Chapter 10 No Way Out
Rafe’s POV
“You both embarrassed this academy!”
The director’s voice cracked through the locker room like a whip.
No one moved as he spoke.
No one even dared to breathe.
We were all lined up in front of him, still in our gear, the weight of that loss sitting heavy on every shoulder. But his eyes weren’t on the team.
They were on us.
On me rather.
And Shawn.
“You didn’t just lose a game,” he continued, “You handed it away all because of no discipline and control.”
His gaze flickers between the two like he already knew exactly where the problem was. I kept my jaw clenched tight, looking straight ahead, but I could see every pair of eyes in the room flickering between Shawn and me.
“You,” his voice shatters through my thoughts suddenly, pointing straight at me. “This was your first game, Navarro. You were supposed to make a good first impression, but then you decided to turn it into a personal showcase?”
I didn’t utter a word.
No one in their right senses would dare when the director was still talking.
“Don’t mistake talent for entitlement,” he added, his voice dropping to a low whisper, “You don’t play for only yourself here. You play for this team.”
My fists clenched at my sides, but I stayed quiet. Then his attention snapped to Shawn.
“And you,” his voice is sharper this time, “Captain.” The word sounds like a warning as it rolls off his tongue. Shawn didn’t move, nor did he react. He just stood there, calm on the outside like always.
“You lost control of your player,” the director went on. “What’s much worse…is that you lost control of yourself!”
“Storm Ridge hasn’t lost a home game in ten years. Ten fucking years,” he said slowly, each word landing heavier than the last. “And somehow, the two of you managed to make history for all the wrong reasons.”
I exhaled slowly through my nose, trying to keep my temper in check. Because if I said anything right now, my whole damn career would be over.
“Because of your screwups,” he continued, clasping his hands behind his back, “there will be consequences.”
Holy shit!
Depends on what he meant by consequences.
“The academy will be hosting a closed evaluation tournament in two weeks.” His voice snaps me back to reality.“Top-level scouts will be present, including representatives from the NHL.”
That got everyone’s attention immediately— the tension in the room turns into something sharper now. More focused.
“Every game will be evaluated, every goddamn mistake!” He barked, then his gaze turns to me instantly. “This is your chance to prove that you aren’t just Kai Navarro’s bitch.”
I open my mouth to say something, but he does not give me the chance, because his gaze is locked onto Shawn now. Shawn’s jaw tightened slightly, but that was the only reaction he gave.
“If this team loses again under your leadership,” the director’s voice becomes much more serious. “You will be stripped of your captaincy. Immediately.”
A ripple moves through the room as quickly.
Holy fuck!
Storm Ridge without Shawn as captain?
Unthinkable.
“And as for you, Navarro…” the director turned back to face me. “The only reason you’re still here right now is because of your brother’s reputation,” he said coldly. “So you better have it in your goddamn mine that you haven’t earned your place yet.”
The words hit harder than I expected.
I held his gaze head-on.
Couldn’t let him see how much they affected me.
“Another performance like that…and you’re out for good,” his voice lands final. “ There will be no second chances. No reconsideration.”
My jaw clenched in utter humiliation, but I nodded once.
“I understand, Sir.”
“Good,” he replied.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Heavy. Pressing. But he wasn’t done.
“Oh! And one more thing,” he said. “You two are a liability together on the ice,” his eyes moved between us again as he spoke…
“…but that changes now.”
I felt it before he even said it.
This was going to be something much worse than everything else he’d already thrown at us.
“Effective immediately,” his voice cuts through my haze of deep thoughts. “Navarro will be reassigned to share the same dorm with Calder.”
What?
What the actual fuck am I hearing right now?
For a second—
I thought I heard wrong.
The words didn’t make sense at first, then everything just…stopped.
“What!”
The words left my mouth before I could stop myself. Shawn didn’t move, but I could feel it—the shift beside me.
“This is not a suggestion,” the director’s voice continued. “It’s a command.”
“You want me to share a room with him?” I asked, disbelief clear in my voice.
“Navarro, you will share a dorm with Calder whether you like it or not.”
A bitter laughter tears out of me before I can stop it. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“No,” I'd rather clean the entire ice rink than share a room with this pussy!” I run a hand through my hair, pacing the locker room once, before stopping again.
This is insane.
Absolutely fucking insane.
“You think putting us in the same room is going to fix anything?” My voice comes out angrily. “We can barely stand being on the same ice.”
I glance at Shawn.
Shit!
Big mistake.
Because he was already looking at me.
And there was an expression on his face— shock, anger, something darker, that made my chest feel tight all over again.
Why the fuck is he just staring at me!
Say something too, Goddamnit!
Fucking pussy!
“This is about accountability,” the Director’s voice echoes through the entire locker room. “You wanted a shot here, Navarro,” he added. “This is the price you have to pay.”
I didn’t answer.
Because I already knew how this would end.
He wasn’t going to change his mind.
But then—
Shawn finally steps forward slightly, his voice low, tight with disbelief.
“I agree to share my dorm room with Navarro…sir.”