Page 124 of Mad Love

Chase immediately started in. “Look, I know you’re pissed, mate, but—”

“Shut the fuck up and listen to me.” My tone was sharp enough to split a diamond. “If anything happens to Madison or Bex, I’m holding you personally responsible.”

“I know.” His tone seemed serious, but he didn’t know the sheer hell I would rain down on his ass if he made a mistake when it came to her.

“I don’t think you do, so let me break it down for you, asshat. If you fuck this up, I’ll spend years taking you apart piece by piece and make sure you’re conscious the entire time.” I was already imagining the dark, dank warehouse where I’d spend countless hours torturing and killing him if something happened to Maddie.

Chase bristled. “I’m not an idiot.”

“That’s yet to be determined,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair and yanking on the strands. “Let me talk to my girl.”

He snorted. “You realize she’s not livestock that you own, right? She’s her own person, capable of making her own decisions.”

A cold smile twisted my lips. “Every single perfect inch of her belongs to me, and if you haven’t realized that by now, you're a bigger dumbass than I thought.”

With a hiss, he gave the phone back to Maddie.

“I really don’t want you to be mad,” she said, her tone the kind you’d use when soothing a rabid animal poised to attack.

“Too late,” I replied, shoving down my rage because I really didn’t want things to be strained between us when I was so far away and unable to reassure myself she was all right in person. “Just… stay with Bex and Chase. Don’t go anywhere by yourself, okay?”

“Okay,” she agreed. “I’ll see you soon. I love you.”

The small tremor in the way she said that cracked a fissure wide open in my heart. She said it in an utterly vulnerable way, like she thought I’d be too mad at her to say it back.

That would never, ever be the case.

“I love you, too, baby,” I responded, my tone gentle in a way that made Linc pretend to crack a whip over my head as Knight laughed. “Please be safe.”

“You, too,” she breathed before hanging up.

I hurled my phone at the dash with a grunt. “Fuck!”

Linc touched my shoulder from behind. “She’s a smart girl, and she isn’t alone.”

I wiped a hand over my mouth, surprised to feel my fingers shaking. “If anything happens to her…”

“You can’t think like that,” Knight warned me. “Get your head in the game, Cain.”

I didn’t say anything as I turned to stare out the windshield and watch the mountains go by. He didn’t get it. How could he?

Maddie was the game. She was my endgame, and nothing we did mattered if she wasn’t waiting for me when it was all over.

CHAPTER 44

MADDIE

The smell of a hospital was one of my least favorite scents in the world. Like antiseptic, desperation, and sorrow. At least, that was the vibe I got when we walked past the ICU to a private waiting room while Bex was taken to her mom.

We’d gotten off the plane and been met by Chase’s security, who’d driven us to Los Angeles General. One of them stayed with us at the hospital while the other drove Tyler to Chase’s house.

“So, you have a house? I thought you stayed on campus.” I frowned, looking at Chase as he scrolled through his phone.

He glanced up, a small pout pulling at his mouth. “No offense, Maddie, but I’m not exactly accustomed to sharing a building with a bunch of randy, sex-crazed men.” He shuddered. “I like my peace and quiet.”

I rolled my eyes. “Apologies, your grace.”

He smirked. “That’s my father’s title.”

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