I shook my head, trying to find my voice through the fear choking my throat. "I don't know what you're talking about. My father is in the hospital?—"
He interrupted again. This time his voice dropped to something almost conversational. Almost kind. "We know." A beat. "That's why we're coming to you."
My breath caught. Stuck somewhere between my lungs and my mouth.
I tried not to show fear. Tried to keep my face neutral. My hands steady.
I failed.
The shorter man behind me smirked—I heard it in his voice when he spoke for the first time. "We'll be back." He leaned closer. So close I felt the words against my ear. "Don't run."
Then they moved as one. Turned. Walked toward the door with unhurried confidence.
The bell rang on their way out. Bright. Cheerful. Mocking.
The door swung shut.
I stood frozen behind the counter, staring at the business card and the folded paper. At proof my father's debts ran deeper than hospital bills. Deeper than I'd ever imagined.
One thing I knew for sure was Gideon would not find out about this. The last thing I needed was for him to have any more leverage over me than he already did.
Chapter 18
Gideon
I stepped onto the ice expecting to see her immediately.
The box seats first—empty except for ownership and their wives.
Then the VIP section—corporate sponsors nursing overpriced drinks.
Then the premium seats behind our bench—fans already screaming, waving signs, wearing our colors.
She wasn't there.
My stomach went tight.
Not fear.
Not yet.
Offense.
Wounded pride wrapped around something sharper I refused to name.
A spark of betrayal I had no right to feel.
She's testing me.
That was all this was. Belle pushing boundaries. Seeing how far she could stretch before I snapped the leash back.
Smart.
Strategic, even.
But deeply, deeply stupid.
I told myself that's all it was as I circled the rink during warm-ups. Stick loose in my hands. Body moving on instinct while my mind catalogued every face in the crowd. Looking for dark hair. Looking for defiance wrapped in reluctant obedience. Looking for mine.
