She’s fine.
No one took her from me. And if someone did, then I’ll find them and slowly kill them all for touching her.
I’ll gouge out their eyes and feed them to them covered in ranch.
I’ll cut their hands off and shove them up their asses.
I’ll cut off their tongues and?—
“What’s going on?” Madison’s soft voice draws me out of my thoughts.
My steps falter, and I blink away the red haze of rage from my vision. A breath shudders out of me, and my knees wobble from the flood of relief.
Madison closes the small gap between us and rests her palms over my chest. Her touch works its magic, loosening my tense muscles.
If she’s here, then?—
My phone pings with a new message, and I read it.
Unknown sender
It’s fitting, really. He loves to fuck his sister, too. His screams for her are *so* amusing. Like music to my ears.
If you want to save your friend, meet me here. And don’t tell anyone. I’d hate to end this game before it’s even begun.
They send the address where they want me to meet them.
The earlier rage returns, and my vision turns red.
“Ryder?” Madison’s voice breaks through the haze just enough to pull me out and shift my focus back to her. “What’s the matter?”
I school my features so I don’t concern her any more than I already have. “Nothing, baby. But something came up, and I need to leave for a while.”
She tilts her head, her eyebrows pinching together in visible confusion. “Okay. I’ll be here when you get back.”
I shake my head and tuck a blue lock of hair behind her ear. “Why don’t you go visit Nova or Olivia for a while? I’ll pick you up when I’m done.”
Madison hesitates, and I brace myself for her questions. Like why I want her to hang out with her friends instead of in her new home. Or what business I need to take care of.
She surprises me when she nods and offers me a tiny smile. “Sure. Want to walk there with me?”
I dip my chin in a slight nod and return her smile to put her at ease.
Madison grabs my hand and laces our fingers together as we walk out of the house and down the street to Aiden’s place. The whole way, an eerie calm blankets me, one that I’m not a stranger to. It’s like an old friend to me. One that’s kept me in its clutches since I was a young boy, fighting like my life depended on it. This time, it may very well be that.
“Looks like it’ll rain soon,” Madison says as she tilts her head back to look at the darkened sky.
I hum in response, but don’t say anything.
She looks at me with a slight frown. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
I give her hand a reassuring squeeze. “I promise, doll.”
Madison side-eyes me but doesn’t say anything else. I walk her up Aiden’s driveway and knock on the front door. Checking the area, I don’t find his motorcycle in sight.
Did they grab him too?
I shake away the thought and cup Madison’s cheeks. “I love you, baby. I’ll see you soon.”
