Know the Score (Vancouver Knights, #2)

by Kylie Kent

But what I love more than anything else is the moment I step onto the ice and I see her. Kathryn Kilgor, the only person who’s managed to take over more of my soul than this game.

“I’ll always love you,” Kathryn says, pulling back to look at me. “Promise me you’ll always remember that. Never, ever doubt that I love you, Gray.”

“You know you’re always safe with me, Kathryn. I’d die before I ever let anything hurt you,”

“I don’t want any babies if they’re not yours, Gray. I want a little girl with your green eyes. We’ll name her Graycee, and I already know she’s going to be a huge daddy’s girl.”

My blood is boiling. It’s that same feeling I get out on the ice whenever I see someone make a dirty play against one of my guys. It’s why I’m the team’s fucking enforcer. It’s in my blood, the violence, the vengeance.

“March eighteenth. Every year, he mourns you like you died, Kathryn. You know how I know that? Because I’ve flown out here on that day, every year, to help him through it. Do you have any idea what it’s been like watching him fall apart? He looked for you for years, Kathryn. And even though I knew it was your choice, I always hoped he’d find you and bring you back.”

It wasn’t until Mom had sliced right down Aliyah’s wrists in her attempt to kill her own daughter that Dad found out. It wasn’t even a question. He killed her on the spot.

“Two thousand, one hundred, and eighty-four days,” he says. “That’s how long I’ve been looking for you. So, imagine my surprise when you show up right here, in Vancouver, on my metaphorical doorstep, after all this time.”

“She’s too trusting. She shouldn’t be letting some strange guy come into the house, pick her up, and put her into his car. Have you not taught her anything about stranger danger?” “You’re not a stranger to her. She’s always known about you. I’ve never given her a reason to not trust her father, Gray.”

“You are the princess of this castle. All of this is yours,” I tell her. “I’m the princess? Really?” she asks. “Yep. Although maybe don’t tell your Aunt Aliyah that. She’s been the princess a really long time. She might not like the idea of being dethroned.” I laugh when I see my sister walking towards us. “I have an aunt?” “You have an aunt and two uncles. And a grandfather,” I tell her. “Do you think they will like me?” Graycee whispers. “They will love you.”

“You might hate me, Grayson Monroe, but I know you also still love me. Otherwise you would have killed me by now.”

Well, I can’t not cave and let myself enjoy that moment. I know he hates me. I know that, but I don’t blame him. If I’m honest with myself, I hate me too for what I did to him.

It doesn’t matter if he loves me. Love doesn’t protect you from your enemies. From mine.

“Not everything is that simple, Vinny. Not everything is black and white. Sometimes it’s gray,”

“We’ll have to teach her to hit harder.” The fucker grins. “I’ll teach her to hit harder,” I tell him. “You already stole my fucking sister, King. You’re not stealing my daughter as well.” “There is way too much to unpack with that, Monroe. I know you can afford a shrink. Maybe look into one.” King shrugs before skating off. “He’s not wrong.” Luke laughs. “Whose friend are you anyway?” I ask him. “Yours. But that doesn’t change the truth, Monroe.”

“Graycee, I gotta go and win this game. I love you.” “Love you too, Daddy,” she says, then adds, “And, Daddy, make sure you hit ʼem harder.”

“I can’t. She’s all I have. She and Graycee are all I have.” My chest heaves with sobs. My mom fell asleep a while ago, and I don’t think she’s going to wake up again. “That’s not true. You have me.”

“I’m always good. Besides, I’m the princess of the castle, and princesses can do whatever they want. Daddy said so.” She beams. “I have a feeling Daddy’s going to regret those words one day very soon,” I mumble under my breath.

“Don’t worry, Daddy, Uncle Liam always lets me win. We’re going to beat ʼem good.” “Graycee, baby, I don’t need your Uncle Liam to let me win. I can beat him all on my own,” I tell her. Wait… When the fuck did I start referring to the asshole as Uncle Liam?

Having him inside me is a feeling I can’t describe. But it’s something like coming home. Being where I belong. A place I never should have left.

I shouldn’t want to hear anything Kathryn has to say about me. But I do. It doesn’t matter how much time has passed; that woman still has her claws in my chest.

“I’m the villain in this story, Lil. I don’t get the guy. I don’t get the happy ending.” “Bullshit. What kind of whacked-out fairy tales did you grow up reading? Everyone loves a good redemption arc. I mean, who wants to read about perfect characters? Our flaws make us interesting. Besides, everyone knows the villains are way more fun.”

There are moments when I want my daughter to myself. To just be mine again. I know it’s selfish, but I’m not used to sharing her with so many people. However, when I see her with her father, it makes my heart swell. She deserves this. She deserves him. And he deserves her too.

I have to pay for my sins, and if this is my punishment, then so be it. Because at least he’s here to dish it out. The alternative… Well, that would be worse than anything this man could ever do to me.

“I want it on my heart because you’re the only girl in the world to have all of my heart, Graycee. Besides, your dad’s a hockey player, and we’re tough. I won’t even feel it.”

The comfort I took from him, just having him holding my hand, keeping me grounded… I don’t think he’ll ever know how much it means to me that he did that. He didn’t have to be there for me.

“Don’t you think I would if I could? I can’t fucking stay away from you, Kathryn. You’re right. There are times when I do hate you. I hate what you did. But I can’t stop fucking loving you either. Trust me, I’ve tried.”

“I thought you were dead. Then, when I saw you in that newspaper clipping, I thought that you just didn’t love me like I love you. Because how could anyone leave someone they love without so much as a note? An explanation?” he says, his voice quiet. “I love you, Grayson. I’ve always loved you. I never stopped loving you,” I tell him. When he doesn’t reply, I look up at him. “Say something. Yell at me, anything, just say something.” “I’m going to fix this. I won’t let anything happen to you or Graycee.” “I can’t let anything happen to you either.”

That fucker took a bullet meant for my sister? Fucking hell, I’m going to have to let the asshole marry her after all, aren’t I?

“How’d you know? From the jump, you were the one insisting there was more to the story than what we knew.” “That woman loves you, Gray. That much is as clear as the grass is green. She wouldn’t have just left without a good fucking reason.”

“I still shouldn’t have given up. I promise I will never give up on you again, Kathryn. I won’t give up on us.”

“I think we will always be an us, Kathryn. We probably have some shit to work through, but it’s always been you. It will always be you.”

“I’m in this, Kathryn. One hundred percent. This isn’t me setting you up for heartbreak. I never want to see you hurt. This is me finally getting what I’ve been waiting for, for a very long time,” he says, “while hoping it’s what you’ve been waiting for too.”

“My dad’s here, so are Alessandro and Enzo.” She shrugs. “You what? Why?” “Because I’m not about to let anyone F-U-C-K with you,” she says, censoring herself for Graycee’s sake. “That spells fuck,” Graycee shouts proudly. Yes, my daughter can read. And spell apparently.

I push up on my tiptoes, then quickly lower myself back down. I was about to kiss him before I second-guessed it. Should I do that? Kiss him like I used to… “Kathryn, kiss me,” Gray says, clearly reading my mind. “If you want to kiss me, then fucking kiss me. Whenever, wherever, and in front of whomever.”

“I love the relationship you’re building with our daughter. It’s more than I ever could have wished for. Because of you, she’s going to know her worth as a woman. She’s going to know how men should treat her in life. Because of you, she has a whole extended family who loves and adores her. I couldn’t give her those things without you, Grayson.”

“We are very much back together. You are mine, Kathryn. Mine,” he says. “Okay, but are you mine?” “I’ve always been yours.”

“Because if it’s a you or them situation, Grayson, I want you… need you to always pick you. We need you. You didn’t kill anyone. You protected your family. There is a difference. Now, come on. Get in the shower. Graycee has been waiting for you to come home all morning,”

“You are Grayson Monroe, a Stanley Cup champion. A father, a damn good one too. You’re my…” I pause, wondering what title is appropriate. “You’re my person, Gray. You’re my soul mate. But don’t tell Lil that because she really does think that’s her spot. And you are a good man. You’re caring, loyal, and fiercely protective of the people you love. Can you be an ass at times? Sure.” I smile and Grayson frowns at me. “But you’re an ass I happen to love and really don’t want to have to go back to living without. Ever again,”

“You really do love him, don’t you?” “Grayson? Yes, I do.” “Good. He’s going to need it. That sort of love and loyalty. He’s going to need you to anchor him. It’s never easy the first time,” Jacob says and walks out.

“Kathryn Kilgor, you are my one and only love. The kind most people never find, but I found you. Twice. And now I want to keep you. Please tell me I can keep you forever. Will you marry me?”