Page 19 of Manacled Hearts

“Coming right up.” Genaro leaves and I’m left with Maddox’s gaze on me.

“What?” I ask.

He shakes his head once.

“Evelyn?” Maya pulls my attention. “Can I go there until the ice cream comes?” She points to a half built sandcastle at the edge of the wood decking, a small plastic bucket and little tools forgotten next to it.

“Sure. But you can’t move any further than that without me.” She’s only a few feet away, yet here, out in the open, it makes me tense.

When they took her from me, I was still holding onto her. Nothing could stop them now. Well, this giant of a man could.

“Take Jay shopping this afternoon, or tomorrow,” Maddox says out of the blue, his palm sliding on the table toward me. When he lifts it, a shiny black card remains.

“No.” I almost rasp, offended by the piece of plastic.

“You need clothes. Something of your own. Maya—”

“We’re fine.” I push the card back to him.

“Are you?” the question is rhetorical. “You’re in limbo, and refusing to leave this state is pointless. You have to get comfortable, and I know Katya’s clothes don’t fit you properly. Plus, wearing the same clothes as that night,” he nods toward my outfit, “is probably not doing you any good.”

“My clothes are none of your concern. We. Are. Fine.”

My tone seems to attract some looks around us, and I lower it immediately. Not because of the attention, but because I’m too embarrassed for people to hear we’re arguing over my crappy clothes.

“And it’s not forever,” I add, “I’m looking to get a job, then we will go back to our home.”

He raises an eyebrow at that last word.

“Home, Evelyn?”

“Do not dare—”

“You are stubborn. We both know you need this.” Once again, he slides the card my way. “Why are you refusing the help?”

“Why are you giving it?”

My question lands with a thud, and he narrows his eyes on me.

“Because it’s the right thing to do.”

“Forgive me, Maddox, but you and your… friends… don’t seem like the type of people to help someone off the street for free. Not only that but let them into your homes. Why us?”

“You didn’t come off the street, Evelyn.” He emphasizes my name with a hint of condescension.

“It’s not good enough. For days I’ve been trying to wrap my head around what we’ve been offered. Yes, I did tell you my sister and I can’t go back to Fleeton yet, but I was expecting to be put up in a motel. Not in Katya’s home. And judging from what I’ve seen so far, her work gravitates around yours. This is… it’s too much.” I breathe in deeply and prop my forearms on the glass table. “Why me, Maddox?”

“Like I said, it’s the right thing to do.”

Once again, I inhale deeply, focusing on that breath rather than the growing tension in my temples.

“What did you do for the other kids? Did you place them with people that work for you?” I ask, pushing the subject.

“Most are back with their families, but they have gone under the radar for their protection. Others have been placed in… a home, let’s say, as we track down their families.”

Wait, they actually care?

“Any of them with you guys? Anyone but us?” I press.

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