Contracted To The Beast novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

55 vouch

1 sat on the couch in the physio suite after Nia stormed out. The silence felt heavy. I raked my fingers through my hair hard enough to hurt.

“Fuck.”

Why could I never have one civil conversation with her? Every time we tried to talk, it turned into another fight. I was sick and tired of it.

My phone rang again. Bella. I ignored it. I did not have the mental strength to deal with her right now.

I had just been benched for the next three games because I could not control my temper. Pain sat heavy in my chest. Hockey was my outlet. My safe place. I had been in scandals before, but I had never been benched from a game. No one benches the Beast. Not even Coach Riggs or Mr. Hale. Only the referee could do that, and I knew I deserved the card. Jimmy probably had a concussion from how hard I hit him. He would miss his next game too.

I stood up and left Nia’s office. I headed to my private locker room to grab my stuff. I will not be back here for a while.

“Coach, I…” I stammered when I ran into him in the hallway.

“Go home, Kane,” he said, tapping my back twice. “Get some rest. You really need it.”

“Fuck,” I muttered as I grabbed my bag and headed to my truck.

“Maddox, man,” Liam called, stopping me. “You good?”

“Yeah, just tired,” I said as the rest of the team walked up.

“Come drink with us,” one of the guys said.

“Yeah, that is a great idea,” Liam added.

“Nah.” I forced a chuckle. “Have fun though. Drink for me.”

“We definitely will,” they said, shaking my hand before walking off. Only Liam stayed behind.

“I heard what that little shit said to you,” Liam spat. “Do not let it get to your head. Take care.”

I watched him join the others. They deserved to celebrate. I got in my truck and drove to my penthouse. I needed to be alone. Maybe I would head to my cabin later in the week.

I changed into comfortable pajama pants and dropped onto the bed. A text from Coach came in.

“Good game today team. Take tomorrow off and be back in full capacity on Wednesday. Regards, Riggs.”

He gave the team a day off. They earned it. Too bad I was suspended for three games.

I dropped my phone and fell asleep fast. I was exhausted.

The next day passed in a blur. I stayed in bed most of the day binge-watching Game of Thrones. It was my comfort show, and I needed the escape. Hockey had been taken from me temporarily, and the emptiness felt heavy.

My phone rang in the evening. It was Nia. She rarely called.

Chapter 18

I picked up immediately. “Yeah?”

“Why in God’s name is the news of your engagement trending?” Her voice was sharp with anger.

“Wait, what?” I grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. The headline was the first thing I saw.

“Maddox,” Nia said, clearly pissed.

“I have no idea,” I told her honestly.

“Well, what do we do now?” she asked, irritated. I could picture her pacing.

“I will handle it. Do not worry. I promise I will.”

“That is exactly what you said last time before it got to this level,” she replied coldly and ended the call.

I called my private investigator right away. “Find out who leaked this.”

“Fucking hell,” I muttered after I hung up. It felt like I could not go one full day without some new problem.

Who would leak something like this? Bella? My father? Beck?

I got dressed fast and drove to Bella’s condo in West Vancouver. She lived close. The building was all white walls and gold floor-to-ceiling windows.

“My, my,” Bella purred when she opened the door. “To what do I owe this visit?”

“Cut the bullshit, Bella.”

Her smile faded slightly. “Excuse me?”

“You leaked the engagement.”

She folded her arms slowly. “And if I did?”

Anger flared hot in my chest.

“You think this is a game?” I stepped closer. “My entire life is blowing up and you’re playing princess with the tabloids.”

Bella tilted her head. “Funny. You only come looking for me when you’re angry.”

“Answer the damn question.”

Her eyes dragged over me slowly. “Would it matter if I said no?”

I clenched my jaw.

Bella stepped closer until her fingers curled around the front of my shirt.

“You’re upset,” she said softly. “And whenever you’re upset, you look for something to destroy.”

“Bella-

“Tell me to stop and I will.”

The room went quiet. Then she kissed me.

It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t romantic. It was messy, angry, and familiar. Years of toxic habits crashing together at once.

Chapter 18

And for one weak moment, I kissed her back.

Not because I wanted her.

Because I was angry. Because I was exhausted. Because for a few selfish minutes, I wanted to stop thinking about Nia.

Bella’s hands slid under my shirt as we stumbled toward the couch. Her robe slipped off one shoulder. My grip tightened on her waist automatically, muscle memory taking over.

Everything about this felt wrong.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify