Alex and Connor exchanged a look between them and then nodded in agreement.
“Good,” Tane said. “Now I’ve got a meeting with Antonio Cardini in thirty minutes. I assume you two are required at practice?”
With that, the three Daddies got up from their seats and exitedPower Roast.
As far as Tane was concerned, it was great to be back home – but now it was very much a case of getting back down to serious business.
The only thing was, when that business involved a one-on-one meeting with Antonio Cardini, things were never that simple…
* * *
Antonio Cardini’s office was tucked away in a corner of the Enforcers stadium’s upper echelons.
As Tane walked the familiar corridor that led to Antonio, he did his best to keep his focus on hockey – and not what Antonio might want from him that day.
But this was easier said than done, and Tane knew that all too well.
I can’t do any more favors.
The Cardini family don’t own me.
I’m a hockey player… not a fucking gangster.
The truth about the Toronto Enforcers and their rise to prominence from brand new franchise to one of the leading teams in the conference was almost solely down to the Cardini family.
And the Cardini family weren’t like a typical ice hockey owning family dynasty. The Cardini family were new money – and it was the kind of new money that you can only acquire through the most serious of criminal enterprises.
The unspoken truth was that the Enforcers were owned and run by a mafia family.
It was a far cry from the old money, East Coast families that Tane had been used to running teams during his early years as a player, that was for sure.
The Cardinis were ambitious and demanded results on and off the ice.
Yes, the Cardini family offered the most brilliant player contracts, but they expected the players to show their respect, and importantly –loyalty, in any way that the family required.
Players knew that you just didn’t say no to the Cardini family, no matter the cost. And typically, a one-on-one meeting with Antonio Cardini was a sure sign that a favor was about to be asked.
But this time, Tane Rivers wasn’t so sure.
As he reached Antonio’s office, Tane held back for a moment and took a deep breath. Part of Tane suspected that Antoniomight be seeking to call an early end to Tane’s contract. There was only the remainder of the season left on Tane’s deal, and by releasing his hefty salary from the wage bill, it might be possible to bring in a new player or two to develop for the future.
“Okay, here goes,” Tane said, getting himself in game mode and knocking on Antonio’s door.
“Come in,” Antonio replied, his warm smile meeting Tane as he stepped inside the plush office. “It’s good to have you back, Tane.”
Tane was somewhat taken aback by Antonio’s more relaxed demeanor. But at the same time, it put him on high alert. Was Antonio trying to make this a soft landing for Tane just as he was about to release him from his contract?
“It’s good tobeback,” Tane replied, friendly but his guard up. “I can’t wait to get back on the ice. The team’s doing well, but they need me out there for the challenges ahead.”
“I agree,” Antonio said, standing from his chair and walking around the desk to Tane. “We’ve missed you. On andoffthe ice.”
Tane felt his body tense up.
Here we go.
Here it fucking comes.
Crazy Mafia request incoming.
