“Really?” I eye her. “Then it’s over for them.” To the man, I say, “Get to it now.”
Once he leaves, I allow myself to face Maddie. Her eyes look strained underneath the moonlight.
“Oh, Maddie.” I tug her into my arms and she lays her head on my chest. “It’s over.”
Her hands wrap around my midsection. “I was so scared.”
“Shhh.” I rub up and down her back, breathing in the sweet fragrance of her hair, feeling her warmth. “You’re alright. Everyone who had a hand in this will get their due recompense, I promise.”
Finally, Maddie stops shaking and takes a step back. “Thank you for this.” Her eyes meet mine.
I know there’s abutcoming and it crushes me.
“But I’m leaving.”
“No.”
“You can’t keep me here,” she says.
Of course, I can’t. If I force her, I’d be no different from the men that harassed her tonight. So I go with the only card I have left to play.
“We had a deal and it ends on Monday. It’s not over yet. You have to keep your word.”
Her eyes stray into the dark, her eyelids blinking rapidly. She can’t deny it. I’ve got her—but only until Monday.
The unpleasantness tightens my chest. I don’t want that to eclipse the short time we have left. “Let me take you to your villa.”
Her gaze meets mine, soft and vulnerable. “Okay.”
I throw one last glance over my shoulder to see the team putting the men in the car. Soon enough, we’d know all we need to and then it’s payback time.
Maddie is quiet on the ride back. When we stop in front of her villa, she gets out. She walks stiffly up the walkway. I climb out too.
She rounds the house and enters through the backdoor, nearly shutting the door in my face.
I catch the door with one arm and follow her anyway.
She heads to her room. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
I don’t like the way her voice sounds like she’s barely holding in tears. “I want to make sure you’re fine.”
“I am,” she snaps.
Her tone doesn’t deter me. She walks into her room and I catch the door, closing in behind me. Then I come to a stop.
“I promise I’m—” Her eyes meet my face and follow to where my gaze is fixed.
Her clothes are piled up in her half-closed suitcase. She’s already packed?
My eyes connect with hers.
She shakes her head quickly. “It’s not what you’re thinking. I…”
“You were going to leave without telling me?” Does she hate me that much?
Her lips tremble.
Even if I’m never going to keep her, I want this moment. I close the space between us and cup her face, looking into her eyes. Her gaze drops to my mouth.
