Page 87 of Wretched Heart
“Sorry, Maddie,” Theo begins, making Maddie freeze for just a second before he laughs. “I shouldn’t be teasing you. This is serious. Of course I’ll help. I’ll even keep one of my guys on standby in case any fallen trees start to appear. You know I’d do anything for you.”
Maddie’s body sags briefly in relief, and then she moves closer to the microphone. It’s a husky whisper when she speaks. “I knew there was a reason you were top of my shortlist.”
Theo chuckles. “Don’t let your husband hear you say that.”
Maddie tilts her head and looks me dead in the eye when she says, “I think you mean, my soon-to-be ex-husband.”
Ash, Mace and Reid all lean back in their chairs as if expecting me to spontaneously combust. They’re not wrong. Anger pulses in my veins, and I am ready to explode. Except I don’t know where to direct my ire. Maddie might be making a point, but it’s no less than Ideserve. This is the stark reality of my future, and hers. She’ll find someone more deserving, and I’ll want to kill them.
Theo has gone quiet. I’m waiting for him to dial up the charm, but Maddie’s ex-suitor isn’t as stupid as I’ve been giving him credit for. “It sounds like you have a lot to deal with right now,” he says. “But call on me whenever you need more help. And Maddie, say hello to Hunter for me.” He chuckles when he adds, “Assuming he’s not already listening in.”
“Thank you, Theo. You’re a good friend,” Maddie says, her tone more business-like as she ends the call. She ignores me, and turns to Ash. “I know Barrett is bull-headed enough to have diggers shipped from halfway across the country, but could it give us enough time to find a permanent solution?”
Ash nods. “We have a fighting chance,” he says. “You’ve outmaneuvered Barrett. Something I don’t see nearly often enough.”
“And not just Barrett,” Reid mumbles under his breath.
Maddie pretends not to hear. “Good. Then if you don’t mind, gentlemen. I have packing to do.”
“You’re leaving now?” Ash asks as Maddie gets up from the table.
I have to bite the side of my cheek to stop myself from telling her that she doesn’t have to leave yet. Ash gave her to the end of the week to make her decision. But then I look down at the brown envelope. It’s over.
“Will you go back home?” Reid asks.
Maddie purses her lips. “The house is still Griffin property, not mine.”
“It’s your fucking house, Maddie,” I bite out. “Fuck the paperwork.”
She ignores me and focuses on Ash. “If it isn’t too much trouble, can I also borrow the Audi. I never had my own car, but I’ll be able to–”
I jump up out of my seat. “You can take whatever the fuck you want!” I yell at her.
Maddie’s head snaps in my direction. “No, I can’t!” she shouts back, a flash of pain creasing her brow before she recovers enough to add, “Goodbye, Hunter. It was good while it lasted.”
I snatch up the envelope that’s been taunting me, and go to follow Maddie. Ash grabs my arm as I pass him.
“Let her go, Hunter.”
I smash the envelope into his chest. “I am letting her go, but not before I tell her why.”
Chapter 30
Maddie
Idump a drawer full of underwear into my suitcase, followed by clothes still on their hangers. Shoes and purses fall like bombs on top of the heap. I’m sorting through the laundry basket when I feel his presence behind me. I’d hoped one of his brothers might keep him from following me, or at least give me more of a head start.
“That was one hell of a fuck-you,” Hunter says.
I catch him in my periphery, leaning against the door frame of the closet, but I don’t stop what I’m doing. “Would that be the fuck-you you gave me, or mine to you?”
My barb shuts him up for all of five seconds. “Can you stop what you’re doing for one goddamn second.”
“Why?” I ask, spinning on him. Heat burns my cheeks and my throat. “If you wanted this to be civilized, you shouldn’t have ambushed me with your stupid ass business meeting!”
“If it makes you feel any better, I was ambushed too,” he grits out. “It wasn’t my idea to offer you bribes. I didn’t know what Ash was planning until minutes before you.”
I shake my head slowly from side to side as I try to workout what’s going on behind Hunter’s closed expression. He’s giving nothing away, and isn’t that the problem?
