Page 121 of Mad As Hell

In another time, another world, this would all be different.

But I wasn’t going anywhere. I couldn’t, even if I wanted to.

“No,” I told him, my hands resting lightly on his shoulders.

His eyes narrowed. “I wasn’t asking, Madison, I’m telling. You’re leaving as soon as I can figure a way to get you out. You can go back to being Madison Porter, but I’ll make sure you and your mom are set up even if I have to hire a fucking army to guard you.”

I sucked in a sharp breath. “I’m not going anywhere, Ryan. And there is no Madison Porter.”

He stiffened under me, readying for a fight. “Dammit, Maddie—”

“He killed me,” I said simply, letting the truth out. When he stared at me in confusion, I elaborated, “The night of the engagement party, Bex tried to help me run. I made a stupid, impulsive decision to say goodbye to my sister on my way out of town. But the name on her grave wasn’t hers—it was mine.”

Understanding dawned in his bright blue eyes.

“When his guards dragged me back, he told me the truth. That he’d made it look like I was the one who died in the fire in Greece. Everything from my old life is gone, Ryan.”

A slow smile started to spread across his face. “Even better. Ash can help me set you up with a whole new life. You can start over. We can fake your records easily enough, pick a new name, and move you across the country. Hell, out of the country.”

God, this man. If I hadn’t loved him before, then I absolutely would have now. “You think Gary doesn’t have a contingency plan in case I decide to run? I grew up with nothing. I could survive on nothing if I wanted to. I did for years.”

His large palms fell to my waist and squeezed. “He has something on you.”

I nodded. “My mom. He took her out of rehab and is keeping her locked up somewhere. She’s drugged out of her mind, which I guess is a good thing so she doesn’t know what’s really happening. He threatened to hurt her or worse if I didn’t obey him.”

“Fuck,” he breathed. His jaw tightened. “Mads, I know you don’t want to hear this, but your mom hasn’t done shit for you. Get out, and I’ll work on a way of freeing her while you’re living your life.”

“I considered that,” I admitted, shame coloring my cheeks. “She never was much of a mother, and even if I could get her out? Odds are she’d be back to her old ways before long. She’s done several stints in rehab, and they never took. I was stupid to think this time would be different.”

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, shaking his head. “But that’s all the more reason for you to go.”

I met his gaze and held it, needing him to see the genuine fear I was carrying around. “He also threatened Bex.”

Everything in Ryan pulled taut as a bow string ready to snap. “He what?”

“He mentioned having her taken and shipped off somewhere overseas to be sold.” I grimaced as I told him Gary’s plan. “I don’t think it was an idle threat.”

“It wasn’t,” he replied in a hushed voice. “Fuck.” His head dropped back and stared at the ceiling. “This changes things.”

My shoulders slumped. “I know.”

He sat up straighter, his eyes blazing as he met my gaze. “I’m not going to let anything else hurt you, Maddie.”

“You can’t promise that.” As much as we both wanted what he was saying to be true, it couldn’t be. “And what happened today with your dad wasn’t some fluke. He made it seem like he and Madelaine had an arrangement.”

“What?”

I nodded and added, “He talked about how I’d done my job by humiliating you at the party, and my cut was in my bank account.”

Anger slashed his features. “Motherfucker. The morality clause they worked into the marriage contract. Your dad paid out ten million when that video went live. Lainey was setting me up again.”

I winced. “Sorry about that.”

“I don’t even know why I’m surprised by this shit anymore,” he mumbled, rubbing a hand down his face. “But I’m done playing their game. Dean was the first step, but it’s time to stop playing defense.”

“Meaning what?” Apprehension trickled into my gut.

“Remember those answers I promised you?” Ryan arched a brow, waiting for me to nod. “Still want them?”

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