Page 174 of Maddox
“Whatever,” I mutter, grabbing the pad and pencil in the middle of the table, before scrawling her number across the top and pushing it toward him.
“Knock yourself out,” I say and his lip twitches.
Pulling the pad toward him, Joker shakes his head and says, “Stubborn just like your mother.”
Ignoring the comment because I’m not sure it’s a compliment, I move toward the door but pause when Joker says, “You can go, but don’t think about leaving until I talk to her.”
“Did you know?” I ask.
“What?” Joker grunts.
“About me?”
There’s a beat of silence before Joker says, “I knew your mama long before she had kids, Delaney. Said she couldn’t be MC anymore and left.”
I’m out the door before he finishes but instead of heading for the stairs, I go toward the exit. I don’t know what I was expecting but I guess I’m not surprised by Joker’s answer. My mom ran away for a reason, I’m just not sure that it really had anything to do with Joker, anymore.
Despite the snow blanketing the ground, the sun’s rays warm my chilled skin as I scan the area. I could walk but what’s the point? I don’t have anywhere to go…here is just as good as any other place.
With my decision made, I move into the trees, gravitating toward the party spot where I was introduced to the Saints albeit peripherally all those weeks ago.
Every time I’ve been back here, it was dark, so I’m surprised to find a little creek beyond the empty fire pit.
Gorgeous old trees surround the sparkling water and stopping near the edge, I tip my head back and consider everything that’s happened.
I killed a man. It was self-defense but does that matter?
Beyond that, I allowed him to touch me and even if it was self-preservation, I don’t know how to unpack that. My skin feels perpetually dirty, and I can’t look at myself in the mirror without seeing his leering grin.
His cold fingernails dug into my hips…
Shuddering, I close my eyes and turn my thoughts to my mom. I know I can’t avoid this forever but it’s too raw to deal with now.
Does she know where Joey is? Why would she let that monster into her home, knowing how cruel he is?
There’s no question that Ice needs to die and although crushing a human being’s skull haunts me, so do Kidd’s terrifying screams.
Would the Shadow Saints do something like that to Draven if they knew she was hanging out with Kidd?
Would they kill their own people? What does it truly mean to be MC?
With ice hanging from the boughs and another winter storm coming in, I’m not surprised it’s so freaking cold and numbness creeps over my limbs while the sky begins to darken.
Flexing my frozen fingers, I back away from the stream, only to find Maddox leaning against a tree when I turn.
When his solemn gaze meets mine, I welcome the now familiar burn and sneer, “Making sure I’m not some super spy ready to take your secrets back to the enemy?”
“I know you’re not a threat,” he says, dipping his chin.
“Oh?”
He’s so confident suddenly.Asshole.
“Whatever you’re thinking, don’t,” he says. “Let us take care of this, princess.”
His deep voice rolls over my skin like a balm but I cut that shit off. I will never give Maddox the satisfaction of knowing how he affects me.
He said it himself. No one is innocent in this. No-fucking-one.
