Page 20 of They Will Fall

“Stop!” she shouts. “Don't take another step. I love you Maddox, but I’m not coming down. Something had to have happened to Ridge.”

“Is this really about Ridge? Or is this about your desperate attempt to escape and find Lev?”

Her face twists in confusion. “What makes you think I want to find Lev?”

She’s within arm’s reach now, but I think I can coerce her down without physical force. “I know what you were planning, babe. You were going to sneak off and try to find Lev because you think he’s the only person who can end this madness.”

“You were eavesdropping on my conversation with Scar, weren’t you?”

“I may have overheard.”

“So what? You brought me here to stop me from going to find him?”

My silence is telling and she scoffs. “You fucking tricked me, didn’t you? And Ridge?”

I bite the corner of my lip, realizing I fucked up again. But, I’d do it over and over again to keep her safe. “Just come back down.”

“No! You lied to me, Maddox. Ridge isn’t coming, is he? Does he ever know we’re here?”

I give nothing but more silence and it only pisses her off more.

“Oh my god! I can’t believe you did this. He is probably worried sick right now.”

“Ridge is resourceful and I’m sure he knows you’re safe since you’re with me.”

“Does he, though? Does he know that? For all you know, he could think we were both taken in by The Elders.”

“No. He would have caught wind of your capture by now. If anything, he’s out there trying to clear your name. So let him. Let him do all the work, while I keep you safe…here.”

“Is anyone out there?” Riley begins screaming as she pounds on the trapdoor. “Someone, please let me out!”

I move quickly up the ladder until I’m on the same step as her. Grabbing her hands, I hold them at her sides as she fights me, and I fight not to send us both falling down. “Stop!” I demand. “You’re wasting your energy and doing yourself no good. No one is out there, and no one is coming.”

“You fucking tricked me, Maddox! You lied to me!” Tears stream down her face and my heart splinters.

“I’m so sorry. I just couldn’t let you run off and risk getting caught. Once they have you, they won’t hear anything you have to say. We’d never see you again.”

“It’s still my choice to make. Not yours!”

In a swift motion, I grab her by the waist and squeeze her body tightly to mine, holding her up with one arm. She wails and screams, but I hold tightly to the edge of the ladder and turn around to descend backward.

“Let me go! I’m so fucking mad at you, Maddox!”

“I know you are, but you’ll forgive me eventually.”

“Oh no, I won’t. I will not forgive and I won’t forget.”

Her words hurt, but not as much as losing her would. My world would crumble without her. She can hate me now, and I’ll endure her wrath as long as it means she’s safe.

I set her down and take a quick step back, knowing what’s coming. As suspected, her fists fly into my chest and she pounds repeatedly, as if she’s trying to break through a door. “I can’t believe you did this! You tricked me into coming down here and you told me Ridge was coming!”

Ridge. Ridge. Ridge. It’s always about Ridge.

Words keep flying out of her mouth about how he’s probably worried sick, and I lose it. “God damn it!” I shout. “Would you stop talking about fucking Ridge? He’s not here! I am! Why isn’t that enough?” My hands rake through my hair and I spin around with my eyes downcast. “I get it, you love him, too. Great. I’m glad. But for once can you not think about him when you’re here with me?”

“This isn’t about me thinking about him. This is me worried about the other man I love. Ridge is crazy. Who knows what he’s out there doing to try and find me. He could be slashing bodies left and right.”

“So let him!” I huff. “Ridge isn’t my concern right now.” I drop my hands from my head and lift my eyes to meet hers. “You’re my only concern.”

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