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

I keep my breathing steady as I gently glide backward, trying to concentrate on the music and not remember that I am, in fact, on the ice again—not because I’m in my head or because it’s a birthday or anniversary but because I stupidly agreed to take part in this tribute for my Momma.

Getting that phone call, I didn’t know how to feel. My first instinct was to decline but Greg had begged me and my mouth ran before I could tell it to shut up, agreeing to do it.

I swerve to the left, bringing my left arm out and around behind me to help me spin. I bring my left leg up and grab hold of my skate from behind, bending backward a little before lifting my right arm above my head, ensuring to keep the spin poised and memories take over.

“Paige, keep your head held high, your face soft as you look around the crowd. Show them your emotions and how you are feeling, sweet girl,” Momma shouts over the ballad playing in the background, and I listen.

I look up from my feet towards the empty stands and skate forward, bringing my arms out beside me.

“That’s it, now pick up speed, then crouch down for me, Paige, and bring your left foot forward like we practiced, sweet girl.”

I blink as I crouch down, bring my left foot forward, and lean a little so I can go around the rink without crashing into the wall. Then, I stand straight and lean forward, putting my left leg out straight behind me.

The routine Momma taught me before she died washes over me as I complete it step by step, and I can feel the tears soaking my cheeks.

“Okay, sweet girl, let’s go into the Mohawk, change direction for me,” Momma shouts again over the faster track. I listen, changing my steps, and then spin on the spot as fast as I can, bringing my left arm up.

“Yes, Paige!” Momma cheers as I begin to slow, bringing my left arm down to my chest. I look down, hoping I don’t puke, my chest heaving.

“So amazing, my sweet girl!” Momma praises me, and I look up and grin as I lock my eyes with hers.

I breathe hard as I come to a halt, spraying ice everywhere before I bend a little, holding my stomach as sobs wreck my body, the memories taking over me, memories I want to forget.

“You’ll get first place with that routine baby.”

Momma’s words echo in my head, and my stomach hurts. I never did the competition because she died two days later, two stupid days later and my whole world as I knew it changed.

Don’t get me wrong my aunt and uncle tried their hardest but living without my parents, my brother, I felt lost, lonely even.

I allow myself two minutes—that’s it—to cry before I try to control my emotions and stand straight. I take deep breaths, wipe my cheeks, and close my eyes, allowing the music to wash over me again.

I shouldn’t have agreed to do this.

How am I supposed to get through this routine without falling apart?

Holding my head high, I bring my left leg out to my side, place my hand on it, and look down before starting the routine again.

Half an hour later, I wipe my cheeks again and shake my head.

I’m not going to be able to do this without falling apart. I’m going to have to cancel, I just know it…I’ve spent the time rehearsing or trying to devise a routine but end up crying every time.

The memories are too much, the pain too consuming. It’ll set me back, I just know it but then that’ll mean I’m letting Momma down and that thought just sucks!

“You need to get the fuck outta here!” I hear snapped before me, and I look up in shock but nearly slip when I lock eyes with Dante, the electricity I felt last week pulls me and pulls me hard scaring the crap out of me.

My heart races, my palms sweat, and the urge to ask him to hold me overtakes me even though I don’t know him and that thought is just plain old creepy.

Oh, crap, I didn’t imagine it….

I swallow hard, and Dante growls, “I mean it, Paige, get the fuck outta here. This time is my time and you’ve just skated on my fresh fucking ice, so fuck off!”

I flinch at his hard tone before slender hands wrap around his waist, red nail polish coming into view. I don’t know why but hurt fills me as my stomach tightens.

Damn…

I swallow hard and nod once as Dante smirks my way, clearly happy that he’s shaken me like an asshole he’s beginning to be, but I ignore his look and turn, skating to the exit where I left my sneakers, trying to ignore the heartache I suddenly feel for a man I don’t even know.

What the hell is wrong with me?

I huff as I bend and swap my skates for my sneakers.

Maybe because my period is due or something?

Shoving the safety covers on my blades, then throwing my skates into my bag, I turn and make eye contact with Dante, who hasn’t moved, while the woman now licks along his neck tattoo, making me swallow hard.

“You don’t need to be such a prick. I don’t care what your schedule is. I have a show to train for, so start learning to share, something your parents obviously never taught you to do,” I snap before turning and walking out to the woman’s cackling.

Momma was wrong, the one doesn’t exist out of story books, she just got lucky with Daddy and maybe what I’m feeling is just gas.

I groan as I climb the last stair to the sixth floor of my apartment building, a building that technically should have been condemned ten minutes later, just missing the bag of needles at the top of the stairs.

Shaking my head, I search my bag for my keys, but as soon as I find them, a voice asks, “Does Rocco know you live here, Paige? ‘ and my head shoots up in shock as I lock eyes with Roman.

Ah, crap….

I groan again and mutter, “Great first, Dante, and now you.”

Roman raises a brow and asks, “You saw my brother and look at that, you know his name?”

I snort, “More like your brother snapped at me and told me to ‘fuck off’ off his ice and not skate when it’s his time before some woman basically climbed him like a Christmas tree and everyone knows his name, he’s the biggest ‘player’ on the team.” Roman winces, and I shrug and ask, “What can I do for you this time, Roman?”

He smirks and holds out a check, and I groan again. He chuckles, “Did you really think I wouldn’t know you didn’t cash your father’s check?”

I scrunch my nose before admitting, “I didn’t want to lose the only thing left with his handwriting, it’s in my box of memories at Uncle Rocco’s.”

His eyes soften, and he nods, then admits, “This one is written by me. I had the money transferred yesterday when the accountant explained you didn’t cash the check. I had a little feeling why you didn’t.”

My eyes tear up, and he smiles gently when I take the check but soon snorts when I mutter, “I don’t know how I feel having this amount of money. Maybe I can start a charity?” I look at Roman and ask, “Can I do that? Can I start a charity, maybe for orphans or…?”

He cuts me off, “Or to help underprivileged children to skate, which, yes, you can. It’s your money, Paige, you can do what you want, but all I ask is to get a better apartment and a car first please otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to tell Rocco, and if I don’t, my brother will just piss you off.”

I scrunch my nose up and ask, “What is his problem? Today, he acted like I was his worst enemy, and he doesn’t even know me, heck I hadn’t even said one word to him until today.”

Roman sighs, “He’s just having a bad week.”

I raise a brow, not believing him, but nod and look down at the check.

I shouldn’t have this money.

“Get out of your head, Paige,” Roman demands softly, and I look at him confused. He shrugs, “You believe you shouldn’t have the money, but your dad saved his ass off so you can live without concern, so get out of your head and honor him by making sure you have somewhere safe to live and a means to get around.”

I swallow but nod and then ask, “What else do you need? ‘

He smirks, not shocked that I clocked him instantly. I may have been off my head most of the time, but Uncle Rocco taught me well.

“You’re not some meek girl, are you?” he confirms, and I snort.

“You’ve met my uncle, right?” I reply, and he grins, then sighs and admits, “I didn’t want to get involved, but I thought you had a right to know, Andrew is cheating on you and got someone knocked up, someone who tried claiming the baby as Dante’s, wanting the lavish lifestyle.”

I chuckle, making him frown with confusion, but he soon smiles when I admit, “I know. I didn’t have feelings for him or anything, I was just trying to see what dating was like. I heard him screwing Marie last week, then again two days later. I’m not hurt by it, Roman and honestly not shocked he knocked someone else up.”

He nods, then asks, “But the question is, were you hurt by Dante having a woman all over him today?” My eyes widen, and he nods like that is all the answer he needed, but I stutter, “I-I, that uh is insane, I don’t even know him.”

He smirks, then mumbles, “Good to know,” ignoring my ramblings before he walks past me, but I don’t move, shock filling me.

How did he know that it hurt me to see that? I can’t even explain it. I don’t know Dante, only of his reputation, and I’m telling you now, it’s not a very good one where women are concerned.

He makes high school me look like an innocent virgin and an innocent virgin I am not.

“Get inside, Paige,” Roman says loudly, and I jump, nearly dropping my keys before doing exactly as he asks, then bolting the door behind me.

I hear several moans from Tanner’s bedroom and wince before rushing towards my room. I unlock the door and head inside, bolting the door behind me and locking it. Then, throwing my keys on my mini fridge, I swallow hard as I look down at the check that I know I’ll have to cash tomorrow before my roommates find out about it.

I don’t want to spend the money and I don’t want anyone to know I have it but I can cash it and just leave it, at least then Roman will be off my back.

My heart skips a beat, and my stomach tightens, nausea hitting me.noveldrama

I don’t deserve it.

Shaking my head, I jump on my bed and lie backward. I’m kind of happy I’m off today and don’t have to see Andrew, who keeps calling me.

A memory of Dante’s dark blue eyes hit me, and I squeeze mine tight.

I don’t want him, and I’m not hurt over a stranger, I’m just not.