20. Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Beckett

The crisp autumn breeze nips at my cheeks as I step out of the Uber, its coolness a stark contrast to the warmth of the car's interior. I pull my jacket tighter, shielding from the chill while balancing the weight of the groceries in my arms as I stride toward my apartment.

I love the days where we only have practice once. It gives the players time to recover, but also affords me time to do things like cook dinner for Viktor. While we're careful to keep our relationship hidden, I still want it to be more than fucking all the time.

And he needs this.

My cocky, infuriating, beautiful brat needs to know he's special.

Not to mention, I'm falling for him. Fast and hard, like a puck to the head. And it scares the hell out of me. It helps that Mouse has taken a liking to him. The sassy cat may hiss and yowl, but she purposely seeks him out too.

Tommy's even happy about it. Though I can't really tell if my brother's happy I'm dating, happy I'm not letting Noah run my life anymore, or just living vicariously through me since he's struggling to find someone.

Once upstairs, I fumble for my keys, juggling the bags. I should have about two hours until Viktor's class are over. But the moment I enter the kitchen, any sense of joy is squashed.

Sitting at my kitchen table like a nightmare come to life is Noah. And restrained in his arms, squirming and growling, is Mouse.

The bags slip from my suddenly numb fingers, food spilling onto the floor. But I barely register the mess at my feet. All I can focus on is my psycho ex-boyfriend, in my home, clutching my cat, a cruel sneer twisting his lips.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" My voice is low and seething. "How did you even get in?"

Noah just smiles serenely, like this is some pleasant social call and not a violation of the court order meant to keep him the hell away. "Hello, Beckett. Miss me?"

My hands curl into fists at my sides, blunt nails biting into my palms. It takes every ounce of my rapidly fraying control not to vault across the room and beat that smug look off his face.

Mouse's yowling intensifies, and Noah's grip on her tightens, making her wheeze.

"Let her go."

Noah clicks his tongue. "We used to be so close, you and I, before you got this thing and then threw me away like yesterday's trash."

"You cut her ear off. Now let her go, and get the fuck out of my apartment. We're over. Done. Accept it and move the fuck on."

He scoffs, rolling his eyes. "Move on? You're mine, Beckett. You've always been mine. No piece of paper is going to change that."

Unease prickles up my spine at the crazed glint in his eyes, the manic edge to his smile. I knew he was obsessed but this?

"You're violating the restraining order. Do you understand that? If you don't leave immediately, I'm going to call the police."

He barks out a sharp laugh. "Oh, that's rich. You'd really send me to jail? After everything we've been through?"

"Without hesitation."

An ugly sneer twists his mouth. "Oh, I'll leave. But you're coming with me. I'll make you see, make you understand. We belong together."

"Like hell."

Noah's mouth parts to say something, but the sound of my front door opening cuts him off. We both whip around. Viktor strides into my apartment like he owns the place, his backpack swinging from one hand.

He stops short at the sight of us, brows furrowing. "Who's this asshole?"

Noah rises to his feet, still gripping Mouse tightly. He looks Viktor up and down with a contemptuous sneer. "Ah, you must be the slut Beckett's been screwing around with these days. Gotta say, I'm not impressed."

Viktor steps into the kitchen, placing his bag on the counter while meeting Noah's disdainful gaze head-on. "And you must be the discount bin Robert Pattinson knockoff ex I've heard so much about."

"Enough!" My booming voice cuts through the rising tension, then I point a shaking finger at Noah. "Get out. Now. I won't ask again."

"Not without you." He takes a step back and pulls a knife from his pocket, pressing the sharp blade to Mouse's throat. She thrashes in his grip, her little body shaking.

"Noah, stop!" I roar, my heart in my throat. "You're hurting her!"

He tenses, a manic glint in his eye. "You did always love this stupid animal more than anything else."

I brace myself for him to lash out. But he jukes to the side and sprints for the door, shoving past me and bolting out of the apartment with Mouse clutched to his chest.

Viktor takes off after him, and I'm right behind. We thunder down the stairs, our shoes slapping against the concrete. Bursting out of the front door, we turn the corner just in time to catch Noah darting across the street, cars honking and tires screeching as he dashes between them.

And then, in one heart-stopping moment of unthinkable cruelty, he turns to face us, then hurls Mouse into oncoming traffic before rushing off.

Viktor doesn't hesitate. He sprints right into the road, dodging blaring horns and screeching tires. My heart stops as he snatches up Mouse a split second before a delivery truck comes barreling toward him, brakes squealing.

"Viktor!"

Sheer adrenaline propels me forward and I tackle him out of the way, a hair's breadth from the truck's grill. We hit the asphalt hard, rolling to the curb in a tangle of limbs, my body folded protectively around him.

"Are you okay?" My hands frantically skim over him, checking for injuries. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine. Except you're squashing us and she's clawing at me. Mind getting up?"

But when I try to stand, white-hot agony lances through my back and I drop back to one knee, groaning.

It's enough room for Viktor to scoot out from under me. "Shit, Becks. Your back."

"I'm fine," I grit out stubbornly, even as sweat beads on my brow from the pain. "Nothing ibuprofen and muscle relaxers won't fix. Let's just get inside. Get Mouse checked over."

A handful of people who've pulled over help me to my feet, asking if we're okay. Someone asks if she should call 911, but Viktor waves her off.

Slipping an arm around my waist, he helps support my weight as we make our unsteady way back to my apartment.

Instead of the stairs, we take the elevator, the ride a painful blur. We barely make it through my front door before my knees give out and I collapse onto the couch.

Distantly, I'm aware of Viktor puttering around, opening and shutting cabinets before he's back at my side, pressing a glass of water and some pills into my hands. "Here. Take these."

I toss them back and drain the glass, collapsing against the cushions. Viktor settles next to me, reaching out to stroke Mouse, who's curled up on my chest, still shaking like a leaf.

As the meds kick in and exhaustion starts to drag me under, I roll my head to study Viktor's profile. Even now, with his hair a wild mess, he's breathtaking. The afternoon light filtering in through the windows gilds his finely boned features, his pale hair glowing like a halo.

Fuck.

He really is my knight in shining armor.

"Love you, Chaos."

He glances at me, one eyebrow arched, but something bright and fragile kindles to life behind his eyes. "You don't have to say that just because I was almost roadkill . . ."

"I'm not." Lifting my heavy hand, I cup his cheek. "Seeing that truck coming at you . . . I've never been so fucking scared in my life. The thought of losing you . . ." I swallow thickly, emotions clogging my throat. "I love you. I'm so fucking in love with you it terrifies me."

His eyes widen, lips trembling, like he's almost afraid to believe me. And then, like a sunrise breaking over the horizon, a wide, stunning smile lights up his face. "Knew I could make you fall in love with me."

Such a fucking brat.

But he's mine.

My beautiful, brave, chaotic brat.

He turns into my palm, pressing a fierce kiss to the center. "I love you too, you gigantic, grumpy asshole."

While I want to kiss him, the longer I fight to stay awake, the more the world spins, so I close my eyes. The last thing I feel before I succumb are his lips grazing my ear as he says, "Don't worry, Becks. I'll handle Noah."