Just My Hockey Roommate’s Filthy Desires by Esther Pen novel Chapter 290

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My Hockey Roommate’s Filthy Desires

Chapter 290

ARIA’S POV

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“Mommy, hold still! You’re making the tiara crooked.” Amelia’s tiny voice echoed in the room and I smiled. It was amazing how fast she was growing up and how I was proud to be her mother.

I giggled, sitting cross-legged on the plush white rug in the middle of Amelia’s bedroom while my six-year- old daughter carefully adjusted a shiny plastic pink tiara onto my head.

“I’m sorry, princess,” I said, looking up at her bright, glowing face. “I’m sitting completely still now. See?”

Amelia patted my hair down with both hands, taking her official job as head birthday stylist very seriously. Outside her wide bedroom windows, the heavy morning rain had finally stopped, leaving bright streaks of golden sunshine bouncing off the wet grass on the estate lawn.

Down below, I could hear the soft clatter of metal folding chairs being set up, the chatter of party workers, and the faint, cheerful music pumping from the bouncy castle inflatables.

It was a quiet, perfect morning. For the last two hours, it had just been the two of us, no talk of lawyers, no breaking news updates on television, and no lingering shadows from the past. Just plastic tea cups, colorful dress-up shoes, and Amelia’s pure, endless excitement for her big day.

Brandon had made sure that she would be comfortable, buying her lots of gifts she would open into the night. He had even transformed one of the smaller rooms in the house into her own little play station. But he had made me promise not to ruin the surprise.

“There,” Amelia announced proudly, stepping back onto the rug to admire her work with her hands resting on her tiny hips. “Now we both match.”

She pointed happily to her own matching crown sitting slightly lopsided over her soft brown curls. I pulled her into my lap, squeezing her tight against my chest until she let out a loud, delighted squeak.

“You are the prettiest birthday girl in the whole wide world, my little angel,” I whispered, kissing her soft cheek over and over until she giggled.

“Mommy, stop. That tickles,” she squealed, squirming in my arms before settling against my chest. She looked up at me with huge brown eyes. “Is Daddy coming up soon? He promised he was going to help me pick out which pony I get to ride first.”

“He’s downstairs finishing up some work with his friends,” I told her, smoothing down the fluffy skirt of her pink party dress. “Are you ready to go find him?”

“Yes,” she nodded eagerly. “I want to show him my crown.”

“All right, let’s go,” I said, taking her little hand in mine. We stepped out of her bright bedroom into the wide, sunlit residential hallway of the mansion’s private wing. The moment we walked out into the corridor, I froze.

The quiet, calm atmosphere from earlier was completely gone. Standing at the top of the grand marble staircase wasn’t just the usual single guard posted near the landing, there were four heavily armed men standing in sharp tactical formation, their dark radios buzzing with quiet, fast-paced static.

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My Hockey Roommate’s Filthy Desires

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Down the hallway, Dominic came striding quickly toward us, his sharp suit coat unbuttoned, his face set in a hard, serious expression I had rarely seen on him. Behind him, two extra security officers were moving swiftly toward the side exits, checking the deadbolts on the heavy oak doors and pulling the curtains shut.

“Dominic?” I called out, instinctively pulling Amelia closer to my side. “What’s going on? Why are there so many guards up here all of a sudden?”

Dominic stopped right in front of us. His rigid posture softened just a fraction as he looked down at Amelia, but the tight tension in his broad shoulders remained as hard as steel.

“Just tightening up the interior rounds before the main guests arrive, ma’am,” Dominic said, keeping his voice smooth, deep, and reassuringly calm. “The boss asked me to personally escort you and Amelia down to the garden.”

“Where is Brandon?” I asked, my heart taking a nervous little dip. I looked past Dominic toward the lower landing. “Is something wrong outside? Did someone try to gatecrash?”

“He’s downstairs near the main foyer with Antonio right now,” Dominic replied without missing a beat, gesturing smoothly down the hallway toward the staircase. “Everything is completely under control, Miss Aria. Please, follow me.”

“Is the white pony downstairs, Mr. Dominic?” Amelia asked, tugging on his sleeve and looking up at him with wide, curious eyes. “Daddy said there was going to be a white pony with ribbons.”

Dominic looked down at her, a rare, genuine smile cracking through his stern face. “The white pony is sitting right by the trees waiting for you, little princess. But you have to stay close to your mom and me while we walk down, okay?”

“Okay,” Amelia chirped, completely distracted by the shiny golden buttons on Dominic’s suit jacket, totally oblivious to the heavy, suffocating mood in the hall.

“Dominic, tell me the truth,” I whispered under my breath as we started walking toward the stairs, keeping my voice too low for Amelia to catch. “Is it Julian?”

Dominic kept his eyes scanning the hallway ahead of us, his voice quiet. “We are just taking extra precautions, miss Aria. Brandon has every corner covered. You don’t need to worry about anything.”

I looked down at Amelia, who was bouncing on her toes as we walked. Dominic’s words were meant to comfort me, but as I looked at the extra guards standing posted at every single window and exit of my parents’ home, the peaceful feeling from the morning vanished entirely, replaced by a sudden, cold prickle of alarm crawling up the back of my neck.

When we reached the bottom of the stairs in the grand foyer, I saw Brandon.

He was standing near the entrance of the study with Antonio, holding an encrypted tablet in his hands. He looked tall, sharp, and commanding, dressed in a crisp black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The moment he heard our footsteps on the marble floor, he turned around, his stern expression melting into warmth the second his eyes met mine.

“Daddy!” Amelia squealed, letting go of my hand and sprinting across the polished floor toward him.

Brandon dropped to one knee without hesitation, catching her in his broad arms and lifting her high into the

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My Hockey Roommate’s Filthy Desires

air as she giggled wildly.

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“Look at my crown, Daddy!” she shouted, pointing to her head as he brought her down and held her against his hip. “Mommy and I match.”

“I see that,” Brandon said, his deep voice rich with pride as he kissed her cheek. “You look like a real queen, sweetheart. Are you ready for your big party?”

“Yes. Mr. Dominic said the white pony is waiting.”

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