"'Cause you and your dumb family have turned her against me."

"You are delusional."

"It's cool. I'm documenting it, and I will get my daughter back."

"You never had her," she said simply. Really, she knew she should just let it go, but like him, she wouldn't back down either. Which was probably a big part of the problem. "This parenting plan has been in place since we split. Even in the beginning, when you told me you couldn't keep Angie the whole weekend 'cause it was too much on you and Heidi with having Nina, I let it go. I didn't demand my child support, I didn't push her on you guys, I raised our child. When you decided you wanted to keep her the whole weekend, I allowed it, because it was the parenting plan. I didn't ever complain; I let it be, especially when it took you two years to catch up on all the child support. I have been very understanding when I didn't have to be, when I should have had your ass thrown in jail."

He scoffed, shaking his head. "Why are you bringing up the past? It's over, and you weren't as easy as you said. You constantly reminded me that you always had her, that you needed your money and shit. Don't lie."

"Are you serious? I never reminded you. I was good. I worked, I went to school, and I took care of Angie and me. I didn't need you then, and I don't need you now. I just want Angie to be happy, and for some reason, I think having you in her life will do that."

She was starting to rethink that, though.

"You're wrong. Angie needs me. Mom and me both say Angie would be better off with me and Heidi."

Ah, his mom. The lovely Mrs. Hart. "Well, when your mom pushes Angie out of her twat, then she can have some say. But until then, we will follow the parenting plan."

Shaking his head, he looked out at the ice once more and scoffed. "What, you get a boyfriend and you're all high and mighty? All of a sudden you're good?"

Don't answer him. Ignore him, she begged herself but, yeah, it didn't help. "I don't need anyone. I've always been good on my own."

"Whatever, you're pathetic. You depend on your family for everything. Now you'll do the same to him, and he'll leave. No one can handle you."

Motherfucker. Glaring, she sucked in a breath and stood up, her body shaking with rage. "I'll get Angie."

"Aw. Did I hurt your feelings? Oh, wait, you don't have any."

Ignoring him, she walked around the rink, waving at Angie to come on. Shea looked over at her and concern filled his face. Skating toward her, he opened the side door. "You okay?"

"Yeah, Angie's dad is here. She's gotta go. Every other Friday, it will be like this."

He nodded slowly as Angie slipped past him. "See ya, Coach."

"Bye, Hart, see ya tomorrow."

She smiled as she nodded, heading toward the lobby to change. Looking back at Shea, Lucy smiled. "Bye, Shea."

He looked from Lucy to Rick and shook his head. "Bye, see you tomorrow. Her game is at ten fifteen."

He said it loud enough for Rick to hear it, but he was walking away, heading to the lobby. Nodding to Shea, she sent another wave and then followed Rick and Angie. When she entered the lobby, Angie was already almost done, putting all her stuff in her bag as Rick stood by, playing on his phone.

"Her game is at ten fifteen," Lucy reminded him.

Without looking up, he said, "According to the parenting plan, I don't have to bring her."

Lucy's brows rose as Angie's eyes widened in protest, looking between her parents. Holding her hand up to ward off Angie's potential freak-out, she glared at Rick.

"Yes, but I would think you'd want to bring her since it's something she enjoys."

"We'll see, but I have stuff planned tomorrow," he snapped, looking up and glaring. "Let's go, Angie."

"But, Dad, I want-"

"I said, let's go." His voice was chilly, his body rigid as he looked away. Angie looked to Lucy, tears in her eyes, and Lucy's heart started to jackhammer in her chest.

"Rick," Lucy called when he started to walk away. "You guys will be here at nine thirty, right? If not, I'll pick her up and bring her. She wants to come. This is important to her."

"Whatever, Lucy. I said we'll see. You're the one who wants to follow the parenting plan."

Fucking dick. "And I'm telling you she wants to come. This is important to her," she stressed, but Rick just rolled his eyes.

"Let's go, Angie."

"But, Dad-"

"I won't say it again, kid," he reprimanded and Lucy snapped.

"Don't take out your anger for me on her," she yelled and Rick glared, shaking his head.

"Goodbye, Lucy. Let's go, Angie."

"Wait-"

"Wait?" he seethed. "For what? You trying to not let me take her? 'Cause we can call the cops."

She scrunched up her face. "What the heck? I'm trying to talk to you!"

"Well, I don't want to talk to you. Now say bye to her so we can leave, Angie. Heidi and Nina are waiting."

Angie looked to her mother, fear in her eyes, and Lucy's heart dropped. This was such bullshit. "Hey, no worries, come here," she said, bringing Angie into her arms. "I'll see you in the morning. Call me if he can't bring you. I'll come get you. Okay?" Angie nodded, but she was on the verge of tears. "Hey, don't worry. You're good. Have fun, okay? Call me if you need anything."

Rick let out a frustrated breath, and Lucy kissed Angie's cheek hard. Lucy didn't want to give Angie to him. She felt in her soul it was a bad idea, but she had no choice. She wanted him to honor the parenting plan, which meant she had to too. Kissing Angie once more, she hugged her and then let her go, even though Angie kept holding on to her.

Rick had already started walking away when Angie looked up to her and asked, "Do I have to go?"

Lucy's heart just broke.

"Yeah, baby, I'm sorry," she said, her voice cracking as she hugged her tightly.

"But what if he won't bring me?"

"Then call me. I'll come get you."

"But what if he won't let me? Just take me home now."

"Honey, I can't. It's his weekend. It's fine. I'll see you in the morning."

Angie only nodded as Rick called, "Come on. Now."

Looking up at her, Angie pleaded with her eyes, but what was Lucy supposed to do?

She had to let her go.

Tapping gloves with his teammates as the Assassins gathered in the locker room, Benji went to his locker and sat down, a grin on his face. What a way to start the night. With a win. After kicking some Penguins' ass where Tate got a shutout, Benji was feeling good. He hadn't scored but he had four assists for the night, highest of his career. Which was freaking awesome. He was killing it, and he and Jayden were clicking better on the ice. Things were good.

Next stop, late dinner with his girlfriend and then a long night of sex.

Yes, Benji was a happy man.

"Great game, Paxton," Sinclair said, tapping his glove as he sat.

Benji nodded, feeling on top of the world as he threw his gloves to the glove collector to dry them. "Thanks, man. Great game."

Sinclair grinned as he leaned back, sucking in a long breath as Coach came in to do his end of game speech. When he singled out Benji, he beamed, feeling real good. He listened intently as Coach stressed how they needed to play like they had tonight for the next two weeks on the road trip. They were facing some tough competition during the road trip, but Benji had no worries. They were going to kick some ass.

But first, he was going to spend the weekend with Lucy. Man, he couldn't wait to see her. He was pretty sure he played so well because he knew she was there. Watching him. He still owed her a goal, but he had done well tonight. Hopefully, she enjoyed herself. When Coach clapped his hands, they all joined in as he walked out, fist-pumping in unison with them. Leaning back, Benji was all smiles as he exhaled a breath, reaching for his phone to text Lucy that he'd be out soon.

Peering over at him from his locker, Jayden asked, "Hey, bro, where we going to eat?"

But Benji wasn't listening. No, his shoulders had slumped as he read a text from Lucy.

Lucy: I'm so sorry. I won't be at the game and I'm really not in the mood for dinner. Text me when you are on your way home and, if you want, I'll come over. I really would like to come over. I got into it with Rick.

"I guess nowhere," he said and Jayden's face twisted.

"I thought we were going out?"

"Yeah, I guess Lucy and Rick got into it. She doesn't want to go out. Wasn't even here tonight."

Jayden's face changed to concern. "Is she okay?"

Benji shrugged as he hit Lucy's name to call her. "Not sure."

Jayden let out a long breath, falling back into his locker. "I hate that dude."

"Hey," she answered and he leaned on his legs. "Sorry I'm not there."

"No worries, are you okay?"

She hesitated for a second, and he could hear the pain in her voice as she said, "Not really. I've eaten four boxes of Girl Scout cookies I had hidden away, but they aren't helping."

"Okay, I'm leaving in about thirty. Want to meet me at the house?"

"Yeah, I would really like that."

"Okay, I'll see you soon."

"I'm really sorry, Benji."

"Don't be. It's fine," he said and he wasn't lying. So she didn't come and they wouldn't go to dinner. That was all trivial to the fact that she was upset. "Is Angie okay?"

Her voice broke and it gutted him as she whispered, "I think so."

His stomach ached with uneasiness. "See you soon."

"Okay," she said as he hung up and then started getting undressed so he could shower.

"Well?"

"I don't know details, but she sounds crushed. I'm meeting her at my house."

Jayden nodded. "Well, let me know if we're going to go on a manhunt."

Benji nodded because, if he had his way, that's exactly what he'd want to do. He just wanted the dude gone, but he was sure that wouldn't happen. Throwing down his girdle, he reached for his towel and said, "Will do."

After getting dressed and saying good-bye to the guys, Benji headed to his house, anxiety eating him alive. He had no clue what was going on, but this was the first time he had heard Lucy that upset. She sounded helpless, distraught, and that wouldn't fly with him. He was really getting tired of Rick, and something needed to change. Like he needed to disappear or something. He was going to have to sit down with the guy. Or beat his face in. One of the two. He prayed it wouldn't come to the latter. He wanted to handle this like adults. The only thing that mattered was Angie.

Getting to his house, he found that Lucy was already there. Parking beside her car, he got out, locking his doors, and headed through the back door into the kitchen. The downstairs was dark, and that worried him.

"Lucy?"

"Upstairs," she called as he walked past her shoes and noticed her coat lying over the counter. Reaching for it, he took it to the coat closet and hung it up before heading upstairs. Taking the stairs two at a time, he got to the top quickly. When he looked down the hall to find Lucy lying on his bed on her belly with her face toward him, his stomach dropped.

She had been crying.

"Aw, you're not naked," he called teasingly, hoping like hell he could make her smile as he walked toward her.

She shrugged, not returning his smile, not that he expected her to. Still, his heart remained in his stomach. "Sorry."

Pursing his lips, he toed out of his shoes and climbed over her, taking her in his arms and cuddling her close. She wrapped her arms around his torso, nuzzling her nose into his chest, clinging to him. "What happened?"

Shaking her head, she sucked in a deep breath, filling her lungs before letting it out slowly. Closing his eyes, he listened as she told him what happened at the rink, what Rick had said, and how Angie had looked at her. He listened, he did, but it was hard when her voice broke and her tears soaked his tee. All he saw was red. All he wanted to do was rip Rick limb from limb. How dare he? How could he be so heartless to Angie? Hockey was important to her, and he didn't care? What kind of man doesn't care what makes his daughter happy? Benji would kill for the chance to make Leary happy again. And this man-no, this scum-was wasting this precious chance of loving a piece of himself?

It was sickening.

But what was more stomach-turning was listening to Lucy cry for her daughter.

"I didn't want to let her go, Benji. I didn't, but it's legal, you know? I can't say she can't go. No matter if I think she doesn't want to go. I'm not even sure if she has to go. I just don't know," she cried, clinging to him, and he held her close, dusting kisses along her temple. "I don't know what to do, and I don't know how to fix it. I don't understand why he is being like this. Is it you? Is it because I'm finally moving on? Or is it because he's just a jackass and he doesn't like that Angie is more vocal now? Telling me when she is not happy with him. I just don't know. He wants her to know to respect him."

"What a douche." It could be any of those reasons, and that was just sad. Angie was a great kid. Very respectful. Honest. Sweet. Wacky. The dude was worthless, and Benji hated that for both of them. "Lucy, I'm sorry. I'm completely speechless. He's such a dick."

"He is," she agreed, nuzzling her nose to his. When she opened her eyes, they were full of pain, watery, and just so damn sad it hit him straight in the gut. "What do I do?"

He could only shake his head. He had no clue. "Have you called your dad? Isn't he your lawyer?"

She looked away, her shoulders falling. "Not yet. I will tomorrow. I was too upset to speak to him tonight, and I just hate talking to him. I don't want to need him. Maybe I should find another lawyer?"

"Yeah, and I understand, but your dad knows the case. He's been there since the beginning, right?" She nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. "Then maybe you should stick with him. He'll fight for Angie because, surely, he loves her."