Page 93 of Pretty Heartache

“Addy,” I repeat, louder than the last. “Who. Did. This. To. You?”

She opens her eyes again, tears clumping her long, dark lashes. Thunder crashes in the background, vibrating the house. Addy’s eyes meet mine and my heart tightens.

“Ma…” She quivers, widening her eyes, swallowing down her pain. “Maddox.”

I wrap my hand around her jaw. My thumb catches the blood spilling from her cut.

Repeating his name in my head, it takes only seconds for me to remember who Maddox is.

Adeline’s abusive ex. The one she left back in Los Angeles when she came to live with me.

My first instinct had been that Soren was responsible for this. Archer never confirmed he no longer posed a threat, but when I think about him coming back here four days ago, he must have truly settled his debt. At least enough to where it didn’t put us at risk. My best friend has his issues, and I’ve taken the fall for him probably more than I should have, but he wouldn’t have shown up if he knew his sister could be hurt.

“Oh, my God,” I whisper as I run my thumb across Adeline’s cheek. Blood streaks her skin, and I try to lift her head, but she hisses again in pain, crying out.

“He’s still here,” she whispers, her eyes wide with fear.

“We’ll be okay.” I try to reassure her. “I’m going to get you out of here.”

“Step away from her.”

A man I’ve never seen before steps out from behind my closet door. I catch his reflection in the mirror on the opposite wall. His dark eyes are piercing in the blackness of the room. Lightningstrikes again, highlighting the shadows of his face. He looks young—several years younger than me—with a boyish look to his face. Fucking weak.

My eyes drop to the knife he’s holding, the blade glinting in the bit of light from the lightning.

When Maddox steps out from behind the door completely, I turn around and stand, shielding Adeline as much as possible.

“Get the fuck out of my house.” I curl my hands into tight fists at my side.

“I think you must be confused.” He lifts his hand to his chest, pointing the knife he’s holding at it. “I’m not leaving here without Adeline paying for what she did.”

“My patience is very limited, so I’ll only tell you this one more time.” White-knuckled, I tighten my fists even more. “Get the fuck out of my house, or you won’t live to see the end of this storm.”

“I don’t think you understand what this little bitch did,” he spits, waving the knife in my direction. He closes in on me, crossing the room to where Adeline and I are. I refuse to move away from her, but when he gets close enough to stick the knife to my own chest, I inhale a deep breath. One wrong move and he can stab me.

The tip of his knife presses into my tie.

I’m inhaling another sharp breath when his fist lands in the middle of my stomach. I hunch over, catching my breath. My mouth falls open and I fight the urge to vomit. Pain radiates across my body.

“No!” I yell around my constricted throat when I see Maddox moving toward Adeline. He bends down and grabs her by the back of the neck

She cries out when he lifts her up, forcing her to stand. Her head falls back, and her mouth falls open as he pushes hertoward the other side of the room. He wraps his arm around her neck, holding her against his chest.

Looking up, I clutch my stomach, still trying to catch my breath. Fucking asshole hit me when I least expected it.

“Let her go,” I choke out as I stumble toward Adeline, but I’m only a few feet away from her when I’m met with the tip of the knife pointed only inches from my face.

“Back the fuck up,” he seethes, inhaling a deep breath. “I’m about to show this little girl exactly what she cost me and make sure she can never do it again.” He keeps his arm outstretched as he sidesteps, keeping Adeline with him.

She stumbles on her own feet, trying to keep up. She’s weak and injured, crying out in pain, sobbing while holding onto Maddox’s arm with both her hands, trying to pull him away.

“Micah,” she cries.

“Shut up, bitch!” Maddox booms.

My stomach wrenches, and my brain frantically searches for a way to get her out of Maddox’s grip.

“Maddox,” Adeline cries, switching tactics. “Please don’t do this. It doesn’t have to be this way.”

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