Holiday Hockey Tale The Icebreaker's Impasse (By Ivory Row) novel Chapter 104

Jason

“This is nothing more than a smear campaign by the untouchable Reed family stemming from the failed relationship hopes of a desperate sport–obsessed woman named Luci Forrester. My son rebuffed her advances and now he’s falsely accused of attempting to kidnap her. Easton Reed harmed my son maliciously along with his…supposed brother, Becker. They naturally went unpunished, as is the norm with this city and that family.” A faint cracking sound barely registers to my ears.

“Jason, you just crushed the remote.” Baker says mildly as he flips pancakes.

I glance away from Dale Porter’s lying asshat face and see I cracked the case. “That fucker dares to talk about my children. Do we have extras?”

Baker soundlessly pulls one from the cabinet and I exchange the batteries. I hurry to change the channel as I hear Cole’s happy laughter coming our way.

Easton carries him and both are grinning. Which infuriates me more that I’m going to wipe that smile from Easton’s face. “Morning Grandpappy! Choo choo!” He reaches for me and I take him, relishing the big hug he bestows on me.

“Morning my super train engineer. Where is your mommy?” I eye Easton.

“Getting ready for her first session with Tamara this morning. I’m taking her. Cole is going to play with Barrett and Banning.” He tilts his head, his face turning serious.

“Keep her away from the news until I handle it.” I warn him. “Also, I already told Tamara, but Luci’s bill comes directly to me. Make sure that happens.”

Becker stomps in. “Dad, did you see this?”

I hold my hand up and sit Cole in his chair. “Saw it and heard it. I’ll handle this. I’m long overdue to have a….chat with Dale Porter.”

Easton is watching Becker’s phone after he shoved it at him. “What is his problem with us?

Maxton’s always been jealous, but what’s his deal?”

“Not here. Baker, is Cole ok to stay here?”

Baker nods. “Always. Go tell them.”

He motions for us to follow him as he texts Jackson and Kingston. Once they join us in his study, he leans against the desk. “When your grandfather cut me out of the family, I struck out on my own more determined to prove him wrong. I started my own business and found moderate success within a year and a half. Dale Porter was at almost the same level I was and he was a few years older. He approached me and wanted to partner up for a few business deals. We did and we were quite successful. You boys were only about two when that happened. We continued to work together occasionally, but as I became more successful in other areas, I started doing less and less with him. The more time I spent with him, the less I liked him as a person. You won’t remember him, but Maxton was part of your first hockey team at five that I coached. Seeing him with his son, already cursing at him and pushing him to be some kind of super hockey kid rubbed me the wrong way. Not long after that, it came to my attention that in one of our joint ventures, he was cutting corners. Dale was all about net profit. He wanted to be rich more than anything. I wanted to be successful and take care of my family. Your grandfather did at least teach me that. Success would lead to better opportunities and better gains if you did it right. I started digging, and he was paying the workers we were using the bare minimum along with threatening to cut them if they wouldn’t work for even less. It enraged me. You pay people. Especially the smaller people on the ladder who are holding you up. I’ve always paid more than the minimum and I believe in rewarding people for their hard work with extra when the company is profitable. I immediately called him on it, and he didn’t care. Told me I was too soft and I’d never make it. Said I had to be more ruthless. I cut him out of my business then and there. He was irate of course because, like it or not, my name did mean something. I never did any other business with him. By some unspoken mutual agreement, we’ve stayed away from each other and I really don’t compete with him. He always pushed Maxton to be better than you boys after that. Especially you Easton. I figure it’s because he didn’t really rise to my level of success, and it’s his way of getting back at me. I never encouraged it or delved too deep into it to you boys because I don’t want you caught up in my past or my bullshit. I’ve always warned you to watch for him and that he likes to compete with you because of jealousy, which is true. He went too far this morning with what he said. To insinuate you aren’t my son like that, Becker, and insult my boys; not to mention he dared to go after Luci….I’ll handle this.” I take a deep breath. “It won’t be a problem. Maybe don’t let her see it yet though, especially with a therapy session this morning. Another time.”

Easton sighs heavily. “Yeah, not this morning. I’ll tell her tomorrow or see how this goes.

Tamara said this is going to be rough on her.”

I nod. ‘Do that.” I turn to Becker and Kingston. “You are my sons. Anyone who dares to say otherwise will find out exactly how hard I hit and how swift.”

“We know Dad. You’ve never made us feel any differently.” Kingston says quietly.

Becker agrees. “It’s never been in doubt Dad. Even….even Mother never treated us differently. I mean she used us equally for revenge.”

“Jace….Jace would have loved you two to no end. He was so proud to be a dad. You two changed him the minute he took you home.” I tell them softly. “No one gets to hurt my boys.

Don’t answer any questions if reporters are at the game tonight. Apparently, they are camped out at the Winters‘ place already today. Trying to get Lorelei to give them an interview about her mother trying to frame her.”

“Mother of the year there. Do we know how she met Maxton yet?” Jackson says dryly.

“Vince said Lorelei was stalking Luci for a few mornings and they talked. From what they overheard, seems like Lorelei told her mother about him and she was hanging out near Luci’s apartment the next day. She and Maxton left together. It all devolved from there. Apparently,

Lorelei was never at Luci’s again after the day she talked to Maxton, but Vivienne went a few times to meet with him.” I reveal. I glance up at the clock. “Go eat breakfast. I need to get to work.”

They leave me and I reach for my phone. “Lorna, call Dale Porter. Set up a meeting at the office for right before lunch today. Tell him I want to discuss a payout for his silence with Maxton.” I listen to her for a minute. “We may have other guests. I want everyone off my floor once he shows up.”

“Done sir.”

“Thank you, Lorna.”

With that done, I go out and find Baker in the pantry. “I’ll be at the office today. Do you still have Mack’s number?”

He eyes me gravely. “I do. Should I call him?”

“Not yet. Might need that in my back pocket though. We’ll see.”

“Jason, I’m willing to do whatever for my boys. You know that.” He tells me very seriously and quietly as he eyes Cole and the boys talking.

“I know Baker and I can never express what you mean to us.” I rest my hand on his shoulder.

“You saved me, Jason. This is as much my family as Kylie is.” He says solemnly.

With that, I change and drive to the office. Marco meets me there. He’s wearing a ballcap and sunglasses over his dark suit. “Mr. Reed.”

“Call me Jason later. I want you to stand behind me and be ready in case he’s up to his usual dirty tricks. I assume you are armed today?”

“Always. I saw this fucker on the news this morning. He’s as delusional as his son.” He mutters.

“He’s about to be hit with a dose of reality.” I say darkly. “Especially since I learned he’s the one who investigated to find Cole’s identity.”

In the office, he makes himself comfortable on the couch and I take my jacket off before sleeves up. Tie goes too; it’s a weapon for your enemy. I sit calmly and work until rolling my

Lorna texts me.

Mr. Porter’s here and he’s alone.

I snort and inform Marco. He rolls his eyes before putting his sunglasses and hat back on. He stands tall behind me. Dale Porter swaggers in. He’s an older version of his son, topping out around six–one but he definitely doesn’t hit the gym anymore. I am closer to an older model of Easton and Jackson but shorter by two inches. And unlike him, I take fitness seriously.

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