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MADISON

S itting on the couch in front of the fireplace, sipping a mug of coffee, depressing thoughts roll through my head. It’s a week until Thanksgiving, and I’m missing my dad. Staring into the flames, I wonder what my mom thinks of my absence. Surely she’s noticed by now?

I’ve asked Jagger repeatedly if we should involve her in this. Every muscle in Jagger’s body grows taut as he gives me the darkest look I’ve ever seen from him. It makes me rear back as though he’s slapped me. I don’t understand the hatred that flashes across his face when I mention my mom. I’ve asked him about it, but he refuses to tell me.

“I need a cigarette.” Jagger nods toward the patio door, pulling me from my thoughts. “Why don’t you text Abby? She texted me, asking how you’re doing.”

My face lights up as I reach for his phone. I love Jagger, but this issue with my mom… I don’t understand it. It’s putting distance between us. A giant, unspoken elephant in the room that I desperately want to talk about, but I know he’ll get pissed and clam up.

I could use Abby’s advice.

Not wasting time on formalities, I launch right into it, my fingers flying over Jagger’s phone. I intend to delete this conversation before he can read it.

Me: Hey, Abby, it’s Maddie. I could be better. Every time I bring up my mom, Jagger shuts down. I don’t understand why we can’t tell her I’m okay. Or Ryan, for that matter.

Abby: I’m sure he has his reasons. Your safety is the first one. Jagger probably thinks your mom would look for you. The more people who know your whereabouts, the more it endangers you.

Dammit. She has a valid point.

Me: I know. But it’s nearly Thanksgiving. With my dad gone… I’m hurting.

Abby: I understand, Maddie. This situation sucks. It’s a sacrifice you’re making, but I’d rather you stay safe in Jagger’s cabin, hidden until the danger has passed.

Impatience runs through me, making me scowl as my foot bounces uncontrollably. I take a drink of my coffee before answering.

Me: Why can’t anyone find Ben? If he’s that hard to find, maybe he’s far away from here and I’m no longer in danger.

Abby: I know you’re frustrated, but it’s too risky. We need to remain cautious until we know where he is.

Setting the phone down beside me, I heave out a frustrated breath. Feeling like a petulant child, I slam my coffee cup on the wooden table, dropping his phone beside me. Glancing out the window, I see Jagger turn around, looking at me with a frown. Giving him a chagrined look that I don’t think he’s buying, he exhales his cigarette, the cloud of smoke floating around him, obscuring his face.

Jagger’s phone vibrates again. Figuring it’s Abby, I pick it up, not bothering to glance at the screen. A video is on the screen. I press play, and what appears on the screen shocks me.

Terror slithers up my spine as I watch the video, bile rising in my throat. I desperately want to look away or turn it off. Instead, I sit there, frozen, watching the macabre scene unfold. Ben’s gruesome smile as he tortures the young lady is the most horrifying thing I’ve seen. And I love horror movies, so that’s saying a lot.

Oh, God. No . A scream pierces the living room. It takes me a few beats to realize I’m screaming with the girl in the video.

“Maddie, what is it?” Jagger’s warm presence surrounds me, filling my numb body and returning me to reality. I finally look away from the grotesque video on the screen.

Swallowing hard, I close my eyes, but the images won’t disappear. “I-I w-w-was t-texting with A-Abby.” Pressing my fist against my trembling lips, I will myself to calm down. Taking a few deep breaths, I open my eyes, meeting his concerned black irises. “A video was sent to your phone, and I—”

Jagger’s body tenses. “Let me see the phone, Maddie.” His voice is low yet commanding.

Nodding, I hand it to Jagger, who stands with it in his hands. Taking a few steps away, he presses play, his face growing pale as he watches what is on the screen.

“That girl was at the club that night you and Ben had that confrontation…” I trail off, sucking in a couple of breaths before I can speak again. “She was one of the waitresses.”

“Oh, fuck,” he mutters, eyes widening. “Ben is a sick motherfucker.” His eyes flick to mine, taking in my despondent state. Rushing over, he gathers me in his arms, rocking me gently. “I won’t let him fucking touch you, Maddie. I’ll do anything to keep you safe.”

Sagging in his arms, I let his words wash over me. I know Jagger will do anything to protect me. I’m feeling foolish for my ranting texts to Abby. A vile psychopath is gleefully torturing a woman, sending a video of it to my boyfriend to taunt him.

The image of Ben using a saw and slicing the woman’s breasts from her body nearly made me vomit.

“He wants to do that shit to me,” I whisper, my unseeing gaze flickering around the room. “He plans to torture me…”

“He won’t get the chance, baby girl.” Jagger squeezes me tighter. “I won’t fucking let him near you, let alone give him the chance to torture you.”

“I feel sick,” I mutter. Taking a deep breath, I inhale Jagger’s cinnamon, leather, and smoky scent, which always seems to calm me. That video has unleashed the worst sort of horror inside my mind. Even though I saw Ben raping and strangling a woman, which would haunt all my days and nights if not for Jagger, now I know he’s very capable of torture.

“I know. I wish like hell you never saw that video.”

Pulling back, my head tilts up, my eyes narrowing. “You wouldn’t have kept that from me, right? If Ben sent it when I didn’t have your phone.”

Jagger heaves out a sigh. “It depends—”

I cut him off, my emotions spinning like a tornado. “You can’t keep something like that from me.” My hands clenched into fists. “Even though I hated seeing it, this directly involves me .”

He glares at me, barely hanging onto his restraint. His hand shakes as he runs it through his hair. “I’d give you a choice, Maddie. I wouldn’t have kept it from you or thrust it in your face to watch.” His voice is sharp when he says, “I thought you knew me better than that.” His grip loosens, and he releases me, moving to stand.

Instantly, I’m contrite. Jagger doesn’t hide things from me. If anything, he’s brutally honest. Had I not seen the video, he would have told me about it and let me decide if I wanted to watch it.

I’m letting Ben get to us. He’d be thrilled if he knew this was affecting us.

“I’m sorry.” Shooting to my feet, I move to him. My hand grips his arm, nails digging into his leather jacket. “I shouldn’t have…”

He slowly turns around, facing me. My eyes pleaded with him to accept my apology.

When his face softens, and he steps closer, pulling me against his chest and wrapping his arms around me, a whoosh of air escapes my lungs. I cling to him, whispering apologies in his ear.

“It’s okay, baby girl. We’re both emotional right now.”

“I can’t… Lose you,” I choke out, tears coursing down my cheeks.

“Oh, God, baby girl. That thought never crossed my mind.” Burying his face in my hair, he holds me so tight it hurts. “I’d never leave you, Maddie. You’re stuck with me. Forever .”

We stand there like that for several beats. When his grip loosens and I pull back, I run my fingers through his hair. “I know you won’t leave me. That damn video, the upcoming holidays…” My breath comes out in a rush. “It has me on emotional overload.”

“I know, baby girl.” He runs his knuckles down my cheek. “I promised you forever. That I’d make you my wife. And I don’t break my promises to you.” His sexy grin nearly makes me come undone.

Then his lips fuse over mine, and I unravel, needing him to make me forget the depraved acts I witnessed in that video.

T wo hours later, I stand in the kitchen, wearing only a thong and Jagger’s t-shirt. Catching a glimpse of my reflection in the window, I run a hand self-consciously through my hair. “I look like I’ve been thoroughly fucked.”

Jagger raises his eyes from the vegetables he’s chopping. “Look, huh? Funny, ‘cause I remember thoroughly fucking you.”

Giggling, I amend my statement. “Yes, you did. And it shows.” Sauntering over to him, I wrap my arms around his waist, peering around as he continues chopping vegetables for dinner.

“You better watch being this close to me.” His voice is low and gravelly. “I could turn into the Big Bad Wolf at any moment and eat you.”

“ Fuck ,” I mutter, pressing my face against his back, my panties growing damp from my arousal. “Yes, please.”

His chuckle reverberates from his body to mine. Tossing me that infamous sexy grin over his shoulder, I melt.

His phone rings from inside his sweatpants, interrupting our moment.

“You better answer that. It’s probably Jason. If it is, I’m giving him hell for interrupting the adventures of the Big Bad Wolf.”

Jagger howls with laughter as I untangle myself from him. Reaching inside his pocket, he pulls his phone from it, his laughter dying in his throat immediately.

Oh, God, no.

I know immediately who it is from the rage that pours from Jagger. His black eyes flash as they meet mine.

As much as I don’t want Jagger to answer Ben’s call, I also can’t stand the idea of wondering why he’s calling. “Answer it. See what the fucker wants.”

Jagger hits the button on his phone, his voice full of rage and annoyance when he snaps, “Do you find talking to me more interesting than playing with your newest toy, you sick fuck?”

Ben releases an evil laugh that chills me to the bone as his voice booms through the phone. “You received my video message, huh?”

Jagger grips the knife in his other hand so tightly his knuckles are white. “Get to the fucking point. What the fuck do you want?”

Ben makes a tsking noise. “Impatient, Jagger.” His evil chuckle cuts off and his voice changes, becoming hard. Stilted. “Are you enjoying Maddie?”

A wide smile curves Jagger’s lips. Setting the knife on the counter, he turns to me. Victory is in his eyes as he says, “Every fucking second I’m with her.” He winks at me. “And she’s enjoying me immensely if the permanent smile on her face and her screams and whimpers of pleasure are any indications.”

I slap my hand over my mouth, trying to keep my laughter from escaping since Ben is on speakerphone. Sick burn, Jagger.

Ben growls through the phone, reminding me of a wild animal ready to attack. My eyebrows shoot up as I look at Jagger. Ben was never this into me when we were together. Why now?

Jagger’s smile is smug as he says, “What the fuck do you want, Ben? You aren’t getting Maddie, so you’re wasting your time there.”

“I wouldn’t get too cocky, Jagger. This is only the beginning.” Ben growls.

“The beginning of what? You calling and making idle threats? Why don’t you man up and face me?”

“Patience, Jagger. Good things come—”

He cuts him off. “I already have the best thing. Her . And you aren’t touching her asshole. She’s mine. ” Seething from rage, Jagger’s chest rises from his heavy breathing, his white knuckles clenching the phone. I’m surprised he hasn’t broken it. The look on his face is animalistic, as though he’s ready to attack and destroy the whole damn world.

Moving closer, my hand gently glides up his bare chest, stopping over his pounding heart. “Don’t let him get to you,” I mouth. “I love you.”

Jagger’s nod is subtle, his coiled muscles loosening as he mouths to me, “I love you.”

Ben’s low, threatening tone brings me back to the reality that my psycho ex-boyfriend wants to murder me. “That’s what you think, Jagger.” His malicious laugh fills the kitchen, making me tremble.

I hate it.

I hate him for taking away my safety.

“I will have her. She’s part of my plan… Just like she’s a part of yours .” Then the line goes dead.

Jagger takes a deep, pained breath, closing his eyes. My gaze bores into him, willing his eyes to open so I can see the truth in his dark orbs.

After a few beats, his eyelids open, obsidian eyes clashing with mine. He shoves his hands in the pockets of his sweatpants. His shoulders draw up as he stills, the silence heavy between us.

My jaw and fists are clenched, my eyes narrowed accusingly. “What the hell did Ben mean by She’s a part of my plan… Just like she’s a part of yours?”

“I can’t speak for his plans… But I need to tell you something.” The guilty look on his face makes my stomach twist in knots.

This can’t be good.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I glower at him. “ Tell me .”

“When I first started stalking you… You were a part of my plan to destroy the one person who hurt me worse than anyone. The person who deserves my wrath more than anyone else.”

My mind swims from confusion, baffled over who I may know that is somehow connected to him.

“I wanted revenge against the person who ruined my life. Stole my innocence. Set my world on fire and was prepared to watch it burn.” Pausing, he adds, “The social worker that betrayed me…”

Shifting my weight, I lean forward slightly. “Yes?”

His Adam’s Apple bobs as he audibly swallows. “Maura Hendricks, who later became Maura Jacobs. Your mother.”

The world tilts and wobbles as I grab onto the counter, darkness edging my vision.

Holy shit! My mom was Jagger’s social worker.