Thought you’d ignore me, sweetheart? I hear my parole officer is looking for me. How do you think he’d react if I showed them this? Did you know that boyfriend of yours killed a guy? Milton Travis was just a kid. And your boyfriend got away with actual murder, sweetheart. Until now.
I can’t breathe. Suddenly Maddox’s bathroom feels tiny. There’s no air in here at all. How can Frank know about that? And where the hell did he get this photo from? Of course pictures can be doctored, and there’s no actual proof there that Maddox did anything, but how does he evenknow.
Fingers quaking, I type out my reply.
You’re insane. I have no idea what you’re talking about.
I guess he hasn’t told you about his sordid past then, huh? But unless you want me to tell the cops everything I know, you’ll do as I ask.
That photograph proves nothing. Lorenzo cleaned up the crime scene. Even if there was evidence, which is unlikely given my uncle’s reputation, it would be long gone.
And in case you’re wondering if I’m bluffing, I have receipts, sweetheart. Enough to put that fuck in jail for the rest of his life.
Liar.I type back my reply.
Are you willing to take that chance?
Maddox James, the sweetest, kindest, most caring man in the whole world. The man I adore more than anything. I would die before I let my father hurt him.
I no longer care about bad publicity, or giving in to blackmail, or whether Frank will come back for more. All I care about is Maddox not going to jail. I cannot let this happen. I cannot let Maddox be a victim of his evil world and twisted schemes. My anger is what fuels me now.
What do you want?
I want you, sugar. We have a lot of catching up to do. You, for the information I have on your boyfriend. We can talk properly. I’ll send you a time and place. Just remember, if you tell anyone at all, I’ll send what I have straight to the cops. It’s him or you. Your choice, Ellie. Do we have a deal?
I know I can’t trust him, but what else can I do? I can’t let this happen. I have to protect Maddox, no matter what it costs.
Yes,we have a deal.
I thought so. You always were daddy’s good little girl. If you tell that bastard Nathan James, or that bitch in Chicago, I will know. And I will punish you for it, just like I always did. And I’ll punish your little boy toy even harder. Understood?
Yes. Understood. He will try and destroy Maddox, I have no doubt. He has no compassion in his heart for anyone but himself.
I hear Maddox moving around outside, and he knocks on the door. “You still okay in there, baby?”
I pull myself together. Gulp in some air and give myself a pep talk. Maddox has kept me by his side since this all started, and I’ve been grateful. He’s made me feel safe and secure and loved. But now isn’t the time for any of that. Now is the time to be a warrior, for his sake. If that means I have to lie to the man I love more than anything, then that’s what I have to do.
I open the door, flash him a huge smile. “All good. Just, uh, I got my period. Now I have cramps.”
He frowns. “You’re early.”
God, I love and hate that he knows that information.
Now his expression is one of concern. “I’m sorry, baby. You want me to get you a hot water bottle?”
It breaks my heart how sweet and genuine he is. He’s just the very best man ever, and I’m about to do something that I know will hurt him. It doesn’t matter, I tell myself. This is to protect him. He’d do the same for me without a second’s pause, and he will understand in the end. I can’t risk telling him because he’ll talk me out of it and probably call the cops on himself. I can’t tell his family, or my mom, or anyone at all. Not with Maddox’s life in danger. It’s not worth it.
I wrap my arms around my stomach and act like I’m in pain. It’s not hard because I am. Just a different kind of pain. “It’s real bad, Maddox. I think maybe it’s all the stress.”
“Of course. Tell me what I can do for you. Anything at all.”
I pretend to think it through, even though I already know exactly what I’m going to ask for. “Do you have any Tylenol, maybe an Advil? We left my place in such a hurry, I didn’t bring everything I needed with me.”
I know for a fact that he doesn’t keep drugs in his apartment, even the relatively benign ones I asked for. But I also know that he will want to do anything he can to help me. “No, baby. I could go get some, but I don’t really want to leave you. Maybe I can ask Mel to call round with some? You need any products, too?”
Damn. I should have guessed he’d come up with a sensible solution. I groan and let tears fill my eyes. Again, that is not difficult. It’s a relief to let them fall. To release some of the raw emotion I’m carrying right now. “I’m not sure I can wait that long Maddox. And I’d go myself, but I have my meeting.”
Worry flickers across his handsome features. I feel like such an asshole for deceiving him. He reaches out and strokes the side of my face. I hold his hand to my mouth and kiss his palm.
