Just My Hockey Roommate’s Filthy Desires by Esther Pen novel Chapter 264

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The gentle sound of Amelia’s steady breathing filled the quiet living room. After an hour of pulling every single toy out of her new gift bag, the sheer exhaustion of the day had finally caught up to her.

She was fast asleep on the rug, her little hand still loosely wrapped around my thumb.

I carefully unclasped her fingers, lifted her into my arms, and carried her upstairs to bed one last time. When I came back down, Aria was standing by the window, watching the rain start to drizzle against the glass.

“Aria,” I said softly, stopping a few feet away from her. “I’m heading out for a little while. There’s something I need to take care of–something I should have done a long time ago.”

She turned around, her dark eyes searching my face with quiet curiosity. “Where are you going?”

I hesitated, the weight of the name sitting heavy on my tongue. I hadn’t spoken it aloud in front of her in years. “To Claire’s grave.”

Aria went still, a subtle shift in her expression. “I need to visit her,” I added, my voice dropping into a low, honest rasp. “Before… before you and I take our next step. Before we move on completely.”

Understanding washed over her face, softening the sharp edges of her lingering guard. She didn’t look angry or threatened; she simply nodded. “Go. When you get back, we’ll talk.”

“Okay.” I stepped closer, sliding my hand behind her neck, and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her lips.

When I stepped outside into the cool evening air, Dominic and Anthony were already waiting near the SUV. The perimeter guards were moving silently through the shadows of the estate, weapons concealed but ready.

“Anthony,” I called out, my tone shifting back into that of a commander. “Be extra vigilant tonight. No one gets near this house. Not a single soul.”

Anthony gave a firm, resolute nod. “Understood, boss. The guards will be on active patrol until you

return.”

I nodded, sliding into the back seat of the black SUV. Dominic climbed into the driver’s seat, catching my eye in the rearview mirror as the engine roared to life.

“Where to, boss?” Dominic asked. Silence settled in the cabin for a long moment as I stared out at the dark driveway.

“The private burial site,” I said quietly.

Dominic didn’t ask questions. He didn’t offer empty condolences. He just gave a single nod. “Okay.” He shifted the car into drive and began to pull away from the curb.

But as the tires rolled over the wet asphalt, a figure moving down the porch light caught my eye.

Aria. She was pulling a jacket over her shoulders, walking briskly toward the moving vehicle.

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Chapter 264

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“Stop the car,” I ordered quickly. Dominic hit the brakes immediately. I rolled down the window as she reached the SUV, opening the rear door.

“Aria?” I asked gently, scanning her face with concern. “Is everything okay? Is Amelia-”

“Amelia is fine. Mrs. Gable is upstairs with her,” Aria said, stepping into the back seat and closing the door behind her. She slid onto the leather seat beside me, settling her gaze straight ahead. “If you’re going to see Claire… I need to be there with you.”

I frowned slightly, turning toward her. “Aria, you don’t have to-”

“I do,” she interrupted softly, looking directly into my eyes. “My parents are the reason she lost her life, Brandon. The blood on my family’s hands took her away from you. I need to apologize to her. I need to pay my respects.”

A small, sad smile touched her lips, cutting off the protest forming in my throat. “I have to do this, Brandon.”

I looked at her for a long second, my chest swelling with a quiet, profound respect for the woman sitting beside me. Without another word, I looked up at the rearview mirror and gave Dominic a subtle nod.

Dominic put his foot on the gas, driving us smoothly out of the neighborhood and toward the quiet, secluded edge of town.

Claire had died in this city years ago–a victim of the bloody, ruthless war ignited by Vance Enterprises. After everything burned to the ground, I had bought a private, gated plot of land on a quiet hill overlooking the valley.

I made sure she had a peaceful place to rest, far away from the noise and violence of the life I led.

Tonight, I wasn’t just going there to say goodbye. I was going to make peace with the past.

There was one final string tying me to that dark era–a promise I had kept buried inside my heart. Both Claire and Aria had shared the exact same wish for me.

They wanted me to walk away from the Mafia world completely. They wanted me to lay down the crown of The Phantom Don and just be a man. A partner. A father.

Now, for the first time in my life, I was ready to do it. Dominic brought the SUV to a slow stop near the iron gates of the private cemetery. He turned off the ignition, keeping his eyes on the road ahead. “I’ll wait for you two here,” he said quietly.

“Thanks, Dominic,” I said. I opened my door and stepped out into the crisp, cool air. Reaching back inside, I held out my hand for Aria. She didn’t hesitate.

She reached out immediately, placing her warm, delicate hand gently into mine, her fingers lacing throught mine as she stepped down onto the grass.

The gravel path crunched beneath our shoes as we walked up the quiet hill side by side. The night was still. save for the soft rustle of the wind through the tall oak trees.

After a few minutes of quiet walking, Aria tightened her grip on my hand slightly, her voice dropping into a

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Chapter 264

soft, cautious whisper. “Brandon?”

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