Page 26

Chapter 25

Penelope – A Week Later

“I cannot believe you are famous,” Avery mutters from beside me as I drive towards Taylor's or rather our penthouse, I guess I should say.

“I’m no more famous than you,” I tell her, and she snorts, denying my claims instantly.

“No, you don’t get it. The world could see how much Tony and I gravitated towards each other. It is why there were always those affair rumors.” I cut her off and state, “They weren’t rumors,” making her chuckle.

“Not the point,” she retorts, making me smile. She continues, “What I mean is, before that night, Taylor was known as the team’s biggest player. I looked it up, he had a different girl every night, Pen.”

I indicate and change lanes as I sing a song, “Not helping Aves…”

“Right, sorry…. Anyhow, what I meant is you’ve got New York's most eligible player, and not only that, but you had his child and kept it secret from the press. They’re having a field day,” she says excitedly.

I pull up to a traffic light and sigh, “Avery, they’re calling me a trapper, a name, mind you, Xanthe should have.”

I look in the rearview mirror, my eyes going to the forward-facing mirror on the headrest, which shows Hudson asleep soundly, and I smile a little.

“I know,” she says, “And that is only because of his ex-agent spreading lie after lie, but not all news outlets see you that way or people on social media. Most of them call you his lucky charm.”

I roll my eyes at that statement. Luck has nothing to do with them winning. It was all down to the team playing as one against a team who had paid off the ref to ensure they won like asshole cheaters.

“Did you hear the Eagles are now under investigation like the Sparks, and that ref is looking at jail time!” Avery gasps as she reads off her phone.

The light turns green, and I put my car into gear and turn right as I chuckle and let him know, “He lost his job, Avery, and probably will be banned from all sports, but he won’t go to jail.”

She frowns and looks disappointed, making me smirk as I drive into the parking lot under the high-rise building, the barrier lifting instantly, recognizing my license plate.

“I can’t believe you forgot the diaper bag,” Avery sighs, and I stick a tongue out at her, making her chuckle.

We’re supposed to be going to Mom and Dad's for a few hours while Taylor practices. Dad’s having withdrawals of grandson time after we spent the past week at away games with Taylor, which I must admit was fun.

The Red Lions only have one more team to beat before making it to the finals, but thankfully, that game is in Philadelphia, so not too far.

I park and say, “I won’t be a minute,” Avery nods, and I look in the mirror to check on Hudson to see him still asleep.

I climb out of the car and rush over to the elevator; the night we made Hudson came back in full force, making me smile as I press the pass over the keypad before the doors open, all while I mumble how much of an idiot I am for forgetting Hudson’s bag.

I was halfway to our parents' place too…

When the doors open a few minutes later, I walk inside and chuckle softly, seeing the bag next to the glass round table that we put our keys on and go to grab it but pause when I hear a bang from the bedroom.

I lick my bottom lip, quickly grab my phone, and bring up Avery’s number before putting my phone to my ear.

“He’s still asleep; what’s taking so long? Dad called twice,” she answers.

I roll my eyes at her impatience then whisper, “Call the police, then contact reception and let them know someone has managed to bypass them and entered the apartment.”

“Wait, what? Someone broke into your home? Pen, get out of there right now!” Avery gasps, and another bang echoes, then cursing, which sounds like a woman.

I whisper again, “Avery, call the police now!” I hang up before slowly doing the stupidest thing and walking into the apartment.

The cushions on the couch have been turned over, the kitchen drawers have been opened, and the photo frames that Taylor surprised me with yesterday, which show pictures of us and our son above the mantel of the electric fireplace, are smashed on the floor.

Another curse comes from my and Taylor's room, and I narrow my eyes, recognizing the voice.

“Surely there is something here I can claim she fucking stole!” Elena snaps, and I curl my lip.

The woman is completely crazy!

I look up the hallway to see her walking out of our room holding a fist full of my jewelry, including the bracelet Taylor kept for me, adding more charms over the months, pissing me off, and I growl, “Well, well, breaking and entering, huh?” Now she looks up in shock.

She flares her nostrils when she realizes it’s me and that I’m on my own, and she snaps, “Actually, you are breaking and entering into my client's home, you are also breaking the restraining order, so I hope you like prison.”

She looks so sure of herself even though she knows I live here, I mean, Jesus, there were pictures in the press of the hockey team helping bring mine and Hudson’s stuff in because obviously Taylor meant every word about moving us in.

I honestly think this woman is not all there, but she believes she is above everyone.

“Well, let’s see what the police say when they get here especially considering I’m down as living here and all that,” I say cockily and her eyes narrow.

“You think you’re so smart, don’t you,” she sneers, “You trapped the man whore hockey player, taking away my opportunity to claim him, but once he sees the mess you’ve left his apartment, he’ll ditch you and that brat and take me back.”

I snort, “Delusional much?” I cross my arms over my chest. “He didn’t want you; he had to be drunk to even sleep with you, and then you spent nearly a year ensuring he wasn’t there for his son,” I drop my arms and curl my lip at her, “You’re pathetic. Can’t have the man you want, so you try to ruin his life to get him.”

Her breathing picks up before she drops my jewelry and charges towards me in her stilettos, and I brace myself, not one to shy away. She tumbles into me, but before we hit the floor, I twist us so I land on top of her.

She grunts at the impact, and I lift my fist and punch her hard, hoping to knock her out until the police get here, but instead, she turns us over and begins to rein her fists down on my body and face.

I lift my arms to try and protect myself, but she somehow manages to land a punch to my lip, and pain radiates.

I grunt and swing, landing a punch to her gut, making her gasp and fall off me. I quickly scramble to stand, but before I can get my bearings, she shoves me hard, causing me to fall into the unit below the TV. I gasp as pain radiates down my arm along with wetness, and I know she’s cut me.

Swallowing hard, trying to grasp myself through the pain, I quickly stand and turn to see Elena running to the emergency stairs while the number above the elevator rises.

“Oh no, you don’t,” I mumble, running after her.

I tackle her, and she grunts, “Oof,” as we both fall to the floor. I land on top of her back, and she struggles against me, shouting, “Get off me bitch!” but I don’t move. Instead, I press two fingers on a certain point on her neck and press down hard before she goes limp underneath me, passing out within seconds as the doors to the elevator open and my sister, along with security, storm in.

“Where’s Hudson,” I gasp, and Avery’s eyes widen, seeing the state of me.

“He’s still in the car, but Mrs. Anders from three floors down is keeping an eye on him,” she stutters as she takes everything in, and I nod, look at security, and admit, “I used the pressure point to knock her out.”

The guy nods as he gently lifts me off her, then steadies me, and Avery rushes over, gently wrapping her arm around my waist, taking some of my weight.

“Hey, Aves,” I mumble while watching security handcuff Elena.

“Yeah,” she replies absentmindedly.

“I uh, I think I need to go to the ER,” I state as I give her nearly all of my body weight, the loss of blood taking hold, and she gasps as she helps me sit on the floor and places my head between my legs.

Damn stupid crazy jealous woman!