Chapter 24 Gasps everywhere . Someone screamed . Security rushed forward , people yelling , but Beckley didn't even flinch . His cheek burned red where I hit him , his chest rising like a beast , his eyes locked only on me . " You think this is over ? " he snarled , ignoring the guards shoving him back . " I will never go back to New York unless I have you home with me . " He shoved one of the men aside , lunging for me again , fingers brushing my wrist . And then - Kendrick . He came striding in from the hall , holding a bouquet like he had just walked out of a dream and right into a nightmare . The second his eyes caught Beckley's hands on me , he dropped the flowers . " Get your filthy hands off her , " Kendrick growled , his voice so low it shook me . Beckley spun , smirking , blood in his smile . " Oh look . The pretender . You think she's yours ? You think you can protect her from me ? " Kendrick didn't answer with words . He lunged , grabbing Beckley by the collar and slamming him back . Beckley shoved , Kendrick punched . Beckley roared and swung wild . Two billionaires , fists flying like boys in a back alley . " Holy shit are they really fighting over her ? " someone whispered . " Two billionaires brawling for one woman ? Unreal . " " God I wish a man like that would fight for me ." " Girl , this is like a movie . " " Who's gonna win ? My money's on Kendrick . " I couldn't breathe watching . Blood , sweat , grunts , the sick thud of fists hitting flesh . Kendrick's lip split , Beckley's nose gushing . Security circled but no one dared step in until Beckley stumbled , losing ground . Kendrick shoved him hard to the floor . Guards swarmed , piling on Beckley . He fought them like a rabid dog , screaming my name . " Claire ! Claire ! This isn't over ! You're mine ! You'll always be mine ! I'll come back for you ! " They dragged him out , his voice echoing , leaving the whole studio frozen . My hands shook as I pulled Kendrick into the dressing room , slammed the door , locked it . He was bleeding , panting , fists still clenched like he hadn't realized the fight ended . " You're insane , " I snapped , grabbing the first aid kit . My hands wouldn't stop trembling as I dabbed at his lip . " What were you thinking ? Beckley is crazy . He could've had a Chapter 24 2/3 84.5 % 9:14 Thu , Oct 16 B 96 gun , he could've killed you right there in front of everyone . Look at you , you're bleeding all over me ! " He didn't argue . He just watched me , eyes soft , like none of the chaos mattered . His chest heaved , jaw bruised , but he looked at me like I was the only person alive . I slammed the cotton pad against his lip harder than I needed to . " Do you think this is funny ? You're not invincible , Kendrick . That man won't stop until one of us is dead . And you just painted a bigger target on yourself . " Still silent . His hand lifted , rough fingers brushing mine , steadying me . " Would you be mad too ," he rasped , voice raw from shouting , " if I told you I love you ? " I froze . My breath caught . My hands shook harder . He leaned closer , whispering , the words burning . " And would you hate me if I told you I've known the truth ? I've known since last year . " My knees nearly buckled . My chest ached like someone crushed it in their hands . " Kendrick ... " I whispered , my throat raw , unsure if I wanted to scream or collapse . He didn't flinch , didn't back down . " I'm not afraid of Beckley . I'm not afraid of your past . But you need to know , Claire ... I'm not letting you fight this war alone anymore . " My chest was still pounding from Kendrick's words . Love . Claire Montgomery . He said it like he'd been carrying it forever , like he wasn't afraid . And me ? I couldn't breathe . My skin burned and froze at the same time . I pushed him back , not rough , but firm enough so he'd know I meant it . I kept my eyes down so he couldn't see how shaken I was . " I ... I can't do this right now , " I whispered , voice cracking . " My head's a mess . I need space . " His jaw tightened , his lip still bleeding, but he didn't argue . He just breathed slowly , like he was trying to keep himself from breaking something . " I'm not going anywhere ," he said , voice softer than it had any right to be . I couldn't look at him again . I just grabbed my bag and stumbled out , flashes blinding me , people shouting questions . None of it mattered . My chest hurt too much . By the time I got back to Helena's mansion , my whole body felt like it was floating . March and July rushed up , their faces sharp with worry . " Claire , are you okay ? " July asked . " Yes ," I lied , brushing past them . " I just need to rest . " In my room , I stood in front of the mirror . My mascara smeared down my cheeks , my hair a wreck . My eyes didn't even look like mine anymore . They looked like a Chapter 24 2/3 84.5 % 9:14 Thu , Oct 16 stranger's . ༦ རཱ ( ) I swore right there - I wouldn't fall apart . Not until Beckley destroyed himself . Not until Fresca ate her own poison . Not until he regretted every scar he carved into me . I sank into the bath and stayed there for two hours , letting the water burn and cool around me until my skin pruned . After I changed and crawled into bed , I prayed for sleep , but my mind wouldn't stop . Beckley's face , Kendrick's voice , Fresca's wild eyes - circling , haunting . At some point , exhaustion pulled me under . The dream started in smoke . A dark room , shadows twisting , the walls breathing heat . Fresca was suddenly there , straddling me , her nails digging deep into my throat . Her grin stretched sharp , eyes blazing hate . " You think you can rise again ? " she hissed . " You think you can take what's mine ? " I tried to scream , but her fingers crushed the sound . Behind her , Judas slid out of the shadows , voice dripping like oil . " I already poured the gas , baby . I lit the fire . " Flames roared behind them , swallowing the room whole . I couldn't move , couldn't breathe . Then I woke up - only it wasn't waking . My nose stung with real smoke . My throat burned from real hands . Fresca was on top of me , choking me for real , her face twisted , lips close to mine . " You should've stayed dead , Claire , " she spat , spit hitting my cheek . Her grip tightened and my vision blurred . Behind her , Judas leaned on the doorframe , a gas can swinging from his hand . He flicked a lighter open and shut , open and shut , eyes dead cold . " Time to burn it all down , baby . Let's go . " The curtains caught first , fire crawling fast . The whole room lit up like hell had opened its mouth . They both slipped out laughing , Fresca's giggle shrill as glass , Judas's smirk the last thing I saw before the door slammed . " HELP ! HELPPP ME ! " I thrashed , wrists raw against the ropes . My lungs screamed for air . This wasn't a nightmare . This was real . And I was trapped in their fire . Chapter 24