michael sato’s used to fighting.

an undersized defenseman, he’s finally scrapped his way to a roster spot on a floundering philadelphia team after years of grinding in the minors. there’s no guarantee he’ll keep it. he’s used to fighting to prove himself. he’s used to fighting to keep his secrets even from his closest friends. and he’s used to fighting daniel garcia, the enforcer for his team’s most bitter rival. he doesn’t have a choice: without hockey, he doesn’t have anything. and without fighting, he doesn’t have hockey.

danny’s used to fighting, too.

fighting to recover from injuries, fighting his own body, fighting anyone who wants to make a name for himself on the ice, fighting his growing dependence on alcohol and pills, fighting to hide his problems from his loving family. even though every game leaves him aching, he’s not ready to retire yet: without hockey, he doesn’t have anything. and without his crutches, he doesn’t have hockey.

mike and danny waged a seasons-long war on the ice. both of them thought they knew the rules. but when their intense physical connection explodes outside of the rink, they discover they have more in common than they thought. two broken men might hold the keys to fixing each other, but only if they can let down their guard—and their fists—long enough.

content notes: alcohol and drug use disorder, active drug and alcohol usage, depression, under-negotiated kink, discussion of a past sexual assault