Austin's POV

John showed up at the rink early the next morning, standing near the boards with that smug half-smile that always managed to irritate me.

“Father wants to see you,” he said, tone deliberately casual. “At the golf course. Said it’s important.”

I didn’t answer right away, just nodded, grabbed my duffel, and headed for the showers. Something about the way he said it told me this wasn’t going to be a friendly chat.

The grass was still wet with dew when I met Father at ...