Page 109 of Break the Ice

“You haven’t begun to see difficult. Tell me what the fuck’s going on.”

“You’re proving exactly why I needed to do what I did. If you calm down, I’ll tell you.”

“You’ll explain everything anyway. Now.”

Dad drags a hand through the sheets of his silvery chocolate hair. “You might not believe this, but I was telling you the truth the other night. All I’ve done is protect you. You’ve got no idea the kind of price that’s on our heads. We’re the biggest legacy family the NHL’s ever seen.”

“Spit it out.”

“You know my story,” he says, jamming both hands down the front pockets of his jeans. He steps closer, his slumped gait one of regret. “I was a threat. The best center in the league. A money-making machine. But being the best always means you’ve got the worst enemies. People are always out to take from you.

“That’s why when Hawk turned up dead, I was worried you’d gotten in too deep. But I also saw it as my chance to help you. It’s our time to finally take what should be ours. You don’t understand how slimy Hawk was, even during our pro days. He’s the reason I lost my career. He played dirty during the 2002 championship.”

“I’ve heard this story a thousand times before,” I grit out impatiently.

“And you wave it off like it’s no big deal I sustained an injury ‘cuz of him! Two herniated discs in my back. The refs ruled it was an accident… but I knew better. The Trojans targeted me—all at Hawk’s behest. All he knows how to do is play dirty. Then officials found out that he’d paid off one of the blue liners to target me that night.”

“Hawk retired out of nowhere.”

“Because they made him. They gave him one of two options. Either he went willingly or everything would go public. If there’s one thing the league prefers, it’s keeping the underbelly hidden where it belongs. Hawk quietly left the league and I got a huge payout for what happened to me and a championship under my belt. But at what price? I’d never play again.”

“None of this has anything to do with me.”

“You couldn’t be more wrong. That’s part of your problem—you never could listen like Colt. He was born to follow in my footsteps.”

“Hurry the fuck up!” I bare my teeth, barely keeping my rage in check.

“I wouldn’t have to explain a thing if you just did what I say!” he snarls in return. His features tighten moodily. “You’d think Hawk would be finished after what he did to me. Instead, he partnered up with Beringer and Blackman and outright bought the team. MY team… OUR team!”

“And you’ve held a grudge ever since.”

“Think, son! Do you really believe Hawk was going to let our feud go? After what happened and how his career ended ‘cuz he got caught for what he did? Colt never should’ve played under him!”

“You’re saying it was Hawk who sabotaged him?”

“He was about to sabotage you too if you gave him the chance! Colt was too close to me. Too much of a threat. So he had him taken out just a couple seasons in,” Dad explains. “But you… you’ve always been a problem child. You’re so damn chaotic, you self-destruct all on your own.”

“’Til my contract was about to be up and I was going to walk away.”

Dad nods so vigorously, his silvery brown sheets of hair falls partially into his face. “Now you’re tracking. Let me ask you this.” Dad stops a couple feet off, his smile patronizing. “You think Colt’s the only son they’ve gone after?”

“They?”

“You know who,” he answers. “Hawk. And his minions.”

“Hawk was after me?”

Dad’s smile tips wider. “Hawk wasn’t letting you go, son. One way or another. He would’ve sooner saw the end of you than let you sign with somebody else.”

I don’t let my guard down, but on the inside, my mind’s racing. A thousand different thoughts invade my head. I shift through each one like I’m trying to pinpoint the nugget of gold. Some kernel of truth that I’ve missed or overlooked.

There’s been growing friction between me and the team’s management for years.

Had Hawk been trying to sabotage my career the whole time?

“Hawk would’ve done what he needed to keep you under his thumb. Why do you think Morasca throws cheap shots every chance he gets?”

“Because I was fucking his wife.”