Shutout (The Renegades Series Book 5)

by Melody Heck Gatto

  “You’re both wrong, ladies,” Tyler said with a smile. “It was all me.” He indicated his crotch area. “Well, me and little me. If you know what I mean.” He winked at them.

  “Dude. That’s not something I needed to think about,” Kaden said, turning away to finish getting ready.

  “Little is probably the key word right there,” Pat said, laughing.

  Dom pulled on his gear and grabbed his stick and helmet. “And now I need to get back to the real world. So you ready to get out there?”

  “Sure,” Kaden answered. “Play you for lunch today?”

  “You’re on. Just not at The Cat House.”

  “Men! Get a move on it!” Sal called from the office. It was time for practice.

  Hopping onto the ice, Dom took a long breath and looked around. This is what matters right now. Nothing else. Breathing in the cold air, he cleared his mind. He wanted the Cup and nothing else. The game needed to be all he slept, ate and breathed. This starts now.

  Coach ran them hard on drills. They had won in Toronto and tonight started the playoffs against New York. Extra laps, extra suicide drills, extra shooting exercises. Dom ducked away from pucks flying at his head, deflecting them and catching others. Tyler and Kris were able to each slide in a few on him.

  “Dom! You’ve got to find a way to close that five-hole. I know it’s Tyler Kidd shooting at you, but you can’t let anybody else get one through.”

  Dom stretched a little further and worked on stacking the pads to close that gap under his legs. He stretched out, needing to be nimble enough to reach from post to post. He had the height. He could do this.

  “That’s it Dom! That’s what I want to see out there. Let’s sweep New York in four games.”

  After a few more drills, Coach Walker blew the whistle, signaling the end of practice.

  “Lunch?” Kaden caught Dom before he exited the ice. “I was thinking that little sandwich shack down on Fifth Ave?”

  “Did someone say lunch?” Tyler followed them into the locker room.

  “Yeah, but don’t you have a new wife to get home to?” Kaden asked.

  “Not today. She’s going shopping with Rylee, then having lunch. So, where are we going?” Tyler invited himself. “Kris, you in for lunch?”

  This simple lunch has turned into a team event, what the hell?

  “Sure, where are we going?” Kris asked, as he tossed his equipment into his locker.

  “The Sandwich Shack on Fifth,” Kaden said, as he grabbed his towel and headed to the showers.

  * * *

  Lunch ended up being Dom, Kaden, Tyler, Kris, and Patrick. They sat away from the windows and back in a corner, but it never failed. The bunnies found them. Dom had just finished his chicken when the first one came up to them.

  “Excuse me, you’re Dominic Zanetti, right?” She was tall, bleach blond, and her tits were falling out of her shirt. She looked around the table, and by her smile, he knew she’d confirmed her suspicions. Turning around, she called to her friends. “It’s them!”

  “Shit,” Dom mumbled.

  Tyler rolled his eyes so the girls didn’t see it and put on his social smile as the girls approached their table. “Ladies.”

  “Tyler Kidd!” One squealed and hopped up and down.

  “Ladies, myself, Kris and Pat are actually on our way out, but would be happy to sign an autograph before we leave. As you know,”—they only looked like they knew the players, not much about the game—“we have a big game tonight and need to get home and get ready.”

  “Well, okay, I guess.” She looked disappointed but pulled out something from her purse and a marker. These girls were obviously ready for any interaction with them.

  They signed a few things before leaving Kaden and Dom on their own. “Yeah, thanks Ty.” Dom waved as the blonde slid into an empty chair and moved closer to him. Her perfume was overpowering.

  When he looked back at her she had her phone poised for a selfie and snapped the photo as soon as he looked over her shoulder. Great, ’cause what I need now is a photo of me and some bunny out there.

  A redhead was getting friendly with Kaden. Dom heard her asking Kaden where he was from, and if he had a girlfriend, and then with a giggle, she whispered something in his ear.

  “So,”—the blonde laid her hand on his thigh, running it up and down his leg—“I’m Kandi, with a K.”

  “Nice to meet you, Kandi.” He looked over at Kaden for some help, but his friend was eating up whatever the redhead was saying. Either that or she was falling for all of his lines. Looked like they were having company after the game tonight.

  Kandi leaned in close and whispered in his ear. She must’ve had lipgloss that was flavored like vanilla, because she smelled artificially sweet. “I’ve been told I taste as sweet as my name. Maybe I can come by after the game, and you can take a taste and tell me what you think?”

  Every bone in his body said to say no. Well, all except one. He had to put all of his focus into the game; it was the playoffs. And they played back-to-back tonight and tomorrow. But maybe I could…

  Kaden winked at him, and mouthed “Go for it.”

  But he didn’t want just a bunny anymore. It wasn’t him. The only girl that crossed his thoughts was Hailee, as pathetic as that sounded. A bunny wasn’t the answer.

  Kandi whispered in his ear. “C’mon, let’s get out of here.”

  “I’m sorry, Kandi. I’ve got a big game tonight. Maybe some other time.” Or not. If there was any chance Hailee wanted to be with him, he wasn’t going to ruin it by being with a bunny.

  “Are you crazy, man?” Kaden called after him, as he left the Sandwich Shack. “You have to move on. A bunny isn’t a bad place to start.”

  Yeah, he was crazy. That was the only explanation. Dom went directly back to the loft for his before game nap. He was starting tonight and had no plans of not being on his game.

  * * *

  The Renegades beat New York in game one of the first series. Dom played goal the entire game, almost shutting them out. They got one shot on him that he couldn’t stop. That damn five-hole. They won, but he was still mad at himself for allowing that one goal. We could’ve had a shutout.

  They flew to New York right after the game, and the whole time he went over and over in his head how he could’ve stopped that shot. He was tired, and still feeling dehydrated from the game.

  By the time they got to the hotel it was after midnight. He drew the lucky straw and got the single room. After a hot shower and another bottle of water, he finally stopped worrying about how he could’ve stopped that shot.

  Dom checked his cell phone. There was a message from his sister, Rosa. She must’ve called while I was in the shower. She wanted him to call back as soon as he got her message, but it was late. He texted her to see if she was still awake.

  His phone rang as soon as he sent the text.

  “Dom, I need to talk to you.”

  “Rosa, is everything okay? The kids okay?” She didn’t sound frantic, but she didn’t sound okay either.

  “Yes. Well, maybe. Everyone is fine, nothing like that.”

  “So, what’s the big emergency then?”

  “I called Hailee.”

  Why is she calling me after midnight to tell me she talked to Hailee? “Okay.”

  “Dom, after we talked I felt really bad. I wanted to set the record straight with her.”

  “Wait, what?” He was tired and she wasn’t making sense to him.

  “I felt terrible that I scared her off years ago. She needed to know why we said the things we did to her that day. I don’t really know how she took it, but I think she was okay. Dom, if you really wanted to get her back, now might be the time.”

  He did want her back, but he’d told her he wouldn’t chase her. He’d ended things and she hadn’t stopped him walking out. If she wanted him, that had to be her choice, her move. Right? Or had he made a mistake? Given up too easily?

  No longer worried about ho
w he let a puck slip in the five-hole, he now lay awake thinking about Hailee. Thoughts swirled around his head as he stared up at the plain ceiling. Why would she think he would force her to sit at home and tend to her husband? Did he really come off as that kind of man? Did she really think he wouldn’t support her dreams?

  If she had just asked to borrow the money for the gallery, he would’ve been happy to help. But she was always too damn independent to accept help.

  Now the question is how do I help someone who refuses to accept it?

  Maybe there was one person who could help him figure that out. He picked up his cell phone and texted Kaden.

  Dom: You still awake?

  Kaden: Yep. What’s up?

  Dom: I need a favor. Do you have that girl Alison’s phone number?

  Kaden: Hailee’s friend? Sure I do. What’s going on in that brain of yours?

  Dom: Nothing bad. I need some advice about all this shit with Hailee.

  Kaden: Ok, I’ll send it to you. Good luck.

  He sat and stared at his screen with Alison’s number on it. He was out of his mind to be doing this now. But if he didn’t, there was definitely no sleep in his future.

  Dom: Alison, this is Hailee’s friend Dom. I need some advice. Are you awake?

  After a few minutes a response filled the screen.

  Alison: Hey Dom. Yep, I am now.

  Before he could finish typing a message, his phone buzzed with a call. Alison’s name flashed across his screen. He picked up the call but she didn’t let him say anything before she spoke.

  “Hailee’s friend? Who even refers to themselves like that anymore? My Dad introduced my first boyfriend to my grandma as my friend.”

  Alison sure wasn’t shy. “What would you like me to call myself? I don’t even know, after what I said to her.”

  “You mean breaking it off?”

  “Yes.”

  “Dom, it’s late. I don’t want to be rude, but why are you calling? And I hope you aren’t looking for a date, because I don’t go out with my best friend’s exes.”

  The sound of exes made him cringe. “I never intended to let her go.” Why did he say that? It sounded so girly.

  “You still love her, don’t you?”

  He didn’t want to admit that to her. “She can be so stubborn sometimes. You know? Why does she have to do everything on her own? Why is the thought of my helping her so terrible?”

  Alison sighed. “That’s a good question. Just like the club. You know she’s only working there until she gets enough start-up money for her gallery. I really hate that place. Hailee’s idea of start-up money is enough so she can survive for a year without worry, so who knows how long that will take. Have I mentioned how much I hate that place?” The repeat mention of the club drove home her point.

  “So you aren’t behind her on the whole strip club idea either? Glad I’m not alone.”

  “Nope, you aren’t alone on that. I helped her set up a website for her gallery, hoping she could sell a few paintings online in the meantime. You probably already know this, but her paintings are amazing. I want to do anything I can to help get her out of The Cat House.”

  He closed his eyes and pictured the one that hung in his apartment. “They are. She’s very talented.”

  “And all that talent is wasted dancing on a pole. Nothing against pole dancers. We did research and priced her paintings according to other comparable art. She already sold one, but one isn’t going to get her far. She needs to sell more than that. But Dom, you didn’t call me to talk about art.”

  His head was spinning. “You know I could give her anything she wanted. I have the ability to do that. But her pride would never let her take it. I want to see her succeed. I want her to be happy, with or without me.” Why can’t it be with me?

  “You do still love her.”

  There was nothing he could say to that. He did. He would always love her, but he needed someone who would love him back. He deserved that much.

  “I could see it, the way you two acted that night at the rink. And then at the bar. I think everyone can see it but her.”

  He was sure Hailee did see it. She was just too scared to lose herself by loving him. What the fuck? She has me so sappy I sound like a damn chick. He cleared his throat. “What’s this website called?”

  “It’s Hailee Valentine dot com.”

  “And you can buy her art right off here?”

  “Yep.”

  “So, if she somehow earned enough money to start up her gallery, she’d quit the club?” His heart thumped at the start of an idea. But he’d need some help.

  “Yeah, that’s the plan. Listen, since neither of us like her working there, do you think you might be able to help speed this process up?”

  Absolutely. “I have an idea.”

  “I’m listening.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Hailee

  Hailee hadn’t been able to get Dominic out of her mind. Avoiding the Renegades games on television proved difficult. They were in the playoffs and the whole city was excited and talking about it. She found herself checking the internet for the score after the games. She had even shamelessly signed up for the Renegades app on her phone so she’d get scoring notifications, other important media announcements, and interviews.

  But it didn’t stop there. She’d been pulling doubles at the club to keep herself occupied, but sitting here in front of the computer, she couldn’t help herself. With a container of rocky road ice cream, she searched Twitter for ‘Dominic Zanetti’ and looked for recent posts.

  Why am I doing this to myself? But even her subconscious couldn’t help her now. She was already scrolling, not sure what she had hoped to find. The first thing to catch her attention was a photo of him and some girl at a restaurant in town. The girl was a bleach blonde with huge breasts that weren’t very well covered. No doubt a bunny. The tweet said her name was Kandi. How perfect was that? Kandi was doing the duck-face and Dominic was looking over her shoulder.

  Red hot emotion surged through her body, and a lump tightened in her chest. The room began to spin. The feeling wasn’t anything she could control, but she kept scrolling. There were a few more from this girl with Kaden and some other girl in the background, but Dominic wasn’t looking at the camera. Kandi never wrote where they were, but she tagged him in the photos. I think I might be sick. Nausea made her stomach churn.

  Hot tears stung her eyes as she scrolled through the posts. Look at these girls, they’re all so happy and eager. All he wanted was someone to love him like he deserved. He’s got bunnies that fawn all over him, and all I did was shut him out. She didn’t want them to, but the photos hurt. But wondering if he took the girl home after that hurt even more. If he went home with any of these girls taking selfies.

  Picking up her phone, she pulled up Alison’s number and hit the call button. As soon as her friend picked up, she quickly spoke. “Ali, please take the internet off me.”

  “Are you stalking Dom online?”

  “Why would you ask that?” Am I that predictable?

  “Because I know you, Hailee. I know that you aren’t over him.”

  “Even if that was true, by the look of these bunny pics it’s too little too late.”

  “I really don’t think he’s moving on like he said he was.”

  “Why?”

  “Just a feeling.” Alison quickly continued. “Let me ask you a question, since you seem to be pining over Dom.”

  “I’m not pining.” I’m totally pining. I’m pathetic.

  “Whatever. You’re online stalking him. So, seeing him with the other girls makes you jealous. It does, doesn’t it? Does that about cover it?”

  Yes. “I’m not answering that.

  “Again, I don’t believe that he’s real thrilled about moving on.” Alison paused a moment before obviously changing the subject. “Oh by the way, I was looking on the website and you had a new inquiry.” Alison helped with the website even more now that Haile
e spent her free time wallowing.

  “Oh yeah? Which painting are they interested in?”

  “It’s not a painting, Hailee. It’s many paintings.”

  Her heart jumped at the sound of that, but a deep breath reeled her back in. ‘Many still might not be enough to get the gallery up and running yet, but at least it would be a start. “Okay, so how many?”

  “He didn’t say, but he wants to meet with you and discuss it.”

  The probability of many paintings made her belly tingle with excitement. This might be just what I need. Calming herself, she cleared her throat and put on a business façade. “Okay, set something up.”

  * * *

  Hailee waited at the coffee shop for Mr. McKnight, the agent Alison spoke to. Her stomach flipped and flopped. Nerves were a terrible thing; a wave of nausea swept through her stomach. She looked again at her phone to see how late it was, positive that this was a prank, and that no Mr. McKnight was coming. But he wasn’t late. It was only ten to eleven, and their meeting was at eleven.

  The dream she had last night kept nagging at her. Once she woke up from it, she couldn’t fall back asleep; she couldn’t shake it. Dominic was in it. He was his flirty and charming self. Things were just like they were when they’d been a young happy couple with no worries. She woke up happy but then reality brought her back down. She missed their love and being his best friend.

  A yawn crept up on her. Glancing at her cup, she found the Iced Mocha was empty. She’d been up the rest of the night feeling bad about the photos of Dom and those girls. She tried to suck up the last remaining whipped cream at the bottom of her cup, but it was useless, the cup was drained.

  She straightened out her blouse and business-style skirt, specially bought for this meeting, and pulled up social media on her phone. The first headline that hit her was that the Renegades had swept New York in four games, and they were moving on to round two. Excitement crept through her self-pity.

  Avoiding all things Renegades was proving impossible. The whole city revolved around them now. You’d think that I would be used to this, being from Ontario. When Toronto was in the playoffs, the city never slept. They ate, drank and breathed hockey. She just didn’t expect that here.