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“She went out about thirty minutes ago. What’s the problem?” she asks innocently, and I know Maria, she’s not fucking innocent at all. “I believe you told her she wasn’t a prisoner, or something to that effect.”
“I also told her not to fucking leave the house!”
“Yes, well, we all know that was never going to happen. That woman can’t be told what do, Maddox. Come on, you know this. Besides, I imagine she’s gone to find some answers for herself and fix your problem in the cellar.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? And don’t talk riddles to me, Maria, I’m not in the mood.” I can see Zak in the corner of my eye on his phone. No doubt ringing Roxy, but from the look on his face, he’s not having any luck.
“Maddox, you’re a smart, yet calculating, man, so surely you didn’t fail to consider what impact pulling Roxy from everything she’s known for the last ten years would have on her. A life I’m very aware you had a hand in. If you want any chance of getting her to cooperate instead of fighting you, then you’re going to have to give her a reason. A damn good one.
“As for your little problem in the cellar, well, you need him. And I know that goes against everything you believe, everything you’ve had drilled into you. And that’s my point, Maddox.” And with that she moves passed me and into her room at the end of the hall.
I round on Zak, who is still attempting to get hold of Roxanne. “I want to know everything, then if she’s not back, you’ll go and look for her while I head to The Scarlett Door for the meet with Marchant.”
I take a couple of semi-calming breaths, which don’t touch the sides of my anger. We always knew that bringing Roxanne back would be a problem, and Maria was right, I’d not really considered just how difficult it would be to make her see things differently.
Now, my eyes are wide fucking open.
Changing beliefs that have been ingrained, indoctrinated for years is going to take more than a simple click of my fingers. This is not a case of just ordering her to forget everything she’s upheld and lived for, and that is a tough pill to swallow for a guy like me.
Yes, I’ve changed too, but mine has been an evolution of who I already was, who I was becoming even before Zak and I made the deal with Theo.
After Roxanne’s mum was murdered and her sister disappeared, we cut her off, and it was the single hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I’ve killed men with my bare hands. I’ve blown their brains out while their wife or girlfriend stood beside them. I’ve sold my soul to the devil a hundred times over and committed it to Hell once my life is done, and I’d do it all again if I had to.
Roxanne has no idea of the danger she’s in, no reason to listen when I tell her to stay indoors, no reason to trust me. And that’s on me and Zak. Those are the consequences of a decision we made ten years ago.
When Zak begins telling me what happened with Roxanne and Axel in the cellar, I wished I’d been here to see her in her element, in her safe place.
Her methods might differ greatly from ours, but the results are the same. Sometimes.
Only there’s no room in this world for the softly, softly approach. There’s no room for ‘let’s wait and see what they do next’. In this world a split second of hesitation will cost you everything.
“Axel has no idea how Rogers found out about Eva. All he knows is that Rogers is threatening to tell Laskin about her. Possibly use her as bait or some shit. Who the hell knows what lengths the wanker will go to get what he wants.”
“I’m guessing that’s rhetorical because we both know exactly how far Rogers is willing to go. What I really want to know is how Roxanne knew who she was, and why she’s so keen to protect her.” I check my watch, conscious that I need to be at The Scarlett Door in less than an hour, and there’s still no sign of Roxanne. I catch Zak’s eye, and he immediately picks his phone up, trying her again.
“I’ll keep trying, but you need to get going.” He lets out a frustrated breath as I hear Roxanne’s voicemail pick up once more. “I could try ringing—”
“No!” I snap harshly. “The less contact we have with him now the better. Give Bowser a call and get him to track her phone again. Keep me posted and don’t do anything stupid, Zak. Just find her.”
Zak raises a questioning brow at me. “You’re telling me not to do anything stupid? Okay, man, whatever you say, “he says, bringing the phone to his ear again.
I hear Bowser’s gravelly voice come down the line as I leave the kitchen for the front door.
Out in the garage, I bypass my car, deciding that I need something a little more edgy and dangerous tonight.
I throttle it all the way to The Scarlett Door and even run a few red lights. It’s a quick journey but long enough for me to come up with a new plan on our deal with Marchant. Parking my bike out the back, I let myself in the back door and run right into Ripley as he’s exiting the office.
“Maddox, good timing. Marchant just walked in the door.”
I grunt in acknowledgment and follow behind Ripley as we enter the bar. I had hoped the ride over would have calmed me a little, but all it did was generate a nice shot of adrenaline, which is now further fuelling my earlier fiery fury. A fury that has no outlet, and no one target but many.
It’s early and the club isn’t officially open for another couple of hours, by which time, Marchant will be long gone and so will I.
Candi is at the bar chatting to Lila, while over on the far side, Heather is practicing her routine to some low, sultry number, wrapping her leg around the pole before arching her back toward where her audience will be shortly.
The girls’ conversation dies as Ripley and I reach the bar. Lila’s eyes subtly flick over my shoulder, no doubt looking for Zak. A spark of disappointment flickers in her eyes momentarily when she realises I’m alone.
The sound of feet shuffling across the floor, several of them, and muted conversation catches my attention as Lila places a drink down on the bar in front of me. I wrap my hand around the glass and turn toward Marchant and his men, leaning casually against the bar.
