Page 242 of Mad As Hell

“Maddie can hang on,” Linc reminded me. “Trust your girl.”

I did trust my girl, and I knew she was one of the strongest people I’d ever met. She was resilient and fierce, but there wasn’t much she could do to protect herself if they kept her drugged up.

The doctor stepped down from the witness stand, and the eye contact she made with Gary as she walked by his table left zero doubts in my mind that she was in on whatever shit he was trying to pull.

“Find out who she is,” I growled to Ash.

He nodded. “You know I will.”

“Thank you, Dr. Browne,” Judge Norris said, straightening a stack of papers. “I’ve listened to your testimony and read your notes. I must say, I am gravely concerned for the welfare of Miss Cabot.”

I bit back a snarl because that wasn’t her fucking name. Never had been. Never would be.

“This court finds there is justified cause to put a temporary conservatorship into place until a more formal treatment plan can be established.”

I glared at Court. “Can’t we do anything?”

“It’s family court,” he replied tersely. “This isn’t a situation where we can object. We have to file our own motions—”

With a snort of disgust, I threw myself back in my chair and watched my worst nightmare finish playing out.

Judge Norris cleared his throat. “This court hereby transfers temporary guardianship and conservatorship control to Madelaine Cabot’s father, Gary Cabot, effective immediately. We will reconvene in sixty days to reassess Miss Cabot’s state of mind and wellbeing.”

Gary couldn’t resist shooting me a smug smile, and I wondered how he'd handle being Maddie’s guardian if he was six feet under.

No, fuck that. I wasn’t wasting my time digging that fucker a hole when I could light his body on fire and call it a day.

“It’s not over, Ryan,” Ash murmured.

“This case is adjourned.” Judge Norris clapped his gavel loudly, signaling the end of the session, and I was immediately on my feet.

I had to get to Maddie, to get close to her even for a second. My hands shook with the need to touch her, hold her.

Pushing past Ash, I exited our row and was immediately stopped by two police officers. I groaned, because what the fuck.

“Ryan Cain?” One of them asked, having the good sense to look a little uncertain of confronting me with my friends at my back when we were all pissed the fuck off.

“What?” I snapped, grimacing as Gary wheeled Madison out of the side door they’d originally entered.

The other douchebag sneered at me, slapping a piece of paper against my chest. “We have a warrant for your arrest.”

“On what grounds?” Court demanded, grabbing the paper before I could.

Douche Number Two smirked at me. “The murder of Adam Kindell.”

CHAPTER 67

MADDIE

Time no longer existed, and neither, it seemed, did I.

I floated along, occasionally getting glimpses of the reality around me, but as soon as my thoughts started to collect into something coherent, they vanished.

Sometimes I woke up and the room was dark. Other times it was light. Sometimes Dr. Browne was there, but usually she wasn’t.

I was so tired. My limbs felt foreign and awkward. They didn’t work right. Not even my fingers.

Whatever they were giving me was strong. Strong enough that I didn’t know how much time had passed when I was suddenly drenched in icy water.

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