Page 94 of Pretty Heartache

Holding the knife to her throat, he walks over to the mirror and stands in front of it. The very mirror I managed to save from the pile of furniture salvaged from the shed out back. The wooden frame around the weathered glass is cracked in places, the stain peeling.

My eyes have finally adjusted to the darkness of the room, and the stars have cleared out. My vision is still slightly fuzzy as I work to regain my bearings, but I push the pain aside.

Maddox and Adeline are standing in front of the mirror. The glass is shattered, small shards and pieces of it lying on the floor. My eyes fall to Maddox's hand below Adeline’s face. Blood drips from his sliced knuckles.

I stay where I am and think of what to do and how I’m going to get Adeline out from his grip. I know Lennon has called for help, but I start to wonder where he is. My eyes dart to the door opening, trying to hear for footsteps, but aside from the rain and thunder outside, the house is eerily quiet.

I glance around the room, searching for a weapon. On top of the dresser is my toolbelt, with my hammer still tucked inside one of the pockets.

I swing my gaze to Maddox and Adeline, making sure I don’t lose them from my line of sight. Slowly, I sidestep toward the dresser.

“Shh. Hush, sweetheart,” Maddox whispers into Adeline’s ear as he runs a hand down the length of her cheek over the cut. “Open your eyes.”

“No,” she cries out, squeezing her eyes shut. “Please.”

He presses the knife harder against her throat. “Open them!” he yells, his veins bulging from his neck.

Adeline only cries harder, her shoulders wracking with fear. She shakes her head, refusing.

I step closer to him, everything in my body wanting to do anything I can to get him away from her. My heart breaks seeing Adeline in his grip.

His eyes shoot to me in the reflection. “Don’t you fucking dare try it.”

I stop, and Adeline’s eyes finally open, but she doesn’t look at herself or Maddox. She looks at me through the reflection in the mirror, her gorgeous eyes spread wide with fear.

I want to vomit.

“Oh!” Maddox snidely laughs. “You love him, don’t you?” He snickers and clicks his tongue. “That’s so sweet.” He looks at me again. “Don’t let this girl’s beauty fool you. Don’t let her suck you in like she did me. She uses her looks, then flips it around onyou, making you seem like the fucking fool.” Every word he spits grows louder, his anger consuming him.

“How so?” I ask, hoping if I keep the conversation going, he won’t go through with his threat on Adeline. I’m hoping Lennon or the police will be here any second to back me up or end this.

“Let me tell you about this little slut.” He lifts the knife and drags it across her open wound, tracing the line he’s already placed on her face. Adeline’s eyes are still squeezed shut, but she screams in pain. “She’s just like every other model. She moves to Los Angeles, thinking she’s some hot little shit, like she’s going to make any kind of difference in this big fucking world. Instead, all she’s doing is selling her fucking body and making horny men more feral. She doesn’t give a shit about you or your livelihood.” He leans into Adeline, pressing his cheek to hers. “You made a promise to me, didn’t you?”

I take another step to my left, seizing the opportunity to move closer to the hammer. Maddox's eyes are still on Adeline when I finally reach the dresser and slip the hammer quietly out of the pocket. I hold it behind me and take a tentative step back to my right, returning to where I was before.

“What was your promise, huh?” Maddox asks Adeline, curling his lip.

“Maddox, please,” Adeline begs. “Just let me go.”

“What was it?” he barks.

Another sharp gasp escapes Adeline, and she shakes before she opens her eyes to find Maddox in the reflection. “That I wouldn’t hurt you. That I would never look at anyone else.”

“That’s right.” Venom slips into his words, fueled by his anger and hatred. “But what did you do?”

“Nothing,” she whispers. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Don’t lie to me!” He sniffs, wiping the spit hanging from his mouth from yelling. “After I caught you flirting with that photographer, you honestly thought I would believe it wasinnocent?” He scoffs, narrowing his eyes. “Women like you always play the victim, but after I confronted you about it in your trailer, you made a promise not to do it again.” He clicks his tongue again in disapproval, still running his knife over the cut on Adeline’s cheek. “Then look what you did. You came here and spread those long, pretty fucking legs and fucked your older brother’s best friend.”

A tear slowly spills over Adeline’s lashes, sliding down her bloodstained cheek.

I hold my breath, the pain in my gut radiating with sickness.

“Oh, I know all about the little Harding brother here.” He smirks. “She has a sweet little cunt, doesn’t she?” He narrows his eyes to me through the mirror, tipping his chin higher. “Sweet like candy.”

He traces his tongue over his mouth.

White-hot anger injects into my veins.

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