18. Zeke

18

ZEKE

V ito drove like a maniac, and I made to the arena on time. I should be angrier that he put a tracker on me, but I was just too stunned by everything that had happened in the last day to summon the energy to be mad at one more thing. I managed to focus through my warm-up. Time passed so fast it seemed like only a few minutes had gone by when I was geared up to go out on the ice.

But as I stood there, waiting for our entrance, I kept seeing the image of the dead man lying in the alley with blood pooled around him. Vito hadn’t hesitated. He’d shot the man before I’d even had time to react to his presence. Thank God he had such good reflexes. I would’ve hesitated, assuming I even had a weapon. And even if I did, I probably couldn’t have hit him. It wasn’t like I’d worked hard on my marksmanship skills.

We headed into the corridor leading to the ice and greeted fans who got the privilege of lining up there. As soon as I skated out, the cheers of the crowd and the atmosphere of excitement banished my memories of the alley.

I was in my element again. I could do this. I stopped briefly to sign a T-shirt for a little girl who was wearing one of my jerseys. I was still amazed I had so many fans and that people actually came to watch me play. Me. I quickly shook hands with a boy who looked to be about ten and scrawled my signature on the bill of his cap, then I was being rushed out on the ice.

We started our on-ice warm-ups, and I glanced into the crowd.

I was quickly able to find Vito. Beside him was a man who looked very much like him. I assumed it had to be Val. An older man sat next to Vito’s brother. Even with his hair covering part of his face, I could tell he looked just like Val but with gray hair and a smaller stature. It had to be their father. Maybe Vito mattered more to him than he thought.

When I sank down onto the ice to stretch my hips, I purposely turned my back to Vito, knowing he would love the view.

Normally, I went through the motions without thinking much about it, though I knew how some of our fans loved to watch the lurid positions we got into. Today I worked hard, making sure Vito got the best show he could.

When I turned around to face him, he was on his feet, pressed against the glass. I smiled and waved to him.

Once the game began, I was in my element. The roar of the crowd invigorated me, and I took off skating, lightning fast, chasing the puck back and forth. Johnson passed it to me, and I had a straight shot into the goal. My stick connected, and the goalie lunged, but he missed the block, and the puck slid home. The crowd went wild. I pumped my fist in the air as my teammates came to hug me. I’d fucking scored in the first two minutes of the game. Maybe it was going to be a really good night after all.

We ended the first period with the score still 1-0. I rehydrated myself and tried to keep my focus on Coach’s instructions instead of turning to look for Vito in the stands. I knew he was there, and I knew his eyes were on me all the time. I’d spent most of first period on the ice. I was going to be exhausted by the end of the game, but I’d find the energy for him. I was thrilled Coach was keeping me in so much. If I kept playing this well, I’d have a strong season and a much lower chance of being traded again.

Second period didn’t go our way. I got two shots on goal and missed both. Then the opposing team scored in the last few minutes which tied things up headed into the third period. We were determined to get another goal.

I clapped Johnson on the back. “We’re going to pull this out.”

“Damn fucking right we are,” Vince added. “We’ve got to play fucking hard. We need this win.”

The Badgers’ season record last year was solid, but we wanted the best possible placement and starting off with a win would boost morale.

The game was still 1-1 at the halfway point of the third period when we paused for the ice to be cleared. Once we were back out there, I set Johnson up for a goal, and he slammed it in.

Lights flashed, bells rung, and the crowd went absolutely wild.

I had forgotten how fun the excitement of the season opener was.

I loved this. I needed to be able to keep doing this. It wouldn’t be forever. It was brutal on our bodies, but I wanted some damn good years in the NHL.

And Vito wanted that for me. He wanted me to be happy. He was a psychotic stalker and a loan shark, but he wanted me happy. I wanted that for him too.

Why was that any crazier than me having made it to where I was?

We managed to hold the score at 2-1. When the final buzzer rang, we jumped on each other, hugging and cheering along with the crowd.

When we were back in the locker room, Coach Martin gave us the obligatory “good work, but don’t let it go to your head” speech. “We’re just starting out. You’ve got to keep this energy. I expect you to be working double time tomorrow.”

We all promised to as we scattered to shower and dress.

Everyone expected me to head out with the team, but I said I had someone special coming by my apartment.

“Already lined up your post-game fuck?” Johnson asked.

Luca, our center, snorted. “I seriously may need to get into this gay thing.”

Vince slapped him. “Disrespectful.”

“Yeah, whatever, but he and Johnson get laid all the time.”

“True,” Luca said, “but Johnson will fuck anything that walks.”

“As long as it’s got a dick,” Vince agreed. I was thrilled that Johnson had the reputation of being the sluttiest guy on the team so that didn’t follow me from Vegas.

“Fuck off.” Johnson flipped us off as he headed to the shower.

I showered and changed back into my suit, checking one more time to make sure there wasn’t any blood on it. Those moments in the alley started playing in my mind again. I’d come damn close to not being at this game at all.

Vito had arranged a place to pick me up where there wouldn’t be a crowd. I congratulated all my teammates again, then slipped out, hoping no one noticed who picked me up. I knew Johnson would have questions. He’d interrogate me tomorrow, but for now I wasn’t going to think about that.