Page 41 of Defending Madison

“Don’t you have to work today?”

The corner of Dixon’s lip pulls up as his eyes sparkle. “I actually am working. I’m your bodyguard.”

Giggling. “You’re getting paid to watch me?”

He leans back in his chair with a Cheshire grin. “That I’m doing for free. But I am getting paid to protect you.”

Shaking my head, I pull out my ringing phone from my pocket. “Is that really necessary?” Nothing has happened… I turn my phone screen to Dixon.

“Your mom?”

“Yeah. I guess she talked to Brian, and she wants deets.”

Dixon looks around. “I could step away.”

“No. It’s fine.” I press a button on my phone. “Hi, Mom.”

“Not your mom, Benny.”

Color drains from my face as my jaw drops open. Some man has my mom’s phone. “Where’s my mom?”

Dixon moves to crouch by my side, pulling my hand down from my ear and touching the speaker button. He places his finger over his lips and points at the phone.

The man answers. “I have your mother, and if you don’t do what I say, I’ll kill her.”

My heart is pounding. His words echo in my brain as Dixon touches my hand and points to his phone. My mother has her hair in her usual morning curlers with a cup of coffee in her hand. She’s home. She’s safe. I open my mouth to scream at the beast on my phone as Dixon squeezes my hand. He shakes hishead, mouthing, ‘no’. He presses the mute button. “Play along. Ellas is tracing the call. Be scared.”

“I am.” He pushes the mute off and I gasp. “Don’t hurt my mother. What do you want?”

“You left.”

Huh? “Left what?”

“Me, you bitch. I gave you my heart, and you threw it away. You’re mine. You’ve always been mine.”

I take a deep breath. “Who is this?”

He growls. “Figures you wouldn’t know. You’re selfish.”

I shrug at Dixon. Someone walks through the bakery door making the bell tinkle. “What was that?”

“Someone came into where I am.”

“You stupid bitch. This is private.”

I close my eyes, focusing my brain, trying to place the voice. It has a familiar tone, but I’m unsure. Dixon mouths more instructions and I ask. “Where are you keeping my mother?”

“I’m sure you know by now that your mother is safe. I know you, and you’re too calm so someone has already assured you of your mom’s safety. But know I can get her and you whenever I want. You’re mine, Benny.”

The call ends and I gasp. Dixon is around the table, kneeling next to me. “You’re okay. You did great. I knew you could do it.”

Tears stream down my face. My mother is yelling from Dixon’s phone as I pick it up. “Why are you crying?”

“It’s a long story. We’re okay.”

“Dixon said you have a stalker. Why is this the first I’m hearing of this? I can add you to the prayer chain at church.”

Of course you can. “Please do that mom. I’m fine. Please be really careful. Dixon is going to call you in a few minutes and talk more about this.” I end his call and crumple into his arms. “I thought you were overreacting.”

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