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“She’s better without me.” Every time she looked at him, she’d just see his father. Twisted sonofabitch.
“I think that’s her decision.” Her teeth chattered.
Once more, he peered at the entrance. “Is she still falling?” And getting up. Alina always gets up.
“Falling?”
The surprise in her voice had his stare pinging right back to Ophelia.
She wrinkled her nose even as a snowflake landed on the tip. “Alina doesn’t fall. She glides across that ice like a boss. She’s perfection in motion. Even Dmitri has been grunting his approval.”
His chest seemed to warm. “She’s nailing the quadruple?”
“Who are you?” Ophelia gaped at him. “When did you turn into some ice-skating trivia master? The quadruple?” Another scrunch of her nose. “I’m assuming that means she spins four times, so, no, she’s not nailing that. She’s not even trying to nail that. She spins three times and lands flawlessly.” A shrug. “Guess she’s playing it safe now? No quadruples for her.”
A blue Cadillac Escalade rolled into the lot. Midas tensed because instead of parking, the vehicle changed direction…and came toward him and Ophelia.
The Escalade stopped about five feet away.
“Way to attract attention,” he snapped at her.
“You’re going to blame this on my red coat, aren’t you? Spoiler. You’re the one who stood here talking to me for five minutes. And it’s her lawyer’s ride. Not like he’s a threat to Alina. The man has known her and her family forever. Besides, the danger has passed. I repeat, it is over—according to the cops. You can stop lurking around. Just go in and talk to her. Man up.”
Bradford exited the vehicle. He marched toward Midas. “You!”
Like he needed this shit. “Me.”
Bradford pointed his index finger at Midas even as the lawyer’s coat flapped in the breeze. “You are to stay away from Alina Bellamy, do you hear me? Her father does not want you near his daughter.”
“But what does Alina want?” Ophelia asked in her reasonable tone. “We should all go in and find out.”
“You should be protecting your client, while you still have a job.” Bradford glowered at her. “I need to speak privately with Midas, now.”
Ophelia didn’t rush away. She did send a sidelong glance at Midas. “Take the advice I gave you. Don’t miss an opportunity. If you don’t tell someone how you feel…well, let’s just say that isn’t the kind of regret I’d wish on my worst enemy.” A long inhale. “You gonna be okay out here with him?” Her head bobbed toward Bradford.
“I think I can handle myself,” Midas assured her.
She slowly backed away.
Midas knew it wasn’t her fault that he’d been spotted by Bradford. When he’d seen the detectives arrive, he’d pulled out from his normal hiding position. And, yeah, he’d even been inching toward the rink. Thinking that, maybe, he should go see Alina.
So I wasn’t staying properly hidden. It’s my damn fault Bradford is currently glaring at me.
“The detectives have told Ryker and I that Alina is safe. They believe the danger to her is over.” Bradford’s lips thinned. “But I think I am staring at someone dangerous.”
“I would never hurt Alina.”
“You hurt her by breathing. You hurt her by existing. You hurt her by being the son of the man who took her mother from Alina when she was just a child.” A puff of fog appeared in front of Bradford’s mouth, testimony to the freezing temperature. “I have known Alina since she was a toddler trying on ice skates for the first time. I saw her go from a bubbling, always-smiling girl to a withdrawn woman who rarely makes new friends. Who prefers to spend hours on the ice because she’s afraid to get close to anyone. Afraid of loving and losing someone.” He pulled his scarf closer to his neck. “You are a threat to her.”
“No.”
“To her peace of mind. To her heart. You broke her heart, you understand that, don’t you? When she learned the truth at that penitentiary? When she had to watch you attack your own father? You broke our Alina.”
Midas didn’t have a response. She had seen him at his worst. He’d been so angry. So enraged because…
He took Alina’s mother. Alina. He hurt someone she loved.
And because…
