Page 86

“Fuck that. Give me my phone. I’ll tell him no.”

“I’ll be back tonight.” I ran my fingers over his knuckles before kissing the back of his hand. “I love you.”

He seemed stunned as I pulled back.

“Go back to sleep.” I grabbed my phone off the bedside table. I was already late.

My brain was on autopilot all day.

I’d never been more grateful for a straightforward negotiation. Even my uncle was in a good mood, not arguing the point.

I wasn’t sure why Uncle Cole even asked me to come. Until he started drinking, and heavily apologizing for what happened.

I’d never seen him so emotional. Apparently, he had guilt for not stopping my mother. A part of me believed him, another part of me, knows he did blame me. At the time, he wanted me to be punished.

Now that he wasn’t blinded by grief and anger. He was seeing perhaps things went too far.

Perhaps I didn’t deserve months and months of her mood swings. Hitting me one second, then pretending nothing happened the next. Every hour, she was completely unpredictable.

I kept thinking things would get better. The worse form of self-harm is waiting, expecting more from someone who will never give it.

I hadn’t realized how bad things got until I moved back to Vinces.

Every time I heard a door open, I jumped. Every time he moved out of the corner of my eye, I flinched.

I fought back the tears as I stared at my phone. Twenty past ten at night. Any chance of me making it home disappeared when my uncle started drinking.

Yawning, I pressed Vince's name before holding the phone to my ear.

I took my heels off before laying down on the hotel bed.

“Madeline, I’m starting to get worried. Where are you?”

Closing my eyes. “I’m stuck here. My uncle started drinking, and sent the pilot home, without telling me.”

Even though he was silent, I could hear his frustration.

“Sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, my love,”

“Still, I’m sorry.”

“Where are you staying? Do you need me to organize a hotel? What town? We probably have a house there.”

“Funny you said that. I can see a Crow Hotel from my window.”

“Staying at our competitors?”

“The host organized it. It wasn’t the time to decline,” I rolled onto my side, staring at the flagship crow emblem on the building. “The Classic is extremely impressive.”

“I know. I built it.”

“My husband is so talented.” That warm feeling flooded me again, just thinking about him. “I promise to be back tomorrow. It won’t be until the afternoon. My uncle never fly’s early when he is hung over.”

“Did your security check the room?”

“Yes, and now two are posted at the door. I’m safe.”