Page 27 of Vicious in the Dark

A second loud knock on the door made goosebumps break out on my skin. Knife in hand, I approached the door. Peering through the peephole, I was both relieved and horrified. Maddox stood on the other side of the door, a determined expression on his stupidly handsome but battered face.

“Never mind, Rumer,” I called, unlocking the door and pulling it open. “It’s only Maddox. On second thought, bring that bat out here anyway.”

Maddox scowled and tried to push past me into the apartment. “Very funny.”

I stood firmly in his path, knife held pointed down at my side. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have to be buzzed into the building?”

“I have my ways. Can I please come in? I’d like to talk about this little run in you had last night with one of the Thorns.” Maddox raised a hand as if to touch the bruise on my cheek, dropping it when I shied out of reach.

It wasn’t like I had much choice. If he knew about the Thorns being after me, then closing the door in his face would only prolong the inevitable. Maddox wasn’t going anywhere.

“Fine.” I stepped back to allow him inside as Rumer returned with the bat. She propped it against the wall and returned to the couch after a nod in Maddox’s direction. I whirled on her, pointing a finger. “You fucking told him after you promised not to.”

“But I didn’t.” Voice raised in defense, Rumer held up both hands.

“No, you just told Daddy, like always.” Maddox smirked, crossing the room to help himself to her licorice. “He confirmed a few suspicions I’d already had.”

“For fuck’s sake, Rumer. You’re killing me here.” I slid the knife back into the thigh sheath and closed the apartment door.

“I’m sorry, Mave. I was worried about you. We just got you back. I don’t want to lose you.” Rumer gave up the licorice to Maddox, eyeing me uncertainly from where she perched on the edge of the couch. Next to her Akasha stretched and yawned, warily eyeing Maddox.

Maddox took a few steps toward me, nodding to the short hallway. “Can we talk? Alone?”

After the conversation we had in my parents’ bathroom, I wrestled with many urges, none of them friendly. “I should really tell you to go fuck yourself. You’ve got five minutes.”

Expecting Maddox to follow, I led the way to Rumer’s spare room. He sauntered in behind me and swung the door shut. There wasn’t a lot of room to stand with my air mattress taking up most of the space. I wedged myself into the small area in front of the desk, leaving him near the door.

“Five minutes, huh?” he asked, looking me over. “Think you can tell me everything in that amount of time? Why are the Thorns after you? That’s why you really came back, isn’t it?”

“I don’t owe you answers, Maddox. It’s not really any of your damn business. If it was, I’d have told you about it myself.” Leaning against the desk, I crossed my arms and fixed him with a wary gaze. I knew that gleam in his eyes. He’d come here with a purpose.

“Still stubborn as fuck, huh? That’s okay, Vixen. I like you that way.” Maddox leaned on the closed door, mimicking my arms crossed posture. “I’m going to shadow every move you make regardless, so you might as well talk.”

This asshole knew how to push my buttons. We’d spent a lot of time getting to know each other inside and out. Despite the time that had passed, nothing about our connection had changed. Except that I didn’t trust him anymore.

“Coming here uninvited and being a pushy ass isn’t going to help me,” I insisted, reluctant to spill. When he merely stared at me in silence, nodding for me to continue, I huffed and ran a hand over my hair. “I never meant to end up on their radar. It was supposed to be a simple theft.”

As Maddox listened and munched a piece of licorice from the bag he still held in one hand tucked under his crossed arms, I told him everything. The initial encounter during my statue theft. The following encounter at the swanky dinner event, leading up to last night.

Maddox nodded, like he’d expected my story. “They’ll keep coming for you. Unless they know you’re mine.”

I automatically recoiled. “I’m not a fucking object that belongs to you, Maddox. Quit with the possessive bullshit. I’d rather face the Thorns alone than be labeled as your property.”

He considered me for a long moment, popping the last bite of licorice into his mouth. “It never bothered you before.”

Something dark and demanding smoldered in Maddox’s eyes, taunting me with memories of how it felt to touch him. To be his in every way. He was right. It had never bothered me before. Goddamn this man.

“Things have changed, Mads. I’ve changed.” My voice came out strong, but inside I wavered.

Maddox cocked his head to one side, contemplating my claim. “Not everything has changed. You’re still mine to protect. They won’t be stupid enough to send only one guy again. I need to know you’re safe until we can deal with this. You have to come and stay with me.”

There’s no way he said what I thought he said. I had to replay it a few times in my head. I stared at him, stunned and fumbling for words as my rising temper tied my tongue. “Are you insane? I’m not staying with you. I’m fine here.”

“Oh really? You’re willing to risk your sister’s safety just to spite me? Nobody will touch you at my house. I’ll help you pack.” Maddox stepped forward to toss the licorice package on the desk next to me. He cast a sneer at the air mattress on the floor. “You can even sleep in a real bed.”

His bed? Is that what he meant? Hell no. We were not doing this.

I held up both hands, warding him off before he could start gathering my things. “I’m not going anywhere with you. Now is the time for me to tell you to go fuck yourself. Get out of my room.”

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