Page 141 of Skin In the Game (The BlackWater)

“I came to see you.” He said.

“Evidently. What for?” She replied.

“You were taken hostage Maddie.” Richard stated as if she didn’t remember, as if she didn’t know.

“What does he know?” She asked Cole ignoring Richard completely.

“He knows you were taken, that’s it.” Cole said.

“Nothing else?” Maddie asked and he could hear the hardness in her voice. The mask was firmly down, tough Maddie was back, angry Maddie too by the sounds of it.

“Nothing else.” Cole stated.

“What am I missing?” Richard asked looking between them.

“Nothing.” Maddie said looking right back at him.

He snorted. “I highly doubt that.”

“There’s nothing else to know.” She said. “You shouldn’t even have known I was missing.” She added throwing a look at Cole like it was his fault her brother was here right now.

“He’s your next of kin Maddie. We had to inform him.” Cole said.

“In the event of my death.” She snapped and he rolled his eyes.

“You know that’s bullshit right?” He retorted and she scowled before walking over to where the coffee was and pouring out an extra-large mug and ditching the milk too.

“There was no need for you to come.” Maddie said and Richard chuckled.

“Sure Maddison, keep up the pretence.” He said.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “What pretence?”

“That nothing’s happened.”

“What are you talking about?” She snapped.

“It’s what you always do, pull down the shutters, fix the mask, play the tough girl card.” Richard stated.

She shook her head ignoring the smirk on Cole’s face.

“You’re allowed to show weakness you know.” Richard said. “You’re allowed to be human.”

“I know that.” She replied before taking a deep breath because none of this was helping, none of this arguing, none of this back and forth.

“How about I give you both a moment.” Cole said and Maddie sighed.

“Let’s get some fresh air.” She said to Richard and he nodded following her out the door into the garden.

“You can tell me anything you know that right.” He said once they were far enough from the house not to be overheard.

“I know. I just don’t want to talk about it, about what happened.” She muttered.

“We don’t have too. I just need to know you’re okay.” Richard said.

“I am.”

He gave her a look like he didn’t quite believe her but let it go.

“So Cole Black huh?” He said after more minutes of silence and she gave a small laugh.

“It’s complicated.” She said after a few moments.

“That’s what he said too.” Richard said.

“You asked him?” She said stopping and looking at him.

“I’m your brother I’m meant to look out for you.” He stated.

“Yeah that doesn’t mean you get to interrogate every man I have sex with.” She replied.

“Is that what it is then, just sex?” He asked and she shrugged not sure how to reply because that’s what she’d thought it was but now she wasn’t so sure. Everything just felt so, complicated, so different.

“He didn’t give that impression Maddie.”

“Urgh can we talk about something else?” She sighed.

“Sure, what would you like to talk about seeing as everything I bring up is off limits?” He quipped.

“Don’t be like that.” She stated.

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