Page 41 of Skating Towards Danger

She was always going to be mine.

“Seriously, you’re with her – her?” the woman snaps, and I tense, but Paige acts like she’s not even there as she runs her fingers through my hair and whispers, “We’re not just frenemies with benefits anymore, are we?”

I squeeze her to me, smile at her, and admit, “Little fairy, we were never frenemies with benefits. I just didn’t want to admit it.”

Paige presses her lips to mine, and I smile before kissing her back until a screech echoes, breaking us apart. Paige rolls her beautiful gray eyes, and I chuckle, letting her down before I open the passenger door and mutter, “You are staying with me tonight.”

She shakes her head, but a small smile plays on her lips, and she climbs into my car before I shut the door, salute at the waitress, and round the hood, climbing in myself.

I start my car, put it in drive, put my hand between Paige’s delicious thighs, and turn left out of the parking lot.

“Tell me about your day, baby. Was it a good one?” I ask as I indicate and change lanes.

Paige hums a little, but before she can speak, my phone rings, and I frown when I see Mama on the screen.

“Hold that thought, little fairy,” I say and answer my phone. Mama?” I ask, and her voice echoes in the car as she states, “Morgan’s given birth to a beautiful baby boy, she’s at St John's!”

I grin and reply, “I’ll head right there,” then hang up and switch lanes again and mumble, “Guess Rhett was wrong about him swearing she’s having a girl.”

“Dante, if you uh drop me off at the nearest subway, you can call me later.” Paige says, and I snort, picking up speed. “Dante?” she questions with a hint of panic when I drive past one of the stations, but I don’t answer instead I squeeze her thigh giving her some reassurance.

I know she’s struggling to be around people who knew her parents, and I understand it, especially after she opened up but selfishly, I don’t want her out of my sight, especially since the Cartel has remained silent.

Twenty minutes later I pull up outside the hospital and park.

“I’ll wait here then, I guess,” Paige says with a little bit of a tremor, but I just grin and climb out, rounding the hood before opening her door.

I hold my hand out, and she looks at it, then at me, then back at my hand before sighing and taking it, allowing me to help her out of my car knowing I won’t leave her out here. I shut the door, wrap my arm around her waist, and whisper, “If you think I wouldn’t bring you with me, then you need your head examining, woman.”

She snorts and lays her head against my chest and allows me to guide her into the hospital.

I feel her tense, but I don’t stop, even as she whispers, “This is where I woke up, where Royal was born,” instead, I kiss her head and guide her through the doors and towards the elevator, helping her fight her past a little bit at a time.

It doesn’t take long before we’re in the maternity ward, and I swear, if Paige gets any tenser, she’ll become a statue.

“Dante,” I hear Dad call with happiness, and I look up to see him walking our way. Paige turns more into me, and I tighten my hold on her and his smile falters.

She’s doing good, I honestly thought she would have run by now.

“Paige,” Dad says with a little bit of shock and a hint of happiness when he notices her trying to bury into my side.

He looks at me, and I give him a smile. His grin that he had before seeing Paige returns and, if anything, looks wider before he clears his throat and says, “Uh, Paige, I uh.” Paige looks at him, hearing him stutter, and I tilt my head but soon soften ashe mumbles, “I know I bring back a lot of memories, especially here, but can I, uh, can I just get a hug from my best friend's little girl?”

I look at my girl and see her eyes tearing and when I think she’s about to decline and bolt, she nods once and moves out of my hold and into my father's embrace. Dad squeezes her tight as he kisses her head, then whispers, “I know this is hard, and I know you’re struggling, but I’m so proud of you, Paige, for being here, allowing yourself to lean on Dante, and I’m proud of the woman you’ve become, and I know deep down in my gut, your parents and little brother will be smiling down at you.”

I hear Paige sniffle before she asks, “Even with my past mistakes?” and I stiffen.

Her mistakes are just that, mistakes. She was broken, and she fought hard and instead of being humiliated by them she needs to see how far she’s come, besides Roman and I were both players in high school and college. We probably make her look innocent.

“Paige, sweetheart, you did what you had to in order to survive. I promise you, your dad was my best friend, we were like brothers so when I tell you he would be proud of you, I’m telling you he would be proud of you,” Dad rasps. Paige nods before stepping out of his hold and into me, instantly, I wrap my arm around her waist.

Dad looks at me, and I give him a nod in thanks. He smiles sadly before asking, “Ready to meet the newest Marino?”

I chuckle but nod, and Dad turns, heading to Morgan's room. I guide Paige with me, who again tenses, but I don’t stop. I promised her I’d help her, and I meant it.

She needs to see she can be around babies and young children and that they won’t die.

“Well, it’s about time you got here and met your newest nephew, Dante,” Morgan says as we enter her room before shenotices Paige. Her smile widens as she sees my arm wrapped around her.

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