Page 234 of Mad As Hell

“I’m not selfless,” I retorted. “I’m doing this so we can put this whole shitshow to bed and be together without any regrets. Without wondering if Gary or Beckett or anyone else will come after us.”

He pressed his forehead to mine. “I hate this so goddamn much.”

“I know,” I replied as gently as I could, “but you have to let me do this. It’s the only way, and I need you to support my decision.”

Ryan sighed and nodded slowly. “Okay. I’m with you, baby.” He kissed me slowly before turning to Ash. “You know how to make the arrangements?”

Ash nodded. “Yeah, but Pandora isn’t just a bank you pop into. You have to have an appointment to go inside, and those can take weeks. I can reach out with Madelaine’s old phone and initiate contact.”

“Do it,” Ryan replied, resigned.

I wound my arms around his waist and tucked my head against his bare chest, feeling the familiar thump of his heart. “It’s going to be okay.”

His arms came around me, holding tight, as he kissed the crown of my head. “It sure as hell better be.”

“I’ll get started on it,” Ash said with a tight smile as my phone started ringing from the purse I’d abandoned by the door when Ryan and I came in.

Speaking of which…

My cheeks heated as I ducked forward and grabbed the purse from under the pile of clothes Ash had stepped over to get into the room. I gathered them in my arms and finally answered the phone. “Hello?”

“Madel—Maddie? It’s Mrs. Delancey.” She cleared her throat, a nervous wobble in her tone.

Fear spiked in my blood, making me dizzy. There was only one reason she would be calling.

We’d discussed every aspect of taking on Gary and Beckett. We’d protected Corinne and Bex, but my mom… There was no way. I had no way to protect her anymore.

I tensed, bracing for the worst. “Is she dead?”

Ryan was instantly at my side.

“No, honey,” Mrs. Delancey answered quickly. “At least, I don’t think so. Your father… I don’t know what happened. He blew in here like a hurricane almost an hour ago and left with her.”

“He took her?” My brow furrowed in confusion. I’d expected Gary to run, but taking Mom with him? That seemed like a lot of hassle just to mess with me.

“Yes. I’m not… Did something happen? Usually he gives me some sort of instructions, but I’m at a bit of a loss here.”

I covered the receiver end of my phone. “Gary took off with my mom.”

“With her?” Ryan looked just as lost as I felt. “Why would he do that?”

I shrugged and turned to Ash.

“I’ll make sure that we keep an eye out at all airports, train, and bus stations for them both,” he assured me, already taking out his phone to do whatever the hell it was he did.

“Maddie, is everything all right?” Mrs. Delancey asked.

“Everything’s fine. I have to go.” I didn’t bother waiting for her to reply before hanging up. “Why would he take her?”

“I don’t know,” Ryan answered honestly. “But we’ll find her, okay? We’ll find them both, Mads.”

CHAPTER 64

MADDIE

Two days later, the roar of the fans packed into the stadium for the Knights first playoff game was deafening. Energy swirled around me, the vibrations of their cries echoing in my bones as I grinned before glancing at the scoreboard.

21-3.

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