Page 10 of The Royal Flame
“Hey,” Maddy says, rising to her feet. “Huh? You’ll have to talk louder. I can’t hear you.” She winds around the sofa.
Then she nervously starts pacing while chewing on her thumbnail.
Finn and I watch her as she bobs her head up and down, listening. I can’t hear what Lily is saying on the other end, but I’m worried.
“Yeah, I know where that is.” Maddy finally stops pacing. “They already know you called me. They’re right here.” She pauses again, and her gaze skates between Finn and me. “Okay, just stay locked in the bathroom. Don’t go anywhere... I will. See you soon.” She hangs up and faces us, forcefully blowing out an exhale. “We have to go to north side.”
“Why?” Finn questions at the same time I say, “What’s going on?”
“You have to promise not to get upset before I tell you.” Maddy crosses her arms and stares at us down. “At Lily, I mean.”
Finn shakes his head. “No way.”
She narrows her eyes at Finn. “Then I guess I’ll go alone.” She whirls around and strides toward the elevators.
Finn and I rush after her.
“Where are you going?” I call out after her, hot on her tail.
“To the bus station.” She stops in front of the elevator and smashes her thumb against the button.
“Why?” Finn asks as we reach her. “We have cars you can borrow.”
“I don’t have my license, remember?” She tosses him a look over her shoulder, then returns her attention to the elevator button, impatiently tapping her foot as she waits.
“Right.” Finn nods. “I can drive you to north side then.”
She reels around to face him as the elevator doors glide open. “Not unless you promise to not get upset about why we’re going there.” She backs toward the elevator.
“Maddison,” Finn warns. “Tell us what’s going on.”
Maddy wrinkles her nose. “So, I’m Maddison when you’re annoyed with me, huh? Good to know.” She gets all the way onto the elevator and waggles her finger at him. “I’ll handle this alone.” The doors begin to shut.
Finn dives forward and slams his hand against one of the doors, stopping them from closing. “Fine, I won’t get upset.”
Maddy raises her brows at me. “And what about you?” she asks haughtily.
I want to kiss her, lick her lips open, and taste her again.
“I promise,” I mutter, dragging my teeth along my bottom lip.
Finn chokes on a laugh. “I’m pretty sure my brother would promise you anything if you pushed hard enough.”
I shove Finn, and he stumbles into the wall, laughing. But the laughter fades as reality sets in.
Finn rubs his shoulder. “What’s going on with Lily, Maddy?”
Maddy exits the elevator. “She met this guy from north side. His name is Will. He talked her into going to The Dark Shadows of North Side Club. She says she saw him drug her drink, so she told him she had to go to the bathroom. Then she locked herself in there. I’m pretty sure I know the Will she’s talking about, and he’s bad news. Like involved in drug trafficking bad news. And this club, it’s sketchy as hell. Bad shit happens out in the open.”
“We need to get Lily the hell out of there then,” Finn panics. “Tell her to leave.”
“She can’t. It’s too dangerous if Will is still around. And calling the cops won’t do shit. Trust me.” She tucks a lock of her wavy brown hair behind her ear. “We need to go get her.” She wavers, eyeing both of us over with her pretty eyes. “Maybe I should do this alone. You two won’t blend in. You’re way too,” she dithers, “Polished.”
“Like hell we’re letting you do this alone.” Finn inches toward her and nudges her toward the elevator door with a gentle push. “Let’s go.”
Maddy digs her heels into the floor. “I swear I can handle this.” She squares her shoulders. “I can get Lily out of there.”
“I’m sure you can, but that doesn’t mean you should.” Finn puts a hand on her side and pushes her toward the elevator again.
