However before Jacob could settle down too comfortably into his spy roleplay, the driver’s side door swung open. It was Tane, and he looked like he had something to say.
“Is everything okay?” Jacob said, his voice suddenly full of hope.
“Not yet, my beautiful boy,” Tane replied. “But it’s going to be. Come with me, I’ve got a plan to get us out of this mess once and for all.”
Chapter 16
Tane
“Hold my hand and keep your head down,” Tane said, stepping out from the alleyway with Jacob. “We don’t know who might be watching us, so it’s best to take precautions.”
“Where are we going?” Jacob replied, his sweaty palm reaching out and taking Tane’s hand. “Did you call Antonio?”
Tane nodded.
Tane had messaged Antonio and asked for the nearest Cardini protected business in the area. As it turned out, there was a launderette that the Cardini family owned just down the street. Tane knew that a Cardini attack on a Cardini property was far less likely as that would trigger an immediate war between the families.
But it wasn’t just Antonio who Tane reached out to…
“Quick, inside,” Tane said, holding the launderette door open and scanning around the busy street to see if he could spot any suspicious looking individuals who could either be the Cardini family or part of their network of spies. “I think we’re good.”
The launderette was pretty much as to be expected.
The whir of the heavy duty washing machines and dryers almost blended into the background music playing on the old stereo behind the counter in the corner.
“W-w-w-where is everyone?” Jacob said, looking around and noticing that the launderette was literally deserted.
“Maybe my friends can explain,” Tane replied, smiling as he saw Connor and Alex step out from the staff area at the rear of the building. “It’s good to see you guys.”
“Hell yeah, you don’t think I was going to miss a chance to get down and dirty like the old days, did you?” Connor replied, a shotgun in his hand and look of wicked delight in his eyes.
“When you called, it was an easy decision,” Alex replied, an automatic pistol in each hand. “You saved my ass more times than I can recall when I first joined the Enforcers. This is the least I could do.”
Tane looked at Jacob and could see that his love was confused.
“Don’t worry, I’ll explain all about it later,” Tane replied. “But the three of us have been through some heavy shit together over the years. A career with the Enforcers will kind of guarantee that.”
“Why do you think Tane has so many grey hairs?” Alex laughed. “Don’t worry, Jacob. Between us, We’ll make sure that you’re safe.”
“You can count on us,” Connor added. “Your man isn’t just a Hall of Fame hockey player, he’s a Hall of Fame friend too.”
“This is wild,” Jacob said, looking like he was going to burst out into laughter. “I thought the most dangerous thing about hockeywas getting fouled or saying the wrong thing on social media. But this…”
The three veterans chuckled.
However Tane wanted to make sure that Jacob was aware of just how serious the situation was. However unlikely it was that the Cardini clan would find them or launch an attack while they were in the launderette, it was still a very real possibility.
“Here, take this,” Tane said, reaching inside Connor’s heavy duty black satchel and pulling out a small handgun. “Do you know how to fire one of these things?”
“N-n-n-no,” Jacob replied, his eyes wide. “But if you show me, I’ll do my best.”
“That’s my boy,” Tane replied. “But I don’t want you involved in the action unless there is absolutely no other choice. This is a last resort option. Got it?”
“Got it,” Jacob replied.
Tane began to run through the safest way of handling the gun, and Jacob listened attentively. Tane could see that Jacob was paying attention, and it was a testament to the way that Jacob had matured over the last couple of months that he was now a really great listener.
However Tane’s impromptu firearms tuition was brought to a premature end when Alex spotted some movement across the street…
