登入The moment the front door to the house closed, Jade didn't wait for his father to take his coat off and he certainly did wait to hear the man start another set of ranting about the Lombardi family or lawsuits.His mother came out of the kitchen, cleaning her wet hands with a dry towel."How was it, honey? Jade?" Jade didn't even say anything. He started marching upstairs ."Jade?! Get back here!" his father yelled.Jade didn't stop. He got into his bedroom and slammed the door shut. The action sending the four walls to shake violently. He stood behind the door for a while. He took a deep breath in and out.Downstairs, the muffled, low rumble of his parents' voices started up, his mother's worried questions mixing with his father's aggressive ranting.Tap. Thud.Jade froze. His breath hitched in his throat.The sound came from the window In his room. Jade stayed perfectly still, his eyes darting toward the shadows of his curtains. Tap.Anger flared up in his chest. If his dad h
Jade sat frozen on the chair, his hands clamped tight between his knees. Clad in a suit that felt like the collar was choking his neck.Right next to him, Mendez was flipping through his contract folder.On the other side, his dad was already leaning forward far forward his chest was practically touching the edge of the table.The door to the conference room opened.Jade's stomach dropped, expecting to see the familiar faces of the franchise board. but the people who walked in were completely different.Four men and two women.Justin didn't even allow them sit."What's this? Where's Hayes?" he asked.The executives exchanged a brief look. The man in the center smoothed his jacket. They all took their seats."Mr Riccio. Let's review the terms of the temporary restriction...""No. Hayes is supposed to be here. Where's he? Who the hell are you people?" Justin cut him off.One of the women on the right didn't look up from her tablet."We are the newly appointed executives" she said.She
Jade sat down on his couch. He was now clad in a black t-shirt and ash jogger pants. His eyes were fixed on the coffee table. The suspension letter sat right on it. A few feet away, Mendez was pacing a relentless track back and forth across the floor. His phone was pressed hard to his ear , his face tight with anxiety and protective uncle-fury."Look, I don't care if the GM is in a meeting, you pull him out right fucking now!" Mendez hissed into the phone."You don't suspend people without giving his representation a formal notification. This is bulls!"Mendez snapped the phone shut. He ran a hand through his hair, turning to pace back toward the window before his phone immediately vibrated again. He held it up, cursed under his breath and swiped to answer."Yeah this is Mendez. Now, I told you, we aren't releasing a statement to the press yet..."Before Mendez could finish his sentence, the front door unlocked and it swung open.Jade's body went completely rigid on the couch. M
"What do you mean, I'm suspended, Declan?" Jade's voice shook with a mix of panic and pure rage.He slammed the heavy paper on the desk. His knuckles turning white."For what?"Declan didn't flinch. He leaned back m in his chest, his hands clasped tightly over his stomach."It didn't come from me, Jade. It's from the management" "Then call the Management. What exactly am I being suspended for? This is stupid" Jade echoed."Keep your voice down, Riccio! I'm still your Coach and I'm telling you my hands are tied. if you want answers, you talk to the board but as of right now, you're officially off the ice" Declan warned.Jade stood there, his chest heaving under his jersey."That's bull! You don't just hand a guy an immediate suspension without a reason." Jade yelled.He pointed his finger at Declan."You'll hear from my manager"And with that, he turned and stormed out of the office, slamming the door down hard that the wall shook.He was still boiling as he headed down the hallway."
The next day at training. The team was just finishing up a brutal two-hour morning practice, but Jade had been skating like a man possessed from the second his blades hit the ice.He skates with reckless, terrifying aggression. During simple puck-handling drills, he took unnecessary risk, slicing across lanes and throwing his body into tight corners with zero regard for his own safety. And when it's like to shoot, he wasn't aiming for the net, he was winding up and blasting the puck so violently it rattled the glass like a gunshot, echoing loudly through the empty rink.Soon, the entire team was tired. Players were leaning on their sticks for support."Alright, take five!" Assistant coach, Horn yelled.Immediately, most of the players sluggishly dragged their skates toward the benches to collapse. They skunked into the chairs, ripping their helmets off to wipe the sweats off their face.Jade dragged his skates over to a bench, and collapsed on it. He ripped his heavy gloves off wi
Mendez's SUV sped away from the Miller's home. Inside the car, Jade pressed his forehead against the cool glass of the passenger window. He stared out Into the pitch black countryside, watching few trees flash past under the sweep of headlights.For the first ten minutes, Mendez didn't say a single word . His knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his eyes locked on the empty highway."You have no idea what today has been like for me, Jade" Mendez said, his voice dropping low."I'm sorry" Jade said, still keeping his eyes on the passing darkness."Sorry doesn't cut it this time. I thought something terrible had happened to you, I called every hospital to check if you had been admitted but got no response. I had no choice than to call your mother" Mendez said."You shouldn't have involved her" Jade said."I had to, Jade. She's my sister, my only sister and she handed you over to me years ago, so I can watch over you. Do you know what it felt like to listen to my own sister break d
The next day, Jade met his new teammates. After Mendez dropped him off at the training facility, Jade made his way inside. He was directed to the Coach's office, where he met the coach and after a brief meeting, he led Jade down to the locker room. Jade's heart hammered as they approached the lock
Jade knocked on the door to the Coach's office, heart hammering.Mendez patted his shoulder, trying to ease the tension."Relax, we'll sort this out" he assured and Jade nodded."Come in" Duiz's voice came through the wooden door and Jade pushed the door open.His eyes scanned the small office. I
The sky was already fading when Elliot pulled up into the estate. The long day was over. The large iron gates slid open, revealing the Lombardi mansion, modern sleek glass, sharp angles. It carries the heavy air of old money, power and influence.He parked by the front steps and stepped out, sl
The crowd roared, some cheered, some booed echoing across the rink as the referee pointed sharply towards the penalty box.Jade Riccio skated off without looking at Elliot. He clenched his jaw as he slid into the penalty box, helmets still on. He muttered curses at the refs and mostly at Elliot Lom







