Page 55 of Skating Towards Danger

I look back out the window but tense when I recognize the street. We’re just outside of New York.

“Next question, little fairy,” he demands gently, distracting me, and I clear my throat.

“If I asked for a divorce, would you grant it to me?” I ask quietly, needing to know if his feelings really are real.

He snorts and confirms, “No fucking chance,” and I nod and a feeling like relief hits me.

“Thought so,” I whisper, leaning my head back against the headrest as I place my hand on his and squeeze it tight, not letting go. I think my head is even worse than it was, but the closer we get to his father’s home, the more I need his strength because mine is disappearing.

A few minutes later, Dante pulls up at his father’s house, where his dad, brother, and my uncle all stand waiting for us. A lump forms in my throat.

Uncle Rocco physically relaxes seeing me, and I look down.

“He was trying to honor your father's wishes, little fairy, just like I was trying to honor his until you signed that paper,” Dante whispers.

Huh, I was right.

“Guess my googling paid off,” I mutter, and Dante chuckles, obviously hearing it.

“Just give him a hug for now. If you don’t want to have it out with him, then fine. I’ll back you all the way, but just give him a hug. He’s been a wreck and despite all lies, he has always loved you,” he rasps, and I swallow hard.

“Even before my parents died, he was like another parent,” I admit, and Dante hums before he leans over and presses a kiss to my head, then climbs out. He rounds the hood of the car and opens my door, and I sigh and unclick myself before taking his hand, trying to swallow the lump in my throat.

Uncle Rocco doesn’t wait for me to get to the stairs, instead, he meets me halfway and takes me into his arms. My body reacts naturally, and I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head against his chest and he places his head on top of my mine.

Since that day, he’s been like a dad to me. I get that he was doing what my dad asked of him, but maybe if he’d told me the truth years ago, I may have been able to come to terms sooner. Instead, I had years of guilt suppressed, years of abusing drugs and alcohol.

Five days away, I realized it really wasn’t my fault. I was none the wiser about who my father was or what was asked of him.

It wasn’t my fault that Uncle Rocco lied to me, they all did, and I just don’t know how I can come back from that.

Chapter 23

Dante

I chew my bottom lip as I watch Paige toss and turn in her sleep, and I fist my hands, trying to stop myself from going to her.

After she gave Rocco a hug, she told him she wasn’t ready to speak and wanted time before she asked Roman to take her to my room. Rocco tried to decline her request, but my brother, well, just like how I am with Morgan, his sister-in-law’s wishes come first, and he wrapped his arm around my girl and guided her inside.

I held Rocco back, much to his dismay, and then came to check on her after quietly telling him to give her time to process, only to find her in my old college hockey jersey and asleep.

For five days, I followed her in Colorado. She caught the bus, and as much as I hated it, I allowed her to have her time and watched from afar. But for five days, she hadn’t said a word.She’d sit at her parents' and little brother's grave site, lean her head back, close her eyes, and stay there until the early hours.

I knew she knew I was there otherwise, she wouldn’t have fallen asleep most of the time.

She knew she was safe, and that was how I knew I hadn’t lost her. But when she finally spoke, I knew she was ready to talk—not to her parents but to me, despite what Rocco thought.

“I’ve got to go, keep me updated,” I say to Roman, who looks in the living area automatically and then nods, but Rocco snaps, “What is so fucking important compared to this, Dante? We need to sort this shit out before it escalates and she goes downhill again.”

I tilt my head at him and remind him, “You asked me to watch out for her, so I’m going to watch out for my wife.”

He frowns and looks around the living area before his eyes widen. He quickly rounds the table, but I grab his arm before he can get past me and snap, “As I said, I’m going to go keep her safe.”

He glares at me and growls, “She won’t talk to you, Dante. I know my niece, she’s going to shut down!”

I squeeze his arm in a warning and quietly state, “ She knows when I’m close, so she’ll know she’s safe. When she does speak, and she will, I’ll show myself to her until then, back off Rocco.”

“She won’t ever talk to you, Dante. She thinks you used her!” he sneers, but I shrug and walk away, muttering, “Want a bet?”

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