Page 46 of They Will Fall

His jaw stretches wide as he lets out a long yawn. “Yep.”

Ridge punches in the code on the front door and it beeps before unlocking. He turns the handle and pushes the door open and I follow him inside. It’s been a bit since I’ve been here, but it looks and smells exactly the same. Like apple cinnamon and a hint of sweet tobacco and spice from Maddox’s dad’s study to the left of the front door. For as long as I can remember, he’s puffed on those thick cigars as he works. Come to think of it, I don’t even know what the guy does for work, but whatever it is, he makes damn good money.

This house is what I’d consider a modern-day mansion. Everything is neat and orderly and it’s not credited to a housekeeper or maid. Maddox’s mom does everything herself. She’s a regular old Suzy Homemaker, and a good one at that.

My mom was the same way. She never hired nannies or cleaners and always took care of her kids and her house on her own. I always admired that about her. Though, I wouldn't fault her for hiring help. God knows we needed it. Our lives were beautifully crazy.

Now my life is just crazy. No beauty to be seen. Well, until Riley walked into my life, that is. She reminds me of my mom in a weird sort of way. Soft and tender, yet outspoken and stubborn. Not to mention their undeniable beauty.

As I’m lost in my thoughts, Ridge disappears. I assume he’s going to the room he occupied during his years of living here. It’s nice that he has that. A family life. Somewhere to go. People who love him. Sure would be nice to have some of the same comforts in life. Standing here now, in this big house full of love and life,I can’t help but feel small and insignificant—out of place, even.

With my hands cupped around my mouth, I holler, “I’m out.” My voice booms off the high arches of the ceiling.

When he doesn’t respond, I see myself out. He’ll figure it out when he can’t find me.

It’s a short drive to the apartment the guys and I lease. We got the place after graduating from Boulder Cove Academy, with the intention of only staying there for the summer until we started our freshman year at the university. Then we decided to keep it so it was ours every summer. We’ve only got one more summer until we graduate from BCU, then we’ll likely give up our lease and go our separate ways. Whatever way that is.

My feet drag as I walk to my car. Coming to this town is never easy for me. It’s like a dark cloud rests over Glendale and it’s not until I hit the interstate that the sky parts and I’m able to see the sun.If only I were leaving now. Instead, I’m stuck in this hellhole for a bit longer.

It’s the dead of night and there’s not a sound to be heard, or a person to be seen, and I’m okay with that.

I pull open the car door and drop my ass inside before shutting it.

The next thing I know, I’m parked in front of my childhood home with my car turned off. A new family lives here now. Two teenage boys who are in high school and their mom and dad. This past summer, I drove by and saw the boys in the front yard playing catch with their dad. The smiles on their faces really resonated with my childhood. It’s good to know the house is filled with joy and laughter again.

I rest my head back on the seat and close my eyes, listening to the sound of my sisters’ giggling as they’d run away from my bedroom door after knocking on it. Their bare feet would pad down the hardwood floor of the hall and I’d jerk my door open to find no one there. They loved messing with me, and even on the days when I pretended to be angry, I loved it too.

I miss them. I miss us.

Swiping away the dew in my eyes aggressively, I turn the key in the ignition and burnout, leaving a trail of smoke behind me.

I’m not sure why I do that to myself, but every damn time I come to Glendale, I do. It’s like I have to see this piece of my past to remind myself why we started this fight to begin with. The only reason the three of us pledged our loyalty to The Society was to take it down. Now, with my uncle dead, I can only hope we are one step closer.

CHAPTER15

MADDOX

The first twentyminutes of the drive to the hotel were quiet. The last twenty were dead silent. Before we left, Riley apologized over and over again for leaving me in that underground room, naked. I told her I forgive her. It’s not that I’m angry; I’m just still so worked up after worrying about her for so long. I’m pissed she put me in that position. I want to protect her, but I can’t do that if she doesn’t let me.

I did, however, manage to get the names of the three guys who attacked her in the woods and I have every intention of handling those boys. At first, I thought maybe I’d give the list to Ridge and let him deal with them, but my gut tells me I need to do this one myself—for Riley.

When I started this school year, I was determined to break out of my comfort zone and stop being a passive participant in life. I refused to be my father's doormat anymore, and instead of going along with the crowd, I'm learning to stick up for myself and Riley.

We’re currently in a run-down hotel room that we stopped at because we’re both too exhausted to keep going any more tonight, so the plan is to get a couple hours of sleep and then drive the other hour to Glendale. Riley’s on the bed beside me, on her side, facing the wall. She’s curled into a ball, and I’m almost certain her eyes are open. No matter how heavy my eyelids are, I can’t close them. All I can do is watch her.

Each time I blink too long, panic sets in. There's a constant fear inside me that she’ll vanish by the time I open my eyes.

Riley rolls over to her other side and our faces align. “Are you mad at me?” she whispers.

My head shakes against the flat pillow. “No.”

“I’m sorry.”

I wrap an arm around her waist and jerk her body closer to mine. “I know you are. Promise me you won't do that again.”

“I’ve never been so scared in my life, Maddox. I can one hundred percent promise you I will not flee again.”

“No more ropes.”

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