Page 27 of Wicked Dix

Maddy turns her face, hiding her shame. “I don’t want her to know, Dixon. It’ll kill her. I can’t do that to her.”

Without warning, my wrath ignites, and I slam my fist into a tree mid-stride, a frustrated scream following. “Are you shitting me? By keeping quiet, you’re protecting that motherfucker!” My hand burns. I’m quite certain I’ve just sprained it. But I couldn’t care less. The pain feels divine.

She jolts, surprised by my reaction. “Dixon, don’t.” She looks around at the slow-forming crowd surrounding us, pleading that I don’t make a scene, but it’s too late.

I throw my hands up in defeat. “Don’t what? Fight for your freedom? Aren’t you sick and tired of being scared all the time? I know I am!” I want her to fight. I want her to prove me wrong, to prove that this won’t break her like I foresaw because if she succumbs to her fears, then I will have no other choice—I’ll be driven to sin. I’ll be driven to sin to keep her safe.

Tears well in her eyes as she chews on her bottom lip. “I’m sorry. I-I can’t do this right now.”

“Can’t do what?” I yell, latching onto her bicep as she attempts to run—run away from me. “You can’t keep running away, Madison.”

This situation is spiraling out of control, yet I can’t stop.

“Ouch, you’re hurting me.” She attempts to pull out of my grip, but I hold on tight, afraid to let her go.

“Hey bro, let her go,” some Good Samaritan says, trying to intervene. But when I turn to glare at him, he stops, hands raised in surrender.

“Let me go!” Maddy cries, struggling madly to break free. But I can’t let her go. I know that if I do, she’ll be gone forever. I can’t let the only thing I’ve ever cared for walk away from me because I know she won’t look back.

“No, not until you stand up for yourself, Madison. Stop letting him control you!” Stop letting them controlme.

Her loud sobbing suddenly kicks me in the balls, and the fact I am manhandling the woman I supposedly care for hits home. What thefuckam I doing?

Quickly releasing her, my gaze drops to her tiny arm, the tiny arm which is red raw from my meaty hands pawing her. I gasp. What have I done? Looking at my outstretched palms in disgust, I realize I am no better than her brother.

Stepping forward, I beg, “Maddy, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”

“Don’t,” she wails, placing a hand in front of her to stop my advance. Her eyes are swimming in tears, and each one stabs at my weeping heart.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m a fucking idiot. I just, I hate that he has this effect on you. I hate that he still controls you.” My trembling voice is filled with desperation, but I will fucking beg on hands and knees for forgiveness.

She sniffles and lets out a bitter laugh. “So you thought you’d do one better and control me instead?”

“What? No, I would never,” I gasp, clenching my palms into fists by my side. “That was never my intention. I’m sorry. I fucked up. Please, just come back to my place so we can talk about this.”

I want to step forward, but I don’t.

When she doesn’t reply and simply looks at her sneakers, unable to bear the sight of me, I crumble. “Please, I’m sorry. I truly am.” If I’ve ever felt this afraid, then I don’t remember when it was.

The air is weighed down with a miserable silence, and I know her response before she even says it.

“I can’t do this right now. Goodbye, Dixon.” Those concluding words break the final piece of my heart.

I swallow hard. “Goodbye? Maddy, wait! Please!” I lunge for her desperately, but she steps out of reach, shaking her head.

“No!”

This is not the end. No, not like this. “Please, let me explain.” I’m ready to tell her everything. That option is far better than her thinking. I thought she was a coward for not sticking up for herself. “There’s a reason—”

She cuts me off, angrily retreating farther and farther away. “I said no! Just leave me alone. I need time to think.”

“Think about what?”

“About everything. About my brother…” She leaves the sentence unfinished, a fresh set of tears spilling down her cheeks.

Her withdrawal kills me. I plead, “Maddy, no. Don’t do this. Please,angelo. I’m sorry.”

But my apology is not enough. “Yeah, so am I.” With that, she turns, and just like I predicted, she doesn’t look back.

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