Page 34 of A Dangerous Proposal

How the fuck was anyone supposed to prepare themselves for their child being taken away?

Madison didn’t realize she was trembling until Cami took the bouquet out of her arms. Tears slipped from her eyes, and Cami wrapped her arms around her, holding tight.

“I’m going to lose him.” Madison’s voice broke. “I don’t think I can bear it.”

Cami rubbed soothing circles on her back. “It’s going to be okay. This is just one overnight. Jax has been okay after his visits, right? They’re living at Felix’s in-laws, and his new wife, Mary, will be there. You said she seemed okay.”

Madison bit her tongue so hard she tasted blood. She knew her best friend was trying to make her feel better. Reassure her that Jax would be safe…

She wiped at her cheeks furiously, standing straight. “My attorney said that as long as Felix continues to test clean and maintains a stable life.” She made air quotes around the term. “It is almost a definite that he will gain custody.”

Madison barked out a watery laugh. “Mary is a doormat. The few times I’ve interacted with her at visitation hand-offs, she just smiles and looks at Felix like he hung the moon. I don’t know how he’s hid what he is from her and her family, but I know he won’t be able to keep up the act forever. And when he snaps…” Madison shuddered, feeling nauseous. “I don’t want Jax anywhere near him.”

She didn’t tell Cami that every time she saw Felix, she wanted to kill him. Beat him the same way he had her sister. Or that she saw the pure hatred toward her in Felix’s eyes when the others looked away.

He’d fooled everyone, but not her.

But this washerproblem. Cami had just come through her own ordeal, and Madison didn’t want her to worry. There was nothing her friend could do.

There was nothing any of them could do.

Hopelessness washed over her.

Cami took her hand. “Come over. We’ll eat junk, drink wine, and pretend like we are capable of staying up to watch the ball drop.”

Forcing down the pain, Madison managed a small smile. “Thanks for the offer. But you and James deserve to spend your first New Year’s together. You’re newlyweds.”

“You shouldn’t be alone.” Cami looked troubled.

“I’ll be fine. Probably just go to bed early.”

Cami frowned, but she knew better than to push.

“Okay, but if you change your mind, let me know.”

Chapter Ten

Madison sipped her glass of wine, and stared morosely atThe Wedding Singerplaying on the television. It was her comfort movie and usually guaranteed to make her laugh. Tonight, she barely followed what was happening on the screen.

She’d met Felix and his wife at Senator Armstrong’s mansion, only a few miles from where Madison and Opal’s own parents lived. It had taken everything in her to release Jax into Mary’s arms.

“See you tomorrow, buddy.” Madison kept her tone bright, hiding her feelings, and gave him a last squeeze.

“Mama.” Jax patted her cheeks.

Felix had glared at her while she watched Mary carry Jax into the house, speaking to the toddler softly. Madison heard a giggle, and another crack splintered through her heart.

She should be relieved that Jax was comfortable with Mary, but part of her also hated the evidence that there was a very good chance that this woman would take her place.

“He calls you Mama?” Felix sneered at her. “Wow, Madison. I knew you were a selfish bitch, but really?”

A tiny worm of doubt curled through her chest. “I’m the only mother he knows. I’ve been raising him since he was six months old. And before that, I was the one sitting up with him doing the night feeds so Opal could get some rest.”

“You aren’t his mother,” he hissed, looking enraged, and then he jerked his thumb over his shoulder in the direction Mary and Jax had disappeared. “Sheis.” He loomed over Madison, but she refused to back down. “Your own parents think he should be with me.”

She grit her teeth. Her parents had made no secret of the fact they thought she should have given Jax up. They had little interest in their daughters except for how they reflected on them. This living reminder of their dead troubled daughter was something they would like erased from their life.

“Why are you tying yourself down this way?”

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