Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Viktor
With twenty-three seconds on the clock, my heart kicks into high gear.
If I can keep the puck out of the net for twenty-three more seconds, we’re going to win the championship.
In our inaugural season.
It’s unheard of.
I can’t even allow myself to believe it’s real.
Fifteen seconds.
West shoots the puck down into their zone, but Ashton and Cash stay closer to me. It’s all about defense now.
Eight seconds.
I zero in on the puck. Alaska is fighting hard for control, but West and the others are fighting even harder to keep it. I don’t dare look up at the clock or take my eye off the puck, but I’m counting in my head.
One thousand five.
One thousand four.
One thousand three.
One thousand two.
Oh, my fucking God.
The buzzer sounds, the team is off the bench and over the boards, and then the whole lot of them have landed in a pile—with me at the bottom.
“We fucking did it!” West’s voice is rough, emotional.
“Fuuuck!” Somewhere in the pile I hear Bodi. Ashton. Felix. Cash.
My friends.
My hockey family.
We did it.
I want to celebrate but I can’t.
There’s something that’s more important.
The guys are getting up now, the ice is filled with players and support staff, but first we have to get through the handshake line.
This will be tough because this is my old team. I’m friends with almost every guy on the team. And they all have congratulations, words of support, a couple of guys even congratulate me on my marriage.
My marriage.
The thing that’s most important to me right now.
I know I have to get through some of the celebrations, interviews, everything else that goes with the win. But I need to find Holly.
I spoke to my father before the game and he told me he saw her at the sanctuary. That she was in rough shape. That she cried. And most of all—that she needs me. He also told me I was a dumbass, which confused me because I didn’t know what he was talking about.
Then he told me about a conversation he had with Holly.
Where she told him she loved me but that I don’t love her back.
And that I had said as much. I had to wrack my brain to figure out what she was talking about, and I’m still not sure.
Obviously, my struggle with English is catching up to me and I’m frustrated that I said something that made Holly think I don’t love her.
We’ve been stubborn and stupid, and that stops now.
So, even though I say and do all the right things, my eye is on the tunnel, where our families will be joining us on the ice any minute now.
I left strict instructions with my parents to make sure Holly comes down, win or lose.
If we lost, we would be meeting in the family lounge, but for a win this big, everyone will join us on the ice.
And finally, I see her.
I move in that direction without hesitation, anxious to get to her, clear the air. Winning a championship is incredible—but nothing means more than my wife. I think I fell a little in love with her that first day when I heard her on the phone. Trying so hard to be brave.
Right then, some deep-seated instinct to protect her kicked in.
So, I offered her money and married her.
Thinking back, it’s almost like it was an excuse. I’m strong enough to put my mother in her place, even if I have to do it gently. Diplomatically. I certainly didn’t have to marry a woman just because she said so.
The beautiful, scared, tortured soul standing there on the phone captivated me immediately.
I couldn’t let her go then, and I’m definitely not letting her go now.
“I love you,” I say the moment I reach her. I put an arm around her waist and tug her against me. “I don’t know what I said, but it was a language issue, not a heart issue.”
She stares up at me, a small frown between her brows. “Viktor, you don’t—”
“Did you hear me?” I ask, pressing my forehead to hers. “I. Love. You. You’re my wife. I want you to stay. I want you to live with me and give me children and be my wife in every way that matters.”
“But you said that you still were going to help with the sanctuary even though you didn’t love me.”
I groan. “I do not remember the words that came out of my mouth exactly, but that was not my meaning. I was trying to explain that even if it was a relationship with no love, just friends or whatever, I would still help because it’s the right thing to do in this situation.
I did not mean that I didn’t love you, specifically. I was being general.”
“But…” She looks worried.
“Do you love me?” I ask on a ragged breath.
“Yes.” She looks almost embarrassed. “I think I have since the beginning when—”
I know I keep interrupting her, but this time it’s with my mouth. Because I can’t help but kiss her. Long and deep, with every emotion I’ve kept bottled up since the beginning. And she kisses me back. Our tongues swirl and dance, and it’s as emotional as it is passionate.
“Later, we can talk. About everything,” I whisper. “I will do anything you want to make you happy, and to keep you from leaving me. But tonight, will you celebrate with me?”
Her smile lights up her whole face. “Absolutely.”
I kiss her again, because I can’t help myself, and when I turn, everyone is waiting.
My family.
Kelly.
My extended family—my teammates—and their families.
And it’s a feeling like no other.
There’s champagne and laughter and so much fun, but nothing compares to knowing my wife loves me. That she’s not leaving. We have a lot to talk about. The sanctuary. The job in New York. A million other things. But as long as we’re together, we’ll figure it out. I’m not worried about it now.
“Congratulations, son.” The words are easy to understand but I don’t recognize the voice at first.
Then I turn, staring at Holly’s father in surprise. I have no idea how he got down to the ice but as a powerful state politician, I guess he has connections. The fact that he called me son is a little jarring, though.
“Thank you.” I shake his outstretched hand.
“I know it’s not the right time but I was wondering if you and I could have a chat, man to man.”
“About what?” I cock my head slightly. I don’t think Holly has seen him yet, she’s over with Serena and Jayne, and I don’t want anything to ruin this night for her.
“Look, I know what you did.”
I arch my brows. “What are you talking about?”
“I have friends everywhere, including at the law firm that handled the prenup you had Holly sign.”
I don’t say anything, merely waiting for him to continue.
“So, you’re paying her to be your wife, and I don’t really give a shit. That’s up to you. But if you want to keep your little secret, and the image you have here in town, you need to convince her to sell the land.”
“She will not.”
“I can make the prenup public.”
I shrug. “It is not the business of anyone but me and my wife. If I want to give her money, I can give her money.”
“I’ll make her a laughingstock.”
“You cannot. We did nothing wrong. I gave her money because being married to me means she cannot have good job. I can be traded at any time. This money is security for her, nothing more.”
He snorts. “Do you think I was born yesterday, son? She thinks she’s so clever, that I don’t know about her trust fund?
How do you think that happened? Nathan and I are business partners.
He didn’t lose that money—he took it because I asked him to.
Without that money, she couldn’t afford to keep up with the taxes and the sanctuary and she would be forced to sell.
Instead, you swooped in and saved the day.
Now I’m asking you to talk her into doing the smart thing and selling.
My people are offering a fuck-ton of money. Make her take it.”
“I cannot make her do anything,” I say quietly. “She is grown woman.”
He leans forward, eyes narrowed dangerously. “Listen to me, boy—this won’t end well for either of you. I’m going to get that land, one way or another. She can give it up for a ton of money or she can lose everything.”
“She will lose nothing,” I growl. “If you try to hurt my wife, I will spend every dollar I have to make you regret it.”
Our eyes lock, and his are filled with hate. “Don’t fuck with me, boy.”
“I am not a boy. I am a man.”
“Viktor. Mr. Grant.” My father joins us and I can tell by his stance he senses something is wrong.
“My son-in-law and I need a moment,” Mr. Grant says without looking at him.
“I have no secrets from my father,” I say, turning to my dad and speaking in Russian. “He wants me to convince Holly to sell her property. And he threatened us.”
My father glances at Mr. Grant, his expression filled with distaste. “You are a very hateful man, attempting to manipulate your daughter. Orchestrating the break-in at the sanctuary.”
Mr. Grant rolls his eyes. “I had nothing to do with that, but I can’t speak for my business partners. They’re motivated, and frankly, they offered her almost double what the land is worth.”
I didn’t know about that but it doesn’t matter.
“Business is business,” Mr. Grant continues. “Family is separate.”
“You are wrong,” I tell him. “Family is everything.”
“You’re a hockey player,” he says, shaking his head. “You don’t understand what’s at stake. I’m a visionary. I worry about things like infrastructure, planning, and the future. People like me make sure the world is a good place for people like you.”
“Dad?” Holly moves against my side. “What are you doing here?”
“I came down to congratulate your husband and the team.”
“Tell her the truth,” I say, wrapping my arm around her waist. “Tell her about your…business associates.”
Her father’s face hardens. “I came to you to discuss something man to man. There’s no need to involve the women.”
“There are no other women—only this one. My wife.” I turn to her. “He wants me to convince you to sell your property.”
She scowls. “Not happening, Dad. And if you come back, or do anything to hurt the birds, I will make sure the whole world knows how evil and corrupt you are.”
“You realize I have the power to get your husband deported,” he snarls.
I feel Holly stiffen, but I just laugh.
“Go ahead,” I say magnanimously. “Team owner is over there.” I point. “Tell him your plans and see what happens when the NHL gets involved.” I actually smile. “Go. Would you like me to introduce you?”
Her father hesitates.
Bullies never like it when they get called on their bluffs.
“Dad, stop this,” Holly says quietly. “You know I love that land. The house. The birds.”
“I’m paying you a fucking fortune!” he snaps, throwing up his hands. “Take the birds and move them somewhere closer to where you want to live. It’s win-win for everyone.”
“I can’t replicate Grandma’s house.”
He rolls his eyes. “It’s old, falling apart. You don’t even live there.”
“I’m not selling, Dad. End of story.”
Mr. Grant shakes his head. “You’ll be sorry. Both of you.”