Page 133 of Mad Love

“She’s right. He’ll kill you on sight,” I agreed. “Just me.”

Gary wouldn’t kill me. Not right away, anyway. And maybe that would give me enough time to help Bex somehow.

Yeah, that sounded unrealistic, but it was all I could do. I had to try something.

The text made it blisteringly clear: if I didn’t show up at Gary’s in the next—I checked the clock—twenty-four minutes, he’d start cutting off pieces of Bex.

Again, my phone started ringing.

I stared at Chase. “Will you give me a ride? Or am I calling a taxi?”

“Maddie,” he murmured, shaking his head.

“You said that I should be able to make my own decisions,” I pointed out. “Changing your mind now?”

He looked so damn frustrated. “Of course not.”

“Then let’s go,” I said, curling my nails into my palms. The sharp bite of pain barely registered as resolve tightened in my gut. I glanced at Tyler. “Tell Ryan that I’m sorry, okay?”

She nodded once, tears shimmering in her eyes.

I squared my shoulders and looked one more time at the four missed calls notification before the phone started ringing again.

My heart gave a violent squeeze, and I wanted to tuck myself into a ball and bawl my damn eyes out. It wasn’t fair.

But then again, it had never been fair, so why would fate give me a break now?

CHAPTER 47

MADDIE

The house at the top of the hill was all lit up. The only sign that something was amiss was the two men who greeted the car when we slowed to a stop in front of the gated driveway. Their stony expressions gave nothing away, but they both looked like they’d been plucked from the front lines of the military complete with buzz cuts and massive muscles.

The guards who had driven us seemed even more on edge, and while I knew they were both armed, we were clearly at the disadvantage in the car.

Beside me in the back seat, Chase covered my hand with his. “Maddie… I don’t know what to say.”

“Promise you won’t let this be for nothing.” I searched his eyes. “Promise me that you and Tyler will get the truth out there.”

“I promise,” he agreed, squeezing my hand as my door opened. One of the men reached inside to grab my arm and pull me out.

“Hey!” Chase shouted. “She’ll get—” He swallowed his objections when a gun was leveled at his face by the man yanking me out of the vehicle.

“It’s fine,” I assured him, even as fear sent my pulse spiking. “Just go.”

The man holding me chuckled. “Smart girl.” He kicked the door shut and dragged me back as his friend unlocked the gate.

Chase’s car didn’t move even as I was dragged backward up the drive.

“I can walk,” I snapped, trying to pull away and find my own footing. I looked back, expecting to see Chase’s car leaving, but it stayed put. In fact, the interior lights were on, and I could see Chase and his guards being forced out of the car as more men materialized from the shadows with guns aimed at them.

“Wait—let them go!” I cried, trying to run back.

The guy holding me let out an amused snort. “They’re the least of your problems right now, princess,” he sneered while keeping his hand on my arm, his grip bruising, and twisted my ponytail around his other fist, yanking hard. “Fucking move.” He shoved me, and I barely caught myself from sprawling on the asphalt.

The second guard laughed, the sound wheezy and raspy, like he smoked a carton a day.

Lanterns lit the driveway as we trudged to the spectacular Spanish-style mansion that sat at the top of the road. Built at the highest point of the community, it sat like a beacon of wealth and power, looking down on the city of Los Angeles.

---