Page 126 of Maddox
With a snarl, I pull out a chair and sit down, eyeing the chess set on the table.
What is this? A vacation? Fucking no.
Delaney eyes me sideways and when Romeo winks at her, I lose what’s left of my control.
I know that I’m being unnecessarily cruel even as the words fly from my mouth but there’s a burn in my chest that demands I hurt her, like she did me…not me, Mom.
“Chill out. She’s half your fucking age and practically a useless fuckingvirgin, old man.”
Instead of feeling vindicated when Delaney’s cheeks pale and she makes a weird sound in her throat, the burn in my chest rises to a crescendo and I beat back a new emotion…guilt.
Romeo meets my gaze, his jaw ticking but he doesn’t respond to my bait, instead turning to her, he says, “Virgins ain’t so bad. Means you can teach them all the right moves.”
What thefuckdid he just say?
Frozen, I glance between them before I growl, “What’s your fucking problem?”
Everything after that is a blur because I walk away before I do something that I can’t take back.
Now I’m standing on the porch wondering what happened to my fucking life. I can’t wrap my brain around Delaney being in my home, but Romeo’s sexual innuendos press at my chest like a lead fucking weight.
Whatever.
She’s here now. The question is, how do we use her to lure that piece of shit out of hiding?
Chapter 28
Delaney
After Maddox stormed from the cabin, I managed to swallow down the last of the pizza dangling from my hand.
Thankfully, Romeo gave me some space to process everything, but I don't know how to reconcile the man who said those horrible things with the guy who touched me like I was his treasure.
I guess everyone was right and I should have heeded their warnings before.
The problem is, he may hate me, but I don’t hate him…and my soul aches knowing there’s not a damn thing that I can do about it.
Now it’s been two days since the fallout and Mom has called and left me three voicemails.
With Romeo out back, I dial her number and exhale slowly. I love her so much, but I don’t know how to see past everything that’s happened and it's this that keeps me rooted firmly anywhere but in their home.
How can I participate in this farce knowing what I do?
“Delaney?” she says, and I swallow before saying quietly, “Hey.”
“How are you, sweetie?”
Tears well in my eyes at her gentle tone and I wipe them away angrily as I mutter, “Fine.”
She sighs her displeasure but I’m immune. She can pretend disappointment all she wants but the only person who deserves to feel that emotion is me.
I believed her all these years while she lied to my face. Why?
“Look, I heard from the school,” she says. “Why haven’t you been there?”
In a perfect world, I could spill my troubles to her, but this is far from perfect.
Besides, for all I know, telling her would only bring danger to their doorstep and as angry as I am, I don't want them to die.
