Page 140 of Skin In the Game (The BlackWater)

Maddie woke as Cole got up but she stayed in bed, still wrapped up in his sheets, still wrapped up in his smell.

It had been a week, a whole week since she’d been found, since she’d gotten out of the hospital and he still hadn’t held her during the night, he’d kept his distance instead of his usual forced dominance over her.

She sighed, opening her eyes, wondering when it would get back to normal. When he would start being normal and when she would too. The need was there, it was barely more than an itch now, an annoying bite that persisted in the background but it was still there, still reminding her of where she’d been, how low she had sunk again.

Cole was downstairs, she could hear him moving around and she wondered what he was doing.

She got up, washed her hair, and threw on some clothes, nicer clothes as though making an effort in how she looked might exert enough control over herself to finally see the final remnants of addiction off.

Downstairs, Cole hit the buzzer to open the gates and let the car in, knowing that this conversation was never going to end well. In fact he was convinced the whole situation was only going to end one way.

The man had been short, brash with him on the phone and obviously didn’t give a damn what he said because he knew he wasn’t being given the full facts. Cole explained the situation, answered his questions as best he could considering it was still a highly classified case and yet here he was at his door, demanding more answers, demanding to see her.

“Richard.” He said as the man walked up the steps to his house.

“Cole.” He replied giving every sign that he didn’t like him, that he didn’t think he’d done enough, been enough. Cole fought back the irritation and the anger too. No one thought that of him, no one questioned him. He was Cole Black for fucksake.

“Come in, I’ve put some coffee on.” Cole said.

Richard nodded walking inside after him.

“Where is she?” He asked as if Cole were keeping her hidden, as if she were his prisoner.

“She’s sleeping.” Cole stated.

“It’s almost midday.” Richard said frowning. His sister didn’t sleep in. She was like him, up at dawn, regular as clockwork.

“She’s been sleeping a lot. It’s taken a lot out of her.”

Richard grunted in reply, following him through to the kitchen. His eyes darted around as if he was looking for signs, indications of either Maddie’s presence or Cole’s mistreatment of her.

“So you two are together are you?” He asked as Cole poured the coffee out and passed him a mug.

“It’s complicated.” Cole replied.

“Meaning?”

“Meaning that’s more of a question for Maddie than me.” Cole said.

Richard raised an eyebrow before looking him over like he was assessing him.

“I know of your reputation.” He said before drinking a mouthful of coffee.

Cole narrowed his eyes. “Let me assure you I have her best interests at heart.”

Richard gave him a look like he didn’t quite believe him.

“How long has she been working for you? For Black Industries?” Richard asked.

“She doesn’t, she works for BlackWater.” Cole stated.

“It’s still one of your subsidiaries is it not?” Richard said.

“Yes but I don’t directly manage it. My cousin Brandon does.” Cole replied.

“Right, so she indirectly works for you.”

“When you put it like that then yes. She’s worked for BlackWater for almost six months now.” Cole said.

“She came to see me right about then, beaten up, looking like shit…” He said and it sounded like he was accusing him again but he realised he was actually to blame that time, his agents had taken her into custody, had pointed a gun in her face and were tailing her even as the two of them had sat drinking coffee together.

Cole nodded. “That was right before she started working for us.”

“So all this is tied with that is it?” Richard asked.

“Like I said over the phone, it’s classified. I can only tell you what I already did.” Cole stated.

Richard grunted again.

And then he turned his head seeing movement and Maddie was there staring between them like she had no idea what was going on. Her hair was freshly washed, Cole noted, and she wore a T-shirt dress that emphasised her enviable curves. She looked good, despite everything she’d been through, he thought.

“What the hell?” She muttered looking from her brother to Cole.

“Maddie.” Richard said standing up.

“What are you doing here?” She asked.

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