Chapter 129 Unspoken Secrets

Chapter 129 Unspoken Secrets
The morning sun is bright, but the team facility is cool and quiet. The season is over, and the long hallways are empty. I walk down the rubber corridor holding a padded bag with two long lenses I borrowed from James during the parade.

I open the door to the media room. James is sitting at his desk with a cup of tea.

"Hey, Liam," James smiles. "You didn't have to bring those back so fast."

"I wanted to get them off my desk before I lose something," I say, setting the bag down. "Everything is packed up."

"Thanks, man," James says, unzipping the bag. "How is Leo with his new skates?"

"He thinks he's ready for the main team already," I laugh softly.

"Give him time," James chuckles. "So, have you made a choice about that international contract offer yet?"

I look down at my shoes. "I'm still thinking. Klaus told me yesterday he supports whatever choice I make, but nine months away from home is a long time."

"It's a tough call," James says softly. "Take your time."

"Thanks, James. See you later," I say, stepping back into the hallway.

I turn left toward the administrative offices, intending to drop off a small set of memory drives at the front desk before heading home. As I near the corner where the executive rooms are located, the sound of two raised voices stops me in my tracks.

The door to the secondary conference room is cracked open just a few inches. Standing near the wide glass window inside are two team directors, holding printed budget files in their hands.

"I'm telling you, it's the smart move," one of the directors says, his voice carrying clearly into the empty hall. "The Western team is offering three first-round draft picks and two top defensemen. We will never get a trade package this big for Klaus again."

I freeze, my hands going cold at my sides. My chest tightens instantly as I stand still, listening closely.

"Marcus Vance will never agree to it," the second director replies, shaking his head. "Klaus is the captain. He just brought us a trophy. The fans will tear the building down if we trade him away."

"Vance doesn't have the final say if the board votes to approve it," the first man says sharply. "Arthur Conti is still pulling strings on the financial committee. He’s pushing the secondary owners hard to accept the deal before the deadline. If Arthur gets two more votes, Klaus is gone by next week, whether he likes it or not."

My breath catches in my throat. My heart starts pounding against my ribs, a cold shock rushing straight through my body.

A trade offer. Arthur Conti. Next week.

The words repeat in my mind over and over, sharp and painful. The subtle tension Klaus brought home after dinner, the tired looks he gave me, the strange sadness in his eyes when he told me he would support my international travel—it all makes total sense now.

He knew. He knew the team was trying to sell his contract, and he didn't say a single word to me.

I step away from the wall, turning around and walking fast down the quiet corridor. I don't drop off the memory drives. I don't say goodbye to anyone at the front desk. My chest burns with a mix of fear, confusion, and deep hurt as my shoes slap against the rubber floor.

I head straight down the lower stairwell toward the home locker room.

I push the heavy double doors open. The vast room is dark and quiet, the long row of empty stalls sitting silent under the dim blue lights. Klaus is standing near his private locker stall at the far end of the room, wearing a plain gray shirt, packing up his remaining skate blades into a small travel kit.

He hears the doors swing open and turns his head. When his dark eyes catch mine, his expression softens into a warm smile.

"Liam?" he says softly, stepping away from his stall. "I thought you went home after meeting with James."

I stop ten feet away from him, my hands clenching into tight fists at my sides. I look up into his face, my eyes burning with tears that I refuse to let fall.

"Why didn't you tell me, Klaus?" I ask, my voice shaking with raw, quiet emotion.

Klaus stops walking, his smile fading as a look of deep concern crosses his sharp features. "Tell you what? What happened?"

"The trade," I say, the word coming out rough and painful from my throat. "I just heard two directors talking outside the executive rooms. A rival team made an aggressive trade offer for you, and Arthur Conti is using his board seat to force it through."

Klaus goes completely still. The color drains from his face. "Liam..."

"Don't," I say, stepping back as hurt washes over me. "You sat on our bed yesterday and listened to me talk about my offer. You told me you and Leo would be sitting right here waiting for me. You acted like everything was normal!"

"I was trying to protect you!" Klaus says, stepping closer and reaching for me despite my attempt to pull away.

"Protect me from what?" I cry out, tears falling down my cheeks. "We promised to face everything together! After everything we went through, you still kept this from me?"

"Because you were finally happy, Liam!" Klaus says, his own voice cracking with pain. He grabs my arms gently, pulling me close until I feel his fast heartbeat. "You spent months crying in hospital waiting rooms, terrified of losing your brother. You finally brought Leo home. You finally had peace, and I couldn't bear to tear that away from you!"

I look up into his eyes, seeing his raw pain.

"Arthur Conti wants me gone because he lost control of this team," Klaus whispers, his thumb pressing gently into my arm. "He arranged that offer behind Vance's back. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to give up your dream offer out of fear for my contract."

"I don't care about the dream offer if I lose you!" I sob out, leaning my forehead hard against his chest. "I don't care about shooting photos in eight countries if it means coming back to an empty city! You are my home. You and Leo are everything I have."

Klaus wraps his massive arms tight around my back, pulling me flush against his chest. He buries his face into my neck, holding me tightly as his body trembles.

"I'm not leaving you, Liam," Klaus murmurs into my skin, his voice strong and steady. "I am not letting Arthur Conti take our life away. I will fight the board with everything I have. We stay together."