Page 106 of Ice Cold Christmas

Sebastian nodded. “She was gone…” His gaze shifted to the Christmas tree. The lights flickered on and off. On and off. “Gone too long. I…thought she’d forgotten me.”

For a time, she’d forgotten them all.

Sebastian’s gaze returned to Victor. A big smile lit his features. It was a smile that Victor had not seen in months. “She loves me.”

Victor grabbed the bed’s railing. Pulled up with his left arm. He felt a burn in his back. Along the right side. About two inches away from his spine.

Thank Christ that bullet didn’t get closer to my spine. Thank?—

“I don’t think she should love me.” Low. Sad. “But she does.” Sebastian heaved a sigh. “I…miss her mother.”

Was the older man going to confess to her murder again? Because a nurse had just bustled in and that could be tricky to explain right then?—

“I wish I could go back in time. Show Helena that I loved her. Show her how much she meant to me.” Sebastian swallowed. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Show my daughter, will you? Every single day. Show her.”

Hatterson edged forward. “He’s having a good day,” he told Victor.

Yes, yes, Sebastian clearly was.

Hatterson curled his hand around Sebastian’s shoulder. “Victor took two bullets for Melody,” he informed the other man. “I think he’s doing a good job of showing her how he feels.”

“Technically three bullets,” Victor said, cocking his head to the side. “If you count the graze at the estate.” A graze that he now saw had been carefully bandaged by someone at the hospital. Maybe by the nurse who was bustling closer? “Ah, can you give us just a minute?” he asked the nurse.

She frowned but nodded. Quickly, she backed out. The door closed behind her.

Sebastian’s grip tightened on his cane. “I know about your father.”

Victor felt shock roll through him.

“You think…you think I never checked you out? Before I gave you my whole company?”

Behind him, Hatterson inclined his head. “I did my research on you.”

“Why the hell didn’t you say something?” Victor demanded.

Sebastian shrugged. “Why didn’t you?”

Because at first, I wanted to destroy you.

Sebastian nodded. “I always planned to give everything to you. Just didn’t realize you’d be taking my daughter, too.”

“I love Melody,” Victor stated. He wanted to be very clear on this point. “I’m going to marry her.”

Something that looked very much like peace swept over Sebastian’s features. “Then I can rest. I’ve been…tired.”

He could see the other man fading. “I know.” Softer.

“I’m sorry,” Sebastian told him. He stared hard at Victor. “I’m so sorry about…” But his words trailed off. He blinked. Looked around the room. His breath rasped out a little harder. “I’m sorry about…” His eyes scrunched. He glanced at Victor. “I?—”

“I know,” Victor said. He did. “Everything is okay.” It would be.

Sebastian exhaled. Silence ticked past. Then, “Melody is back.”

Victor swallowed again. Smiled. “Yes.” An exhale. “I’m gonna get my ass out of this bed and marry her.”

Sebastian’s eyes gleamed. “Good. Good. Always thought…she was sweet on you.” He shuffled for the door. The cane banged against the floor.

It opened before he could reach it. Not the hospital nurse this time, but, instead, Sebastian’s personal nurse, Tracy Ryder. She reached out for him. “I’ve got some coffee ready for you outside.”