I hang up on the call when Shelby’s phone kicks over to voicemail. Again.
This is the third time I’ve tried and I’m starting to worry. I shouldn’t, I know she’s an adult and has a life and can’t always pick up when her brother calls.
Changing my plans, I lean forward and direct the driver to Gannon’s place. I’ll keep trying my sister, but I’ll get my best friend first.
It might be better to tell them together anyway. Me leaving New York affects them equally. Gannon might not be blood related but he’s a brother to me. Has been since the first day we met in college.
And he was a rock when our parents died and Shel had to come live with me.
Shooting a text to my sister telling her to meet me at Gannon’s or call me asap, I lean back and think about what I can tell them.
I know neither of them would blab to the media, but I signed an NDA and I’m not about to break that. Even if Oakley would be okay with me revealing where I’m going.
No. The only thing I’ll tell them is I’m leaving New York for a job offer. I’ll lead with my retirement of course—it’s the main reason I need to speak to them both before we make it public.
I glance at my phone hoping Drake has gotten back to me about Cantrell’s whereabouts.
If I haven’t heard from Drake by the time I leave Gannon’s, I’ll call Rafe and find out where I might locate the Knights owner.
It’s another twenty minutes of weaving in and out of New York traffic before the cab pulls up in front of Gannon’s building. I don’t even look as I toss money at the driver and get out.
I’m halfway to the front door when I hear my name. Turning I see my sister waving her arm to get my attention. Then I notice the man next to her, the tension in my shoulders seems to melt down my spine as a sigh of relief leaves my lungs.
I wait where I am. No point heading to them. They just have to come here anyway.
“Hey, man,” Gannon says.
I hold up my fist for a bump as I say, “Hey.” Then I slip an arm around Shel and give her a squeeze. “Let’s go up. I’ve got something I need to tell you both.”
“Sounds serious,” Shelby says as I usher her into the foyer of Gannon’s building. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. All good.” And I mean it. It might be bad that my playing career is over but I’m good. Excited about the future. Which I probably shouldn’t be when I think about it. “Just some news that will hit the media in the next forty-eight hours I want you guys to hear from me first.”
Shel glances at Gannon and they share a look I can’t quite interpret but I’m sure it’s worry. We need to get upstairs so I can put their concerns aside.
We’re quiet on the elevator ride up and it’s not until we get inside Gannon’s place that anyone says a word. And they’re not the words I figured would be said because the first thing I see when I enter the apartment is Shelby’s suitcases in the living room.
“Is this your stuff?” I ask with a little confusion. She’s supposed to be in her apartment for a few more weeks.
“Yes! Isn’t it cool!” My sister’s voice is a little loud but I put it down to the excitement I can see in her eyes. “Gannon offered to rent me a spare room so I don’t have to worry about finding a place of my own and this way I get the best of both worlds—I get to live on my own but still have a roommate.”
Shel is grinning at me with such joy and with me moving out of New York I have to agree with her, this is the best outcome—aside from her moving into my place—I could hope for.
“Really? That’s great. You have no idea how worried I’ve been.”
I see them share another look but before I can explain, Shelby is talking.
“Why were you worried? You knew I’d be moving out of the shared apartment; we’ve talked about it a lot.”
Taking a step toward her I say, “Oh, no, not about you moving. About…” I glance at Gannon before turning back to Shel. “I’m. I. Shit.”
“What?” Shelby grabs both my hands. “What’s wrong? Tell me. Whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll be all right.”
“So much is changing,” I manage through my constricting throat.
“That’s life, it’s always changing but what won’t change is our support of you. Wherever it is, we will both be beside you,” Gannon says as he moves closer.
And before I can think better of it, I blurt, “I’m retiring. And moving.”
“I. Sorry? What? Moving?” Shelby mumbles.
I laugh. “Out of that it’s the moving that got you?”
“Well, yeah, it doesn’t seem like a big deal. Gannon moved here a couple of years ago,” Shel adds with a shrug.
“I’m retiring from playing,” I repeat to be sure she heard that part. “But I’m not retiring from professional hockey.”
“Are you joining the team’s couching staff?”
I’m not surprised Gannon voices the question. He understands the workings of a team and a few players move from playing to coaching or elsewhere in a hockey org.
“No.” Then I add something I’m sure he’ll pick up on. “Not for your team.”
Sure enough, his eyebrows rise, and he asks, “My team?”
“Yes, as of yesterday I’m no longer contracted to New York. And I can’t say for who or where my new job will be but it’s not here.”
“Oh, you’re leaving New York?” Shelby’s eyes fill with tears and her mouth scrunches in the way it usually does when she’s about to cry. “We won’t live near each other anymore?”
“No. So I’m really, really glad you’re sharing with Gannon. I won’t have to worry about you being on your own when I’m gone.”
“Even if she hadn’t moved in here, she wouldn’t be on her own,” Gannon says, his voice a little angry.
“Yes, yes, I know but this is better.” I smile to show I’m more than happy with him being there for my sister. “Now I need to go. I’ve got stuff to organize and while I can’t tell you where I’m going yet, I will as soon as I get the green light on that. My retirement announcement goes out to the media today so it’ll either hit tomorrow or the next day.”
“More like tonight. Especially if Drake is sending it wide and not just to specific media outlets,” Gannon says.
“It’s going wide. We offered the organization the right to announce but they refused. Another thing I need to do, sort out the clusterfuck that is the termination of my contract.” I shake my head. “Anyway, I’ll get out of your hair so you two can get Shelby settled. I’ll call you both later.”
I’m out the door without even a goodbye, never mind a hug for my sister or a fist bump for my best friend. But I’m on a mission. And my phone has been going off in my pocket so I can only assume—hope—Drake has discovered where Cantrell is.
I step into the elevator before I pull my phone from my pocket. I’ve got several missed calls and a couple of texts.
It’s the text I zero in on because they’re all from Drake and yes, the man has come through and found out where I can find Jerry Cantrell.
Unfortunately it’s in a place I don’t really want to go. For long minutes I debate what to do. I don’t want to see Kristina. But then if I can confront them together, I can kill two birds with one stone and get back to Oakley quicker.
I’m on the sidewalk waving down a cab when another text comes in from Drake.
I stare at the message long enough the cabbie toots his horn and yells, “You getting in?”
Shaken out of my shock, I yank open the rear door and jump in. “Yeah. Sorry. You know where Maguire’s is?”
“Who doesn’t? You going there?”
“Yeah, seems that way.”
I can’t believe Cantrell is heading to one of the hottest restaurants in New York with Kristina. Does he not understand what being seen with her in an intimate setting like Maguire’s will say about them?
Unlocking my phone, I send a quick thank you text to Drake then open my browser and search Cantrell’s name. Nothing comes up that makes me think him being seen in public with Kristina is acceptable.
My next search is Laken Cantrell. Nothing pops up. Nothing when I search the New York Knights either. Or Kristina.
I have no idea what I’m walking into, but I do know what I’ll be walking out with.
Kristina will be out of my life and Cantrell will get the team lawyers or GM or whoever to release me from my contract so I can make my retirement announcement.
Hell, at this point the Knights org can make the announcement. I don’t care. I just want it done. Today.
When the cab pulls up out front of the restaurant, I can see my quarry sitting right in the window.
I take my time paying the driver. The whole time I’m studying the two of them together.
If you didn’t know who they were, you’d think they were a couple. Neither of them is taking notice of anyone else but as I get out of the cab I see two others join them.
Laken Cantrell and New York’s GM, Rafferty ‘Rafe’ King.
Stepping to the side, I take my time watching. It’s a weird combination of table occupants.
Laken and Cantrell I get—they’re husband and wife—and maybe I can understand Rafe being there too, but Kristina?
How the fuck does she play into this late lunch date?
Deciding I’ve waited long enough, I move toward the front door. Inside the hostess barely bats an eye as I move past her and head for the table of four.
Scooping up an empty chair from the table beside theirs, I spin it around and straddle it backward. “Afternoon. This is an interesting get together.”
“Alcott. What the—” Cantrell sucks in a breath. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ll ask you the same. But I’ll add ‘here with my ex who has been harassing me for months’,” I say with a smirk.
“I, I, I,” Cantrell sputters.
“It’s because I’m worried about you,” Kristina says. “I asked Jerry to meet with me so we can do something to help you.”
I laugh. I can’t help it. This bullshit just keeps getting deeper.
Pulling in a breath I lean forward. “You and I both know that’s a lie and so does he.” I hook my thumb in Cantrell’s direction.
“It’s no—”
“Zip it. I’m speaking and you’re listening. You will not contact me ever again. You will remove any evidence that we even know each other and that includes changing your fucking mailing address back to your own. And you!” I stab a finger in Cantrell’s direction. “You will get up from here and head straight to the Knights head office and get my contract terminated the way it should be. The way I deserve it to be.”
“Excuse me.” Mrs. Cantrell places her hand on my arm. “What’s this about your contract?”
I glance at her, then at Rafe. “I had a meeting with your husband yesterday about it.”
“And I wasn’t informed? Were you, Rafe?”
“Yes. But not until after because I was with Bryson in the ER getting his broken arm set.”
“You told me about Bryson but didn’t mention anything about the meeting. Are you aware of what Walker is talking about?”
“I am. But obviously I’m missing some details. Care to elaborate, Jer?”
Cantrell visibly bristles at the shortening of his name. Or maybe it’s the way Rafe says it, with loathing clearly coating it.
Sitting up straight, I watch the daggers arrow across the table. For a few seconds I wait. But when no one speaks, and let’s be real, it should be Cantrell who speaks, I decide to provide the details.
But not before I remove us from the very public place we’re currently in. “Rafe, Mrs. Cantrell, if you’d please come with me to finish this conversation in private.”
“You’re not going anywhere!” Cantrell’s hand slams down on his wife’s shoulder.
I’m so shocked, I can’t speak.
Not so Rafe. Through clenched teeth he growls, “Get your fucking hand off her or I’ll remove it.”
Cantrell immediately removes his hand, he even cradles it under his opposite arm. Does he think Rafe is going to launch across the table and cut it off with his butter knife?
Mrs. Cantrell rises from her seat. “If you’ll follow me, Walker. Rafe.”
To my surprise we leave the other two at the table. I glance back once to see Kristina leaning toward Cantrell frantically talking and gesturing.
“I’ll have my car brought around. We can talk there in privacy.”
“Okay.” I look at Rafe. “How’s your son?”
“Plastered to the elbow and unable to play hockey for six weeks but otherwise he’s fine.”
“On ice accident?” I ask.
“No. Locker room, after the game. A few of them were goofing off and three ended up with broken bones.” Rafe rolls his eyes heavenward. “I swear, the boy and his friends will be the death of me.”
“I’m sure he won’t. He’s the best part of your life, Rafe, and you love his boisterous ways.” Mrs. Cantrell points to a large black SUV pulling up. “This is us.”
Rafe opens the door and says with a grin, “Yes, he is, and I do.”
I follow them both inside and don’t wait for the vehicle to pull away before I’m replaying yesterday’s meeting.
“My agent and I had a meeting with Mr. Cantrell yesterday to inform the team that as a result of the injuries I sustained while playing, I’m unable to play any longer and am retiring. He assured us we could make my retirement announcement only for us to discover today that if I do, the Knights org will be able to sue me for breach of contract.”
“He didn’t.” Rafe’s jaw clenches. Then he turns to Mrs. Cantrell. “I think it’s time we pull the ace in our hand.”
“Yes. It appears so.”
“It’ll be fine. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
I’m not sure what is happening here but these two seem to have a far deeper relationship than I’m aware off.
“Look, I’m not sure…” I glance at Cantrell’s wife.
“You can be candid. Laken is aware of her husband’s faults. All of them.”
“Ah, well, um.”
“Walker, please, be honest with us. Think of this vehicle as a vault.”
“What I have doesn’t necessarily need to stay locked in here.”
“Okay. But before you start, let me assure you there will be no repercussions for you from the Knights. And I guarantee after you leave this car, the first thing I will do is contact our lawyers and have any paperwork required to terminate your contract done with a legal document saying the Knights give you permission to announce your retirement as you see fit.”
I glance at Rafe. I’ve never known Mrs. Cantrell to be involved in the running of the team. Rafe as GM has always been what his title says, the manager.
Except on the rare occasion that Cantrell himself got involved. Of course, unlike yesterday, those times Rafe was there to override or guide him.
“This information does not leave this vehicle until it is made public.” Rafe’s stare drills into me.
I nod. “Of course.”
“Jerry Cantrell doesn’t actually own the Knights. Gerald Senior left the team to Laken.”
“But—”
“Jerry doesn’t know,” Mrs. Cantrell adds. “And I’m in the process of organizing things so that I can sever any and all ties with my husband.”
“Oh. Well, you might need or want what I have to aid that.”
“And what is it that you have, Walker?”
“Pictures of him and Kristina Bancroft in compromising positions.”
“How did you get those?” Rafe asks.
“Ah, that’s something I cannot tell you, but they are authentic.”
“Oh, I have no doubt they are.” Mrs. Cantrell shakes her head. “He’s such an idiot.”
“No argument here,” Rafe adds.
“So, can I get my agent to craft my retirement announcement today and send it out first thing tomorrow?”
“You can send it today, Walker. The minute you step out I’ll be on the phone, but I will personally call your agent the minute the paperwork is signed.” Mrs. Cantrell holds out her hand. “It’s been a pleasure having you on the team, and I wish you the best in the future.”
I take her hand, surprised by the strength of her shake. Rafe offers his hand next.
“You need anything else, call me or Laken personally.”
“Thank you. Both. Where do you want me to send those pictures?”
“I’ll be in touch about those in the next few days.”
“Okay.” I grab the door handle but look back to say, “And, Mrs. Cantrell, I hope you get to sever those ties fast and cleanly.”
“I appreciate the thought, but you know Jerry.”
The smile she gives me says it all. Her husband isn’t going to go away easily and what that means for the Knights is anyone’s guess.
Good thing as of tomorrow, I’ll be free to join the Rogues and leave all the drama behind me.