Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
But there’s no way I can say that when he’s already teetering on the edge. I don’t want to be what pushes him over.
I wish he could see that what he needs is help.
“What we had meant a lot to me,” I say carefully. “It really did.”
The hope that flickers in his eyes is enough to make my stomach turn.
“But it’s over,” I add, gentler this time. “I’ve moved on, and you need to find a way to do the same.”
His jaw tightens. “Knox McNichols isn’t the right man for you, Chey. He’ll never love you the way I do.”
There’s no point in arguing. Not with the look that fills his eyes. Not with the alcohol I can smell on him, even from here.
He swallows up the remaining distance between us until I feel the heat that radiates off his body. “You think he’s so much better than me?”
“Don’t come any closer.” Even though I’m shaking inside, I force myself to remain calm. “You need to back up and give me space.”
Instead, his hand shoots out, his fingers locking around my wrist. Shock ripples through me, and for half a second, I can’t breathe. I stare at his hand now shackled around me, my brain spinning, trying to figure a way out of this situation.
“Dakota—” My voice catches as I try yanking my arm free. “Let go of me.”
“You used to love me,” he says, his fingers tightening. “We used to be so good together.”
Pain pulses through my wrist as adrenaline spikes through my veins.
“Let go,” I say, louder this time, trying to break free from his grip.
“I will never let you go!”
He drags me closer. “Dakota, stop!”
The bathroom door bursts open.
“What the hell—”
Knox.
Relief hits so hard, my knees almost give out. Dakota turns with his hand still locked around my wrist. Knox’s gaze drops to the place where we’re connected, and rage crashes over his expression. Whatever I saw on the ice the other night is nothing compared to the look on his face now.
“Take your fucking hands off her,” Knox growls.
Dakota drags me closer as he turns toward him. “Stay out of this.”
Knox eats up the distance in two long strides before grabbing Dakota by the front of his shirt and ripping him away from me with so much force that I stumble backward.
“Don’t you ever touch her again,” Knox says, voice filled with fury.
Dakota shoves at him. “She belongs to me!”
“That’s where you’re wrong. She never belonged to you.”
Before Dakota can open his mouth again, Knox’s fist connects with his jaw. The crack is sharp, echoing off the tile as he crumples to the floor with a heavy thud.
A startled sound tears from me as my ex collapses between us. The room tilts as my pulse continues to roar in my ears.
The door opens and a woman walks in before stopping dead in her tracks. Her eyes widen as she takes in the scene. “Oh my.” With that, she disappears into the hallway again.
Knox’s gaze stays pinned to Dakota.
When he takes a step toward my ex, I grab his arm before he can do further damage. “Please don’t.”
His body remains taut beneath my hand, and for one terrifying second, I think he might lunge again.
Dakota groans as he spits blood onto the tile, trying to push himself up.
“Chey, please,” he chokes out. “Please don’t do this.”
Knox slips an arm around my shoulders, anchoring me to his side, while I stare at the man lying on the floor. He feels more like a stranger, and it makes me wonder if I ever knew him at all.
“You need help, Dakota.” My voice trembles even though I try to keep it steady. “And I truly hope you get it.”
Knox looks down at me then—really looks at me—like he’s checking every inch for damage.
“Are you okay?”
Even though I’m still trying to catch my breath, I nod. “I’m fine. Really.”
The bathroom door bursts open again, this time with an older man and two security guards.
“What’s going on in here?”
Voices overlap as someone says the police are on the way.
As soon as Dakota rises to his feet, one of the guards grabs his arm.
“You need to come with us.”
“This is bullshit,” Dakota snaps. “She’s my—”
“No, I’m not,” I say, my raised voice cutting through the noise.
Everyone looks at me. When my hands continue to shake, I curl them into fists and force myself to keep going.
“He’s been harassing me for weeks and then followed me to Chicago from LA. He was waiting for me when I came out of the stall and then he grabbed me.”
The guard’s expression hardens. “Sir, it sounds like there’s a lot the police will want to discuss with you.”
Dakota stares at me as if I just betrayed him. “Chey—”
“It’s over,” I say, steadier this time. “And you need to leave me alone.”