Chapter 25 96 KENDRICK'S POV The call ripped me out of sleep . Helena's voice on the other end was broken , frantic . " Kendrick , the mansion's on fire . Claire's inside . " I didn't even put shoes on . I grabbed my keys and drove like a madman , every red light , every horn , nothing mattered . My chest was ripping open . All I could see was her face in that dressing room , her trembling hands when she wiped my blood . Her whisper - ' I need space . ' When I pulled up , the mansion was already swallowed in flames . People shouting , sirens screaming , smoke everywhere . My eyes searched , blind with panic . Then I saw her . They carried her out , half - conscious , soot smeared across her skin , lips tinted blue . Her arms and legs were burned , her chest barely moving . For one second my heart stopped . I lunged forward but froze when I saw who had her - Beckley . His suit was singed , his shoulder wrapped in gauze , face pale but hard . He set her down on the gurney , his jaw clenched . I stormed at him , fury spitting from my throat . " What the fuck did you do to her ?! " He spun on me , eyes wild . " You think I burned her ? If it was me , you think I'd be here dragging her out of the fire ?! " I shoved him back , my chest heaving . " She almost died ! And you're the one who's been stalking her like a psycho ! " His laugh was jagged , bitter . " Don't you dare pin this on me . I'd never torch her . Never . She's mine . " The ambulance doors slammed shut , cutting us both off . I climbed in beside her , never letting go of her hand . Beckley followed in his own car . At the hospital , every second stretched like torture . Doctors swarmed her , and I snapped at them when they tried to push me out . " Talk to me ! Is she breathing or not ? " One doctor muttered she was critical , almost gone from smoke . My throat burned . I called my security team , the ones who were supposed to be outside Helena's gate . " Where the hell were you ? " I roared . The line went quiet , then stammering . " S - sorry , boss ... we were drinking- " I hurled the phone against the wall , my hands shaking . " You useless bastards . " I sat by her bed , refusing to leave . Helena came in , pale but steady , July and March Chapter 24 3/3 85.7 % 9:14 Thu , Oct 16 96 with her . Beckley stood in the corner , bandage fresh on his shoulder , his face carved out of rage . We all just waited , praying her chest kept rising . Then my team sent me proof . CCTV footage , receipts . Fresca and Judas buying gas . Handing money to the guards . Laughing like devils while plotting Claire's death . I marched across the room and slammed the file into Beckley's chest . " Look at this . Look at what your fucking wife did . Fresca tried to kill her . Her lover helped ." His face drained , then twisted into something brutal . He grabbed the papers , his hands shaking . " No ... no . Fresca ... " He read , and his voice broke into a roar . " That bitch ! " I shoved him again , my voice shaking with fury . " You married a snake . You let her crawl into your house . And now Claire almost died because of you ! " He didn't even hit back this time . He just ripped the bandage off his shoulder and stormed to the door , spitting through his teeth . " Where is she ? Where the fuck is Fresca ? " Helena's voice cut the silence . " If you find her , Beckley , you better finish it . Because if you don't , I will . " Beckley didn't answer . He slammed out , his footsteps like gunshots . I turned back to Claire , her face pale against the pillow . I touched her hand , lowering my head . " You're safe now , baby . I swear . I'll bury them before they ever touch you again ." I was half - asleep on the hospital bed beside Claire when my phone started buzzing like hell . I snatched it before it woke her . " Boss , " my head of security's voice was sharp , nervous . " It's Beckley . His car got hit hard . Not an accident . Black SUV came out of nowhere , rammed him head - on . " I sat straight , my chest tightening . " You telling me someone tried to kill him ? " " Yes , sir . Witnesses say it was deliberate . Word is ... Fresca gave Judas the order . " I let out a dry laugh . " Karma finally bites Beckley . He married a snake . " My jaw clenched . " But make no mistake , I'm not letting her walk away from this . Find Fresca . Find Judas . Now ." " Sir , Fresca has already slipped back to New York . Judas is still at the airport , trying to get out . " My voice dropped lower , colder . " Freeze him . Don't kill him . I want him breathing . He's my rope to hang her ." Chapter 25 2/3 88.1 % 9:15 Thu , Oct 16 96 When I went to see Beckley in the hospital , he looked like hell . Bandages wrapped around his chest , his ribs taped , face pale . The second he saw me , he croaked , " Claire . How's Claire ? " I stared at him for a moment . " Still fighting . She'll make it . But your wife ? " I leaned closer . " She crossed the line . She tried to kill you . And she tried to kill Claire ." He tried to sit up , rage burning in his eyes even through the pain . I shoved him gently back down . " Don't be stupid , you'll rip your stitches . Listen to me . I'll bring Fresca to you . Alive or in pieces . That's my word . " For a second , he just breathed hard , eyes shaking with fury . And I hated it , but I respected him right there . He saved Claire from the fire . He put his body on the line . For that , I owed him . Hours later my men dragged Judas into a private room at the airport . He was tied to a chair, sweat dripping down his face , trying to act tough but shaking like a leaf . I leaned against the table , calm . " So. You thought you'd run ? " " Boss , I swear- " he stammered . I slammed my fist on the table , the sound making him jump . " Don't lie to me. Who gave the order ? " His lips trembled . Then it all spilled . " It was Fresca , alright ? She told me to . She said if I loved her , I'd handle it . I've been doing her dirty work for years . Burning the Montgomery mansion ? That was me . Crashing Beckley's car ? Her plan . Everything ." My blood went cold . " So you've been her little dog all along . " He nodded like a desperate man . " I did it all because I love her . You don't understand . Bennett's kid ? That's mine . Fresca's and mine . She promised me everything if I just cleaned up for her ." I grabbed his collar , yanking him forward till his nose almost hit mine . " You think I give a damn about your love story ? You tried to murder Claire . For that , I'll make sure you rot in a cell for the rest of your life . " He whimpered , eyes darting . " Boss , please- " I shoved him back in the chair , breathing hard . " Good . You'll testify . You'll spill every filthy thing you did for her in court . Then you'll rot like the rat you are . " I walked out before I snapped his neck myself . 2