Maddie hasn’t said a word but she tracks my every move. I don’t go over to her. No, if I do that and she touches me, I will not be able to do what I need to do.
“You are going to turn yourself in.”
“No.” Her bottom lip quivers and she won’t quite look me in the eye.
The nerve in my right cheek twitches as I grind my teeth together. The audacity of my angel is intriguing and infuriating at the same time.
“This isn’t an option Maddie. You …”
“No.” She interrupts me and I walk a tiny step closer to her. “I have a plan. One more kill and it’s done. They never need to know who it is.”
Maddie gets up and I back up. She gasps and the tears fall harder. “Daddy?”
She can’t use the weapon of her voice against me, dammit. Or at least that’s what I tell myself.
“No, Maddie. It’s Drew. Daddy isn’t here right now. You are in so much fucking trouble, and you need to take this seriously.”
Maddie stands there, hands in front of her, fingers interlaced and her head bowed. Shit, that’s hot but so not the right moment for this train of thought. Not when she is crying her eyes out and looks stricken. God, I didn’t want to back away from her, but she has to know I mean business.
“I know. You weren’t supposed to find out.” She speaks clearly with no remorse.
“Is that why Knave confessed? To keep you from going to jail?” I watch her as her head pops up. Fire in her eyes.
“No. He did it because he’s a fucking good friend. I didn’t put him up to it, and I told him to run. He’s not taking the heat for me.”
“Alright. Now, why did you think it was alright to be a vigilante?”
“You know my brother and father right? They chose those bastards over me. I’m not wrong with wanting justice. I would do it all over again.”
She steps closer to me and all I want to do is hug her. Kiss her. But I can’t. I have to stay strong and remember my oath.
“Drew, you have to understand, my father …” She closes her eyes and swallows down what I can only assume is a knot of emotion in her throat.
“He would have never let me leave here. They had … they had bad plans for me, and Donnie … he promised to make me pay as soon as we got to a private area. It was the only way I know how to get my revenge.”
I grab her and push her against the door. “You should have fucking came to me. Dammit, Maddie, I could have helped you. I could have made sure the truth got out there. Now? Now I have to turn in my badge because I fucking lied for you.”
My hands are on her shoulders, holding her down on the door. I’m not hurting her and if I am reading those perky nipples right, she’s turned on. Again, Drew not the time for this. I chastise myself trying to regroup.
“You wouldn’t have believed me. I know you said you would have, but you and Donnie were tight. Really tight. Plus, you were trying to make a name for yourself with father. So I get it. I did what was necessary. Now, just let me go finish off Donnie and then I’m done.”
“You aren’t going near Donnie. I don’t believe in what he did. He deserves to fry for the crimes he’s committed, but you are not going anywhere.”
A mixtureof emotions are running through me in a crazy cocktail of confusion. I am turned on by how forceful Drew is being. On the flip side of things, I’m scared to death he’s going to hate me forever. I don’t understand the mixed emotions at all. I can’t look at him anymore. The disappointment and anger in his eyes is killing me.
“Let me finish it, Drew,” I whisper.
“No. You are done Maddie. Done. Do you understand me?” He hits a hand against the door and I jump. “Are you going to turn me in?” I whisper.
He points to the bed. “Go get in the bed, now.”
He moves back from me and I skedaddle to the bed. My heart is racing in terror and delight. Fuck, I wish my heart and mind would get on the same damn page.
Drew stalks over to me and when he begins to pull his belt buckle loose, I lose my shit. “I’m sorry, Drew. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Please don’t hit me.” Fuck, I never thought Drew would hurt me. I scramble over the bed and stand there, wide eyed and frantic.
“Stop it, Maddie. I’m not going to hit you. I’m taking the belt off so I can take my pants off. I’m going to hold you and discuss this entire fiasco.”
“Oh.” I’m shaking so bad, I almost fall over. Am I ever going to be alright to be with him? My mind laughs at how stupid I am. He’s not going to talk to me about being with me. Nope. He will insist on telling me why I have to turn myself in.
