Page 56 of Dove

“You’re good for him.” Alessandra said. “I know he’s not…normal. He’s always been off. And when he cares, it’s scary what he’ll do for you. But you seem to calm him. Pull him back from the edge a little.”

It was true. Maddox might have saved me, but I also saved him. I gave him a reason to try and tame the demon inside him. I gave him some light in the darkness. His world wasn’t as bleak. Empty.

Tessa’s smile was a little sad as she looked at me. I knew she had no desire to have a relationship. She wasn’t a romantic like me. But living life alone wasn’t easy.

“I’m happy for you.” She turned away to look out the window. “I’ve never seen you laugh more. You always used to have this sad energy about you. But with him, it’s gone.”

I crossed the room to sit on the bench next to her. Alessandra went back to flipping through the book, giving us some privacy. “You know it doesn’t change us. You’re still my best friend. You’re my person.”

For so long, she was all I had. I was still that for her. Her one connection in this world. I wouldn’t let it break. I wouldn’t leave her alone.

She rested her head on my shoulder as we stared out the window. We sat in silence for a while, just watching the leaves in the trees and the guards making their rounds through the perimeter. It was still hard to wrap my head around this being my life. Alessandra had always lived this way. She was used to having security follow her. I was still coming to terms with it. I would probably never be alone again.

The sound of loud voices coming from the front broke our quiet. Alessandra jumped up from her chair the same time I did.

“Wait here.” I said to Tessa as I ran from the room. “Henry, stay with her.” I barely saw his nod as I rushed down the hall, my socks sliding on the floor. My heart beating faster as the frantic energy in the air reached under my skin.

My chest constricted as Sebastian and Leif came through the door. Leif’s arms were covered in small cuts, and soot was smeared all over Sebastian’s face. But my eyes immediately went to Maddox, supported between them with an arm around each of their shoulders. Blood stained one side of his white shirt. The metallic scent of it mixed with smoke assaulted me.

“Hey, little dove.” Maddox smiled as they veered to the right into his office.

“What happened?” My feet carried me to him as they gently placed his injured body on the couch. I sank to my knees and brushed a strand of his dark brown hair away from his eyes.

“Car bomb.” Leif said. “Alessandra, Frank is waiting outside.”

She didn’t even blink at the dismissal. She just reached up to kiss Leif on the cheek. “I’ll call you tomorrow, Kincaid. Take care of him.”

I nodded as she walked out the door. I knew from conversations with Maddox that her brothers shielded her from this life as much as they could. She would never be able to leave it, but they wanted her to stay as far away as possible. The less she knew, the less of a target she was; for police or enemies.

“The doctor is on the way.” Sebastian said as he started to undress Maddox. My blood boiled seeing his wince as Sebastian moved quickly. I smacked his hands away and did it myself, unable to watch his face contorting in pain. Once his shirt was gone, I pressed it into the wound, trying to stop the flow of blood that marred his abs.

I felt like a fist was clutching my throat. There was so much blood. Too much blood. His shirt was already soaked with it, where I pressed down. I couldn’t lose him. Not when I’d finally found the courage to be with him. Maddox smiled at me briefly as he brought his hand to my cheek. I didn’t even flinch as the blood smeared across my face.

“So pretty painted in my blood.” His fingers traced my features as his blue eyes softened for me. Another day I’d melt into his soft look and touch. Not today. I needed to see that demon. That fight.

“Shh…no talking.” I whispered as I placed my lips next to his ear. “Be a good patient, and I’ll let you make me bleed later.” I let out a relieved breath when his eyes sparked to life.

“You should leave too.” Tristan grunted from the doorway. I turned and narrowed my eyes at him before looking back to Maddox.

“I think you know better than to tell me what to do, Tristan.” Contempt dripped from my voice.

His fists clenched as he took a step toward me. I didn’t even flinch at the rage in his expression. I didn’t care about him right now. He probably felt bold enough to actually hurt me with Maddox incapacitated. “You—.”

But whatever he was going to say was cut off when Leif placed a hand to his chest. “Go check the perimeter. We can’t take any chances tonight.”

He might not listen to me or respect me, but he would listen to Leif. His position in the family was too high to defy a direct order. I could feel Tristan’s glare before the sound of his boots stomping on the ground faded down the hall.

“He’s right. You don’t need to be here.” Leif said with more kindness in his voice. “I know you didn’t choose this life.”

“Don’t tell me where I should be.” I snapped at him. My appreciation of his helpfulness burning away at his presumption. Fear and rage tightening my gut. He didn’t get to decide where I should be. I brushed my lips across Maddox’s forehead before I turned back to him. “I did choose this. Him.”

He let out a deep sigh as he stared at us. I could see real pain behind his expression. Worry. It was the same worry I’d heard in his voice when he’d pulled me from that warehouse.

“You lost someone.” It wasn’t a question. His eyes widened as he stared at me, and I knew I was right.

“How—. Did Maddox tell you that?” Leif’s fingers ran through his hair as he avoided my eyes.

“No.” Maddox grumbled beside me, drawing my eyes back to him, but his were closed. “She can read people.”

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