Page 179 of Maddox
Kidd didn’t just die for us. He burned to death. How do I unpack that shit?
“Sh,” Maddox says but when he reaches out for me, I slap at his chest. I don’t want his touch.
I can’t. I can’t do this, and I struggle against him, when Maddox bypasses my flailing arms before lifting me against his chest.
“Stop,” I mutter, but he’s immune to my wrath as he pulls me closer.
For my efforts, his warm breath puffs against my ear as he says, “Sh, princess. I got you.”
How? How can he possibly “have” me when I feel as though I could float away?
Maddox
It took an hour of holding Delaney while she stared into nothing, trembling violently before she finally calmed down.
If I hadn’t wanted to leave her, I’d be downstairs kicking my brother’s ass for spilling the news before I had a chance to speakto Delaney. It hurts my soul to see the spark gone from her eyes, but I know that she has to process that shit in her own time.
Since neither of them are talking, it’s hard to piece together exactly what happened but I suspect Delaney crushed that man’s skull. I hate that she had to do it but I’m so fucking glad that she did because she’s here. She’s in my arms and it feels so right.
I don’t care who she is as long as she’s mine.
She makes me burn. Her. No one else and I fucked all that shit up when I let my past dictate my future. Looking back on it now I know it was anger and a good dose of fear holding me back.
Unfortunately, I took that out on her when all she wanted was someone to trust. I have a lot of respect for her ability to lay in this bed with me right now. It’s also not going to be easy to win back that trust but fuck if I won’t. I can’t let her go.
I need her to breathe, and I think she does too.
She’s hurting right now and she’s not wrong in her rage. If she needs to take it out on me. So be it. I’ll be here to soothe her back down when she’s done…
Although she’s quiet, I know she’s not asleep and when I hear a tap on the door, I roll over and ease from the bed. Whoever this is better make it quick because I don’t want to be away from Delaney for long.
I find Pops standing on the other side of the door and he eyes me quietly as I step outside and pull it partially closed.
“Son, Helen called,” he says. “It’s time for Delaney to go home.”
“No.”
There that’s short and to the point but when Pops raises a brow, I say, “Let me make this clear. She ain’t going.”
He sighs and shakes his head, but I don’t fucking care. He can be disappointed. He can be fucking angry.
I. Don’t. Care.
This is it and I’m not backing down.
“Son,” he says, running his hand through his mohawk. “That’s not your decision to make.”
“You’re right,” I grunt. “It’s her decision and if she goes, I go.”
At my proclamation he rocks back on his heels and mutters, “You sure about that?”
I know this must be a shock to him, especially after he’s lived his life MC but surely, he can see after losing both his wives to this mess that if it comes down to it, my only option is to choose the woman who fulfills me.
This is why, I tap my head and say, “I’ve never been surer about anything in my life.”
His brows flicker as he backs away. I don’t know what that means but if I have to pack my shit tomorrow, so be it. I made my choice and it’s the spunky girl with a fierce heart and pretty blue-gray eyes.
Chapter 42
