Page 137 of Done Waiting

Lifting my head, I stare down at her lifeless face.Damn it, Maddie. We were destined to be together.

You can’t fucking leave me.

I won’t let you. You’re mine. You’ve always been mine.

My head lowers to hers, my loud hysterical sobs filling the room. I’ve never cried so hard or felt so much anguish and despair as I rock her in my arms.

“Jagger,” Jason’s voice is in my ears. It takes me a few beats but I finally lift my head, unable to see him through my watery,gritty eyes. He reaches his hand out, wiping the tears from my face, knowing I’m not going to let go of her.

I can’t.

I blink a few times and can finally see him. “Ryan is here. He’s dispatched a chopper. They’ll fly her…”

My head turns, finding Ryan. My jaw clenches, my expression fierce as I say, “I’m going with her.”

“Jagger—”

“I’m going with her. I’m not fucking leaving her.” Spittle flies from my mouth as I glare at him.

He holds up his hands in surrender. “I’ll make sure of it.” Taking a step closer, his gaze drops to Maddie, tears rolling down his face. “Come on, Maddie. Fight. You’re not ready to go be with your dad yet.” Gingerly squatting down, he looks at me as I shift her closer, not wanting anyone else to touch her.

“She got shot because of me.” Bitterness makes my jaw ache. “I’m responsible for this.”

“No,” Jason barks. “The Ice Queen is responsible for this. She was going to shoot you. I pulled my gun. I would’ve shot her before she shot you, but Maddie…” a sob bursts from his lips. “S-She s-sacrificed h-h-herself.”

Tears stream down my face again and I collapse, my forehead against hers, giving in to my grief.

I can’t do this without you, baby girl.

If you die, so do I.

57

THE STALKER

The cold December wind blows around me as I slowly walk to my destination, each step heavier than the last. The gloomy gray sky overhead matches my morose mood. Weaving around the tombstones, my eyes are focused on one. The only one that matters in this cemetery.

Tears fill my eyes as I grow closer. I blink rapidly, but it doesn’t keep them at bay. They trail down my face, dripping from my chin. But I don’t make any effort to wipe them away.

Stopping in front of the tombstone, my breath hitching in my chest. Pain fills my body as my eyes trace over the letters on it, then move to the date of birth and date of death.

Fuck. I can’t do this.

My fingers wrap tighter around the bouquet of flowers, squeezing them so hard I’m surprised the stems don’t break. My jaw clenches, and my entire body shakes.

Memories assault me, nearly bringing me to my knees. The horrific fiery accident that claimed my mother’s life, my dad’s spiral into addiction and depression. The abuse I suffered at his hands until I nearly gave up all hope, nearly gave up on life.

Untilher.

A honey-brown-eyed five-year-old whose dad called her pumpkin. The moment I saw her being harassed by that little bastard who pulled her hair, I intervened.

It was such a small moment that altered the entire course of my life. I had no idea I fell in love with her that day because I had no idea what love was. I thought love meant certain destruction, having watched my father become a monster after my mom died.

Her childish face filled my mind, the adoration on her angelic face as she looked up at me and called her dark hero.

I spent years hoping to see her, but our paths wouldn’t cross again until she was nineteen years old, and I was a vengeful monster hell-bent on destroying her mother.

When my eyes first landed on Maddie, I was struck by her beauty, and that cemented my plan to capture her, make her fall in love with me, then break her in front of her Ice Queen mother, torturing her until I finally granted her mercy and killed her. I stalked her, learning everything about her.

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