Summary:

Outside, bugs swarm around the porch light. A half-moon hangs over the dark swath of lake, spider-spun white daubed across the oil-spill surface. That perfect day on the water was less than a week ago. The scabs on Ilya’s ankle haven’t even healed. He knew the rest of their lives would be an uphill battle; he just hoped they could lie in the grass for a little longer.

There’s a hitch in Shane’s breath, a catch that brings Ilya’s attention back to him. He’s seen the ice tilt, analyzed the offense, and realization freezes across his face.

The whistle blows. Ilya’s been caught.

“You don’t want to figure this out,” Shane says finally. “You want him to billet with you.”

Last season, Ilya broke his jaw. Next season, he'll break from Boston for Ottawa and a shot at making an impossible relationship work. This season, he breaks every promise he’s ever made.

(aka the sequel to Alligator Bites Never Heal)