Page 149 of Maddox
I want to lash out, but the words are like sludge on my tongue. Besides, there’s nothing I can say that will hurt her more than the fact that she’s here, admitting her sins, too fucking late.
“So,” I say, studying the pictures on the wall. “What about Joey?”
Whether it was for my benefit or to legitimize the lie, there’s been a photo of me with Joey when I was too young to remember on that wall. It’s fucking diabolical.
Pushing back from the table, she paces to the counter and back, nibbling her lip. After a moment, her lips tip into a small smile and she says, “Joey helped me.”
That asshole did something besides slurp on his beer from his lawn fucking chair. Ha!
When I snort my disbelief, she says, “He’s different now but back then…”
Then she shakes her head, trailing off, and I silently sigh. I think we’ve had enough confession time. Now I need time to process the shit ton of crap that she just threw at me.
However, there is one little tidbit that I can’t avoid and I wave my hand to get her attention before asking, “What about Ice?”
This is when she pauses and a chill marches down my spine. Her blue eyes meet mine with an intensity that sends me back in my seat before she says, “It’s simple really. I just need to tell him the truth.”
What truth? The longer she stares, her blue eyes glistening, the harder it is for me to meet her gaze.
What is she trying to say? Am I…?
Pushing back my chair, I stand and stumble toward the door, but I don’t know where I’m going, only that I have to get out…now.
“Delaney? Where are you going? You can’t leave,” she cries, and I pause with my bag in hand.
“Why?” I rasp, glancing over my shoulder. “What are you not telling me?”
“Delaney Michele Smith,” she screeches, and I shudder before spinning around.
“Does he know?” I don’t even know what I’m asking. There are so many secrets, but I guess we both know what I want her to say.
When silence is my answer, I turn back to her and she says, “Sweetie, I know this is–”
“You don’t know shit,” I say, slashing my hand through the air. “Did you tell him or not?”
“I don’t–”
“Stoplyingto me!”
We stare at each other while she considers her answer and when she slowly shakes her head, I back away, whispering, “Why?”
“Because then he’ll hate me too.”
I don’t even know what to say. All I know is that I can’t be here right now, and I stalk down the hall.
“Where are you going? It’s not safe. Delaney…”
I don’t respond but pause in the hall when she says, “Please, don’t tell Peter. It would hurt him…”
Right. So, I’m supposed to take the blame for-fucking-ever?
“Don’t worry, I don’t want to hurthimeither,” I mutter before swiping up my car keys and walking out the door.
Maddox
We got a lead on the killer. One of the women who saw Bambi the night she disappeared finally surfaced.
Apparently, Bambi was seeing some married douche on the sly. She tried to break it off a few times because the fucker was too rough but for reasons known only to her, she always went back.
