed me out of the locker room. The hallway outside the arena was lined with fans waiting behind security barriers.

"Zane!"

"Can I get a picture?"

"I love you!"

A little boy held out a hockey stick almost as tall as he was. I stopped long enough to sign it.

"Practice every day, okay buddy?”

His eyes widened.

"I will!"

That grin alone was worth stopping.

Outside, camera flashes lit up the night. God. This never got old.

Then I saw her. Long blonde hair, black dress and legs that seemed to go on forever. Those legs looked like trouble, and I had never been the kind of man who walked away from trouble.

She smiled the second our eyes met.

"There you are."

I slipped an arm around her waist.

"There I am."

She leaned in and kissed me before I could say another word.

"You played amazing."

"I know."

She laughed.

"I like your confidence."

"You should, baby."

My driver was already waiting beside the SUV. He opened the rear door.

"Good evening, Mr. Chandler."

I nodded before sliding inside with...Ashley? Amanda? Definitely one of those.

The moment the door shut, she slid onto my lap like she'd done it a hundred times before.

"I've been thinking about you all game."

"Lucky me."

Her lips found mine again. Slow and unhurried. The kiss tasted faintly of champagne lip gloss and confidence. She smiled against my mouth, her fingers slipping into my hair as if she already knew I'd let her do whatever she wanted.

She pulled back just enough to whisper, "You really are full of yourself."

I grinned.

"Can you blame me?"

"Not after tonight.”

Kansas City's lights blurred past the tinted windows while my driver pretended not to notice what was happening in the back seat. Professional. I respected that.

By the time we pulled into my driveway, her lipstick was smeared and my fly was already halfway.

She smiled.

"So..."

"So?"

"Invite me in."

I climbed out first.

"Gladly."

The night air hit my face. So cold.

We got out of the car and began walking to the door. Something immediately felt...Off.

The front door was standing open.

I frowned.

Katie. Seriously?

I'd told my little sister a hundred times not to leave the damn door open. She'd only been staying with me for a few days while she was on break, and somehow she'd already forgotten basic survival instincts.

"You coming?" the blonde asked.

"Yeah."

I stepped onto the porch.

"Katie?"

No answer.

I pushed the door wider. The house was completely dark.

"Katie?"

Silence.

A strange smell drifted through the air. It was metallic and sharp. My stomach tightened.

"Maybe she's asleep?" the blonde offered nervously.

"With the front door open?"

I reached for the wall and my fingers found the switch. Click. Light flooded the room.

At first, all I saw was red. It stained the hardwood floor in thick, glistening pools that stretched toward my shoes.

Then I saw the bare feet.

My stomach dropped. No…

My gaze climbed higher.

Jeans, a gray hoodie, long dark hair matted with blood.

Katie.

My sister lay in the center of the living room, unnaturally still. My eyes climbed to her face and my world stopped.

Her eyes…

My breath stopped.

They were gone.

Empty, blood-filled sockets faced the ceiling where her eyes should have been, dark and wet with blood, and carved into the bridge of her nose, right between them, was a perfect five-pointed star.

The cuts were too clean. Too precise.

Whoever carved that star hadn't been in a hurry. It was deep and intentional.

The blonde beside me let out a scream so sharp it seemed to split the air.

"Oh my God!"

She stumbled backward and ran out.

I couldn't move. I couldn't even breathe.

My duffel bag slipped from my fingers and hit the floor with a dull thud.

"Katie..."

The word barely left my lips.

No. No, no, no…

My knees buckled and I crashed onto the blood-slick floor, my hands shaking so violently I couldn't bring myself to touch her.

This wasn't real….It couldn't be.

She'd texted me this morning complaining that my fridge was emptier than a college student's wallet and I'd told her to order whatever she wanted. I'd promised I'd be home after the game.

She…she was supposed to be alive.

"Katie..."

Silence.

"Katie...Wake up.”

Please. Say something. Tell me this is one of your stupid jokes.

Anything.

Just...Please.

A sob ripped out of me before I even realized I was crying.

"KATIE!”

My scream echoed through the empty house. And somewhere in the distance...

A dog began to howl.