Page 92 of Ice Cold Christmas

There was nothing to fix. “I’ll handle Dario.”

“Victor…”

“Stay with your kids, Amaya.” She had five-year-old twin boys who needed her. He could handle Dario. “I’ve got this.”

“But—but what about what he was saying regarding Sebastian? He claimed Sebastian murdered Melody’s mother. Dario swore he’d go to the cops. Victor, we can’t cover up a murder.”

No, they couldn’t. “I’ll handle everything.” He ended the call. With a hard, jerking motion, Victor shoved the phone back into his pocket.

Melody edged closer to him. Her hand lifted and touched his arm. “What’s happening?”

Just the past, trying to drag him under. “We’ll go upstairs and talk about things.” He looked over her shoulder. “Jenner, stay down here, would you?” He wanted eyes on the ground floor, just in case. Sure, there was a Mage guard at the parking garage’s gate, but he needed extra security.

Jenner had never let him down.

Jenner nodded. “Yes, sir,”

“Calista and Luis, come up with us.” They could stay close by while Victor and Melody talked. Then when he had his face-off with Dario.

Dario. The guy had been a pain in his ass for years.

The group headed for the elevator bank. A press of the button had the elevator on the left opening. Victor and Melody went in first, followed by the two guards. Instrumental Christmas music played through the speaker as the elevator rose. Heading straight to the top floor. And damn if that Christmas music wasn’t an instrumental version of “Last Christmas” playing.

Hell.

Last Christmas had been a fucking nightmare that he never intended to repeat.

He reached out, took Melody’s hand, and curled his fingers around hers. He’d had plans for this Christmas. Presents, magic, new memories that he’d wanted to give her. He wanted to take away all of her pain and make every wish she had come true.

Instead…

His head turned toward her. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

He could feel the guards watching them. “For being a bastard.”

The elevator chimed. The doors opened.

Calista went out first, checking the scene. Victor followed, still keeping his hold on Melody. He was afraid to let go. Luis followed up as the caboose of their group. The top level—the executive level—of Mage Industries should have been dead silent. It wasn’t. He could hear Dario’s shouts coming from down the hallway.

But before he went to face-off with Dario, he needed to talk with Melody. Alone. He glanced over at Calista. “You’ll stay out here in the lobby area?”

She nodded.

“Thanks. Luis, will you make sure the guards don’t need help with Dario?” And by help, he meant make sure those guys have him under control.

“On it.” Luis spun on his heel. The bulge of his weapon could barely be seen beneath his jacket. Victor had a gun tucked beneath his own coat, too.

Victor guided Melody to his office. He caught her glancing around, taking in all the decorations as they traveled down the thick carpet in the hallway. As always, Mage Industries was decorated to the hilt for the holiday season. Trees everywhere. Glowing lights. Wreaths. Red and gold banners. The company hadn’t held the big annual Christmas party this year, though.

Without Melody, he just couldn’t.

The door to his office hung open, and Victor frowned. With his left hand, he pushed the door all the way in, and…hell. Files were scattered. Paperwork littered the floor.

The guards downstairs had said that Dario broke in. They’d neglected to say that he’d trashed Victor’s office.

“Sorry, sir.” Another guard stood behind the big, mahogany desk, trying to pick up some of the chaos. “Dario got in here and wrecked the place. Tried to claim he was searching for some file, but he was just throwing paperwork everywhere.”