Page 20

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

MADALYN

I finish loading the dishwasher, and Aria is wiping down the kitchen island while we sing a song she selected on her phone. Some new pop artist.

We laugh, and sing, me off key of course while Aria sings like a popstar. Her long dark hair is in a loose braid, her make-up light and she is dressed in a pair of light blue cut-off shorts that are not too short thankfully, a white T-shirt with the word ‘Summertime’ on the front.

She is getting ready to leave and to go to her friend’s house to celebrate her friend’s mom’s birthday. So she will be home late and I get to watch repeats of Jane the Virgin. I love that show, both Gina Rodriguez and Justin Baldoni are amazing in it. He is not bad looking either.

Once we have finished cleaning, we chill on the sofa, doing our weekly catch up on our lives. We both like to do this, even though we see each other every day. I think with it only being us for so long, we do not want to fall into the trap of not taking the extra time for each other.

“So, I heard from a little birdy that you are dating a biker,” Aria whispers, but I hear the humor in her voice.

My gaze snaps to her from the TV, to find her grinning.

I narrow my eyes at her, making her giggle. “Male or female birdy?” I wave at her. “Don’t bother, I know it was Darian. Freaking big mouth.”

She playfully slaps my thigh.

“You know she loves to gossip like the old ladies in town who knit in the park.”

“She has a freaking big mouth,” I say then sigh, looking at my sister, who is one of the main reasons I do what I do.

She pushes me to be a better person, and encourages me to be me and go for what I want and I do the same for her. Even with Peter in our lives, it was just us sisters, and I had to step up and be a mother-figure for her.

She is a good kid, the best. I can see that she will have a very bright future ahead of her, with all the good work she has been putting in at school, and with her art.

“Honestly, I do not know what we are.”

“He is hot, from what I have seen. I was over at Grandpa Pete’s and he pulled up on his bike. Damn, that man has hero hair and his thighs… Talk about power thighs.”

I giggle at her description.

“He does have a nice body,” I blurt out, then gasp looking at her with wide eyes, making her giggle louder.

“Maddi, I know that I am only fifteen, but I am not a young girl. I do know about boys. No, I am not dating anyone before you ask, but you can. You work your butt of at PCE, so we have a good life.”

I look at her and see how grown-up she is for her age and my pride swells knowing that it was me and our grandfather who did that, not our shitty parents.

“I know you struggled when we had to move here, and I am sorry for taking you away from your friends, but I see you now and see how happy and settled you are. It makes me so happy that you made an effort after all the fussing and fighting we did.” I nudge her playfully.

She smiles, but I see sadness shining back at me.

“It was hard, but I get why you did it. Wayne was a waste of space, and I believe now that you and Darian and me were meant to live here. New friends here make me feel like I have been in their lives for years, not just a few months. I think we have both come a long way.”

“When did you get so wise?” I pull her close to me, hugging her tightly.

“I love you, Mads.” Her arms tighten around me, making me smile.

Not only for her hug, but for the name that she used for me.

it reminds me of Target. Aria and Darian call me Maddi or Madalyn, because I hated ‘Mads’ as Wayne started it, but hearing Target say it sends a wave of desire and warmth through me.

Aria is my top priority as are Kohen’s kids to him. My family is everything and seeing what we have gone through, we are stronger together. Watching my baby sister grow into a young woman is something special, and maybe I will get to witness that with Emmi and Rex as they grow up.

It is early days, like I said to Aria, but Kohen makes me feel things that I had always hoped for. I also know that a part of my wall is still up after not just what Wayne did, but also Crypt.

I know that I need to talk to Kohen about my past and my experience with bikers so that he can understand my reluctance about being with a biker.

The Rugged Skulls MC is nothing like Crypt’s club, the Deadly Dwellers MC.

The RSMC stands for loyalty and respect but have that roughness about them. For years after what Crypt did to me, I was jumpy and scared of my own shadow. I stayed away from motorcycle clubs for my own mental health.

It worked for me, then one day I got stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire and a biker stopped to help.

At first I was shaking in fear, but he spoke slowly, with calming words.

He kept his distance and made sure that I was comfortable, and that day he fixed a part of me that feared all bikers, because like Darian said, not all bikers are bad.

His road name was Tote, and it has always stuck with me, how kind he was.

A horn beeps from outside and Aria looks up, but does not pull away. The look on her face is one that shows how serious she is with what she is about to say.

“Have a life, Sissy. For me.” I nod to her, kissing her forehead.

“Go on, have a good night and I will see you later.” She jumps to her feet, picking up her bag on the way out. Once she is gone, I am alone to unwind for the rest of the time.

Getting to my feet, I head into the kitchen to refresh my glass of wine. The music still plays softly through the room and I hum along with the tune.

A knock comes on my front door, making me frown.

I am not expecting anyone. Setting my glass down on the counter I go to the door, checking through the side window, but see no one.

Frowning deeper, I pull open the door and have a peek but see no one there.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, so I quickly shut the door.

Securing the lock, I walk quickly back to the kitchen, picking up my glass and phone and turning off the music. As my butt hits the sofa, another knocks comes.

Opening my phone I get ready to dial 911, and I go to check the door again. Opening it, stupid I know, but I have no reason for anyone to hurt me.

There on my front step is a box. Looking left and right, and checking across the street, I see no one. Looking back down at the box like it has offended me, I collect it, bringing it into the house.

It is has my name in big black bold letters across the top, and no address which means it was hand delivered, but no delivery company would take this package without an address…

My body feels tight, as I stupidly open the brown cardboard box.

Darian would kick my ass if she were here right now.

Pulling the flaps open, I gasp seeing the one thing I thought I had put out of my mind.

It is one side of a heart that matches with its other half to form a complete heart. Like the kind that say, ‘Best Friends Forever’..

This one reads ‘Mine.’

My half, which I threw away, read ‘Always.’

Crypt gave it to me. I feel sick to my stomach, as it churns, threatening to dispel my last meal.

The item looks at me like it will jump out and slit my throat.

Running is what I did to stay off of Crypt and his club's radar; it has been years since things happened between us.

It scares me that he has found me, and I can feel a cold sweat forming on my brow.

Memories of the dark times we shared flood back, no longer locked away by the distance and the years.

My mind races, considering my options. The very thought of facing Crypt again sends a shiver down my spine. Every instinct in me screams to run, to find safety, but deep down I know that running will be futile.

I need to talk to Kohen, but I fear I am bringing trouble to his club and people might get hurt because of me. My pain should not be brought upon others around me.

Aria.

Reaching for my phone in a sudden panic, I call her to make sure that she got to her friend’s safely and they did not take her when they came here.

The timing was so close.

Her phone rings four times, causing my panic to rise, then she answers.

“Hey, miss me already?” Her voice soothes my panic.

I swallow hard, thinking of a reason for this phone call so I do not make her worry.

“I will always miss you.” The lump in my throat grows. “I can’t seem to find my little black and chrome clutch purse, do you know where it is?”

“Oh, are you going on a date?”

I cough. “Maybe.”

“I last saw it in your closet on the left, hanging up.” I force a laugh.

“I must have missed it. I will let you get back to it.”

“Are you okay, Maddi?”

“Of course.” I add more cheer to my voice.

“Okay, I am here if you need me.” I end the call locking my device, keeping my gaze on the piece of metal that haunts me some nights.

My hands tremble as I close the box, pushing it away as if that could distance me from the threat it represents. What does he want from me now? Why resurface after all this time?

I had hoped he would have forgotten about me.

A sudden loud knock comes at my front door again, making me jump out my skin. My body trembles with fear, sweat sticking to my palms, as I inch closer. One step at a time my fear ramps up.

Clutching my phone in my hand, I open the device to call 911 to come and save me, when I hear a voice I was not expecting,

“Mads, baby, it’s me. Open the door, I can hear you breathing really heavy, baby.” The worry in Kohen’s voice has me rushing forward, yanking the door open and as I fall into his arms, a sob breaks free.

That triggers his hands going tightly around me, helping me back into the house.

I look up at him when I hear the door’s lock engage.

“We need to talk.”