Page 114 of Villainous Kingpin

“Yes,” Derek shouted, swinging his hand through the air.

I breathed hard, both my hands covering my face, and I bent over. My lungs were killing me.

“That’s how the legends are made,” the crowd screamed over and over again.

Despite it all, I smiled with disbelief and returned Derek’s hug.

“We fucking did it,” he whispered.

CHAPTER42

Basilio

“You were on fire, Wynter.” Brennan’s voice was full of pride.

The entire group stood in the hallway, in front of the women’s changing room. Wynter and her girl squad, Brennan and his supposed dead sister, the Nikolaev men, and their women. It looked like some damn family affair and I wanted to shoot them all and steal the golden princess. Though that might be a step too far.

None of them moved or bothered with the constant commotion of girls going in and out of the changing rooms.

I noted Nico Morrelli and Cassio King left with their families as soon as Wynter and her partner secured the gold.

“That was spectacular,” he continued. “Grandpa watched the show from Ireland, cheering you on.”

Liam hugged her and my fists clenched. It finally made sense why I ran into Wynter in Liam’s home. She was his niece. All along, she had been right under my nose.

Though I’d agree with Brennan on one thing. Wynter on ice was a sight to behold. It was like she was born on it. Her elegance and speed as she skated were incomparable. She and her partner moved like lovers, living and breathing each other on that godforsaken frozen body of water.

Even Dante gaped with amazement at her jumps and her strength.

And me… It made me jealous of every frozen surface on this fucking planet. When she skated her eyes gleamed and her face glowed like candlelight in the dark of the night. Like she had just been thoroughly fucked. And I was fucking jealous. I wanted to melt every goddamn piece of ice on this earth so she’d only look at me that way.

And her partner. If he came anywhere near her again, he’d be a dead man. She’d only look at me like that going forward. Motherfucker!

“Thanks, Uncle.”

Wynter took a step back, rolling back her shoulders. As if she couldn’t release the tension plaguing her. I caught her glancing towards the area I sat in with Dante and Emory, as if she could sense me there. But there was no chance she could see us. Not with the crowd surrounding us.

Priest stayed behind, monitoring everything. Until we confirmed our suspicions, we couldn’t risk him crossing paths with the Brennans. Besides, he was working on getting us a copy of hotel key cards and setting our escape plan in place. We’d need a hasty getaway once my plan was put in motion.

“You up for this?” I asked my sister under my breath. I had my pilot fly us out of Las Vegas in the middle of the night with no time to waste. My plan had been put in motion, and it had to happen today. Before she disappeared on me again.

It was the last day of the Winter Olympics. The winners have been announced. Wynter added another gold medal to her achievements.

Emory nodded. “Of course. We’re going to have a celebrity in our family.”

Two heartbeats.

“Oh my gosh,” Emory squealed, going into her full fan mode.

Dante groaned next to me, muttering, “Too much.”

Six pairs of eyes turned toward us but only one pair mattered. Recognition flickered in those light green eyes. Her mouth parted in shock and she stood frozen, as a wide range of emotions flashed in her gaze.

But the last emotion was disdain.

Not exactly the reaction I was going for. She still wore her costume with a blue windbreaker over the top of it.

“I am such a fan,” Emory continued, rushing to Wynter. “I’m Emory. I’ve watched you skate since you were a kid.”