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I grinned at him. “Only to be the best figure skater the world has ever seen.”
With another laugh, Niko winked at me. “You’ve already got that one down pat.”
Ignoring the unfulfilled ache between my thighs, I sat down in the stands to pull off my skates. My mind spun with all the things I’d just learned.
There was another problem, one I could never have expected, forming cracks in my partnership with Jasper and our dynamic with our shared coach. I’d solidified the connection with my skating partner… Could I smooth over this lingering tension too?
It was so hard to figure out what was really going on behind Jasper’s grouchy front, he wore it so adamantly. But then, I’d never have guessed at the guilt Niko was carrying either.
And obviously neither of them had any idea how farIactually was from being an angel.
Maybe all three of us were putting on a sort of performance, not just on the ice. Showing the world what we thought it should see even though that wasn’t totally accurate.
Something about that last thought sent a bolt of inspiration through me that had nothing to do with my skating life at all. I sprang to my feet, grabbing my bag.
Yes—yes, that just might work.
And then I could solve the biggest threat looming over me and get back to focusing on the guys who really mattered.
TWENTY-TWO
Luciana
My nerves jumped about halfa mile when Rafael strode into the motel room, only settling when I saw it was him. He shut the door behind him with a thump and a rasp of the heavy deadbolt.
After hearing about the pigeon incident and the gang’s unfortunate sighting of me in the woods yesterday, my bodyguard had insisted that we temporarily relocate to a strip motel about a half hour down the highway from Hobb Creek. The rooms seemed to mostly be vacant, the walls scuffed and the carpet musty, but at least the security features appeared to be sturdy enough.
I’d spent the hour since I’d gotten back from practice pacing in front of the dated television set and stewing on the idea that had unfurled during my drive from the arena. I’d whittled away at it until it felt foolproof, but I was still nervous as hell.
If this didn’t work, I had no idea what would. And the grim expression Rafael was wearing sent a fresh jitter through my nerves.
“What?” I asked. “Did something happen?”
He sighed. “It’s pretty bad. Those trumped-up gangsters are barging all around town looking for you.”
I tensed instinctively. “Looking for me how?”
“I saw them openly harassing regular people on the street—pushing them around, demanding to know where ‘she’ is and what they know about ‘her.’ Meaning you, obviously. No one over there has a clue what they’re talking about. I can’t even tell whether the buffoons know exactly who they’re looking for or if they’re trying to scare someone into tattling.”
A shiver ran down my back. “Have they hurt anyone?”
Rafael grimaced. “Not yet, but with tempers running that high… I wouldn’t be surprised if they get there soon.”
Shit. I sat down hard on the stiff mattress. “It’s my fault. If I’d been more careful…”
“They provoked you,” Rafael said evenly, though I was pretty sure he wasn’t happy about my stunt with the cocaine bags either. “I can’t blame you for retaliating.”
I dragged in a breath, my fingers curling into the blanket. When I’d first thought about interfering with the gang, I’d assumed I’d have to vanish if they caught on to anything I’d done against them.
But I couldn’t leave now, not when they were wreaking havoc against the townspeople because of me.
Not when I’d come up with a plan that could truly end this once and for all.
Resolve wound around the guilt that’d clenched my gut. “We can’t let this go on any longer. We have to hit back as hard as we possibly can before they do hurt someone innocent—or manage to track me down.”
Rafael gave me a wary look. “Somehow I have the feeling you’ve already come up with a strategy you’re just waiting to get me on board with.”
I shot him a tight smile. “My plans haven’t been bad so far. Our opponents are just too idiotic to take the hint and realize they’re beat. But I think what we really need are some theatrics.”
