Page 96 of Shattered Dreams

He chuckles. “Besides that.”

I let the façade fall away and lean forward against the podium. The crowd quiets. They know what I’m going to say is of the utmost importance.

The question annoyed me, and my irritation escapes. “Stella is my sister. She sacrificed herself to save Zane and me from Clayton and Ashton Black. She lived through five years of hell while Ash kept her locked away. You turned on her, calling her a tramp and a gold digger, believing the lies Ash planted, believing the pictures he posted online.”

Lots of red faces.

“Yet,yet, she did everything in her power to make Zane see, to make him understand what the Blacks had done to our family,and one day, while Ash hunted her down, she and my father’s business partner broke into Quiet Meadows. She came for me, and from that day on, I have owed her my life. It didn’t matter how much danger she was in, it didn’t matter she put herself at risk to save me. She didn’t let that stop her, and I’m standing here today because of her bravery. She’s a Maddox, in heart, in spirit, just as much as I...am.”

My skin prickles. I’ll always be a Maddox, but one day, will I claim a different name? I want to, so terribly, I want to.

“I’m sorry. I don’t have time for any more questions.”

I step away from the podium, rush down the short set of stairs, and cut through the rear of the building.

To distract the press, his voice echoing over the lobby, Zane offers to answer more questions, Stella by his side. The reporters are delighted to have their attention, and no one tries to stop me as I leave.

Douglas is waiting behind the building, and he hugs me to him. “It’s good to see you, Miss Maddox.”

“It’s good to see you, too. I remember everything you’ve done for us. Thank you.”

“Your parents were good people, and it’s been an honor to work for you and Mr. and Mrs. Maddox.”

He doesn’t mean my mom and dad. I kiss his cheek, and he blushes. “You’re one of Stella’s favorite people.”

“And she is one of mine.”

He holds the door open and I slide into the back of the town car.

“Where are you going, Miss Maddox?”

“To Gage’s.”

“Yes, miss.”

As Douglas drives across the city, I try not to be sick. I don’t know what Gage is going to think of me. I don’t know what he’sgoing to think of my speech. I check my purse and the envelopes are right where I put them after Peggy gave them to me.

He asked me for only one thing, and I don’t plan on letting him down.

We drive through downtown to reach the industrial park where Gage lives, and I appreciate the city in a different way. Jerricka’s office building is no longer a source of twisted comfort. Willow’s apartment is empty now, and we have plans to reconnect after things settle down. I never believed she was a part of anything her husband and son did. In fact, she was in a similar position to mine. Rourke wanted her, and no one stopped him from having her. Maybe she went willingly so things would be easier, maybe she didn’t, but that’s not for me to know.

The Renegade sparkles in the sun, and as Douglas crosses the bridge, driving closer to Gage’s apartment building, my heart slams in my chest.

I try to tell myself that if he turns me away I’ll be okay, but if I ever am, I’ll need years to learn to live without him. Gage rescued me, in every way a man can rescue a woman...my heart, my mind, my body. He taught me what love is and how it should feel. No man will ever be able to fill the hole Gage will leave behind if he tells me we’re not meant to be together.

Douglas stops in front of Gage’s building. The scorched exterior and the boarded-up wall and roof aren’t a surprise, and the fire is something I have to apologize for. It was because of my slip-up they tried to go after Gage. I never would have been able to forgive myself if he had gotten hurt or truly killed because of me.

I step inside the building and walk past the corner where I had my breakdown, and I remember the fear swamping me. I remember not knowing his name. I remember looking into his eyes, not knowing his name, but at the same time loving him sodesperately I couldn’t let go. Those two weeks away from him were the longest of my life.

Not this time.

These past several days we’ve been apart I’ve been working toward our future.

Nothing is going to come between us ever again.

Unless that something is me.

Then there’s nothing I can do.

---