“We’ll talk about it another time,” Tane said. “Right now, I need to get to the doctor. One of those Cardini assholes actually hit me.”
Tane removed his jacket and revealed a large patch of bright red blood spreading across his left shoulder.
Maybe it was the adrenalin, but up until that point Tane had only been vaguely aware of a sharp pain in his shoulder.However judging by the look of concern on Antonio’s face, this wasn’t merely a flesh wound…
“We need to move quickly,” Antonio said. “Someone called ahead. We’re going to Pine Rise and the best God damn underworld doctor in the business.”
With that, Tane and the others left the battered launderette together under the watchful guidance of Antonio Cardini and his men.
Tane knew that even in a best case scenario a bullet wound wasn’t great for his prospects of playing again that season.
But with the playoffs looming, Tane had to pray that something could be done to ensure that his season – and maybe even his career – hadn’t just been brought to a premature end…
* * *
“Fuck, that hurts,” Tane grimaced as the doctor removed the bullet that was partially lodged in Tane’s shoulder. “Does it look as bad as it feels, doctor?”
Tane waited for the doctor to reply.
With Jacob looking on anxiously, and Antonio Cardini also pacing the room, Tane could tell that this was serious.
“It could be a lot worse,” the doctor final replied. “In fact, if you’re talking about a gunshot wound, this is pretty much the best case scenario.”
“But will I be able to play again this season?” Tane barked, impatient as the doctor continued to assess the damage.
“Come on, doc,” Antonio added. “I’ve seen you save guys who were bleeding out. I’ve watched you sow fingers and thumbs back on. Tane has a chance, right?”
The doctor nodded.
However Tane could tell that it wasn’t exactly an emphatic nod. Perhaps conscious of not wanting to upset Antonio, the doctor seemed very reticent to commit either way.
“Tane has a good chance,” the doctor said. “But, and I say this respectfully, at his age it’s not so easy. Especially as he has his health to consider once he retires.”
Tane didn’t like the sound of how the doctor was seeing this situation panning out. A surge of frustration came over Tane and he thumped his good hand down on the metal tray beside him.
“I need to make the playoffs!” Tane roared, his voice thunderous inside the small room at the rear of the Pine Rise medical facility. “There’s no fucking way I’m going out like this.”
“Tane, youwillmake it,” Jacob said, forgetting that he was in the company of the doctor and Antonio Cardini too. “You’re the biggest, strongest, and most determined man I’ve ever met. You’ve got this. If anyone in the whole world can do it, it’s you.”
Tane smiled and then winced as he attempted to move his injured arm.
“I’m going to stitch you up now, Tane,” the doctor said. “Given the nature of the incident, this will be off the record as per the usual way we do it.”
“Fine,” Tane replied. “Just get me stitched up so I can get out of here.”
With that, Tane leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. He knew that Jacob would support him every step of the way, but ultimately all the good will and love in the world wasn’t going to heal his shoulder.
For the first time in his life, Tane knew that he was looking down the barrel at the kind of defeat that there was no coming back from.
Chapter 17
Jacob
The training block before the first playoff game was expected to be intense. Some coaches would allow their players more rest and relaxation in the lead up to a big game, but Coach Tremaine was from the old school and wanted his players on the edge.
Jacob arrived at Pine Rise that morning ready to give his all.
Some of the other players were grumbling about Coach Tremaine’s approach, complaining that they felt fatigued or simply wanted to rest up before a run of difficult games.
