16. Rachel

CHAPTER 16

RACHEL

“ W e need to talk. Alone.” Charles glowers at me the second I open the door.

“Hi, Mommy!” Jett bounces into the apartment, oblivious to his father’s bad mood. Maybe he’s numb to it, since it’s basically Charles’ entire personality.

“Hey, baby.” I reach down and squeeze Jett tight. “How was practice?”

“Now, Rachel. We need to talk now. I have to go.” My ex taps his watch impatiently.

“Fine, geez. Jett, go put your backpack in your room and wash up for dinner.”

“Okay. And practice was great—Coach Xander told me I’m going to be a better goalie than him soon!” Jett beams up at me with his gappy smile and my heart flip-flops at the mention of Xander.

Of course he gave my kid the best compliment in the whole wide world.

“Earth to Rachel!” Charles waves his hand an inch from my nose, snapping, and I huff out an exasperated sigh.

“That’s amazing, sweetie. Okay, scoot. I’ll grab you when dinner’s ready.”

Jett dashes off to his bedroom and I spin to face Charles, careful to keep a safe distance between us after our last encounter.

“What the hell’s wrong with you, having your hockey Yeti rough me up?” Charles growls.

“What?”

“Yeah. I went to the rink to pick up Jett and that ignorant Yeti had the audacity to threaten me.”

“You’re being ridiculous, Charles. Xander would do no such thing.”

“Ask your buddy Jackson about it. He was there. Saw the whole thing go down.”

My stomach rolls at the mention of Jackson. That detail makes the scenario seem more probable.

Even after I asked Xander not to go there.

Men, I swear.

I’m torn between being flattered Xander took it upon himself to defend me and angry that he stirred the pot with Charles, potentially putting his hockey career in a precarious position.

I decide to take a defensive approach. “What did he do? You look fine to me.” I fold my arms over my chest and fully assess Charles. He has no cuts, scrapes, bruises, and his face is still intact and smug as ever.

“I told you, he threatened me.”

“Did that hurt you, Charles? Is that fragile ego of yours bruised?” My tone tips up, mocking.

Charles’s face turns beet red, a vein popping in his neck, and I instantly know I pushed too far. He lunges at me, slapping me hard across the cheek. I stumble backward and crash into the coffee table.

“Listen, you bitch. Tell your Yeti to back off. It would be a real shame if the media found out he was threatening your ex, wouldn’t it?”

Stunned, I clutch my stinging face. Charles has gone too far this time.

“Get. Out.” I force out the words, anger and nerves racing through me. “Right now, before I call the police.”

“You’re ridiculous, Rachel, you know that? Call the police for what? A little domestic tiff?”

“I said, get the fuck out. Now.” I point to the door, hot tears threatening. I don’t want Jett to walk in on this scene, and I sure as hell don’t want Charles to see me cry.

He shrugs. “You’ve always been such a drama queen. I’ll see you Friday.”

Then he walks out of the apartment, all calm, cool, and collected, like he didn’t just assault his ex-wife, the mother of his child.

The bastard.

Once the door slams behind him, I collapse onto the couch and let the tears flow. I can’t believe Charles hit me.

Xander is right. He is unstable.

With shaky hands, I pull out my cell and debate for a quick second. Then I hit Xander’s number.

“Hello?” He answers on the first ring.

“Hi.” My voice quivers and I sniffle into the speaker.

“Rachel? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know.”

“I’m on my way.”

Before I can say anything else, he disconnects and the line goes dead. Luckily, Jett entertains himself in his room, giving me time to pull myself together. I straighten the living room and splash my face with cool water.

Knock, knock, knock.

With a deep breath, I answer the door.

“Rach, what happened?” Xander rushes in, and all the composure I cobbled together flies out the window.

As soon as Xander reaches out for me, I break down in tears. He doesn’t say anything, only steps forward and wraps me in his strong arms, holding me tight to his broad chest and letting me fall apart.

After a few minutes, I take a deep, shuddery breath, realizing I snotted all over his shirt.

“Sorry.” I pat at the wet spot on his T-shirt.

He shrugs. “It’s fine. What happened?”

“Charles went too far this time.” I drop my voice to a whisper to ensure Jett doesn’t hear. “That bastard actually hit me.”

“I’m gonna kill him,” Xander growls, his jaw tensing.

“No. You’re already too involved in this mess. I’m going to call my lawyer and ask him what to do.”

“Rachel, he can’t treat you like this. This has to stop. Let me help you.”

“Xander, no. Charles will bring you down with him and that won’t help. Let me call Grant and get his advice.”

“Okay. Did Jett see anything?” Xander’s brows crush together, a frown marring his handsome face.

“Mercifully, no.” I love that Xander automatically jumps to the safety and well-being of my child. Unlike his own father.

He smooths my hair away from my eyes, stroking my tender cheek.

“That asshole left a mark. Take photos for evidence.”

“You’re right.”

Xander snaps a few photos and then I dial my divorce lawyer, Grant. I feel badly it’s after hours, but this is an emergency.

“Hello?” Grant answers, and hot embarrassment floods through me.

“Hi, Grant. This is Rachel Allen. Sorry to bother you so late in the evening.”

“Hi, Rachel. It’s fine. What can I do for you?”

Taking a quick breath, I spill all the details of my encounter with Charles while Grant listens in silence.

“So what should I do?” I ask, fiddling with a loose thread on my shirt.

“File a police report so the incident’s documented. They may put a restraining order in place, which will be tough with the current custody arrangement. Are you worried about Jett’s safety?”

I bite at my lip, debating. I hate to deprive my child of time with his father, but Charles is a loose cannon and may very well lash out at Jett next.

“I am.”

“Then we should meet with the judge and hammer out a new custody arrangement, with supervised visits.”

Charles is not going to like that one little bit.

“Charles will be furious.”

“It’s a delicate situation. But if he hit you, that’s assault. He shouldn’t be trusted with a child, not without a safety plan in place.”

Grant’s correct, but now the situation’s very sticky.

“I know.” My voice is soft, regret coursing through me. Regret about what happened this evening, regret about the divorce, regret about marrying Charles in the first damn place.

“I’m sorry,” I say, my voice shaking. “This is all a lot.”

Xander rubs my thigh, grounding me, and I feel calmer.

“You can do this, Rachel. Do you need me and Lana to watch Jett for you while you file the police report?”

“That’s kind of you, Grant. But I can get my neighbor to watch him. Thanks.”

“Come to the office first thing tomorrow morning and we’ll hammer out the paperwork to send to Charles’s lawyer.”

“Okay, thanks.”

I disconnect and toss the cell onto the couch. Xander laces his fingers through mine, squeezing.

“He said to file a police report, then we’ll work on a new custody arrangement in the morning.”

“Okay. Let’s do it.” Xander tucks a hair behind my ear and my breath hitches, my chest tight.

“I can go myself. It’s fine. I don’t want you getting dragged into this.”

“Rachel, in case you haven’t noticed—I’m already in this. With you, by choice. I’m coming with you. Also, I think you and Jett should stay with me for a while. At least until all this gets worked out. I have plenty of space in the rental.”

“What? We couldn’t intrude.”

He locks his crystal blue eyes on mine, his expression serious.

“You’re not intruding. I told you—I protect what’s mine. That bastard’s not going to touch you ever again. I promise you that. Pack your bags and then we’ll go to the station.”

“I don’t want Jett to be there.”

“Understood. Maybe Jackson and Harper could watch him for a while. I’ll text him while you get ready to go.”

“Okay.”

Xander leans forward, touching his lips to mine in a sweet, gentle kiss.

“Everything’s going to be okay. I’ve got you.”

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but they’re not tears of sadness or fear or anger.

No, they’re tears of relief and happiness.

Because for the first time in forever, I can trust someone with my whole heart. I know, deep-down, the bad boy of hockey has my back. Mine and my child’s. And he won’t let anyone hurt us again.