Page 52 of Damsel in Defense
The machines beep a steady rhythm in the background, but everything else in the world fades away.It’s just me and her.
A tear slips down her cheek as she closes her eyes again and falls into a medicated sleep.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
MASON
Bringing Victoria home from the hospital should feel like a relief.
She’s alive.Banged up, yeah, but whole and for the most part happy.She’s curled up in my passenger seat in one of my sweatshirts, her hair pulled into a low bun, oversized sunglasses hiding most of the bruises on her face.Even injured, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
Guilt weighs heavily on my shoulders.
This is all my fault.Both accidents, the lies, even the photographers following her relentlessly—all my fault.
The truth Falcon and his team uncovered was unbelievable.Yet the pieces were all there.
My ex, who cheated on me last year and blamed her indiscretion on me spending too much time with my team, truly believed that I would come crawling back to her after I broke things off.And when I didn’t, she got mad.
Mad enough to use every connection she had to make me pay for moving on.
She burned a lot of bridges.No one was keeping quiet about their involvement or the lengths Jess went to to ruin my new girlfriend’s reputation.
I grip the steering wheel tighter as I turn into the underground garage.She’s been quiet most of the ride, tired from pain meds, no doubt, and moving around more today.
I know she can feel something’s off.I’ve felt her eyes drift to me more than once today, trying to silently figure out what’s wrong.
She lets out a slow breath as I park, then turns her head toward me.“Are you okay?”
The irony nearly chokes me.
“I should be asking you that,” I say softly, forcing a tight smile.
She takes off her sunglasses, her eyes searching mine.A spike of anger surges through me at seeing her bruises.“Something’s wrong.”
“Yeah,” I admit.There’s no point in me trying to lie to her.It wouldn’t do any good in the end.I’ve tried to protect her, but this time, she needs to face the truth with me.“We need to talk.But…maybe once you’re upstairs and comfortable.”
She nods, but I can tell my words are not sitting well with her.She doesn’t like being coddled or kept in the dark.And I hate being the one doing it—but the moment I tell her the truth, everything could change.
Upstairs, the elevator dings open, and we step out to find Henrik and Bryn already waiting at the door.Henrik’s pacing like a caged tiger, and Bryn rushes forward the second she sees Victoria.
“Oh my God,” Bryn gasps, pulling Victoria into a gentle hug.“We came as soon as we heard.”
“I’m okay,” Victoria murmurs.“Really.Just some bruises.Nothing serious.”
“Nothing serious?”Henrik growls.“You were in a car with cut brakes.”
Victoria tries to reassure them, and I stand back, watching her slip an invisible mask on—the performer.
Her smile gets a little too big as she reassures her family that she’s fine.Her laugh is a little too loud each time she makes a joke.I hate it, but she’s doing it to protect her loved ones.
Something I should have been able to do for her.
Henrik eyes me, his expression not one I was hoping for since this is the first time we’re meeting.I don’t blame him for being wary of me.I’m his baby sister’s boyfriend; I should have been there.
Bryn and Henrik only stay for an hour, helping Victoria get settled on the couch and pampering her the way she deserved.
“When you’re up for it,” Henrik says as he comes to standing from his position on the couch, “you need to get in contact with Cece.If she doesn’t hear from you soon, she’s going to jump on a plane and fly here from LA.”
