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“I promise.” Maddox’s expression darkens, giving me just a peek at Murder Maddox. “But I won’t have to worry about it, because nothing’s going to happen to you.”
I know he wants to think that, and I don’t doubt his ability to keep me safe. But I know Trevor, and I know how desperately he wants to win. At everything. Always.
“I don’t want you to carry guilt either. I have complete faith in you, but I also understand how bad Trevor can be, so if something happens to me?—”
Maddox leans down until we’re eye-to-eye and practically nose-to-nose. All trace of the happy, laid-back man I normally see is gone, replaced by pure and total mercenary. “Audrey.” He says my name slowly. Dragging it out like he wants to be sure he has my attention. “Obviously things haven’t been made completely clear to you.” His hands come up to cradle my face, gentle but firm against my skin. “They might prosecute Trevor, but he will never make it to jail.”
Earlier, he claimed he would have killed my ex-husband days ago if he could have, so I understand what he’s saying. He’s going to kill him.
What I don’t get is why.
“Trevor’s a politician. Relatively well-known. If he goes missing, someone’s going to notice. And I won’t let you risk your own well-being for someone like him.”
I know killing people is what Maddox does. I believe he’s probably really good at it. But killing normal people and killing someone like Trevor are two completely different things.
Maddox’s lips lift in a slow smile. “Sweetheart, I’ve killed way more important men then Trevor Hawthorne the fucking Third.”
Really? I know better than to ask who, but just like always, I believe him.
And now I’m feeling very different about all of this. For so long I assumed I would be the one whose life might end during this whole mess. Not once did I think anyone would take Trevor out.I thought maybe I’d manage to get him arrested and possibly even prosecuted and sent to prison. But even that sort of felt like a pipe dream. Something I clung to so I wouldn’t lose my mind as I waited for him to hunt me down and make good on all the threats he dished out over our years together.
“If you really don’t want me to kill him, I won’t.” Maddox’s thumbs stroke against my skin, his voice deadly serious when he says, “But unless you tell me no, he’s ending up with a bullet in his brain.”
All the air rushes from my lungs. “Oh.”
Why did that turn me on? Is there really so much wrong with me that discovering Maddox fully intends to murder Trevor has me feeling overheated and flushed?
Yeah. There probably is.
I can add it to the growing list of things wrong with me when it comes to Maddox. I just met him five days ago, but I already struggle to imagine my life without him. That shouldn’t be possible, especially considering all I’ve been through. But the closeness—the connection—between us is growing so fast, I’m struggling to wrap my head around it. I know I should hold back. Keep my feelings close and protected, but it’s like I can’t. The dominoes were lined up, and someone’s already tipped the first one over. Now there’s no slowing it down, and definitely no going back.
Honestly, I’m not sure I’d want to go back.
“Did you really mean it when you said we could go to Alaska?” I can already imagine it, just like I can imagine so much else with Maddox. “And someplace warm?”
Maddox takes a shaky breath before nodding silently.
I swallow hard, nerves—or maybe excitement—gnawing at my insides. “Maybe when all this is over, and I know it’s safe, I can come stay with Savannah for a weekend and we can hang out.”
Hang out? Those two words don’t encompass what it’s like when Maddox and I are together at all. But what else can I call it? I have no freaking clue.
Because I’ve never felt anything like this before.
“Savannah’s pregnant, so she takes a lot of naps and her schedule is a little mixed up.” Maddox’s eyes move over my face. “It would probably make more sense for you to stay with me.” His gaze dips to my mouth. “In my house.”
I lick my lips, needing the moisture now that he’s looking at them so intensely. “That probably would make more sense.” I manage a small smile. “But before I can schedule any weekend trips, I’ll have to figure out if I’m going to be staying in my apartment or looking for a new place to live. I can’t imagine my landlord will be thrilled if an unknown group of men came storming in the other night.”
Maddox’s expression shutters, his gaze losing the warmth it just had. “I’ll have Luca and Owen go inside and check it out as soon as we know no one’s watching it.” Maddox slowly straightens. “Do you want them to bring anything specific if they’re able to go in?”
I’m a little confused at the sudden change in his demeanor. For a second there, I thought we were making plans for the future. But in the blink of an eye, he’s closed off, and I’m not sure what happened.
“I should probably go check in with them now.” Maddox starts to turn away, and I chase after him.
Reaching out, I grab his arm, holding tight to stop him. “What’s wrong? What just happened?”
Maddox shrugs. “Nothing.”
It suddenly becomes very obvious Maddox has never lied to me. Because he’s really fucking bad at it. “Tell me the truth.”