Tane had never asked for details.
He’d never needed to.
The less he knew, the cleaner his hands stayed.
But Tane knew he couldn’t delay the inevitable. Whatever was going to happen was going to happen. It was time to meet his destiny. And with that thought in his mind, he exhaled through his nose, popped the door, and stepped out.
Gravel crunched under his boots as he crossed to the Mercedes. The rear passenger window slid down without a sound.
Antonio Cardini sat inside, alone, dressed in a charcoal suit that looked too sharp for a forest lay-by. Antonio’s face was calm, almost serene, but his green eyes held the flat, unblinking focus of a man who’d already calculated every possible outcome.
“Tane,” he said, voice low and warm, the same tone he used in boardroom meetings. “Get in.”
Tane slid onto the leather seat and pulled the door closed. The cabin smelled faintly of leather conditioner and Antonio’s cologne, something expensive and understated. The window rose again, sealing them in quiet.
Antonio studied him for a beat.
“You look tired,” Antonio said, his voice low but full of quiet intensity.
“Playoff hockey,” Tane replied evenly. “And a shoulder that doesn’t want to cooperate.”
Antonio nodded once, as if the admission had been expected. “I know about the injury. Ricki mentioned it in passing. Nothing dramatic, just that you’ve been skipping sessions and seeing someone privately.”
Tane’s jaw tightened.
So Ricki had talked. Not surprising. The physio and Antonio had been circling each other for months. Pillow talk traveled fast in their world.
“It’s not a problem,” Antonio continued before Tane could respond. “Once the season ends, win or lose, We’ll send you to Zurich. Best surgeon on the planet. We’ll cover everything. Recovery, rehab, the works. You’ll come back stronger.”
Tane let out a short breath, his body and mind relaxing somewhat. Today wasn’t going to be his final day on earth after all.
“In all honesty, Antonio, I don’t know if the best surgeon in the world can fix this one,” Tane began. “The labrum’s frayed. Bone-on-bone grinding in spots. I can play through it, barely, but every shift feels like rolling dice. I’m just being honest.”
Antonio’s mouth curved into a small, almost paternal smile. “Have a little faith, Tane. You’ve beaten worse odds.”
Tane met his gaze. “Faith doesn’t reattach cartilage.”
“No,” Antonio conceded. “But money and the right hands can do a hell of a lot. Trust me on this. And listen… I know a warrior when I see one. We’ve been through so much together. On and off the ice. I know that when it truly matters, you’ll reward our faith in you once again.”
A beat of silence stretched between them. Tane glanced out the window at the darkening trees.
“Why out here?” Tane asked. “Don’t get me wrong, I love a drive to the country as much as the next guy. But why not the office? Or the usual spot at the arena?”
Antonio leaned back, fingers steepled.
“There have been murmurings,” Antonio said, his eyes telling their own story. “More trouble heading our way. Nothing concrete yet, but enough smoke that I’m paying attention. Word is the FBI has been sniffing around… quiet conversations with people close to a rival club. They’re looking for leverage. Someone they can flip. A player, maybe. Someone who knows the inside of the organization.”
Tane’s stomach tightened. “You think they’ve got someone inside?”
“Not yet. But they’re trying. And with the playoffs heating up, attention is high. Eyes everywhere. That’s why we’re meeting off-site. No cameras, no tails, no loose lips in the parking garage.”
Tane nodded slowly. “What do you need from me?”
“Keep your ear to the ground,” Antonio said. “You’ve been in this league twenty years. You know people. Old teammates, agents, trainers. Hell, even the equipment guys talk. If you hear anything weird… someone asking too many questions, a sudden change in behavior, a guy who’s suddenly flush with cash he shouldn’t have. Bring it to me.Discreetly.”
“Understood.”
“And Jacob…” Antonio’s voice sharpened just enough to carry weight. “He needs extra eyes on him. The kid has a reputation. Party boy, poster child, social media darling. That makes him vulnerable. Someone leans on him, offers a payout, threatens to leak something personal… he might not see it coming. You’re the one person he trusts. Keep him safe at all costs. No restrictions. Do what you need to do.”
