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“If I ever see you again, I will f**king kill you,” Madden shouted out into the night. The door swung closed and he turned to me. “Jesus Skylar, are you okay?”
I opened my mouth to answer, but all that came out was a hoarse ragged sob. If Madden hadn’t showed up when he did, I’d be dead. The realization of just how close I’d come made me weak.
My knees gave out and I sank to the floor.
Tears streamed down over my cheeks and I stared at my hands as I began shaking more than I’d ever shaken, like I’d been out in sub zero temperatures for hours.
Almost instantly, strong arms wrapped around me and lifted me up. Madden cradled me against his chest and I could hear his heart pounding furiously under my ear. “You’re going to be okay,” he murmured. “I’ll never let him get near you again.”
His body shuddered and he held me tighter. I nestled as close as I could get and closed my eyes. He moved across the room and I heard the door open. Cool air rushed into the room.
“My bag,” I rasped out. My neck throbbed painfully.
Madden eased me down into the chair and went to where I pointed, picking up the fallen bag and bringing it over to me. I slid the strap over my shoulder and when I tried to stand, he swooped in and lifted me again. Once more he opened the door and stepped out into the night. A few cars away I saw someone pointing a camera at us and I ducked my head, burying my face in the crook between Madden’s neck and shoulder.
His grip tightened and he turned his body sideways to keep me out of view of the camera. His steps were strong and sure until he stopped next to a sleek black sports car that was parked sideways across two spots in the middle of the parking lot.
He opened the passenger door and carefully set me inside. I sank down into soft black leather and then the door shut. His car smelled like a mix of his cologne and something spicier. Something wild. He slid into the driver’s seat and the car came to life with a purr. The seatbelts slid into place around us just as the car jerked forward with a roar now.
The dash lights illuminated the outline of his face. His jaw was clenched tight and I could see the muscles there ticking. He was very angry. I should have listened to him earlier. I should have let him take me away, take me somewhere safe and protected. But my pride had gotten the best of me.
“I’m sorry.” My throat was sore and it felt raw every time I swallowed.
His gaze swung to mine and I could practically hear his teeth grinding together. “I heard you scream.” his voice cracked and went hoarse. “I thought I was too late. For f**k’s sake Skylar, what were you thinking? He’s the reason you freaked out over the engagement being public? You were worried he’d find you?”
Fresh tears burned my eyes. I nodded. There was no reason not to tell Madden the truth now. Not after he beat the crap out of Jacob and risked is own life to save mine.
“Jacob’s my ex. I left him a week ago and drove as far as I could to get away from him. I didn’t get very far. But I was working at your building, cleaning the offices to make enough money to go further away, then find a new place and keep doing the same thing until...”
The truth was, I hadn’t really thought to question just how far away from Jacob would be far enough, or how I could ever truly feel safe. No matter how many miles I put between us, I’d always have to look over my shoulder.
I knew that now.
“You don’t have to run anymore and you don’t have to worry about him.” Madden’s knuckles tightened and turned white around the steering wheel. “I’ll make damn sure of that.”
“He’s a cop. He has ways…”
“No. Skylar, you don’t have to worry. I’m going to take care of it.” Steely determination hardened his jaw and when he glanced over at me, there was fierceness in his eyes I couldn't deny. I’d only know Madden a couple of days, but I knew that when he said something, he meant it.
Madden wanted to give me my life back. I reached over and laid my hand on his thigh. The muscles under my fingers went taut.
“Thank you for being here. For doing what you did tonight. Nobody’s ever done something like that for me.”
He pressed down on the accelerator and the car shot forward. This time of night there was little traffic.
“Where are we going?” I asked, feeling my body slowly starting to relax as the adrenaline wore off.
“Somewhere safe,” he replied, simply.
It turned out somewhere safe was a fancy five-star hotel that wasn’t far away.
He pulled up to the front and jumped out, tossing the valet his keys. Then he opened my door and scooped me out before I could stand up.
