Neon & Nets (Venom Next Gen #1)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

Knight

Several Months Later…

I lie face-down on the sofa and groan into the throw pillow. “I can’t believe we lost.”

Sofia rubs one hand across my back. “I suppose it would be insensitive to say that I can believe it?”

That wrings a self-deprecating laugh out of me. “I mean, it wasn’t a great season.” Sure, we started strong, but once we started losing, it became pretty obvious we weren’t going to make it to the playoffs. Our season got cut short.

The lemon juice in the wound? My old team made it to the playoffs. They’re not favored to win, but at least they have a shot.

The slow circling of Sofia’s hand on my back anchors me to the present moment. I never expected to win the Stanley Cup this year. I had my own reasons for coming back to Vegas. Running through that list makes me feel a lot better. I’ve got a place of my own. I’m back near my family. I’ve been spending a lot of time with my best-friend-slash-future-wife… not that we’re dating officially, but we’ve gotten awfully cozy. I’m waiting to see what happens with her thesis. I have a feeling that once it’s done and dusted, she’ll be ready to talk about us again.

“I wonder how Viktor’s doing right now?” Sofia muses. “With an ego as big as his, I bet he’s miserable. ”

I snort and relax into her touch. “Viktor’s used to losing. I’m not.”

“Wow, so modest.” Sofia gives my shoulders a squeeze as she laughs.

“All right, pity party over, I’ll stop whining.” I roll onto my back and gaze up at her. “You know who’s being an extra-sore loser right now, though?”

“Dante?” Sofia guesses.

“Dante,” I agree. I hold up my watch, which has been buzzing with near-constant notifications. “He’s been riding Briggs since the game ended. According to him, the magic is just not strong enough.”

Sofia chuckles. “I thought Sergio was in charge of the team now.”

“In theory, yeah. In practice, Dante’s going to be the one in charge until Sergio pries control from his cold, dead hands.”

“Don’t worry about Dante, he’s just—” Sofia frowns and cocks her head to one side. “Wait, do you hear that?”

My neighborhood in Serenity Shores is pretty quiet, but Sofia’s right: someone’s making a racket outside. I sit up and try to pinpoint the source of the yelling. It doesn’t sound like someone’s hurt. In fact…

“Is someone screaming our names?” I ask.

“That’s what I thought.” Sofia gets up and walks to the window. Our curtains are open, but since we’re on the second floor, it’s not like people on the street can peer in.

I crane my neck to look over Sofia’s shoulder. Through the glass, across the street, is the window of another condo. By the looks of it, two people are standing inside, waving their arms and screeching our names.

“What the fuck?” I ask.

“Why are Viktor and Knova in the condo across the street?” Sofia asks.

Through the window, I can see boxes and furniture stacked around my sister’s feet. She grins and waves at me. If I can see them this easily, who knows how much they’re able to see. I look down and see that there’s a moving van parked along their side of the street.

“No way,” I whisper.

“Do you think they’re…?” Sofia looks back at me.

“Moving in…?”

“Together?” she squeaks.

“Only one way to find out.” I turn on my heel and head toward the front door. “This had better be a prank.”

“At least they’re not right next door,” Sofia muses.

“Yeah, but it’s still within walking distance.”

“And shouting distance it would seem.” Sofia follows me to the elevator.

I hope against hope that this is some kind of fever dream brought on by the news of our defeat. Viktor wouldn’t deliberately move in across the street just to annoy me, would he?

Aw, shit. Scratch that, he totally would.

Viktor and Knova emerge from the other building just as Sofia and I step out into the street.

“Well, howdy, neighbor.” Viktor smirks at me. “Funny meeting you here.”

I ignore him and focus on my sister. “Care to explain what’s happening?”

“Viktor’s moving.” Knova grins at me and throws an arm around my shoulder. With her other hand, she pokes me in the chest. “Which means that he’s now entirely your problem. Just think of how much calmer the neighborhood will be without this little menace ruining my day at every available opportunity.” She lets out a dreamy sigh.

“So, you’re not moving in with him?” Sofia asks.

Viktor snorts. “Now, there’s an idea. My bed’s big enough for the both of us, you know.”

Knova heaves a few times like she’s going to be sick. “Gross, Viktor. Never gonna happen.” She thumbs his way. “I would rather capsize into a malaria-infested African river with thirty-two hungry hippopotami, than reside with this asshole.”

Viktor doesn’t even flinch. “You wouldn’t even owe rent. You could pay me in sexual favors.”

Knova releases me and starts to walk away. “Congratulations, creep. Now I’m not going to help you finish moving in. Good luck emptying out the rental before the cutoff time.”

Viktor shrugs. “No worries. Knight will help me.”

“The fuck I will.”

Viktor’s about to say something else, but before he gets the chance, both of our watches chirp with an alert.

“Team call,” Viktor says. He leans against the side of the truck and opens the video app in his palm. “I can’t wait for Dante to rip us all a new one.”

Knova circles back to where we’re standing. “Actually, that does sound like fun.”

I pull up my screen, too. Sofia steps closer, watching as the holocall boots up. Dante’s face appears in my palm, full screen, which is weird and uncomfortable. Why can’t he film himself from a reasonable distance, like a normal person? Smaller images of Briggs, Coach, and Sergio populate at the bottom. Briggs’s camera is underneath him, and the 3D scan of the inside of his nostrils is… disconcertingly thorough. I can’t tell if the weird angle is the result of his desire to stick it to Dante, or if he’s just old and therefore bad at technology .

“Everyone here?” Dante asks. “Wonderful. I’ll make this quick. As you know, I want all-new blood. That includes players and staff.”

“Solid move, Dante,” Viktor drawls. “Tell everyone you’re planning to replace them as soon as possible. That will absolutely encourage them to play their best in the meantime.”

“I wouldn’t sass him when he’s in a mood like this.” Sofia wrings her hands.

Knova grins. “Yeah, Vik, you might get fired, and then how would you enact your plan to harass my brother as much as possible?”

“Don’t worry,” Viktor assures her, “I’m on mute. And unlike some people, I know how mute works.”

“To that end,” Dante continues, “I’ve decided to fire Coach McTiernan.”

From his little bubble, Coach McTiernan seems blindsided by this information. “What?” he yelps.

“You can’t do that,” Sergio snaps. “He has a contract. And you didn’t even ask me!”

“I’m your father,” Dante snarls. “This is my team. I don’t need to ask you. I’m telling you, Coach McTiernan is done. Finito . Past tense. I’ve already checked with legal, and they’ve started the process of buying out his contract.”

“So, you’re going into the new season without a coach,” Briggs says. “Brilliant plan, sir.”

“Oh, we have a coach. I’ve hired someone who knows what he’s doing. Stanley Cup winner and future hall of famer Grady Metcalfe will be joining us next season.”

“Ooh.” Briggs’s nostrils are suddenly even closer to the scanner. “How’d you score Metcalfe? He’s good. Like really, really talented. I used to play against him back in the day.”

“Dad, you can’t—” Sergio begins .

“Finish that sentence,” Dante says. “I dare you.”

Sergio trails off into a muddle of unintelligible Italian invectives.

“That’s what I thought,” Dante says. “McTiernan, I’ll be in touch to discuss your very lucrative ‘ arrivederci ’ bonus. The rest of you, buckle up and get ready for a real season next year. More to come.”

The camera cuts out. I’m left staring at my cupped palm, open-mouthed and speechless. I think I may have underestimated my boss.

“Wow.” Knova crosses her arms over her chest. “That’s… sure something.”

“At least we’ll be okay,” Viktor says. “No way Dante’s going to fire us until he completes Operation: Gotta Catch ‘Em All.”

“Did you just refer to yourself as a Pokémon?” Sofia asks. “That’s so retro, dude.”

“For sure. I’m a goddamn Charizard.” Viktor taps his thumb against his chest and grins. “Knight, you’re more like… Farfetch’d.”

I shake my head. “Sorry, but I don’t have the slightest idea what the fuck you’re talking about.”

“Because he has friends,” Knova adds. “Real, human friends. Unlike some nerds I could name.”

Viktor rolls his eyes. “If you three are just going to stand around berating me, could you do it while helping me move boxes? I’ll buy you dinner.”

Sofia purses her lips and squints at him. “And drinks?”

“Yeah, and dessert, whatever, just help me get this stuff upstairs.”

Sofia shrugs and turns to the van.

“You’re too nice,” Knova scolds.

“Says you. Viktor’s paying for my cannoli fix. ”

“Ooh, yeah, cannolis. Good point.” Knova follows her to the van.

I fire off a quick message to Briggs, asking him what he thinks of this new coach. I feel bad for McTiernan, but he’s got lots of experience. I’m sure he’ll be able to find another spot next year, one where Dante’s not breathing down his neck all the time. I’m more worried about what will happen to the rest of us with some new hotshot coach. The last thing this team needs is another big ego with something to prove.

After a moment’s consideration, I also message my dad.

“Quit slacking, Hale, or I’m not paying for jack squat,” Viktor gripes and hauls a box past me.

Without looking up from my watch, I say, “No skin off my back. Carry your own shit, Abbott. You do realize you’re rich enough to hire movers?”

Still, when I’m done, I pitch in. Might as well. Like it or not, we’re all friends. Besides, it’ll be good to have another ally on the team if things go south with Giovanettis.

At least I won’t have to worry too much about Dante’s fresh schemes until the preseason.

* * *

Knova brandishes her fork over the lasagna al forno. “Okay, walk me through it. Five-year plans. Go.”

The rest of us groan.

“Not you, too,” Sofia complains. “I’ve already got every adult in my life asking me those questions. I don’t need you getting on my case, too.”

Knova points around the table. “Sofia, babes, hate to break it to you, but we’re literally adults.”

“Yeah, but like…” Sofia looks to Viktor, then to me, and wilts. “I mean, Viktor and Knight already own homes. And have ca reers. Maybe that counts, but I don’t feel grown-up yet. I’m still in limbo.”

“Adults can be in limbo,” Knova argues. “You have a degree.”

“Soon I’ll have a master’s, too,” Sofia agrees. “I don’t have a job lined up, though. I live at home. I need to finish my thesis, and then maybe I’ll be able to start filling in some of the blanks.”

“Do you even want to work in your field?” Knova asks.

“I guess? I’m not sure what else I’d do. Why go through all this effort if I’m just going to let it go to waste, you know?”

“Wow,” Viktor drawls. “What a ringing endorsement. Such enthusiasm.”

“I’m in limbo, and I know it.” Sofia cuts into her ravioli. “All I’m saying is that I haven’t figured out where to go from here. Forget a five-year plan, I don’t even have a one-year plan. But I’ll figure it out.”

“Knight?” Knova asks. “What about you?”

I reach for my beer, courtesy of Aunt Sage. “Things are up in the air right now. I can’t think about any kind of future until I… until I get an answer.”

“From who?” Knova demands.

Sofia nudges me. “From me, I presume?”

I nod. “I’m not trying to pressure you for an answer. I can be patient. It’s not like I’m going to make any big changes right now, anyway, no matter what you decide.”

Sofia smiles up at me with watery eyes, and Viktor groans.

“Oh my God, will you two get a room,” he groans. “This anti-fuck stance is not working for either of you. As for me, I’m going to get moved into my new place, enjoy the off-season, and party hard for the next five years. Pro-fuck all day, every day. That’s my plan.”

“Wow,” Knova deadpans. “A true visionary. ”

Viktor snorts. “Yeah? What about you?”

“The rest of you gave bullshit answers. You really think I’m going to open up and share my deepest, most private plans? As if.” Knova flags down the robot server, signaling an end to the conversation. “We’ll take eight cannolis,” she says. “And another round of drinks.”

“Eight?” Viktor swats at her. “What the hell, Knova?”

My sister shrugs. “They’re good, and you’re paying. Are you going to be a cheapskate, Vik? Because I will haul your crap back down to the sidewalk and ditch it there. And on top, I’ll throw that strap-on dildo you ask your puck bunnies to peg you with because those prostate orgasms are so explosive.”

“She really will,” Sofia warns him.

“I know.” Viktor sighs and rubs his forehead. “Fine, whatever. Order the whole dessert menu. See if I care.”

Sofia catches my eye, and we smile at each other. “Want to get our dessert to go?” she whispers. “We could go back to your place. Watch some bad movies. Forget all about the season.”

“I’d like that,” I whisper back.

Beneath the table, her hand slips into mine, and I wonder if I’m about to get my answer.