Page 3 of Skating Towards Danger

“But she only has a problem with underage kids with parents who have money,” Dad states, and I sigh when he admits, “She also had notes and pictures of you and your brother.”

Again, I already knew that after I went snooping after she tried to kiss me, and by the look in Dad's eyes, he knew I knew, and this is now my punishment for not coming forward and telling him about the situation.

And now I have to do the deed.

Awesome, thanks Ro!

Dad walks over to David, who hands him a gun, and I swallow hard.

Mama always encouraged me never to hit a girl, and now my first kill before I have to train is a woman, a nasty one, yes, but still a woman.

Dammit, why couldn't I get a man like Roman. This is so unfair!

Dad walks over to me before holding the gun out, and we lock eyes. He flinches at the coldness I'm giving him but clears his throat to hide it as he states, “You should have told me.”

I raise a brow and snap back, “That wouldn't have changed anything, and you know it.”

He looks down, knowing I'm right, then grabs hold of my right hand, presses the gun into it, and mumbles, “Maybe not. I know you tried to do it the legal way, and if you weren't involved, then fine, I would have had her killed inside, but she had pictures of you, Dante, from the locker rooms.”

I don't react to his words because, again, already knew that. He sighs and then moves out of my way. I lock eyes with Ms. Jeffery, tears stain her cheeks, and I don't know how, but I switch off my emotions and lift my arm.

I should be falling apart right now. I should be trembling, yet my body is still.

“D-Dante, sweetheart, please you-you, you're just a boy…” She cries, but her words cut off when I pull the trigger, the bullet hitting between her eyes.

I guess all the practicing at the rink with the puck and the net paid off, huh?

Sniffing hard, I turn to my father and slam the gun into his stomach. He grabs it instantly, and I turn and head to the exit.

“Dante,” he begins, but I ignore him, throw the door open, and storm off.

No one follows, not even Roman, knowing I don't want to see them. As soon as I get into the man cave, I pick up my speed and run.

“Dante, did you put your feet on my glass table again?” Mama snaps when I enter the living area, but I ignore her, and eye the front door.

“Dante, can you play dollies with me?” I hear Bianca ask but I don’t answer and run out of the front door without looking back.

“Dante!” Mama shouts with panic, but I don't stop. In fact, I pick up speed, and several more people begin to shout, but I ignore them.

Dad wanted to teach me a lesson, and well, he did, but he also ensured we now have no relationship. I'll be there for my brother, but as for my dad, I'm done.

Paige – Eight Years Old

I giggle as Royal tries to suck on my little finger, his tiny hands gripping it hard as his gray eyes look at me with wonder while he grins wide at me.

He's so cute. He's only four months old, but he is already so smart. He can sit up and eat some purees and everything.

He's the best baby brother a girl could ask for.

Momma and Daddy still treat me the same. I mean, the only thing that is different is that he adds to our family. It would have been nice if he was a girl because then I could dress him in pink dresses and teach him to figure skate, but I still love Royal, and I still get to choose what he wears, and yes, he will still be skating.

I'm going to teach him everything I know and be the best big sister.

Royal squeals and I giggle again and gently shake his hand, giving him my whole attention even though my butt hurts a lot; one of the new girls bumped into me today when I was trying to learn my waltz jump, and she tripped and instead of managing to steady herself she tried to grab me but ended up shoving me hard.

I might have cried a little.

“So, what do you want for dinner, pumpkin,” Daddy asks, and I look up and lock eyes with him in the rearview mirror.

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