Chapter 44

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

Riggs

My phone rings right as I'm about to leave the locker room and join Knox on the ice.

We're going to fine-tune some skills—tipping specific shots in front of the net, feeding passes through traffic, practicing some dekes we've been working on.

Just…getting those ten thousand hours in.

Something my dad knows I'm doing.

Which is why my nape prickles when I see his ringtone come through.

I put my phone Do Not Disturb while I got ready for practice.

Which means that only repeated calls will get through.

Frowning, I reach for my cell, but Knox comes out of nowhere and stops me, snagging my phone and scowling at the screen. "There are ten texts on the screen and two missed calls," he says. "Something you need to tell me?"

My stomach twists.

Because this was Grumpy Todd's previous modus operandum—wear me down until I'm forced to give in and listen to him.

Shit.

"I have to answer it," I say when the call ends and then immediately starts up again, adding when Knox doesn't release me, "I have to know either way."

He sighs, but releases me, swiping a finger across the screen and answering the call on speaker.

Fucking Adlers, pushy and nosy and ready to do battle for those they consider family.

"Hello?" my dad snaps, sending my gut twisting further. "Riggs, are you fucking there?"

"Yeah, Dad," I rasp. "I'm here?—"

"Shut up and listen to me." His words are a rapid clip of fury.

Fury that has Knox reaching for my phone, as though to hang up.

But before his finger hits the button, my dad keeps talking.

"There's an asshole here with Ella at the salon and I don't like the look he put on her face when he walked in. You know how she is with me, all strong and tough, but she needs you, son," he says. "I can see that clear as fucking day."

"Dad—"

"I need to get back in there," my dad says. "Get your ass here."

"Dad!"

But he's already hung up.

Knox and I look at each other.

Then we all but tear our skates off.

I grab my keys, and with Knox on my heels, we sprint from the rink.

My tires squeal as I pull into the salon's parking lot, turn off my car, and jump out, not giving a fuck that I'm running across the cold pavement with no shoes on, nor that it's soaking into my socks, my feet.

I take the stairs two at a time and burst into the salon?—

"So, you're here because I upset your wife," I hear before the door slams into the exterior wall behind me.

Ella jerks, whips around, her gaze coming to mine as some other man rotates to face me, his scowl deep and his expression disapproving.

"Riggs?" she asks, like she can't believe I'm standing here.

Or maybe because I'm standing in the salon fully geared up minus the helmet, skates, and gloves.

Knox bumps into me from behind, and I realize I'm just standing in the open door, so I move forward, crossing the room, positioning myself between my woman and whoever the fuck the man is.

Though…I have a sneaking suspicion exactly who the asshole putting that look on Ella's face is.

"Who's this?" the man sneers.

"No one you need to know, Dad," Ella replies coolly.

I clench my hands into fists because…suspicion confirmed.

"—and everything in the world to me."

"Excuse me?"

She lifts her chin toward the door, completely composed. Together. Or is she…numb?

Fuck .

I can't have her numb.

I need her alive and bright and beautiful, that gorgeous soul of hers shining out, her heart—battered and bruised and somehow still kind enough to love those around her to distraction—safe to continue caring.

Because if she allows the numb to take over…

"You should go, Dad," she says, still speaking in that completely neutral tone. It's devoid of everything that makes Ella, Ella and I fucking hate it. "Tahoe's big enough that you should be able to visit without bumping into Knox and me, and if we happen to cross paths, then I'll make sure to be…polite to Anne."

I frown.

"Daniela—" he begins.

"Ella," I correct, once again drawing her dad's focus.

He narrows his eyes. "Excuse me?"

"You're not excused," I say. "You have a lot of nerve showing up here with that fucking attitude. This is your daughter . The little girl who needed you when her mom died?—"

"She was a teenager?—"

"And she was still your little girl," I snap. "You should have protected her. Should have been there for her when her whole world fell apart." Ella rocks next to me, and I draw her back against my body, feeling that she's trembling against me. Thank fuck. Thank fuck she's not as composed as she appears to be. Thank fuck she's not lost in herself, shutting everyone out. Thank fuck she's not shutting me out. I glare at the prick. "And you sure as shit shouldn't have gone off and built a new life without her and Knox. I've experienced some shit parenting in my day"—my dad jerks but doesn't comment or otherwise react—"but at least I always knew that I was loved."

Ella's hand finds mine and she squeezes tightly. "Riggs," she murmurs.

I look down into those beautiful blue eyes of hers.

"I've got this."

I settle my forehead against hers for a heartbeat. "I know you do." But when I start to lift, she slides her hands in my hair and holds me in place. "I love you."

Every cell in my body shifts and realigns, becomes different. More.

Because I know exactly how big this is.

It's the most precious gift of all.

" Chérie ," I rasp.

"You're here," she says. "I see you. And I love you." Then as those words are wrapping around my soul, she turns to her dad. "It's time for you to go."

"Daniela—" he begins.

"Ella," my dad and I correct together.

The fucker just opens his mouth and I can tell by the coldness in his eyes that what he's going to say next will be unforgivable and will probably end up with me getting assault charges.

Before he gets that far, Knox steps in. "Let's go talk outside, Dad?—"

"No."

But it's not from their dad.

The word is from Ella.

She steps in front of me, takes Knox's hand. "He's not our dad." Then to the man who fathered her. "What you did was inexcusable. But what you continue to do means that I won't ever have a relationship with you. Not today. Not in a year. Not fucking ever. "

For a long moment, no one moves.

But then my dad, who I thought was a lost cause, who I thought couldn't change, but who has, I realize. Who's nothing like the asshole who's spent years hurting Ella and Knox.

Instead, he's become someone I want in my life again.

And he steps up again, moving to Ella's dad.

"It's time for you to leave."

And maybe it's old, grumpy man camaraderie or maybe we've all just said it enough times that it finally sinks through the asshole's thick, dumb skull.

Ella's dad turns on his heel and stomps out of the salon.

The door slams behind him hard enough to rattle the glass.

Knox follows him, and so does my dad, nodding to me before he steps out as though to say, You watch that one. I'll watch this one.

He's different. Better. Changed.

The door closes softly behind my dad.

Ella steps away from me, pushing her hair out of her face and exhaling.

" Chérie ."

But she only spares me a quick look before heading for her station. "I'll just grab my stuff and get you back to the rink. I know you and Knox were looking forward to the extra time?—"

"Ella."

She glances at her watch, winces. "Or not," she says. "I think by the time you get back, the slot will be over and?—"

" Ella."

She stops, brows drawn together. "What?"

"Are you okay?"

Her frown deepens. "Um, yes?"

"Baby," I say, taking a step toward her then stopping, completely thrown. "Last time you saw your dad, you were inconsolable for days, and that was just from a short conversation. This was…" I trail off, waving my hand, unable to know what the fuck to say.

A shit show? Yup.

Fucked up? Also that.

"I…" She exhales. "He doesn't hurt me anymore."

"Doesn't hurt?" I ask. "Or you've shoved it all down so deeply that you no longer feel anything?"

Her eyes soften, and she crosses over to me, placing her palm on my chest and mine over her heart. "I feel you," she murmurs. "I feel you here . Just like I felt you and Knox storming in here, and your dad coming back in?—"

"He called me."

Her smile is gentle, so fucking sweet that my heart squeezes. "I figured."

"And you're…really okay?"

Her palm flattens and she steps closer. "I feel what's in here and…" She sighs. "Honey, I don't think I ever grieved the loss of what Knox and I had. Not until you held me on that beach, not until you spoke of your own hurts, not until your dad realized he'd gone so wrong and tried to change." She shakes her head, laughs humorlessly. "He actually wanted me to apologize to her for being rude to his wife. Like what? And then he tells me that he wants me to be okay with being left behind because he was hurting? What the fuck?" Her exhale is clipped. "Knox didn't leave me. Nova didn't either. And…you're so deeply sewn into my soul that I know you'll always be part of me."

" Chérie ."

"So…I'm done." She presses her lips together then releases them. "Because he's gone—the dad I had and…that's okay. It's a pain that maybe won't ever go away, but it has nothing to do with the man who was just in here. That's not my dad, and he won't ever be."

"Christ, baby," I rasp, eyes burning. "I don't want you to have to bury your pain or pretend?—"

She cups my jaw. "Don't you see? Don't you understand the gift you've given me? I don't have to bury it or pretend to be okay because you're here . Because you'll hold me and wipe away my tears. Because you love me. Me. "

Fuck. Fuck. I'm going to cry.

I hug her tightly, burying my face in her throat. "I'm here."

"I know."

Love and relief tangle in me as I blink back my tears, as I hold the woman I love close and know that neither of us are perfect, that we're still healing, but that she believes in me, in us, and so…

We'll be okay.

Eventually, she runs her hand through my beard and whispers, "You're sporting hockey funk."

Surprising me.

Always.

I can't wait for a lifetime more of them.

Grinning, I lift my head and tug a lock of her hair. "I'll remember to change and shower next time before I ride to the rescue."

"Good." She slips from my arms and I get to take in the beauty as her special brand of mischief takes over, as my Ella shines through, as she…

Surprises me once again.

Because she walks to her station, pulls open a drawer, and unearths her…

Clippers.

"Should I touch up that haircut of yours, Patches?"