“TellMadelineto give me back what belongs to me.”
“I don’t have it anymore.”
“Bull-fucking-shit. You’ve never been a good liar.”
I laugh, and it sounds more like a snort.
“I lied well enough to get away from you a month ago. I lied well enough that you haven’t found what you want. I lied well enough to make you a shit ton of money for the past two years. Here’s the truth. Rot in fucking hell. Come near me, and I’ll kill you.”
There’s a moment’s pause because he knows I’m serious. When he laughs, it’s hollow. Javi’s brow furrows. He can tell it’s bravado now, and Drew isn’t as confident as he was a moment ago.
“Did you forget about that?”
I’m pissed. Since I’ll have to explain everything to Javi now, I may as well get most of it out with this call.
“No.” Was that a tremble in his voice?
“You know what I’ll do when I’m backed into a corner. You watched it all. You’re lucky I left. I could have done to you what I did to them.”
Javi’s staring at me as though he’s never seen me before. As though I’m some aberration. If only he knew how much worse it’s about to get. Drew digs my grave when he speaks again.
“You don’t have the backbone to do shit to me. They were easy marks. That’s all you could handle.”
“I doubt Javier will agree with you when he finds out what you made me do.”
“What the fuck is going on, O’Sheehan? What’s Madeline talking about?”
“Maybe you should tell your boy toy, fuck buddy.”
“O’Sheehan, I’m already going to kill you. How drawn out I make it depends on how you speak to Madeline. Keep it up, and I will make it last for days.”
“And leave her unprotected?”
“She’s with my family now. I motherfucking dare you to come near any of us.”
“Challenge accepted.”
All I can do is stare at Javi when the call suddenly ends.
Chapter Thirteen
Javier
What the fuck did I just listen to?
I’m staring at the phone in my hand, unable to bring myself to look at Maddy until I’m certain I won’t lose my ever-loving shit. I’m equally pissed at both Drew and Maddy. Drew for mistreating Maddy, and Maddy for hiding her boyfriend’s—motherfucking ex-boyfriend’s—mob connections. How on earth could she have kept this from me? It all makes sense, but what the fuck?
“Javi?”
Usually, I’d feel badly about how timid she sounds, but today isn’t the day for me to dredge up any sympathy. At least not yet. This is too incredible, and not in a good way. I inhale three deep breaths before I lift my head and meet her gaze.
Now, I feel horrible because of how terrified she appears. I don’t think she’s faking it. Her hunched shoulders, wrapped arms, and trembling might be from Drew’s threats and my obvious outrage, or perhaps it’s simply my presence.
This isn’t what I want, even if I’m angry at her.
I twist and toss the burner phone on the bed before I open my arms to her. She steps into my embrace but doesn’t unwrap her arms to return my hug. Instead, she stands there, shaking like a leaf.
“Maddy, you know secrets aren’t an option anymore. You must tell me what’s going on.”
