Skating Towards Danger: A Mafia Hockey Romance – Dante’s Book (Mafia Hockey Series 2)

“Alright, we’re a point down and have one period left. Adams, get your fucking head out of your ass. I get it, Roman beat you and it’s dented your ego, but that is because he’s Roman fucking Marino, and you’re one play away from getting benched and Frankie taking over,” I growl in our huddle, and he nods, his light blue eyes serious, and I look around the boys, “We won’t lose this game, we’re going to get our heads together, go out there and fucking destroy them.” They all nod, and I shout, “Who are we?”

“Jaguars!” they shout in unison, and we slap each other’s helmets and split up as five jump onto the ice.

I give Coach a nod and he nods back as he eyes Adams, and I know Adams’s days are numbered if he doesn’t change his tactics on the ice.

Growling, I jump over the boards as Rhett gets into his goal and Timmons and I get into our position while Adams faces off with the Badges center, the ref between them.noveldrama

We’re down 2 to 1, and we only scored because Timmons took the puck off his own fucking center when he tried hogging it despite having two men after him, and before he could attack Timmons, I had to get in his face and drag him over to Coach.

Twice their team managed to get the puck from him, all because his ego got the best of him after Roman kicked his ass.

If that fucker doesn’t do this play right, then Frankie will be taking his place.

I’m not losing this game, and not because my family is in the box—they aren’t. I banned them from tonight’s game. Roman accepted instantly because Morgan had just given birth, whereas my parents, more my mother because Dad understood, threw a little bit of a tantrum.

I look to my left and lock eyes with my girl sitting in the stands. She’s wearing my name and number, and her hair is down as I requested, and I take deep breaths hoping my cock doesn’t make its appearance behind my cup because that shit will hurt.

She chews her bottom lip, and nerves radiate from her. I can feel them from here, and my heart flips, knowing that she’s nervous for me.

She’s so fucking perfect, and I was an idiot to make us fuck buddies.

I give her a smile to reassure her which causes her to smile shyly, then switch back to the ref – This next goal will be for…

The puck drops, and I react instantly as Adams gets it first. I quickly skate towards their defender and smash into him before he can get towards my center. I chuckle when he stumbles clearly not expecting me and quickly skate and get into position just in time for Adams to pass me the puck, and within seconds of it hitting my stick, I smack it into the net.

Their goalie just misses it, and the light above the net flashes. I nod with a smirk before pointing my stick at Paige, who is cheering with everyone else, making me grin before I move and get back into position, ready to finish this game.

One down, one to fucking go.

I lean against the wall and cross my arms over my chest as I watch Paige gently run her finger along the old toys she gave Emma six weeks ago.

Fuck, six weeks since she’s been in my life. At least I didn’t take as long to give in to my feeling as Roman did. He took fucking weeks, on the other hand, I took three days.

Paige gently chews her bottom lip, her eyes tearing, and my heart fucking hurts for her more than my body hurts from the game.

We won, but only just, no thanks to Adams getting in his head again when their center taunted how much better Roman was, and of course, he took it to heart. Rhett managed to block the puck, and instead of smacking it to Adams, he smacked it to Brents, our defender, who then smacked it to me and with three seconds on the clock, I managed to score, winning us the game, and then Coach spent half an hour screaming at Adams who is now benched for the next game. If he doesn’t get his head out of his ass, Frankie will take his place and honestly, I’m all fucking for it.

“Apparently Emma demanded they had to stay here,” I say lowly so I don’t scare my girl. She hums before sniffing and then stands. She doesn’t face me and eyes the photos, and I know it’s because she’s trying not to cry.

Pushing off the wall, I walk over to her, eyeing my name on her back, which makes me smile before I gently wrap my arms around her waist from behind, pressing my face into the crook of her neck.

“I thought I asked you to keep your hair down?” I mumble against her soft skin, and she snorts and leans against me.

“But then you wouldn’t have your lips on my neck,” she whispers back, and I smile and hum, “True.”

“When did you put these photos up?” Paige asks after I have held her in front of the electric fire for a few minutes, and I look up at the mantelpiece.

Among the photos of my family and my team are three new ones right in the middle, two my dad gave me at the hospital.

One is of Paige’s parents grinning at the camera while a little Paige smiles softly at her baby brother, who is in her arms. The second is one of her in her leotard, as she called it, holding flowers and a trophy with her parents standing behind her, looking proud, and another is of her and me on the ice at the arena I asked the cleaner to take without her knowing.

My forehead is against hers and I’m cupping her face gently as she grips my shirt, our eyes locked.

“A few days ago,” I admit, “it’s time you start to feel pride when you look at these photos, not guilt or pain.”

Paige sniffles, and I squeeze her tighter but melt when she chokes, “I love you, Dante Marino,” and everything in me settles as I reply, “I love you too, little fairy.”

She turns in my embrace, wraps her arms around my neck, and jumps simultaneously as I lift her. She wraps her legs around my waist before she presses her lips against mine.

“I didn’t know you were shirtless,” she mumbles against my lips, and I smile.

“Is that so?” I ask, and she hums and rasps, “Take me to bed, player.”

I grin and mutter, “Whatever my little fairy wants,” before pressing my lips against hers hard, my cock aching in my shorts, wanting his tight heat.

I squeeze my eyes tight at the ringing before quickly leaning over my girl and grabbing my phone before it wakes her up.

“This better be important,” I answer quietly as I carefully climb out of bed and cover Paige’s naked body with the sheets, and I’m not surprised she doesn’t even stir.

I kept her up all night, so she needs her sleep. I messaged her boss that she wouldn’t be in when she passed out after our third round, then cuddled up to her myself, but it feels like I’ve only been asleep for five fucking minutes.

“Sorry, son,” my dad replies, and I freeze halfway to my living area, hearing his tense tone. He rocks my world and states, “I need you to get to mine as soon as possible. The Cartel has been in touch.”

Mother fucker.

“Okay, what did they say?” I demand as I walk into my parents’ house thirty minutes later.

I left a note for Paige that I had to pop over to my parents’ place. I didn’t want to wake her, but I did demand that she stay in my bed and that I called in sick for her – She’s going to have my balls for that one. My girl is stubborn and hardworking, but she needs a break.

Roman looks up when I walk into the room, anger shining off him. His body is tense, and I know it’s not good news.

“They want her hand in marriage to bring them into the alliance they apparently deserve after Peter declined them fifteen years ago,” Dad growls, and I tilt my head.

“The fucker married his son off ten years ago when he thought Paige was dead, and they still dabble in the flesh market, something we and our alliances are against,” I remind them, and Roman stands.

His demon is coming into the room, and whereas he can control his, which he is doing right now, I can’t control mine.

It’s why I didn’t want to start training when I did.

“He wants her to marry his second cousin’s son, Draco,” Roman grunts, and I growl.

Draco Antonio has been married four times, and each wife he killed during the act of sex.

“Not fucking happening!” I snap, and Roman nods and looks at Dad for a moment, who nods. Then he looks back at me, and I know he has something up his sleeve, so I ask, “What plan have you come up with, big brother?”

“You and Paige, you love her, right? She’s your one? I mean, you’re not friends with benefits or anything as I know you most likely tried to do?” he confirms, and I snort, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Roman, you fucking knew before I did she was my everything. Now, what plan have you come up with,” I state, and he nods.

“Son, what is the worst thing someone who wants an alliance can do?” Dad asks.

I raise a brow and say, “Other than killing a Don or one of his close men which Houlis already did with Peter, fucking with a high-level man’s wi…,” my words halt as the realization hits, and Roman winces.

“Look, I promised not to force you into an arranged marriage. It isn’t our way, but you made her yours, you…” I cut Roman off, and without even thinking about it, I demand coldly, “Where’s the license?” he flinches, and when he doesn’t act quick enough, I snap, “The fucking marriage license Roman.”

Dad quickly moves, grabs a piece of paper on the coffee table, and passes it to me. I notice it’s already notarized, something I’m not surprised by despite my and Paige’s signatures missing and I walk over to the table and grab the pen.

“Dante?” Dad questions cautiously, but I ignore him and sign the paper, then look at a shocked Roman and demand, “Contact the Cartel and let them know there was no agreement because they never went to the Don when they demanded an arrangement; they tried to force the consiglieres hand hoping he’d give in meaning he disrespected Dad,” he nods once, “You tell him Peter declined him, and he killed him in retaliation and should feel grateful we didn’t declare war and decided to keep the peace, and then you tell that piece of shit we do not do alliances through marriage, haven’t since before Dad and that Paige is married to your second!”

Roman’s mouth hangs open in shock, and Dad stutters, “S-second?”

I grit my teeth and look down at the paperwork my fate signed and sealed, then back at my brother, then dad, and admit, “This year will be my last year. I’ll speak to Coach next week, in the meantime, I’ll get Paige to sign this,” I hold up the certificate, “and fucking pray she doesn’t find out who we are because she isn’t ready, and she’ll run.”

I turn and walk out of my parents’ house as a lump forms in my throat. Devastation fills me that I’m hanging up my skates, that exactly what I didn’t want to happen is happening, but for Paige, I’ll do anything, fucking anything.

The moment I kissed her, my fate was sealed.

When I get outside, I pull my phone out of my pocket and unlock it. A picture of Paige on the ice in a light purple leotard fills the screen, making my stomach tighten. She looks so much at peace, and I wish she always had that look when on the ice.

Shaking my head, I pull up her name and press it.

“Hey, player,” she answers after the third ring, and I smile a little.

“Are you still at the apartment?” I ask, and she hums, “Yes,” and I sigh in relief that she listened.

“Can you meet me at the rink, little fairy? I uh,” I start and look at the license. I swallow hard and then mutter, “I want a date, something we haven’t done. We started this as an arrangement, and I think you deserve to have a date.”

I can hear the smile in her voice as she replies, “Actually we started this with you messing with my rink times,” and I grin and she finishes, “but I’d love that, player. I’ll see you in thirty.”

My heart softens and I mutter, “Perfect, baby. I love you….” Then I hang up and take deep breaths, trying to suppress the rage I feel, the desire to go after the Cartel for their piss ass request that is a slap in the face to us when they are fully aware we knew Peter never accepted any arrangement.

Houlis is a fucking dead man.

“You can be my second, but you’re not giving up your skates,” Roman says from behind me, “Even though I am so fucking proud of you, Dad and I both, you are willing to put Paige above your passion, that you’re telling her you love her but I’m telling you now, you’re not hanging them up not until you’re ready.”

I sigh, “I can’t do both big brother and my girl, she comes first.”

“Dante,” he says, and I look at him, “we’ll work it out so you can do both. Don’t speak to Coach because as much as you love your soon to be wife once she signs those papers, you’ll resent her and then hate yourself for resenting her. We’ll figure it out.”

My eyes race between his to see he is serious and I nod once before heading to my car.

It doesn’t matter what he says, if it comes down to keeping Paige safe or my career, I choose her every time, and I always will.

Now I just have to get her to sign this paperwork somehow…Fuck.