Page 18 of Redeem
We walk in comfortable silence, and I feel safe with Madden. He may look big and scary to everyone else, but not to me. He kills people for a living; I'm not dumb. But what guy in my life doesn’t? Being brought up in my family, it becomes normal to see a guy put a bullet into another. I used to flinch when it happened and, now, nothing. Madden has a heart, and to those he lets in, he’ll protect them til death. I just hope I become one of those people.
The sun dances between the clouds, and as crispy winter air runs over me, I pull my blazer tighter around my body. Snow covers the ground, and Madden grunts something under his breath before wrapping his arm around my shoulder. I smile, leaning against his chest as we move through the quad toward the dorm building.
“Skirts are hot, but ye so cold,” Madden grunts, rubbing his hand up and down my arm.
Though his touch is comforting, it doesn’t affect me the way it should. I’m too stuck in my head after what happened with Mr. Santoro. I have no idea what to do about him and his threat. Marrying Emilio, the one I gave my heart to, is what I’ve always wanted, but not like this. Not forced. It’s not right. I want him to choose me himself, not because his father is forcing him. And me.
We round the corner to find Angelo leaning back against the wall outside my room. He looks up, eyes narrowing at Madden’s arm over my shoulder, but doesn’t say anything.
Opening my door, I turn back around to find Madden still standing in my doorway, clearly not intending to follow me in.
“I gotta go, ye good?”
“Yeah.” I rub my arms. “The girls are meeting me here after class. Thank you," I say. “For before, with...everything.”
He nods, then he’s gone, leaving me alone with Angelo. I go to shut the door, but Angelo’s boot stops it. “What happened?” he asks, holding the door open.
Even if I do like Angelo, he’s always going to be one of my father’s men. I made the mistake of trusting one of them before, and that didn’t turn out so great.
“Just a run-in with one of the mean girls, nothing bad.” I plaster on my fake smile as I move to shut the door again.
Angelo cocks his head to the side, studying me for a few seconds before shrugging and stepping back into the hall.
I shut the door and lean back against it. Mr. Santoro’s words echo in my mind over and over.I will marry you myself and make you my own little slave.A shudder runs through my body at the thought of him touching me again. There’s no way I’ll let that happen; I’d rather die than be his.
The distant sound of the bell breaks me out of my thoughts. The girls will be here soon, and I needed to fix this. I need my girls now more than ever.
Ten minutes later, there’s a knock on my door. Jumping off my bed, I quickly open the door, and Serena pushes her way in without a hello.
Stella shakes her head, passing me a bag. “Keegan gave me this, saying we might need something sweet to get through the girl drama.” Stella laughs and I smile, grabbing the bag full of candy and chocolate from her.
Closing the door behind Stella, I turn around to find Serena sitting on the edge of my bed with Stella. I place the bag on the rug in front of the bed and sit down.
“Hurry up and get on with it. I’ve got places to be,” Serena huffs and Stella elbows her. “What?” she snaps.
Stella just shakes her head and looks back to me.
“Look, I’m really sorry about lying to you both. I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid. I didn’t want to be Isabella Romano. I wanted to be Addie. I wanted a fresh start, a real start. I didn't mean to hurt you, and I really...I didn’t want to lose either one of you,” I say, folding my hands into my lap.
“Well, look how good that turned out. You lost us anyway,” Serena says, pursing her lips.
I sigh. “I really don't know how to do this. Friends...I never had one until I got here. You two...you’re my first girlfriends ever, and I fucked up. Before I came here, I’d only been homeschooled, and the only friend I had was my sister and she hates me.” I shrug. It’s the truth, though it’s really sad hearing it from my own mouth.
“I forgive you, Addie,” Stella says. “I...just don’t lie to us again, okay?”
A lump forms in my throat. I want to cry at her words, but I need to stay strong. I need Serena too. “Promise, Stella. I’ll never lie again.”
I look back to Serena, and she rolls her eyes. “Fine. I forgive you on two conditions.”
I let out a deep breath and my heart races. I’m so nervous. “Yes?” I ask, leaning forward on my knees.
“One, you tell us the truth, about everything. And two...” I nod and hold my breath for the second part. “Pass me the damn candy,” Serena says, and I chuckle, throwing her the bag of candy.
“Thank you, both. Really. I missed you so much, I’d started talking to my mirror.”
They both laugh.
“Since we’re telling each other the truth, I need to tell you everything from the start.”
