The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Chapter 43

Bruce walked closer, a wicked smirk on his face as he greeted me with false pleasantries. “Well, well, look who decided to show up. How have you been, Coco?”

My jaw clenched as my anger simmered just below the surface. I had hoped to avoid

any unnecessary small talk, but I couldn’t ignore the taunts. “Cut the act, Bruce. You called me here, now state your demands,” I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.

Bruce’s smirk widened, and he leaned in closer, reveling in my discomfort. “I have to admit, I didn’t think you’d ever amount to anything. But seeing you on the news, winning that court case, made me realize you might have something to offer me,” he said, his eyes glinting with greed.

My blood ran cold at the mention of the court case. “And now you want my earnings?” I asked, not masking my irritation.

Bruce chuckled darkly, circling around me like a predator closing in on its prey. “Yes, Coco. I want a share of your winnings. You owe me after what you did,” he said, his words coming out in a hiss.

“You seem fine,” I said, looking him over. “Still dodging you daily showers, it seems.” Bruce chuckled. “I always did enjoy your humor, Coco.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Why not, Coco?” he persisted, his eyes darkening. “Hell, I don’t speak a lick of French, but damn are you as darling as the word suggests.”

“God!” I huffed and forced my hands to my sides, suppressing the need to strangle him. “What have you even been doing alll these years, Bruce? I mean, I besides extorting people.”

Bruce glanced around and shoved his hands in his pockets, “I’ve been trying to get back on track. Especially after you left home so suddenly. You really broke my heart, you know?”

“Didn’t know you owned one of those,” I muttered. “And you barely answered my question.”

His eyes narrowed. “If you’re wondering about your dear ‘ol stepmom, she’s doing

144

|

Chapter 431

right. A little shaken

my father. I had almost forgotten about Laura, although she wasn’t exactly receptive to my existence half

they were still

by from time to time,” Bruce said, grinning. “She’s changed the place up quiet a bit. With your dad gone, she figured

out his belongings, and likely my own, disturbed me. I had left so abruptly that I hadn’t had the time to really collect

reached out after

for all those hospital bills, it’s been a

bad for you? Sorry you never applied

sinister smile. “Believe what you want, Coco. It doesn’t change the fact that

You were the one who made my life a

naive one, Coco. Thinking you could escape your past and start

I fought to maintain my composure. “I’m not naive anymore, Bruce. I’ve grown since then,

churned with unease. Coming out here was starting to feel a little less

vengeance.

Chapter 43

would his intentions have been then? He had been contacting me even before then. Of course, I shouldn’t fool myself into believing

me through?” I

Coco. That little knock to the head you gave me left some

snapped. “And it seems

I was being slammed against one of the storage units. My vision flashed white as

my nostrils. “Still mouthing off I see.” His finger and

whispered. “That little

sending him stumbling backward. “I’d rather douse myself

disappeared, and his shoulders hunched over. I took a few

go crawl back into whatever gutter you

in Bruce’s eyes, and he lunged towards me, demanding, “Don’t