Page 215 of Maddening Fixation

Still nothing.

“If he plans to kill me...” The words lodged painfully in my chest. “...just tell me now.”

I forced myself to keep talking.

“At least I’ll have time to prepare myself.”

Keegan finally spoke.

“He’ll do anything except kill you.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“Because if you’re dead...”

He glanced at me briefly. “...he can’t claim his inheritance.”

The answer offered no comfort.

If anything, it terrified me even more.

There were fates far worse than death.

And Romeo Flynn had already shown me exactly the kind of man he was.

I lowered my eyes to my trembling hands.

My fingers twisted together over and over, desperately searching for something to hold on to.

Anything.

After several long minutes, I gathered enough courage to speak again.

“Any news about my mother?” My voice cracked. “Please. Just tell me she’s alive.”

I searched Keegan’s face for an answer.

His jaw tightened.

“Stop asking questions.” The words came like a whip.

His foot slammed harder on the accelerator.

The engine roared.

The car surged forward, pressing me back into my seat as the scenery outside blurred even faster.

I fell silent, trembling violently, too terrified and broken to speak.

The rest of the journey passed without another word.

When we finally pulled into the driveway, the headlights swept across the front of the bungalow. Keegan killed the engine and stepped out without looking at me, as though he were too careful—or perhaps too afraid—to meet my eyes.

I swallowed hard.

The knot in my stomach tightened.

Slowly, I opened the door and stepped onto unsteady legs.