Page 41 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

“Do you want to tell him or should I?” He asked and Maddie clenched her fists opening her mouth to retort as he smirked watching the storm literally rage in her.

“What the fuck do you want?” She snarled.

“Just to talk. It’s been a long time Maddison. You’ve been playing hard to get but now I’ve finally caught you.” He said and she took a long deep intake of air.

“You have no fucking right.” She snapped.

“Maddie?” Max said quietly again and she looked at him with such a face that even he flinched slightly.

“I take it your partner doesn’t know then?” Alfred said.

Maddie scowled folding her arms, trying to calm herself and looking back at the suit blocking the door. Could she take him out? She thought, she could certainly floor him, she knew that but with her damn leg she didn’t think she’d get very far after.

“Know what?” Max asked looking between them.

“Whatever the fuck you think you’re doing, whatever game this is. I’m not playing.” Maddie stated ignoring Max completely.

And he laughed. He actually fucking laughed.

She shook her head at him. “What is it you want huh?”

“How about you sit down and you might find out.” He replied clearly amused by the situation.

“Fuck off am I sitting at the same table as you.”

“You weren’t adverse to sitting beside me at that bar if you remember?” Alfred said back before sipping his coffee.

“Fuck off.” She muttered and Max frowned even more.

“Maddie what is this?” Max asked.

“Tell him Maddison. Tell him who I am to you.”

She scowled, biting her tongue so hard she thought it might bleed.

Max looked back at him, at the man sat down, clearly enjoying every second of what was unfolding. “Who are you?”

“I’m her dad.” He said smirking and Maddie dug her nails into her palms at the words.

“You are not. You’re a monster. Nothing but a….” Maddie snarled.

“You hear one side of a story and you think you know it all?” He said leaning forward. “How about you hear my side? How about your partner hears it? Huh?”

Maddie looked from him to Max, he was goading her, winding her up, and she was falling for it hook, line, and sinker. She needed to be calm, to be rational, to not be resorting back to fighting with her fists.

“What the fuck do you want?” She asked, her voice so cold, so calm even she shivered.

“Sit down Maddison.” Alfred said.

She shut her eyes, then opened them looking at the four suits in the room, his bodyguards, his thugs, and she yanked the chair out and sat.

“Start fucking talking.” She muttered as he sat back smiling.

“Please sit too.” He said to Max who quickly grabbed the seat beside Maddie and sat down.

He was staring at her, her dad, not taking his eyes from her face she realised. She could feel the bile rising in her stomach, feel the anger raging inside her.

“Talk.” She said glowering at him.

---