Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 61746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Madison unlocked the door and pulled it open by a few inches so that she could peer out at us. Her hands were visibly shaking as she opened the door the rest of the way and stepped back, wrapping her arms around herself as she wore a large, white t-shirt and short, black shorts with fuzzy socks.
My first instinct was to hug her, but I stood rigid as I gazed down at her, wanting to assess the level of threat first.
“Are you okay?” I asked her. “Gus checked around the house and he didn’t see anyone.”
Madison’s eyes started glistening. “I swear someone was trying to get in. I heard them!” she said, her voice cracking as she shook her head fervently.
I immediately reached out and cupped her face, drawing her teary eyes up to mine.
“I believe you. I promise,” I told her. “Even if they’re not around now, we’ll stay here with you.”
Madison released a slow breath as she nodded, seeming to lean into my hold.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
I gazed into her eyes for a few more seconds, my heart rate etching upward just from being so close to her. I couldn’t deny the tremor of anger I felt over the fact that someone tried to break in here, though. If only I could get my hands on them.
“Where’s Chloe?” I asked her as I drew my hands away.
“In her bedroom. The noise woke her up, but I didn’t tell her what it was. I don’t want to scare her,” Madison explained.
Gus moved to stand beside me, his shadow falling over Madison’s smaller figure.
“I’ll stand watch outside,” he offered.
Madison’s eyes widened as she looked between us, shaking her head.
“I… I couldn’t ask you to do that. To stay overnight,” she replied, sounding guilty.
Gus waved his hand dismissively before placing it on her shoulder, making her chest still and not exhale.
“Least we can do. We can call Marlo or any of the other guys to swap out with us in the morning,” he assured her before turning and walking out to the porch, shutting the front door behind him.
Tears formed in Madison’s eyes as her fingertips touched her trembling bottom lip.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know who else to call,” she said.
The last thing I wanted was for her to feel guilty for calling me. I was glad that she had called me because I would kick any ass she needed me to. I wrapped my arms around her in an instant, one hand finding the back of her head and one resting on the small of her back.
Madison buried her face in my black t-shirt beneath the faded red and black flannel shirt that I didn’t even get around to buttoning up before rushing out of my front door. She gripped the soft material, her back rising and falling slowly and shakily as she tried to calm down.
I brushed my fingers through her hair, giving her a few moments to relax before she drew back slightly to gaze at me.
“You did the right thing calling me,” I told her.
When I first saw her name pop up on my phone screen as I lay in bed for another restless night of sleep, I remembered my heart stopping. I didn’t think that I would hear from her again after weeks of her haunting my mind. Hearing her laugh in my head. Seeing her perfect body in my dreams. I didn’t expect our reunion to be anything like this.
“I wanted to call you before all of this, but things have been so busy—” Madison started to explain.
I shook my head and brushed my fingertips over her cheek.
“It’s okay. I’m just glad you’re okay,” I replied.
Madison rested her hands on my biceps, gazing up at me with her big eyes and full lips. She really had no idea the radiating effect she had on me and the others. She was a topic of conversation more than she probably expected, and I didn’t know what to expect now that we would all be together again.
I knew what I wanted, though.
“Want to check on Chloe?” I asked her, figuring that would make her feel a little better. It could at least distract her while Gus kept an eye out for anything or anyone suspicious.
Madison nodded before leaning her head back to peer up at me.
“She’s asked about you a few times,” she said.
There was no way in hell that I could control the small smile that crossed my face. I didn’t expect to hear that at all.
“Really?” I asked, my surprise sounding evident.
Madison smiled a little and nodded before taking my hand and leading me down a hallway into a room on the right. She let go of my hand right before she entered, stepping into a room lit up by a projector night light that cast bright stars on the ceiling. She sat on the edge of a small bed and reached out to stroke her daughter’s brown hair.