Page 197 of Ice Princess

I leave the team behind and hustle to my car. Before driving, I check my phone to see that Rebel hasn’t answered my message yet.

On the way to the garage, I call her.

She doesn’t answer.

Alarmed, I call again.

Every ring echoes in my ears and sends my pulse clamoring.

The moment I hang up, my phone gets an incoming call and I answer urgently, “Rebel?”

“It’s Chance. April just called to tell me they’re heading to Rebel’s mom right now.”

I slam on the brakes. “Now?”

“Yeah. She didn’t say much, but I could hear in her voice she was flustered.”

I barely hear anything else that Chance says. Hands firm on the steering wheel, I slam my foot on the gas and U-turn so hard the vehicle almost teeters over on its side. Once it rights itself again, I floor it and fly to the trailer park. I spot Rebel’s truck right away and come to an abrupt stop.

Running across to the mobile home, I launch up the stairs and throw the door open.

Rebel’s standing in front of her mom, one arm extended protectively while Mrs. Hart trembles behind her. April is standing in front of them both, waving her phone around.

“You should be ashamed of yourself! Trying to scam this woman into marriage to cover your tracks!”

I stop short.

M-marriage?

Uncle Stewart’s brilliant plan was tomarryinto the Hart family?

Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me. It’s just the sort of desperate, hare-brained plan only someone like Uncle Stewart would come up with.

“Put that down, girl or…”

“Or what, Stewart? I’m on a live call with the nursing home group chat. Try anything funny, everyone will see.”

“Put that phone down,” Uncle Stewart growls.

April continues filming.

Uncle Stewart swipes at her device, and April jumps out of reach but she almost loses her balance in the process.

I see my uncle gearing up to get more violent with her and step inside.

“Uncle Stewart!” I yell so loud that the entire house trembles.

April, Rebel and her mom swivel to look at me.

My eyes collide with Rebel’s baby blue gaze.I’m here.

She sighs in relief.

That same relief is echoing in my heart. Rebel’s hair is mussed and she’s breathing hard but, other than that, she looks unharmed.

I’ll make sure it stays that way.

“You!” Uncle Stewart points a stubby finger. He stomps over and grabs me by the collar. “This is allyourfault.”

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