Page 41 of Maddox

Tammy sighed. "Honestly? I was trying to explain why you seemed so withdrawn. Nicola kept pushing about why you weren't dating, saying you needed to 'get back out there.' I wanted her to understand it wasn't that simple."

"So you told her I was kidnapped and held prisoner for months?" My voice was sharper than I intended.

"I didn't give details," Tammy said defensively. "Just that you'd been through something traumatic. But you're right—it wasn't my place. I'm really sorry, Clare."

I knew she was lying. Nicola had made it clear she knew more than “something traumatic.”

“Anyway,” Tammy brightened a little. “We’re all thinking of going to Kingdom next weekend for Missy’s birthday, and we’d love you to come.”

I gazed at her. I had no intention of going but I could pretend to get the details and cry off. “What day?”

“Friday the 11th.”

“Friday will be busy at the club,” I said slowly. “Have you got tickets for a booth?” If they hadn’t, they’d spend half the night waiting in line outside.

Tammy flushed a little. “Well, no, we were actually wondering if you could help with that. I told Missy I’d ask you.”

My lips parted in astonishment, but no sound came out. She wasn’t here to apologize at all. She was here because they thought I could get them VIP entry at Kingdom.

This wasn't about making amends—this was about using me.

"Let me get this straight," I said slowly. "You shared private information about my trauma with people I barely know, and now you're here because you think I can get you VIP treatment at Kingdom?"

Tammy had the grace to look embarrassed. "It's not like that, Clare. I really am sorry about what happened. The club thing is separate."

"Is it?" I asked, my voice hardening. "Because it feels like you're only here because you want something from me."

"That's not fair," Tammy protested. "We've been friends since school."

"Have we?" I challenged. "Because friends don't do what you did. And they certainly don't show up with fake apologies as a pretext to ask for favors."

I moved toward the door, suddenly eager for her to leave. "I think you should go." I would definitely remove her from the approved visitor list, which meant if she ever came again security would have to ask me if she was allowed up.

Tammy stared at me, her expression shifting from embarrassment to annoyance. "Wow. You've really changed, Clare. You used to be fun before all this...stuff happened."

Her words hit like a slap. Before I could respond, she continued.

"And what's with the teddy bear? Are you, like, regressing or something?"

I clutched Henry tighter, fury rising in me. "Get out," I said, my voice deadly quiet. "Now."

Tammy huffed and turned on an indignant heel. I slammed the door, but it wasn’t satisfying. By the time I reached my bedroom, my throat felt tight and my eyes stung. I nearly ran to the tin to get my popsie clutching it into my fist not daring to put it between my lips like I wanted, wedging myself in between the bed and the wall. I was going to stay there forever.

In my head I wanted a story. No, I wantedDaddyto tell me a story. No, I just wanted Daddy.

MADDOX

I couldn't focus. I'd been staring at the same security footage for over an hour, trying to track Blakeny's movements since he'd arrived in Orlando, but my mind kept drifting back to Clare. Had I made a mistake letting her go back to her apartment? Should I have insisted she stay with me?

"You're going to wear a hole in the floor," Dion commented, watching me pace across the office for the tenth time.

I ran a hand through my hair in frustration. "I just don't like her being alone when Blakeny's somewhere in the state."

"Eric has eyes on her building," Dion reminded me. "And we've got someone watching. If anything seems off, we'll know immediately."

I nodded, but it didn't ease the knot in my stomach. "I should call her."

"She’s had a friend come over," Dion pointed out.

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