Page 20 of Skating Towards Danger

He smiles gently, and instead of answering my question, he asks, “Are you sure you’re alright with my daughter having your old toys?”

Ah crap, I should have known he wouldn’t let it go because, let’s face it, Uncle Rocco would have explained exactly what those toys meant to me.

I swallow hard and look behind me when I hear a door open. I pray it isn’t Andrew, and I sigh, seeing it’s Matt taking out the trash. I look back at Roman and admit, “I am. She looks like she loved them, and they deserve to be played with.”

He nods his eyes assessing me then states, “I’ll see they stay in good condition and return them once she’s finished.”

I smile gently and reply, “Uncle Rocco said you may be having another girl. She may like ice as well, so keep them.”

He sighs and looks at his brother before looking back at me and replying, “They were your childhood toys. Surely you’d want to keep them?”

I flinch but shuffle on my feet to hide it, then clear my throat and state, “They’re just toys. I promise it’s fine. She can keep them. Anyhow, somehow, I doubt you came all this way to discuss toys that I am way too old to even play with, being twenty-two and all that.”

He smiles and nods, admitting, “You're right, I didn't,” then he pulls a check from his pocket and hands it to me.

I eye it with confusion and gingerly take it from him before looking at it, and my eyes widen.

$768,987,001

What the… ?

I look at Roman in shock, my mouth is parted, my eyes are wide, and his look softens.

He admits, “That was what your father left you in a trust. Rocco believed you might decline it if he offered it, so I volunteered to deliver it instead.”

Wait, my father…

What?

I look down again in confusion because come on, my dad worked within construction and no way he’d have this amount of money for me but low and behold, in the corner is my father’s signature with his name below it and my eyes tear up seeing his handwriting for the first time in years.

I don’t understand how he’d have this amount of money. We lived in a modest three-bedroom townhouse with no drive and a small garden. If Dad had this kind of money, he would have given Momma the countryside cottage she always wanted, and yet, it’s his handwriting.

It doesn’t make sense…

Clearing my throat before swallowing hard to try and control the urge to sob like a baby, I look back at Roman and hold the check out to him. He furrows his brows in confusion but takes it from me slowly.

I give him a slight smile and mutter, “Thank you for coming out here to show me that, but Uncle Rocco is right, I don’t want it. My father worked in construction, and there is no way he could have saved that amount of money or for it to even accumulate to that amount over fifteen years,” I sniff hard to stop my tears from falling and take a step back. I admit, “I don’t want the money, it won’t bring my family back.”

Roman’s mouth parts in shock as he looks me over to where I work and then back at me, but I don’t back down.

I may not have two cents to rub together because of the life choices I have made over the years since losing my family, but I’m trying, I really am, and that kind of money I don’t deserve.

“Paige,” he tries but shuts his mouth when Andrew shouts, “Alright baby, let’s go,” and I look his way and raise a brow. He’s next to his car, doing his belt up while Marie walks towards thesubway, sashaying her hips, and of course, he watches before he clears his throat and looks my way.

What an idiot.

He freezes, seeing he has my whole attention meaning I noticed him checking Marie out and doing his jeans up, but his entire body stills noticing the two intimidating men next to me, and instead of walking over to make sure I’m alright, he stays exactly where he is like a pussy.

I roll my eyes. Seriously, why in the hell did I think it was alright to try with him, of all people? The guy is a sleaze.

Maybe I’m still not out of those bad decision-making days, huh?

“Roman,” I hear Matt shout and I turn to see him holding the door open, so I turn back to Roman and give him a slight smile and walk towards where the jackass is so I can finally end things once and for all, but before I can take two steps, a warm hand grabs mine sending a shockwave throughout me. I quickly turn and lock eyes with the darkest blue ones I’ve ever seen, and I suck in a breath and suddenly it’s like he’s all I can see.

My whole attention is on these dark blue eyes. My body, unable to pull away from the feeling I’ve never felt. It consumes me while electric volts flow through my bloodstream, and fear instantly hits.

“One day, my sweetest girl, you’ll meet a man who will consume you,” Momma whispers as she gently strokes my hair.

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