Page 129 of Breaking Rules

Reluctantly, he takes a step back, chest heaving.

“Isabella is the love of my life,” Jake roars. “And you fucking took her from me. I was sure she’d give me another chance until Cindy told me she saw you two together at the store. I thought the slut was lying, but it’s the fucking truth!”

“You thought you’d show your love for me by hurting me? By raping me?” My voice trembles, my body shuddering.

“I wasn’t going to rape you.” He takes a step toward me, but Xander blocks his path. “Let me talk to her!”

“No.” Xander squares his shoulders.

“It’s not for you to decide, Walker!”

I lock eyes with Jake over Xander’s shoulder. He looks pathetic. Perhaps we should’ve sat him down and told him ourselves. Not because he deserves it. Not because I owe it to him. No, because Xander and I don’t deserve to have to deal with him. We deserve to be free of him once and for all.

Slowly, I step forward and put a hand on Xander’s forearm. He squints at me, his lips pursed into a thin line.

I give him a small smile.

“Bella…” he warns, shaking his head.

“It’ll be okay.” I slide my hand down his arm and lace our fingers.

Xander sighs, his gaze softening. “Fine, but he’s talking to both of us.”

“Of course,” I say. “Let’s go to the living room.”

Jake’s gaze darts to our entwined fingers. Anger flares in his eyes again, but he tempers it and nods. “Fine.”

I let Milo out of the closet while Xander herds Jake to the living room. Then, Xander and I shuffle into the kitchen. I leave him there and go in search of the first aid kit in the primary bathroom. Xander plucks a few supplies from it and takes them to Jake. When he returns to me, I tend to his knuckles. They’re bloody, but the sight of them causes warmth to spread through my veins. He defended me without a second thought, putting his career and reputation at risk simply because he loves me.

“We need to call the police.” Xander’s voice is just above a whisper.

I shake my head. “No. You’ve already risked enough for me. If he presses assault charges, it could ruin your career.”

“Bella, if I hadn’t gotten here when I did?—”

“I know.” I look up at him. His eyebrows are pulled together, a deep wrinkle crossing his forehead. “But think of all the ways the press can twist this. They could label Jake the victim, while you got involved with your teammate’s girlfriend. They’ll say you hurt your team’s wide receiver and weakened the Warriors’ chance at the Super Bowl. Fans wouldn’t appreciate it, and neither would management. I don’t want you to put your whole future at risk.”

“Then what do you suggest we do? Let him get away with it?Again?!” Xander snaps, his hand trembling in mine as I blot at his knuckles with a cotton ball.

“We’re going to tell him that if he tells anyone you hit him, I’ll go to the press and make a statement about how he treated me when we were together.”

“And I’ll go to management and the rest of the team.”

“That too.” I smile, caressing his wrist.

Xander chews his bottom lip. “For the record, I don’t like it, but okay. Let’s do it your way.”

“Thank you.” I thread my fingers through his and pull him toward the living room.

Xander and I sit on the couch across from Jake, our hands locked together.

Through hard, slitted eyes, the man I once thought was my forever scrutinizes me. He claims he loves me, but he only wants to possess me, control me. I know the difference now.

“How long have you been together?” Jake asks.

“For about a month,” I lie, holding his gaze. There’s no way I’m telling him the truth—that Xander and I have basically been together since I told him I needed a break.

“You were single for a month after our breakup?” he deadpans.

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