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.”
“I will. Thanks for letting me know.”
“Oh, I’ve had no choice. The woman has been blowing up my phone for updates the second she heard about the accident and couldn’t reach you.” Bending down, he kisses her temple. “Take care, sis.”
“Thanks, Hen.”
“Bye, Tori. You call me if you need anything. We’re filming close by, so both of us can be here in a flash.”
“I will. See you, Bryn.”
Henrik gives me a small nod before they both head for the door.
“Oh my God, I thought they would never leave,” Victoria moans, tipping her head back so it rests on a pillow. “All I want is to take a shower to get the hospital smell off me and then eat everything in sight.”
“I can arrange for all those things, but I think we need to talk first.”
Her brows knit together, but she nods. “You’re kinda freaking me out, Mason. You’ve been distant all morning.”
I keep my voice low. “I know. And I’m sorry, but…” I run a hand down my face, then take a seat beside her. “I should have told you earlier, but I honestly didn’t have the words before today. And now, now I’m just fucking destroyed.”
She scoots closer to me, throwing off her blanket as she reaches for my hands. “Whatever it is, Mason, I’m sure we can get through it together.”
God, I really hope that’s true.
She squeezes my hand three times. That’s all the courage I need. Taking a deep breath, I tell her what Falcon and his team discovered.
“We know who’s behind the leaks. The fire. The crash. The paparazzi tips.”
Her eyes go wide. “Who? A crazed fan? A pissed-off producer?”
My pulse thuds painfully. “It’s Jess.”
Silence. She blinks. Once. Twice. Her lips part, but no words come out.
“My ex,” I clarify, shaking my head. “She’s the one who’s been tipping off the press and trying to make you the bad guy. I guess she thought if she made your life miserable enough, I’d come running back.”
Victoria recoils, disgusted. Her hands break from mine as she cradles her jaw in horror.
I rush to add, “She’s been arrested. Falcon and the security team built the case and brought it to Toronto authorities this morning. They have the IP logs, the financial trail, everything. It’s just a matter of hours now before this goes public.”
She doesn’t speak. Her arms cross tightly over her chest, and when she finally looks at me, it’s not with anger.
It’s devastation.
“You think this is your fault,” she says, voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t you?”
“It is my fault.”
“No,” she counters sharply. “How could any of this be your fault? She’s unhinged. You didn’t ask her to do this. You didn’t want this.”
“But it followed me,” I cry, standing up and throwing my hands in the air. “All of it. The cameras. The danger. The headlines. You almost died, Victoria. Because of me.”
“No. No, Mason. Because of someone from your past. Not you. How could you have known?” Tears well in her eyes, and I nearly break right there.
“I love you, Victoria,” I blurt out. “I think I’ve loved you from the moment you asked me if hockey players go camping together. And it’s because I love you that I can’t let this continue,” I say. “We made a pact to help each other change the narrative of how people see us.”
I take another breath, preparing myself for the impact of my next words. Leaving her is the last thing I want to do. Yet it’s the best thing.
“I broke that pact. All I brought into your life was chaos and more opportunities for you to be seen as the villain. I can’t let that continue.”
Tears are streaming down her face as she shakes her head. “Don’t do this, Mason. Don’t you dare. We’re better—”
I can’t let her finish. If I do, I just might make a selfish decision and stay.
“You deserve better than this. Better than the wreckage I bring. You’re safe now. Falcon and his team will stay with you here for however long you need. I made arrangements to stay with Max. I think—I think it’s best if we take a break from…our arrangement. At least until the dust settles.”
“Mason,” she pleads, her voice cracking. I don’t look back as I start for the door.
If I do, I’ll never leave. I’ll take one look at her and fold, kiss her bruised lips, and promise we’ll be okay—and that would be a lie. Not right now.
Not when the world’s still clawing at her.
“I’ll check in. If you ever need anything, just say the word.”
“I need you, Mason,” she hiccups. Those words almost break me. I swallow hard and reach for the door with a shaking hand.
Then I’m gone.