Page 3 of Skully’s Property (Savage Knights MC: NW Chapter #2)

Madison

“ T hank you, dear. We’ll look over your application and be in touch.”

I nod, watching her tuck my application at the bottom of the stack of papers, and I know it’s going to be forgotten.

From the moment she found out I just graduated from college, she dismissed me.

As if assuming I wouldn’t be sticking around in a job like this for long.

She’s not wrong. As soon as I get a real job, one far, far away from here, preferably on the other side of the country or even in a different country, I’ll be leaving. Never to return again.

“Maddy!”

My shoulders tense at the sound of my name, wishing I could make myself small and quickly shrink away.

But I’ve already been spotted. It’s too late.

I didn’t think I’d run into anyone I knew here.

All the people I went to high school with would never be caught dead shopping at a secondhand clothing store, and the people from my neighborhood would never come to this side of the tracks. I thought I was safe.

“Oh my God, Mads! You’re back!”

I turn, and the frantic feeling grows worse. It’s Shayna—who’s smiling like crazy and practically running across the store to me. And my stomach is sinking lower and lower the closer she gets. Guilt is settling in so hard I can’t even move.

“Girl, when did you get back?” She pulls me right in for a hug. “I missed you so much.”

With all the effort I can conjure, I slap a smile on and squeeze her tight, forcing the excitement to come through in my voice.

“I just got back a couple weeks ago.” It’s a lie. I’ve been home for over a month. “I missed you too.”

“You’ve been home for a couple of weeks and you didn’t call me?

” She pulls back, looking so wounded by the fact, and now I feel like an even shittier friend.

It’s not that I didn’t want to see her, it’s that I can’t.

Just looking at her brings back the pain.

My chest is already starting to hurt and I’m struggling to breathe.

“I’m sorry. It’s been crazy since I’ve gotten home. Mom and Dad have been making up for lost time, dragging me from one thing to another. And in between, I’ve been busy searching for a job. I can’t handle living with them, so I’ve been out every day.”

I’m working so hard to find something, anything at this point, so that I no longer have to be under their roof.

They’re still so angry with me about breaking up with Jeffrey.

They both thought he was going to be their future son-in-law, and when I started dating…

I can’t even think his name without feeling the stab in my chest. God, it still hurts so much.

When I started dating the man they didn’t approve of, they threatened to disown me.

Lucky for them, Skully broke up with me, so their fears were laid to rest. And so was my heart.

“I thought you’d already be off working at some big fancy company somewhere. I’m so glad you’re back. Any idea how long you’ll be in town for?”

I thought I’d already have a job too. But apparently, finance jobs are hard to come by.

Plus, my grades this last year sucked. I couldn’t concentrate, and I barely ended up passing.

I graduated by the skin of my teeth and now my father says I’ll be lucky if I find a job paying fifty thousand a year.

Right now, I’d take minimum wage. Anything so I can start saving to get my own place. I even considered taking a live-in nanny position, until I remembered the fact that all the people looking to hire a nanny know my parents and are connected to the world I’m trying to get out of.

“The market is really tough right now. Plus, this last year was a bit rough, so I didn’t do as well as I’d hoped.

” The truth comes out, and her smile drops.

The sadness creeping into her eyes like a thundercloud rolling in.

She reaches for me and grips my hands, offering me a kindness that I so desperately need.

This last year has been terribly lonely.

I’ve been so lost, barely getting through my days without shedding a tear.

“I know it was rough. I’m so sorry, Maddy. Do you want to know anything…um…about him?”

Deep down, I want to know everything. I want to know if he’s okay.

Or if he’s still in pain. I want to know what the doctors have told him about his legs.

And how he’s doing after losing Rubble. Of course, the thought crosses my mind of whether he’s missed me, which is why I shake my head, telling her, “I don’t think I can handle it right now. ”

After what he told me the last time I saw him, I think the answer to my question is obvious.

I was just a summer fling, after all. Nothing more than a hot piece of ass.

He was just “kicking it with the rich girl,” having some fun, but he always knew there was an end to our relationship because I was going back to school.

It was never going to be more. And somehow, through all the quiet moments we spent together—cuddling, making love, the sweet things he said, the way he looked at me—I “should’ve known” it was just a casual thing.

Had I known that was the case, that he was using me for sex, I never would’ve gotten involved with him.

I was so head over heels in love with him, I believed with everything in me that he was the one.

And I could’ve sworn he felt the same. But now I’m suffering so much I can barely breathe.

I’ve never known a pain so excruciating.

No, I take that back. When Dagger rushed into the room, telling me Skully had been shot and was in the hospital battling for his life, that was the worst pain I’ve ever felt.

“I get it, Mads. But in case you were wondering, he hasn’t been with any of the girls. He doesn’t even let them come near him. Mainly, he just stays in his room. Drawing at his table. I’ve seen some of his work, too. It’s pretty incredible. But sad. Really dark and sad.”

No, it doesn’t make me feel better. It sounds like he’s hurting.

And after everything he’s been through, I’m sure he is.

I can’t imagine what it’s like losing both of your legs and your best friend all in one night.

I just wish he had let me be there for him.

But he didn’t even want me in the hospital room.

He woke up and nearly freaked his shit when he saw me on his bed tucked in next to him.

He told the guys to take me out, and told the nurses only family was allowed in, meaning his “brothers.”

That should’ve been another clue to how insignificant I was to him, but I fooled myself into believing he didn’t want me to see him in pain.

I thought he was worried I’d be sad or that I’d think less of him.

But then he came home from the hospital, and he didn’t mince his words when he told me to leave the club and never come back.

He didn’t want to deal with some clingy little girl while he was trying to recover.

“Hey!” She perks up. “Any chance you could give me a ride back to the clubhouse? The girls are going to be a bit longer, and I’ve already finished up my shopping. It would give us some time to catch up. I want to hear all about your plans and what’s been going on.”

“Um…”

I really don’t want to drive to the clubhouse. I don’t want to go anywhere near that place again. It’s going to stir up too much pain. Bring back all the memories. And it’s already hard enough. This conversation has ripped off any scab of progress I’d made, which was barely any.

“Please,” she pleads, giving me puppy-dog eyes. “I’ve missed you so much, Madsters. And the guys are in church right now, so there’s no worry of running into anyone.”

For as much as I don’t want to do it, I can’t say no to her.

She was the one who held me when my heart was breaking in two.

The only one who texted every day to make sure I was okay after everything went down.

Even my own parents didn’t care about me.

They thought I was being ridiculous crying over a guy who ran around with a bunch of biker losers who were criminals just waiting to be arrested.

My dad was furious when my tears wouldn’t stop, so he sent me back to school early, telling me to get my shit together and wise up or else I should never come home again.

I didn’t want to. I tried so hard to find something so I wouldn’t have to return, but nothing panned out and I had no choice.

And every day, I get up, plaster on the fake smile, pretend like everything is perfect, and play the part until I’m out from under their scrutiny.

Then I go tuck myself in a coffee shop and scour the internet for job postings.

But after Mom told me the other day that she’s arranging a dinner with Jeff’s family in hopes that I’ll reconsider the boy, I started looking for a sales job.

Hence me applying in this store. I’ve submitted an application just about everywhere I know I won’t be recognized by anyone.

“Okay,” I agree, realizing she’s still waiting on my answer.

“Awesome! You’re the best. I’m going to go tell the girls I’m heading out and I’ll be right back.”

I nod, watching her retreat to the back of the store where the dressing rooms are, and as soon as she disappears, the memory floods in.

“Look, Jeff! There’s no line for the Ferris wheel.

Will you ride it with me?” I watch the pretty lit-up ride as it makes its slow rotation around and around, stopping to let patrons off and others on.

It was always my favorite ride at the fair, mainly because it was slow and safe, and the views from up top were amazing.

You could see all the way to the mountains.

The snowcapped peaks glowing under the moonlight.

“There’s a reason there isn’t a line for the thing, Madison. It’s the most boring ride in the place.”