Page 24 of Come to Head

And now she was married to a different man.

The thought sent vines of pain to wrap around his heart.

He didn’t realize she was crying until that very moment. He reached out, tugging her against his chest.

“I love you, too,” she hiccupped out.

The words solidified every moment that led up to this point. Oliver had been right, if all of this had come to light too soon, he doubted Ellie would still be here, in his arms. She would have run for the hills.

“Maddox, I can’t fault you all. I understand why he kept so many secrets from me. I always knew certain things were off. I knew my step-father wasn’t a good man. I knew there was more to this town than met the eye. But there’s something I never told either of you.” She was practically hyperventilating at this point and it took everything for Maddox to just allow her to vent. “My teacher, Sebastian York, he… he…”

Maddox heard the door to the bedroom open and close, but he was too far gone to care. “He what?” The room had turned a reddish shade as his anger filled him. York had hurt her? His Ellie? How? When? His mind was going a mile a minute, and he almost didn’t hear her. And why in the ever-loving fuck was a York her teacher?

“He tried to rape her,” Emilio’s voice supplied as he sat on the foot of the bed. “On the roof of the school over a decade ago. That’s how she and I became closer. I was already watching her for Oliver’s sake, to keep an eye on her step-father, but then I saw she was becoming entangled with a York. I know that one stayed off the radar, but even still, I didn’t trust him.”

“That’s why you avoid rooftops.” Oliver was leaning against the door, his arms folded across his chest.

“Yes,” Ellie sniffled out. “And I need you to know, that was when I fell in love with Emilio, when I promised to marry him after 10 years. He was there for me; he kept me safe.”

Maddox had a million things he wanted to argue on that, but he kept silent.

“Safe,” Oliver snorted sardonically. “Sure.”

Oliver may have bonded with Emilio over Camila’s death but they never became friends. If anything, they were enemies with a mutual tragedy that brought them together to retaliate, to commit murder.

After all, it was Oliver’s dad that killed Camila.

“Sebastian’s the one who took her from you two. But don’t worry I made sure he was dead this time; he won’t be rising from the grave again,” Emilio confirmed, ignoring Oliver entirely.

Maddox breathed in and out a few more times, his mind spiraling in overdrive, so much had happened in such a short time. He readjusted his hold on Ellie, pulling her even closer into him.

She was his sole purpose for living, the reason he looked forward to every day. Before, he was an empty shell that had watched a child die in his arms. Lost in a world that didn’t react kindly to broken men.

But now? He was happier than he had ever remembered being. Ellie had breathed life into every moment since he met her.

He would accept every piece that came with her. Even if it meant another man. Even if it meant two.

His mind was made up, he would be by Ellie’s side no matter what.

Chapter 13

Izzy

Iwas hot, too hot.

“They wouldn’t even let me claim a spot next to you after ten years apart.” Emilio’s voice cut through the darkness, but it took me a few more moments to gain my bearings.

Arms were wrapped around me on both sides, and I was in an unfamiliar space.

Before I could put much more thought into it, I felt the bed shift and then Emilio was maneuvering me up and off of it.

“You’re going to hurt your back,” I whispered hoarsely into the darkness.

“Shush with that.”

Fully extricated from the bed, Emilio took my hand and hauled me through the darkness until he opened a door.

Instead of back into the main part of the house, it was to an outside opulent patio. The muggy air hit me, a slap to the face.