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Chapter Twenty-One

Knova

Within seconds of Viktor hitting the ice, I’m on my feet. All around me, people are screaming and booing, but I can’t make a sound. My tongue has locked up. My vocal cords are frozen.

Head injury, my lizard-brain screams. Head injury. Just like Mick.

My vision tunnels. My skin goes clammy. I try to scream, but no sound comes out—just a strangled wheeze. I’m locked inside my own head, stuck replaying the last time someone I loved went down and didn’t get back up. Mick’s face flashes in my mind—his laugh, his dog tags, the impossible angle of his neck in the wreckage. I press a shaking hand to my collarbone, reaching for comfort, only to remember my tags aren’t there. I’m not wearing them anymore. But that’s a choice. Before, I lost them. Just like I could lose Viktor.

“Oh my gosh, Knova.” Sofia wrings her hands. “That looked serious. What do we do?”

I’m tempted to run to the edge of the seating section, vault down to the ice, and book it toward Viktor… but that’s not a reasonable response. On the jumbotron, the medical crew is already converging on Viktor. Dante may be a ginormous asshole, but he protects his investments, including the health of the team. He’ll have vetted every member of the medical crew himself.

“I need to get to him,” I whisper. “I need…”

“Knova.” Vivian Metcalfe grabs my arm. She’s sitting in the row behind me, visibly shaken by the way her brother just went down. “I’m going to go down and find him. Do you want to come with me?”

I nod, unable to form a complete sentence. It takes her a while to squeeze to the end of her row. I’m waiting for her when she does, and she loops her arm through mine. “Go slow,” she whispers. “I’m worried if I take the stairs too fast, I’ll trip over my own feet. I don’t think that would help with the situation, do you?” She flashes me a smile that I can’t quite manage to return.

Despite her warning about the pace, Vivian clearly knows where she’s going. I vaguely remember something happening last year with her now-husband, Coach Grady. The guy took a hit. At the time, I didn’t think much of it—not because I didn’t care, but because I simply didn’t know the coach that well—but Vivian must have been terrified.

When we manage to reach one of the quieter halls, Vivian gives my arm a squeeze. “I know you care about my brother. You’ve always been really good friends. I’m glad he has you.”

I manage a shaky laugh. “I don’t know about always. We’ve certainly had our ups and downs.”

A smile plays over Viv’s mouth. I wonder how much she knows about the secret boner situation. “He’s not always easy to love, but he’s nicer than he wants people to think. And you’re not always obliging, are you? I seem to recall you causing plenty of trouble when I was babysitting.” Her arched, no-nonsense eyebrow makes me grimace at a dozen less-than-ideal memories of my childhood shenanigans.

“Touche.”

“At any rate, you’re there for him when it counts, and I appreciate that.”

Her words make something squeeze behind my ribs. I’ve never had a sister, but in this moment, I wonder if this is what it would feel like—being seen, defended, welcomed. Vivian isn’t just offering support. She’s offering family. And I want it. Badly.

It occurs to me that in marrying Viktor, I’ve also gained two sisters. Vanessa doesn’t live in Vegas anymore, but Vivian’s here for the long hall. When I was little, I wanted a sister, but in adulthood, I’ve mostly been a guy’s gal. I’m loud, I’m mouthy, and I sometimes have trouble connecting to other women, which has always bugged me, though never enough to do anything about it.

But Vivian’s already been like an older sister. I wonder if she could ever think of me as family.

With the annulment in the works, I suppose it doesn’t matter. The thing is, I’ve already been second-guessing myself on that front, and I’m just beginning to realize that being with him comes with more than just our marriage. Being with him would connect me to another family, one that I already like. Our relationship could push me to branch out in other ways. I can’t see myself coaching Special Olympics athletes like he does, but maybe I could volunteer to teach emergency response courses?

Being with Viktor could make me not just happier, but more complete. Which is slightly terrifying.

Although none of this will matter if his head injury is as bad as I fear. People like to say that lightning doesn’t strike twice, but that’s not true. Lightning remembers. As an atmospheric phenomenon, it’s drawn to familiar ground. If I lose Viktor now, it will break me in ways I’m not prepared to consider.

We finally turn into a hallway where a pair of security guards are blocking a door. On the far side, I can see Violet Sawyer, the team’s trainer and PT, examining Viktor. From this angle, I can’t see his face, but it has to be him. I need to get in there. Now.

One of the security guards steps in the way. “Ms. Hale, I’m afraid I can’t let you in there.”

“She’s with me,” Vivian says. Her hand is still closed over my arm, gripping me tight.

The guy shakes his head, though his expression suggests he’s taking no joy in this denial. “I’m sorry, but I can only allow family members back here without express permission.”

“Knova?” Viktor calls. His voice sounds slurred and distorted.

My feet are moving before I can consider my actions. Viktor’s calling for me, ergo, I’m going. There’s no middle ground.

The security guard moves with me. “Did you hear me? Family only—”

“I heard you,” I snap. “But unless you’re trying to get tackled by a five-foot-nine former combat pilot with unresolved rage issues, I suggest you move.” My voice drops to a whisper. “He’s calling for me. He doesn’t know what’s going on. He needs someone who loves him, and that’s me. Because I’m his wife!”

The security guard blinks a couple of times, then turns to his friend, who simply shrugs. Vivian, to my surprise, seems to have taken this revelation in stride. Instead of demanding an explanation, she just smiles.

Violet pokes her head out through the door of the little room. “How come every time someone gets injured and a woman runs down here, there’s a possible wife situation? I want to be a wife!”

I stumble past her and make a beeline for Viktor’s side. I’m prepared for the worst… but to my relief, he’s sitting up, with no signs of extreme head trauma.

“Hey,” he rasps. “Knova. Did you just lay claim to me in a public space?”

He’s coherent. Thank God. I crouch beside the bed and reach for his hand. “Not sure I’d call this public, but I guess Viv knows now.”

Viktor clears his throat and nods to the corner of the room… and to our audience. I was so focused on getting to him that I didn’t register the three men standing in the corner of the room. His father, Noah, is staring goggle-eyed at me. Noah also happens to be the goalie coach. Next to him are two family friends, Ranger—the assistant coach, who took my parents in when the house was under repair—and Briggs. I’m not really sure what Briggs does around here. PR, maybe?

“Viktor?” Noah looks almost as dazed as his son, despite having taken only an emotional blow, rather than a physical one. “Is she serious? Are you…?”

“Married?” Viktor manages a weak grin. “Surprise!”

The silence is deafening. Violet drops her clipboard. Noah sits down hard on the rolling stool like someone cut his strings. Briggs makes a wheezing noise that might be laughter. “I need popcorn,” he mutters. “And Noah needs a defibrillator.”

Noah looks from me to Viktor and back again. “How long have you kept this from us?”

“Only, um, six weeks? Eight?” Viktor’s brow furrows.

Violet whistles and crosses her arms. “Damn, that stereotype about men not being able to keep track of anniversaries is real, huh?”

Viktor turns his head against the pillow to glare at her. “I have head trauma.”

“Excuses, excuses,” Vivian singsongs as she approaches their father. “Dad, take a breath. This is Knova. We always thought they were going to end up together.”

“Did we?” Noah doesn’t seem convinced.

“Well, I did, anyway.” Vivian rubs her father’s back. “And I suspect that if you think about it, you’ll decide you’re not as surprised as you think you are.”

Noah rubs the stubble on his jaw and gazes at his son. “This might kill your mother.”

“She’ll get over it,” Vivian says. “If she can forgive him for how badly he chapped her nipples, she can forgive him for a secret wedding.”

“Oh my God.” Viktor closes his eyes. “Can you lay off the nipples, already?”

Briggs chuckles. “That’s what your mom said, if I recall correctly.”

“But why?” Noah exclaims. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

Ranger, who’s been silent so far, pipes up. “Does Cash know?”

I shake my head. “Not yet.”

He whistles. “Oh, man. He’s going to have words about this.”

Briggs holds up three fingers. “Three words. Exactly three. In other words. You. Are. Fucked.”

This is getting out of hand, and even if Viktor is doing better than I thought, he’s still probably nursing a concussion. “Listen, I love you guys… but maybe you should clear out and let Violet do her thing?”

“Yes! Okay, party’s over,” Violet says. “I’m going to need everyone to back up. He took a serious hit, and the protocol window for assessing potential cranial swelling is ticking.” She points at Noah. “That means you, Coach Abbott. Go get Molly. I’ll call if anything changes.

Noah is clearly prepared to argue, but his anger sputters out when Vivian takes his arm. “Let’s give them some alone time, okay? Plus, I’m sure Mom is worried.”

Invoking Molly’s name was the right move. Noah gets to his feet and follows Vivian out of the room. Briggs goes with them.

“Um…” I look to Ranger.

“Sorry.” He gives me a sheepish smile. He’s almost my dad’s age but has an expressive babyface that makes him look years younger. “I need to stay here. Team policy.”

“I figured. It’s just… do you think they’re going to tell my parents?”

Ranger busts up laughing. “Oh, for sure. By the end of the day, everybody is going to know.”

“Sorry,” Viktor says. His voice is small.

I squint at him. “If you weren’t already injured, I would smack you. What are you apologizing for?”

“Blowing our cover,” he mumbles. “It’s the worst possible timing, right?”

I take a deep breath. “No,” I say at last. “It’s fine. If anything, it’s the best possible time.” If my parents had found out before the trip, it would have devolved into an epic fight. Now, though? I’m not so worried about what they’ll think. I haven’t decided exactly what I’m going to do, but given how ambivalent I’m feeling regarding the annulment, it could go either way. Whatever I do will be the result of my feelings for Viktor, and nothing else.

Now isn’t the time for that conversation, though. I rub Viktor’s hand and ask him, “How much are you hurting right now, babe?”

“I’m your babe?” Viktor blinks a few times. “That’s new. Since you ask, I’m literally in agony. But I’m glad you’re here.”

“Adorable,” Violet grumbles. “If you’ll excuse me, Knova, I’d like to do my job now. Would you mind giving me some space?”

I let go of Viktor’s hand and let the professional through. But I don’t go far. If Violet needs me to move, I’ll move. If Viktor needs me to stay, I’ll stay. But I’m not leaving this room until I’m sure he’s okay. He’s fought for me again and again. It’s time I prove I’ll do the same—even if it terrifies me. Especially because it terrifies me.

I’m going to be right here, waiting to see what he needs from me. When Violet’s done, I’m going to do everything in my power to ease his pain, the way he’s done for me so many times.

If Viktor thought he was already getting the full wife experience, he hasn’t seen anything yet.