Chapter 1
Rocco did not ask another question until Mia had eaten.
Not Bernice.
Not Ralph.
Not Laine.
Nobody.
He carried his daughter into the arena’s private medical room while one of his bodyguards called a pediatrician who occasionally treated players at the facility.
Mia sat on the examination table wearing one of Rocco’s suit jackets over her filthy clothes.
The sleeves hung past her hands.
When a staff member brought crackers, fruit, and soup, Mia stared at the tray instead of touching it.
Rocco crouched in front of her.
“You can eat.”
Mia looked toward the door.
“Grandma said no.”
“Grandma isn't deciding that anymore.”
Only then did Mia reach for a cracker.
She ate too quickly.
The doctor made her slow down.
Mia was dehydrated, exhausted, and hungry, but fortunately stable.
Someone had given her water.
Almost no food.
Rocco stood beside the wall listening while the doctor explained what prolonged food restriction could do to a child.
Every sentence made the room feel smaller.
When Mia finished half the soup, she finally leaned against him.
Rocco asked:
“Why were you cleaning equipment?”
Mia whispered:
“Because I lied.”
“About what?”
She immediately looked frightened.
Rocco stopped.
“Okay.”
He did not ask again.
Outside, Ralph demanded to leave.
The bodyguards refused.
Laine threatened to call an attorney.
Bernice sat silently.
When Rocco returned to the equipment corridor, his father was furious.
“You think you can imprison your own family?”
“The doors are closed until I understand why my daughter hasn't eaten.”
Ralph pointed toward Mia’s cleaning station.
“She was being disciplined.”
“For three days?”
“She refuses food when she’s upset.”
A female arena employee standing near the hallway suddenly looked down.
Rocco noticed.
“What's your name?”
“Caroline, sir.”
“What?”
She swallowed.
“Mia didn't refuse.”
Bernice looked sharply toward her.
Caroline continued anyway.
“Mrs. Caruso told us not to give her meals.”
Rocco slowly turned toward his mother.
Bernice’s face remained composed.
“She was throwing tantrums.”
Caroline shook her head.
“No, ma’am.”
Bernice stared at her.
Caroline’s voice trembled.
“She kept asking for her father.”
The entire corridor went silent.
Rocco looked at Bernice.
“What did she supposedly lie about?”
His mother said nothing.
Ralph answered for her.
“Something she saw in the equipment office.”
Rocco looked toward the locked door at the far end of the corridor.
May you like
Then back at Mia.
The punishment had never been about dirty hockey gear.
