Page 79 of These Jagged Edges

"Where’s Allison?" I haven’t seen her once since waking up and I’m trying not to take it personally. We all handle trauma in our own way, and I’m not going to force her to see me if she isn’t ready to or doesn’t want to.

Maddox gently adjusts his glasses and runs a soothing hand through his thick hair. "She's been staying with Lucien.” Then he gives me a soft smile. “Don’t worry about her baby, she’ll come around.”

I swallow thickly. "Is she okay?"

Maddox firmly plants his large frame against the door frame. "He assures me she will be."

I knew Allison had made it mostly unscathed, but people don't survive something so horrendous together and not come out the other side without some kind of bond of shared trauma. I just never in a million years would have thought we shared the same devil. It makes me nauseous to think about all the things he inflicted on me that he inflicted on other women. The satisfying sound of his neck snapping will comfort me in the difficult days ahead.

After the boys have been bathed and tucked away in bed, Maddox gently urges the dog away from my feet and then settles down. As he reaches for my feet, I instinctively pull my legs back. Maddox remains silent, but his presence fills the room, allowing the weight of stillness to envelop us.

"Let's get you bathed and comfortable in bed, Pretty Girl." I don't argue, don't panic about Maddox seeing me naked; I find myself drifting off to that spot in my mind, choosing to be detached from it all.

After a quick bath and changing my dressing, Maddox helps me to bed before lying beside me. There’s so much to say, but neither of us speaks. I reach over and pull his glasses off his handsome face. The toll of the last couple of weeks shows on every inch of Maddox's face.

"Maddox, I'm okay. I made it, baby," I tell him softly.

His face changes as if he needed to hear those words more than air. Without another word, I pull him to rest his head on my stomach and absentmindedly run a hand through his thick hair to reassure him that I'm okay.

"This is fucked up. I should be comforting you right now," his deep voice vibrates against my middle.

"You are comforting me."

Maddox sits up and puts an arm on each side of me, anchoring me to him. "Tell me everything." In Maddox fashion, it’s not a question, but instead a demand. My heart knows nothing good will come from having this conservation so soon. My mind and heart are still aching from everything that had happened that night, and I don’t want to relive all of that pain. All I want is to lose myself in the tempest that is Maddox Wilder, until his presence calms the storm within me, and I feel nothing but peace.

"Maddox," I whisper, my eyes locked with his intense gaze. "You rid the world of that darkness, and that's all that matters."

Those jade eyes search mine, seeking something deep within. “Okay, Pretty Girl,” he says, his voice tender yet reluctant, “just know I’m always here whenever you’re ready.”

I pull his forehead to rest on mine, my breath quivering as I hold back tears. "I gave him hell, Maddox," I whisper, summoning every ounce of courage to keep my voice from breaking.

"I know you did baby," Maddox says, his eyes shining with pride and a watery smile on his lips.

Sleep doesn’t come easily tonight, though I didn’t truly expect it would. As I lay here in the dark, a myriad of thoughts race through my mind. How can I keep moving forward and remain strong for everyone who depends on me? They need me to be a pillar of resilience, not to drown in despair. I’m determined not to let this tragedy erode me or undermine the person I’m striving to become. I refuse to be overwhelmed by weakness or let this dark moment define my future. I need to rise above the pain and remain steadfast, for their sake and mine. Because if I don’t, he'll continue to win and I refuse to let a fucking ghost haunt me determining how I spend the rest of my days. That night I loved all the broken pieces that had been Posey before setting her free. That part of myself deserves to be at peace, just as much as who I am now does.

The doctor was right,love truly is the best medicine and my family has an abundance of it. Currently we’re all crammed in my living room. Henry, Mercy, and Joe are playing cards. Soph and Lou are sitting in front of me on the floor folding laundry, Vic is in the recliner eating pie and Maddox is sitting on the other end of the couch with my feet in his lap while we watch the boys heckle Merc for losing so damn badly at cards. It dawns on me as I look from each of my boys laughing faces, I had been strong enough all along.

Sure, Maddox may have been the one to snap his neck, but I had fought back. I had been successful in what I had been most afraid of the past few years—facing my devil. I knew I could never let that evil touch my boys. So, when push came to shove, I proved myself worthy of standing tall and keeping my children safe. No more looking over my shoulder, no more waiting for the other shoe to drop. It’s finally over.

A sharp knock quiets all movement in the living room. Everyone holds a bated breath, afraid of who it could be, but there’s no one left to fear anymore.

“Get the door, Big Guy.” I nudge Maddox with my foot.

With a quick nod he opens the door revealing Lucien and then finally Allison. I get up as quickly as I can manage and slowly make my way to them. Lucien gives me a small smile and Allison has her arms wrapped around herself staring at the ground.

With a trembling hand, I tilt her chin until her blue eyes finally lock on mine. “We almost die together, and a bitch can’t even get a hug?”

I don’t give her time to respond before pulling her against me. Allison immediately wraps her arms around me and begins to sob. I ignore the burning pain coming to my side and chest and hug her as tightly as I can.

Finally, she pulls back, and her eyes are ablaze with anger. “Why the hell did you do that!”

I trace a fading bruise on her temple. “I had to.”

“No, you could have left with me. You didn’t have to go back!”

“Ally, he had already ripped so much away from us, inflicted enough pain that if one of us was going to make it, I had to make sure it was you.”

“Why me? You have a family who loves you and people who depend on you! You have children.” Her chest rises and falls, refusing to accept my words.

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