Goal Line (The Dartmouth Cobras Book 7) (17 page)

It said something about his character that he’d finally broken free and become a good man who loved his sisters. And their little niece.

“That bastard doesn’t get to take any more of our time than he already has. The doctor approved a small gathering for Oriana, but no longer than a couple of hours.” Max playfully shoved Ford toward the passenger side of the SUV. “Get in. Bower is bringing Amia and Casey. Nothing cheers Oriana up as much as seeing the Cobra brats.”

Ford snorted as he snapped his seat belt. “Yeah, I’m sure she loves you calling them that.”

“Chicklet started it. So, naturally, no one objects.” Max grinned. “Wouldn’t mind a few more added to the brood though. You and Akira—”

Eyes glazed in the distracted look of a man in love, Ford ducked his head and smiled. “Me and Cort are ready, but Akira has plans. She wants her figure skating school set up first so our kid can get the best training as soon as he or she can stand in skates. I hope the kid ain’t into hockey, because Akira has their whole career set out for them.”

“Ah.” Max wasn’t sure what to say. The likelihood of Oriana carrying a child wasn’t good, but he couldn’t imagine trying to plan his son’s or daughter’s life like that.

“Okay, it sounds nuts, but it’s not really that bad. She’s fine with whatever our children want to do, but the minute one is into figure skating? Well, they’ll have the best of everything. Not much different than Cort building a bike from scratch for our son to ride when he’s old enough.”

True
. Max glanced over at a red light. “Or your daughter?”

“
Hell
no. Cort doesn’t want our daughters around bikers.” Ford chuckled. “We’ve had some interesting conversations.”

“And your input?”

Ford’s brow furrowed. He shook his head. “I just want to be a better father than either of mine. If I manage that, I’m good.”

Fair enough. One thing Max was grateful for was that if they ever managed to bring a child into their home, the kid would have his father. And Sloan’s and all kinds of extended family. They would never want for love.

“How goes the adoption?” Ford stared forward, making it clear he’d heard something. “I know you’ve gone to a few agencies, but…”

Yeah. But.
“We’ve been turned down several times.”

“You make good money. You have a stable family.” Ford frowned. “What’s the problem?”

“Two gay men can have trouble adopting. Do you think they consider a poly family stable?” Max thought over some of the conversations they’d had with adoption agencies. They’d even been told to lie on the applications. Alone, he and Oriana would have little trouble adopting. But Sloan wouldn’t legally be the father.

Sloan had insisted the legalities were irrelevant since they hadn’t mattered when they’d said their vows. Why now?

Max had resisted the idea, but Oriana went along with what her most alpha Dom wanted. Sloan hadn’t cared who fathered her child, but he wanted to be fully involved. And he might have been able to adopt a child that wasn’t his if Max was the father. Or Max could have been the one signing the papers.

But either one of them having no rights?

The experience in the hospital had been enough to prove Sloan’s point. What if they had a child and one of them couldn’t make important decisions? Which one of them would have to wait until the “right” person was contacted?

Maybe a private adoption would work. They were still looking into their options. Which would be put on hold until Oriana was healthy again.

When they parked in front of the house, he took note of all the familiar cars and smiled. The only people truly important to Oriana who were missing were himself and Ford. Nothing her father had done could ruin all that those who cared for her could give.

He spotted Dominik’s truck and slowed his pace. Max had brought Dominik back in, maybe not all the way, but enough to open doors that had been firmly shut. With Oriana in such a vulnerable state, would it be more difficult for her to remember why it hadn’t worked out between them? Max would accept whatever she wanted, but what about Sloan?

Won’t be an issue. Dominik’s moved on.

Had he? Really?

To be honest, Max wasn’t sure. In a perfect world, friendship would be enough. But if today proved anything, it was how imperfect the world really was.

Dominik hadn’t planned to intrude on Oriana’s homecoming, but a text from Sloan had him ditching his plans for the day and swinging by a local bakery for her favorite treats. He’d gotten here about half an hour ago, ready to herd the team out, concerned that a crowd might overwhelm her, but people were calm and Oriana was soaking in recaps of the game from the players.

Becky had stopped by for a short time with Bower and Dean and the little ones, staying just long enough for Oriana to cuddle the little girls. The players stuck around longer because Oriana was asking so many questions, yet, they filed out as soon as she started looking tired. She had food enough for a week or so with all the casseroles the players’ wives brought. Everyone wanted to show their appreciation and support.

And he wasn’t surprised.

Tim had been the heart of the team, but Oriana was a big part of the reason they still had a team at all. It was no secret how much she and her siblings had done to keep the Cobras’ franchise alive.

He chatted a bit with everyone, then prepared to make his exit, giving Oriana one last hug and a kiss on the forehead as Max and Ford joined them. Dominik’s leaving would prompt most of the stragglers to take his lead.

But before he could say anything, Oriana put her hand on his arm. “Could you do me a favor?”

Anything
. The word came to his mind, but it didn’t leave his lips. He meant it, and yet, not the same way he once had. So he simply nodded.

“I haven’t heard from Tyler or Chicklet and the guys are saying Zovko is hurt badly. Could you check on him and give Tyler my love?” She bit her lip and shook her head, wincing as though the motion hurt her. “I don’t mean it like—”

“I know what you mean.” Dominik squeezed her hand and stepped back. “I’d planned to stop by at some point today, so it’s not a problem. Just get some rest and get better so you can come watch us play. You won’t be in any condition to deal with the insanity at the Forum until at least the third round. So we have our work cut out for us.”

She smiled. “Yes, you do. And…thank you for being here. For being such an amazing friend.”

Once, the distinction might have hurt. He still expected it to a bit, but they’d reached the point where it felt right. “I always will be, sweetheart.”

On his way out, both Max and Coach Shero caught up with him. The coach gestured that they’d talk outside and slipped out the open door. Max pulled Dominik in for a rough hug.

His tone was low as he spoke. “We good? Fuck, I know this can’t be easy. I keep expecting you to tell me and Sloan to get lost. We have no right to—”

Dominik snorted and put his hand on Max’s shoulder. “I should take offense to you questioning my friendship.” That word was becoming his new mantra. “You’re my teammate and like a brother to me. Everything else is in the past. All I ask is you stop bringing it up.”

“Done.” Max breathed a sigh of relief. “See you in a few hours, man. And thank you for coming.”

Nodding, Dominik said goodbye and made his way out. He was getting uncomfortable with the constant gratitude. Hopefully, this would be the last of it.

Coach Shero was waiting by his truck. “Dominik, I hate to dump this on you at the last minute, but I could use your help. I’ll follow you to the hospital—I apologize, I couldn’t help overhear that you were going, and I need to check on Vanek and Zovko myself. The boy’s listed as a game-time decision.”

“Reasonable, but I don’t see what that has to do with me.” Dominik hoped he sounded more direct than blunt. He needed a nap if he was going to be fresh on the ice. “Do you need me to speak to the men?”

“No, actually, I’m going to need you to host one for a time if you’re willing.” Shero rubbed his hand over his lips, his eyes showing how exhausted he was. Finding a replacement for Zovko couldn’t have been easy. “There’s a young man we’d planned to bring up next season. We’ve been discussing an entry-level contract with his agent for some time. He’s damn good and he could be a game changer.”

There were at least five men on the farm team Shero could be talking about, so Dominik just nodded for him to go on.

“The thing is, he’s got responsibilities that need to be taken care of. They could distract him if not handled carefully. I spent all day yesterday and this morning convincing his agent and his coach we could manage anything he requires. I would have approached Callahan, but clearly, that’s not an option.” Shero looked uncomfortable. “You have a stable home and you’ve roomed with rookies before.”

Ah…is that all?
Dominik shrugged. “I have plenty of space. He can stay with me.”

“You may want all the details before you commit.”

“If he’s good enough for you to go to all this trouble, I don’t care about the details. Let’s go see Zovko and Vanek. You can tell me more on the way to the room.” Dominik smiled to soften his words, but he was just eager to get the insanity of the day over with so he could focus on the game. He envied the players with wives whose sole focus during the playoffs was to make sure their men had no distractions. Several of them even sent children to relatives and spent all their time watching what their husbands ate. How much they slept.

All right, he didn’t need anything that extreme, but it would be nice to share some of the burden. To go home to someone who’d listen and then tell him nothing mattered but what he did on the ice.

He pulled onto the street, picturing Sahara doing exactly that. She came from a long line of hockey players. She would understand…

Damn it, he had to stop picturing her in unrealistic roles. He’d done well giving her time and space to get where she needed to be before even considering a relationship. He refused to put any pressure on her. Or himself.

But he had to admit, over the months that they’d gotten closer, he’d considered how easily she’d fit into his life. Even when he’d struggled with the idea that Oriana was no longer part of his future, the idea that Sahara might be kept slipping in.

The next step was up to her. Which was hard to swallow. He could only stand back and hope the carefree life Pischlar offered wasn’t all she wanted. Anyone could ignore their own needs. And she had more reason than many to prefer things uncomplicated.

He had to stop seeing her with his collar when he still hadn’t decided if she craved the weight of it around her neck. He had only just accepted that he wouldn’t turn his back on the lifestyle; he’d simply stop training subs he couldn’t keep.

Thankfully, he pulled into the hospital parking lot before his mind could delve any deeper into things he had no control over. He joined Shero halfway across the lot and let the man distract him with the rookie he’d be inviting into his home.

“He should be arriving in about an hour. I hate to rush you, but I need to give the driver picking him up your address. If you’re sure—”

“I’m sure. But tell me more about the kid. Does he need a babysitter or just a place to stay?” Dominik followed Shero down the hall, figuring he knew where Zovko’s room was. “You said he had responsibilities? Will I need to make any big changes right away or do I still have time for a nap before the game?”

“I don’t see that being an issue. He’ll need to rest as well.” Shero shook his head as they took the elevator up to the sixth floor. “The information I have is limited, but I know he has family in Ontario. You may have more than one person invading your home.”

“You haven’t even given me his name yet.” Dominik grinned at Shero’s flustered look. “Give the driver my address. I’m assuming the whole entourage won’t be there today?”

“No, of course not. There hasn’t been much time…” Shero said. “His name is Heath Ladd.”

The name was familiar. “I’m sure I’ve seen his stats. A smart choice. And no drama that I know of.”

“He’s a good kid. His coaches think he’ll fit in without making waves.”

“Perfect.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to find out specifics? We’re asking a lot of you.”

“He needs a bed to sleep in. Some guidance. If he has a mother or a sister that needs to stay with him while he settles, I’m fine with that. I have a few spare bedrooms.” Dominik tried to think of anything else that could make things difficult. “I can drive him where he needs to go if he doesn’t have his own car. I can keep him away from the press. He’s eighteen, right?”

“Yes.”

“Not a drinker? Is he prone to being late or slacking off?”

“No.” Shero seemed much more comfortable discussing the young man’s habits than he had been making the request. “He’s always the last to leave the ice. His coach did mention he’s not very talkative, but he takes instruction well. He had a trainer he was close to in London, but I have several in mind to work with him. He’s dedicated. A sniper. I’ll put him on the third line to start off, but I see him making it to the second or first easily.”

“Which is exactly what we need.” The idea that Zovko wouldn’t be playing with them indefinitely was hard to swallow, but that was the reality of their sport. And the reason management kept their options open. He reached for the door. “Are they expecting us?”

Shero nodded. “They knew I’d be stopping by today. Even I wouldn’t drop in unexpected with Chicklet standing guard over him. But I don’t see them having an issue with you being here as well.”

Inclining his head, Dominik rapped his knuckles softly on the door. Chicklet opened it seconds later. She met his eyes, trying to put on a brave face.

He was having none of that. “Come here.”

Her strong body leaned into his as he wrapped his arms around her. She was a tall woman, all wiry muscle and badass attitude, but she loved unconditionally and had claimed Raif Zovko as one of her own. That he was a Dom as well didn’t matter. She’d be hovering over him, all her protective instincts on high alert until he was strong enough to tell her it was unnecessary.

Which, hopefully, wouldn’t take long.

“How is he?” Dominik asked when she pulled away, letting her wipe her tears before joining her in the private room.

She went to Zovko’s bedside, putting her hand on Tyler’s shoulder. The young man was half-asleep in a chair he’d dragged right next to the bed. He barely lifted his head to greet Dominik, struggling to keep his eyes open as he put his hand over Chicklet’s.

“Surgery went well. They put a metal plate in because parts of his skull caved in. He’s sleeping a lot.” Chicklet shook her head, looking helpless and frustrated. “I wish I could tell you more, but it’s day to day. He needed a blood transfusion yesterday. Thankfully, we’re the same blood type.”

“I can donate to anyone. I could have done it.” Tyler dropped his hand to his lap. “Still don’t get why you didn’t let me.”

“Because you’re getting back on the ice as soon as Coach here thinks you’re ready.” Chicklet turned to Shero. “He hasn’t slept in two days, so I don’t know if…”

Shero shook his head. “We’ll manage without him for another game.” He focused on Tyler. “If you can’t come to New York, the team will understand. But we could use you out there.”

Tyler nodded, but he didn’t comment. The game clearly wasn’t a priority.

Not that Dominik could blame him.

Looking at Zovko, Dominik had a hard time seeing the same strong, vibrant man he’d come to know over the past few months in the pale, lifeless form on the bed. Zovko’s usually perfectly styled, chin length hair was limp. Dark shadows surrounded his closed lids. The heart monitor showed his pulse was strong, but he looked vulnerable and drained.

Maybe it would be different if he woke and showed the indomitable spirit they all knew him for, but he needed to rest and heal. And his loved ones could do nothing but wait and hope for the best.

Damn it, Dominik wished he had more to offer than the same platitudes they’d likely heard from everyone. At least with Oriana, he’d been able to calm Sloan down. Talk to Max. And her. The accident had been frightening for them all, but compared to what Zovko was going through, Oriana had been lucky.

Approaching Tyler, Dominik crouched down to meet the younger man’s eyes. “Don’t worry about the game. If you need anything, you give me a call. All right?”

Eyes tearing, Tyler nodded quickly. He grabbed Dominik’s wrist before he could stand. “Thank you.”

The gratitude made it hard to leave, but apparently Dominik had something to offer after all. With everyone reminding Tyler it was the playoffs, the team needed him, Zovko would want him with his team…all the kid wanted to hear was that he was exactly where he needed to be.

But, while this was where
Tyler
needed to be, Dominik had to get home. Welcome the new rookie. And pray he could manage a power nap before he hit the ice.

He got to his truck and sat there for a while, craving a few moments of silence to get his shit together. The past couple days had been so hectic focusing on the game himself was going to be a challenge.

Taking out his phone, he flipped it idly in his hand. Then he went through his callers and pressed Sahara’s number.

“Hello?” She sounded happy to hear from him, but uncertain, as though worried something was wrong.

The smile on his face lightened his tone. “Hello, sunshine. I hope I’m not calling at a bad time.”

“Not at all. I’m just relaxing a bit before the game.” She paused. “Don’t you guys take naps? Like toddlers?”