Page 176 of Maddox
Maddox
Romeo’s words follow me out to the lot where my brothers are gearing up to go raid what used to be the Bay River Animal Sanctuary. That shit closed down years ago although apparently someone found a way to use it.
We don’t expect to find Ice there because he knows his hideout is no longer a secret but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
After his text to Helen last night, we waited at that fucking motel for hours and Ice never showed.
Why? Was he messing with us or did something happen to ruin his plans? Who the fuck knows.
You ready to claim her yet?
That’s what Romeo said to me, but I don’t need his help to know what I want and if the fucker gets in my way…
Shit.
At this point he’s the better bet because I’ve done nothing but push Delaney away since I met her.
Still, I’m not about to lose her now. Maybe I don’t deserve it but Delaney and I, this shit is going to happen. She may not see it, but I do. She’s the one I search for in a crowd, the one I want to see after facing the evil in this world.
She’s the sunshine in an otherwise dreary place. I’m also sure that I’m the fucking rain cloud in this scenario but we can make rainbows or some shit.
See, she’s got me spitting sonnets. She has to be the one.
With a grin, I turn my focus to Pops when he stops beside me and says, “Ready?”
There’s a particular gleam in his eyes and with a rush of anticipation I nod. Today is not the day that we find Ice but with every skirmish we get closer, and anticipation heats my veins.
I want to end that fucker now more than ever and I know, eventually Ice will make a mistake, and we’ll swoop in to take advantage.
After Pops slaps me on the back, he stalks to his bike. Beside me Romeo nods and Wolf turns to Jersey who puts his fingers between his teeth and whistles.
When Reaper takes the lead, Pops claims the rear and we roll out in a roar of engines and leather.
It’s times like these that I’m the proudest of my brothers. We may have our moments and even times when we come to blows over stupid shit, but we always have each other’s backs and that will never change.
The wind whips my hair, and I tip my chin as the icy snow batters my skin, reminding me of the night I took Delaney to watch the stars.
I think that may have been when I lost myself to her, but I was too damn stubborn to admit it.
Someday, I’d like to take her somewhere similar but this time, we’ll make love beneath those damn stars. She’ll look at me like she did the first time I met her before I ruined everything by opening my damn mouth and I’ll tell her over and over just how much she means to me.
Resolved, I press my foot to the gas because the sooner we get this over with, the quicker I can return to my girl.
I hated to leave her when I saw the struggle behind her eyes, but Delaney is stronger than she knows and with time, the darkness pulling at her skin will fade away.
Especially because I’ll be there to bring back the light I so desperately crave.
When we roll up to the sanctuary, thick black smoke fills the sky.
Reaper raises his fist, and we slow before parking and heading the rest of the way on foot.
Dozens of tire tracks in the slushy mud point to the fact that the Aces are long gone but we spread out anyway.
To my right, Jersey disappears into the trees while Romeo and Wolf head toward the shack Draven described in the back.
No more willing to share her experience than Delaney, she did explain the layout and how many men she saw before shutting down. It hurt my soul to see the innocence leave my sister's eyes and while I know she hasn’t exactly been a perfect angel, fighting for her life against a real-life monster has changed her forever.
Shaking away my thoughts, I follow Reaper around the fire pit, the embers still burning as smoke climbs toward the sky.
