Page 38 of Mad Love

CHAPTER 15

MADDIE

I was numb as Evan led me from Gary’s office and herded me up the stairs. I stumbled twice, not feeling my feet as I moved forward. All I could see was Marge.

She’d cared about me when no one else had, and I’d left her. I’d assumed Madelaine’s life and, aside from a few calls at the start of summer that she never returned, I hadn’t looked back. I’d walked away, found love, and fucking left her behind.

I pushed open the door to my new room and looked around helplessly. I wanted Ryan and my friends. I wanted to go back to us all being together at Brookfield with Cori and their grandpa and Court’s brothers.

Dammit.

The sense of being completely alone was crushing me. I couldn’t do this. It was too much.

I could feel Evan watching me, maybe waiting to see if I’d really fall apart or to report back to his boss that I wasn’t behaving.

What would Ryan do?

“Stop it,” I whispered to myself, squeezing my eyes shut and balling my hands into fists. I swallowed down the rising tide of panic and forced myself to clear my mind.

I couldn’t control what had happened to Marge. Or what my mother did. I couldn’t control Gary or Evan.

But I could control me. How I handled things in this moment and going forward was all on me. I could sit down and fall apart, or I could collect all the broken pieces and forge them into something stronger. Something no one could take away.

“It’s easier if you do what he says,” Evan said. “I tried to tell you. Both of you.”

I turned slowly to face him. “You killed Madelaine.”

He didn’t flinch. “Yes.”

“You set the fire.”

He nodded. “Yes. After I killed her.”

A gasp ripped from my chest. “The fire didn’t…”

Evan’s jaw clenched. “Have you ever seen someone burn to death? It isn’t pretty. The fire isn’t what gets them. Choking on smoke, your lungs seizing up and your airway collapsing… It’s a brutal way to die. So, yeah. I killed her before that, because I’m not a total monster.”

“Yeah. You’re a real saint,” I snapped.

“Your father had a few other ways he wanted her to die. My way was by far the most humane, so take comfort in that.”

“You murdered my sister, and you’re standing here telling me about it like we’re talking about the weather.” I folded my arms protectively over myself and stepped away from him.

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Relax. If Gary wanted you dead, you’d be dead. I’m not the one you have to worry about, unless you keep pushing back.”

“Did you even care about my sister?” I remembered the way she’d introduced him as her boyfriend months ago. God, it felt like a different lifetime.

He shrugged. “She was a job, but I guess I cared a little since the idea of her suffering didn’t bring me any joy.”

“Well, aren’t you a prince?” I drawled.

“What do you want me to say? Gary knew she was out of control and trying to find you, so he had me handle her.”

My eye twitched. “Handle her?”

“Seduce her.” He didn’t seem even remotely sorry about it.

“Great, so you’re Gary’s whore. Good for you, Evan.” I slow-clapped for him, amazed at the sheer fucking audacity.

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