Page 153 of Fought and Freed

She glanced at Cody and Skylar.

“It’s up to you, Maddy,” Cody said. “We’ll stand behind you.”

“What haven’t you told us, son?” Jared growled.

“Jared, calm down,” Giselle snapped as E.J. fussed. “You’re scaring your grandson.”

“What I’m going to say may upset you both. Please listen to everything before you decide.” Maddy let out a slow breath. “My birth name was Mia Moretti.”

Giselle gasped.

Jared looked at his sons, then back at her. “They only had one kid. A boy. I’ve never heard about a girl.”

“That’s because my mother told everyone I died,” Maddy explained. “My mom got pregnant with twins, but by two different men. My father was a guard, and my brother’s father was Enzo. She was afraid Enzo would kill her and me once he saw my red hair, so she dropped me off at Little Tikes.”

“That’s not possible,” Jared said, before he looked at the guys. “She’s pulling the wool over your eyes.”

“I looked it up. It’s rare, but possible,” Jace assured him.

“My brother is Lucca Cardone,” Maddy added.

“Crusher? Now you’re trying to pull a hometown hero into this story?” Jared shouted the accusation.

E.J. started crying, and Giselle glared at him. “Now, see what you did? I’ll go feed him.”

She rose and smiled down at Maddy. “I don’t care what your last name is, dear. You’re a good person.”

With another glare at her husband, she left the room.

Maddy pressed her hands against her thighs to stop from fidgeting as she faced Jared. “I wasn’t happy to find out I was related to that monster, Enzo, either.”

“But you’re not. He’s not your father. The guard is,” Skylar reminded her. “And they had nothing to do with raising you.”

“Plus, your uncle and brother are trying to go legitimate,” Cody added.

Jared’s eyes widened. “They are?”

“Yes, they’re getting rid of all the guns and drugs in favor of opening more businesses like clubs and coffee shops.” Maddy took a sip of her Dr. Pepper.

Jared frowned at her. “I guess that’s where you’re getting your money from.”

Maddy raised her chin. “Wouldn’t you rather have that drug money go toward a cause that can help kids?”

“Of course, I would,” he huffed. “I’m sorry, Maddy, nothing against you. You seem like a great kid. It’s that name. It brings up bad memories. All those drugs that killed people, and kids getting their hands on guns.”

“I understand, and I hope you don’t hold that against me while we get to know each other. My life hasn’t been easy. I worked hard to get where I am, and I did that without knowing my real name,” Maddy said with pride.

“I trust my boys,” he said gruffly. “They have a good heads on their shoulders, and they love you, so it will only be a matter of time before I love you, too.”

Maddy blushed.

Gisselle returned from the kitchen with a bottle and E.J. “Maddy, would you like to feed E.J.?”

“I would love to, but…” She holds up her cast.

“Not a problem.” Giselle walked around the couch. “Skylar, get that horseshoe pillow I bought you. Maddy, get comfortable.”

Skylar brought a pillow over and laid it on my lap, then Gisselle laid E.J. on the pillow. After she grabbed a blanket to lie over the cast, she positioned Maddy, then passed her the bottle.

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