Page 32 of Love Me Now: Baltimore & Madelyn
Just like that the beautiful weekend I’d just experienced was eclipsed by the evil that was my mother. I barely had time to process what happened when Baltimore and Adir appeared at the bottom of the stairs. Their cool, dark eyes followed my mother as she walked through the living room. Death laid in both their gazes, and as I came down the stairs, I was hesitant to interrupt whatever thoughts were going through their heads.
Reluctantly, I called each of their names. Slowly, they turned to me. Their black eyes focused on me.
“Do you have a minute?” Adir asked.
“Sure, what’s up?” I questioned.
Two hours later, Baltimore and I were at Dr. Bell & Associates, standing inside of a recovery room, peering at the fragile girl lying on the bed. She was sleeping after having been heavily sedated. My heart bled for her. To lose her mother at the hands of her father was devastating.
“You pick the craziest times to need me, Nephew,” I mumbled.
Adir merely smirked. “Her name is Maja Storm.”
“How old is she?” I asked.
“Sixteen. If anyone understands what she’s been through, it’s you.” He came to stand next to me and asked, “You willin’ to help me one last time?”
Turning back to the girl lying on the bed, I sighed heavily. Things had drastically changed in my life. My eyes found Baltimore’s. Seeing how protective and loving he was with Genesis, I prayed he had enough space in his heart for one more addition. Because I wasn’t leaving here without Maja.
His eyes told me everything I needed to see. He agreed with me. My own mother forgotten, I jumped into mother mode and went to Maja’s bedside.
CHAPTER 12
BALTIMORE
EverytimeIcheckedthe security cameras back at Seven Bell Place, Mrs. March was somewhere in frame. The fact that her ass was supposed to be packing and getting the fuck out of Maddie’s house but was walking through there like she owned the place irritated the fuck out of me.
She was used to bullying her daughters. I wasn’t her daughter though, and after seeing the way she upset Maddie, her ass had to go.
Just as I thought it, a text came through on my phone. The location wasn’t too far, and if I left before noon, I could make it back home before it was too late.
Kissing Maddie’s lips, I said, “I’ll be back.”
“Okay,” she mumbled.
Her focus was on Maja, who was still sedated. Quietly, we’d been sitting here listening to Maja’s monitor beep. Adir wanted to keep her sedated for a few more days until her blood pressure regulated. The stress of witnessing her father murder her mother and sustaining a gunshot wound herself, played a major toll on Maja’s heart.
Maddie’s concern for the young girl made her a little stressed too. With the weight of meeting Maja on her shoulders, Maddie didn’t need the likes of her mama waiting back at Bell Estates. So, I had to make some shit shake.
“I love you.”
Maddie said it so softly and casually that I was sure I was hearing shit. With my heart in my hands, I retraced my steps and stooped down in front of Maddie.
“You love me?” I whispered.
She nodded and smiled. “Is that okay with you?”
Leaning up, I kissed her like this was our first time kissing.
“I love you,” I told her in between the sloppiness of it all.
She giggled and replied with, “I know.”
Heart still pounding, I pried myself from my lady, left out of the room, then went in search of Heir, who had Genesis in her possession. She was upstairs inside one of the apartment units. Genesis laid on a palette in the middle of the floor fast asleep.
“You need anything?” I asked her.
She smiled and shook her head. “How’s Mom?”