Page 44 of Mad Love

“Call Ryan,” I whispered, hope fluttering in my soul for the first time in forever. “He can get me—”

“Please forgive me, but I can’t.” He looked truly apologetic. “You’re the connection I need to Gary. I promise I’ll protect you, but I have to see this through. At least for now.”

I began to shake my head.

His hands squeezed mine, the touch bordering on desperation. “Please, Maddie. I’m begging you to help me. If it’s too much, then I swear I’ll get you out and back to Ryan. Just give me a few days.”

I dropped my head back to stare up at the ceiling. “Charles, I just want to go home.”

“So do I.” His voice broke at the end, and he cleared his throat. “But I have to see this through. Not just for me but for… for her, too.”

“Her?”

His lips pressed together, and he looked back at the door again, like he was waiting for someone to bust through. “I can’t explain right now.”

As if he’d summoned them into existence, I heard footsteps coming down the hallway.

“Please,” he begged, meeting my eyes again. “Trust me.”

My eyes slid shut, the weight of the world pressing on my shoulders as time slipped through my fingers. “Okay. I’ll trust you.” My eyes cut to the door as the footsteps drew closer. Squaring my shoulders, I turned to Charles. “Hit me.”

His eyes snapped open wide. “What? No fucking way.”

“Do it,” I ground out, knowing if Gary walked through that door and I looked just the same way as he’d left that he would get suspicious. “Dammit, Charles, fucking do it.”

“Look, Maddie, it’s fine. My phone is blocking anything he might be using to record our conversation right now.”

Damn, I should’ve thought of that because Gary was sneaky as a weasel. “Okay, but isn’t that more suspicious? He’s sick, and I’m sure he’ll want proof that you taught me a lesson or something, so we need to make it look real.”

He met my gaze and shook his head. “No—”

“If you don’t, he will,” I hissed back. I sighed quietly. “I’d rather it be you.”

“Dammit, Maddie.” He looked absolutely sickened at the idea, and I felt better about making the decision to trust him.

For now at least.

“Charles—”

The doorknob started to twist, and I saw the moment Charles realized I was right. It was a split second before his open palm cracked across my face with enough force to make me fall into the desk.

Ow, ow, fucking ow!

My cheek throbbed, and even still, I knew he’d reined in his strength. He wasn’t as big or muscular as Ryan, but he was on the soccer team at school and in great shape.

Gary chuckled from the doorway. “Dinner’s ready, unless you need a few more minutes to finish up?” No one should sound that happy about seeing their daughter in pain, and his happiness only strengthened my resolve to beat this man at his own game.

Charles kept his back to the door and Gary, facing me. He’d gone a little pale, and I could see the slight tremble in his hand as he watched me. “No. I think Maddie and I are on the same page now, aren’t we, darling?”

I nodded slowly, holding his gaze and hoping he could see that I was okay. I slowly straightened, and he reached out to grab my elbow. As he guided me toward the door, his hand was still shaking. I pretended to trip, giving myself an excuse to cover his hand with mine under the guise of catching my footing. I gave what I hoped was a reassuring squeeze.

After a beat, his touch on my elbow tightened for a split second. Then his mask slipped back into place, and he turned to Gary. “What’s for dinner? I’m famished.”

CHAPTER 17

MADDIE

The way my mother fawned all over Charles was more than a little disturbing. The second we walked into the room, she wrapped her arms around him in a hug that smashed her chest against his, and she stayed there until Charles actually had to push her away. She had changed into a green dress that accentuated the sharp angles of her skinny frame, and when she smiled, I realized she’d had some dental work done recently, too.

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