Brad smacked Cash on the back. “Good job. Take the rest of the day off.”

Cash rolled his eyes. “You’re all fucking heart. Where’s Natalia?”

“Jesus. If Rupe were here now…”

“Screw you.”

Brad laughed. “I wouldn’t worry. I’ve already filled him in on recent developments. He’s hoping to make it back in time for the final. And if he does, well, I pity you, buddy.”

“I have to get to the final first, and then I’ll deal with Rupe. Is Natalia okay? I saw her having a spat with Kinga before the match started.”

Brad frowned. “I never saw that.”

“I noticed. I put you in charge of looking after my girl, and within five minutes, you’re distracted.”

“Your girl? Sounding serious there, bud. Something you want to tell me?”

Cash scrubbed a hand over his face. “Can’t get enough.”

For a beat, Brad’s mouth froze open, and then his face broke into a huge grin. “Christ. Do we need to call a press conference and announce you’re off the market?”

“No need for the press conference, but yeah, my screwing-around days are over. She’s everything I want.”

“Wow.” Brad paused for a moment and then clapped him hard on the back. “I approve. I mean, seriously, she’s a total keeper.”

Cash nodded. “I know. Pussy-whipped or what?”

Brad shrugged. “Who cares?”

“All I have to do now is stop Kinga scaring her away.”

“I have a feeling she can handle Kinga. All she needs to know is that she has your support, and her confidence in dealing with Kinga will grow. As you asked, I left her waiting for you in the lounge down the hall.”

“Thanks. I’m trying to keep her away from the press and the public as long as possible.”

“It’s a good strategy. Let her settle in gently. Practice court at ten tomorrow. Don’t be late.”

Cash nodded. He should be going straight to the press conference, but he wanted to see Natalia first. As he headed down the hall, his excitement grew. The thrill he’d felt on court knowing she was in the stands supporting him had been a hell of a rush. He’d fucking loved it. And the match being over so quickly was a major plus because it meant they could spend more time together.

He opened the door to the lounge, and for a second, he struggled to comprehend what the fuck was going on. Natalia was lying on the ground with Kinga crouched over her.

“Natalia?” he said, striding into the room.

Kinga glanced over her shoulder, her face ashen. “Cash. God, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.”

Cash moved Kinga out of the way and dropped to his knees beside his girl. Her cheek was swollen with the beginnings of a dark bruise, and blood was dripping from the corner of her mouth. She appeared dazed though conscious.

He gently wiped the blood away with his thumb and glared at Kinga. “What the fuck happened?”

“We were arguing. Honestly, Cash, she gave as good as she got. I just lost my temper.”

A cold blast of air almost knocked him sideways and, on instinct, he reached for Natalia’s hand. “You hit her?”

“I didn’t mean it. Cash, please—”

“Shut the fuck up, Kinga,” he bit out. “Not one more fucking word.”

Flames of rage licked at his insides as he lifted Natalia into his arms and gently laid her on the sofa. He brushed a damp lock of hair from her forehead and kissed the corner of her mouth that wasn’t covered in blood.

“Stay there, baby.”

“Cash,” she whispered, clutching his arm. “Don’t.”

Already, she knew him so well. “Too late, sweetness.”

He gently removed her hand from his arm and spun around. Gripping Kinga by the elbow, he crossed the room and wrenched the door open.

“You’re fired, Kinga.”

She jerked her arm from his grip. “Cash, no! Let me explain.”

“Forget it. I’m not interested. You’re done. You and me, we’re done. You fucked it up the minute you laid a finger on her.”

Her clasping hands reached for his face, and he recoiled. If she touched him, he wouldn’t be held responsible for his actions.

She crossed her arms in front of her chest and adopted a sullen look. “You can’t manage without me. You need me, Cash.”

He looked her up and down and sneered. He didn’t know who this person was. She’d meant the world to him once, but now, he could barely stand to look at her. “Spare me the semantics, Kinga. And for the record, I don’t need you. I need her.”

Kinga gripped the necklace she always wore and zigzagged the cross along the chain. “You’ve known her ten minutes. I’ve been by your side for eight years, Cash. Eight goddamn years. Are you really going to throw that away?”

“I didn’t throw it away. You did.” He turned his back on her and strode across the room. Kneeling beside Natalia, he kissed her damp forehead. “Want to get out of here?” he whispered.

“Yes, please.”

He helped her up, supporting her weight as she leaned against him. Kinga was standing in the doorway, blocking their exit.

“Move, Kinga,” he said, his voice dripping with contempt. She hesitated before grudgingly stepping aside.

“My lawyer will be in touch about dissolving our contract. And don’t even think about fighting me on this because I swear, if you do, I will ruin you.”

Struggling to control emotions that were making it difficult to breathe properly, Cash called Isaac and told him to bring the car around to the players’ entrance. He’d have some explaining to do to the tournament director about why he wasn’t attending the post-match interviews, but too bad. Natalia was much more important.

They managed to get to the car without being spotted by the press, and once inside, he tilted her face to the side and hissed. Her cheek was swollen, the bruise already coming out, and her lip was split.

She covered his hand with her own. “I’m okay, Cash.”

“No, you’re fucking not. She’s lucky I didn’t kill her.”

Natalia caressed his face. “I have to take some of the blame. I knew I was winding her up, although I have to admit, a smack in the face was the last thing I expected.” She began to laugh then winced. “She’s got a bloody good right hook.”

He glowered, his anger so raw it scared even him. “I don’t find this remotely funny. I am going to make her so fucking sorry for hurting you.”

Natalia unhooked her seatbelt and shuffled over to his side. She nestled her arm around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder.

“Cash, leave it. You’ve fired her. It’s done. And it is a little bit funny. Not as funny as your face, though.”

He knew what she was trying to do—and it was starting to work. His pulse began to return to normal.

“You should put your seatbelt back on,” he said, draping an arm over her shoulder, which prevented her from doing just that. “And I do not have a funny face.”

She grinned up at him. “You don’t have my view, ace.”

His lips twitched. “We need to get ice on your cheek. It’ll help reduce the swelling. Isaac, call ahead and get ice delivered to the apartment.”

“Yes, sir.”

Cash flicked the switch that separated the front of the car from the back. Natalia’s composure was like a soothing balm to his anger. Being in her calming presence helped dissipate the earlier rage he’d felt.

“You played great today,” she said, snuggling into his side.

“Early days. It helped knowing you were in the crowd.”

She gazed up at him. Her innocence was beguiling, and he couldn’t help touching his lips to hers, but when she flinched, he pulled back.

“Does it hurt very much?” He couldn’t keep the hard undertone from leaking into his voice.

“A bit. It’ll soon heal.” She touched her cheek with her fingertips. “Cash, stop worrying. I’m tougher than I look.”

“I never thought she’d do anything like that.”

“Like I said, she’s obsessed with you. Women can be fearsome when we think someone’s after what’s ours.”

“I’ve never been hers.”

“In your head, that’s true. But in hers…?” Natalia sighed. “I think she’s ill, Cash. She seemed to think if I disappeared, suddenly the two of you would hook up. I agree with you firing her. I won’t lie—it’ll be less tense with her gone. But go easy. At least give her a severance payment and a good set of references.”

Incredulous, he stared at Natalia. “She hit you. And fucking hard by the way your cheek is swelling. I can put up with the drunken attempts to seduce me, her smothering overprotectiveness, even her mood swings. But violence? She’s not getting a fucking penny from me.”

“Cash—”

“Enough, Natalia. The subject is closed.”