Page 61 of Falling for You

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 oneto 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.

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