Page 144 of Skin In the Game (The BlackWater)

Cole disappeared out for a few hours and Maddie took the chance to work out hard. She lifted weights until her arms were physically shaking and she couldn’t continue the reps and then she set the running machine for hard uphill course and pounded her legs too. By the time she was done she felt physically exhausted but mentally she felt good, mentally she felt like she was getting her control back, that she was getting strong again.

She jumped in the shower, turning it as cold as she could to blast her muscles and then she got out, dried off, and pulled on a pair of cotton shorts and tank top before wandering back downstairs.

Cole was still out so she took the opportunity to look around, to explore more. His house was immaculate, with barely any clutter anywhere, but it didn’t feel sparse either, it felt clean, organised, and the decor made it feel opulent too.

She walked over to the piano by the window and wondered if Cole had it because he actually played it or whether it was purely for aesthetics.

She couldn’t imagine him playing but she also didn’t see Cole as the kind of man that owned anything simply to impress others. Cole Black didn’t give a damn what anyone thought of him so why would he own something for that purpose?

She lifted the lid, noting how dust free the keys were. She sat down, putting her finger on one and playing the note, letting it ring out for a moment as if she was waiting to hear how the house would react to it. She played another note letting that ring out too.

She placed her hands over the keys, remembering the old tune she’d learnt and slowly, almost methodically she played it. It was like muscle memory, as each note came her fingers remembered the next and she played louder, more confidently as if she wasn’t scared of the noise anymore, as if in her head she had zoned out to somewhere else entirely.

Cole walked in frowning as he heard the music. He walked through and leant against the door watching as she played because he didn’t want to disturb her but she realised suddenly she wasn’t alone and her fingers faltered as she turned to face him.

“Sorry I didn’t mean to…” She began and he frowned shaking his head and walking into the room.

“Why are you apologising? It’s there to be played.” He replied.

“I just thought…” She said quietly.

He realised her mask was down, tough Maddie was gone.

“I didn’t know you played.” He said and she shrugged.

“One of the guys taught me the basics in Afghan. There wasn’t that much to do on base, it kept us occupied.” She replied.

“How come you don’t have a piano in your apartment then?”

She shrugged. “It was on the list to buy I just didn’t get round to it.”

“Well feel free to play this anytime you want.” He said and she smiled at him. “Did you use the gym?” He asked.

“Yeah I pretty much tortured myself in there.” She joked and then her face frowned momentarily as she realised the words she’d said.

“Sounds like you’ll have some tight muscles then.” He replied and she nodded.

He put his hands on her shoulders, slowly massaging them and she bit back the moan as well as the gasp of surprise. He was touching her, she thought, actually touching her, actually treating her like she wasn’t broken, like she was normal. His thumbs dug gently into her shoulder blades and it was all she could do to just sit there and try not to react, try not to think about what he might do next. She leant her head back, her eyes were closed and he kissed the top of her head.

“I’m going to sort dinner.” He said before walking away and she sat there half disappointed, half confused because the old Cole would be bending her over right about now, claiming her, possessing her, not just walking away.

They made a little small talk as they ate. Cole poured her a glass of wine and she sipped it watching him, trying to figure it out. He met her look head on but didn’t say anything.

“Go on.” She said and he raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“You clearly have questions….” She said.

“Which you won’t answer.” He replied and she sighed.

“Maybe tonight I’m an open book.” She stated because she felt like maybe if she gave a little, relented a little, he might realise she’s tougher, more resilient, that she can handle what she went through and that she didn’t need to be treated with kid gloves. That she was the same Maddie despite being held hostage, despite what they had done to her.

“How open?” He asked.

“Ask me and see.” She said taking another sip of her wine.

“Okay then, what’s the deal with your dad?”

“Wow straight in there.” She muttered before taking a bigger sip of her wine.

“Fine. Here’s the deal. He’s a monster. My mother was 19 when they met. He was in his forties I guess. She was a waitress at some event he and his buddies were attending at a fancy hotel. They all went back to one of their rooms, him, his buddies and a few girls. They got them drunk. Really drunk and you can guess what happened. His only mistake was he was the one who got her pregnant…”

She took another sip of her wine and then continued. She was talking fast, she realised, because she knew if she didn’t get it out her voice might catch, or worse she’d leave Cole thinking she wasn’t as tough as she seemed after all.

“…my mother went to the police after as did some of the other girls but they weren’t really interested. Alfred Lee was too big a name, too powerful, and besides she had a history and wasn’t exactly what was considered a believable witness. The papers got wind of the story but my dad quickly got an embargo in place. And then he did what he always does and tried to pay her off. She took the money because who would turn down that kind of cash right? She never saw him again. I never met him. He only accepted I was his kid after a paternity test.”

“How come you got that apartment then?” He asked.

She winced. “He put money in a trust for me. It was part of the deal. I couldn’t touch it till I was 21. I didn’t want it. I was going to give it away but by the time I had access to it I was in the army and it didn’t matter and when I got out I just changed my mind. It sounds selfish but that man ruined my life, I figured he could at least contribute to making part of it easier.”

“And your mother? What happened to her?”

“She went off the rails. She used drugs recreationally before I think but it all just tipped her over. It didn’t help that all the money she had helped ensure she could always have access and her friends only hung around her because she could feed their habit too. She died when I was sixteen.”

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