by Brook Wilder
Jace didn’t even need to think. His belligerent bully attitude was because he wanted attention from his father. It just resulted in being ignored completely until Jace realized he was fighting a losing battle. By the time his father had died, Jace had given up all fucks of getting his attention on anything.
“No way would I have been the bastard I was as a kid.”
That seemed to satisfy Beth. She withdrew her hand and sighed.
“What are you going to do now?”
“I’m going to leave.” That hadn’t changed, even with Beth’s attempt. But he would change the timeline, give it leeway. “I’ll give it a couple of weeks to see if Maddie calms down. If she still refuses to let me have anything to do with the baby, or takes me back but pushes me away again, I’ll leave.”
“After what I’ve said?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t leave her high and dry. I’ll still provide financial support, send gifts at Christmas and on birthdays.” If Maddie ever told him when their child was born, that is. “Maddie may not accept it, though. So, I’m going to set up a trust fund for them, for college or whatever they want to do with it. But I can’t stay in Tucson if Maddie’s going to refuse me to even see the child.” Jace rubbed his hands over his face. “And seeing as Jeremy’s the president and Maddie’s currently at the clubhouse, I can’t stay there. That’s too much heartache.”
“You could stay at my apartment,” Beth offered. “I’ve got a spare room and you can be close, if needs be. You’d be surprised how long you can live in a city and not run into someone who lives three streets away.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I don’t want you at odds with Maddie for taking my side.”
“Too late, I already am on your side.” Beth pushed off the car and turned to him. “Do you want me to talk to her?”
“No, I’m not going around in circles with her. That’s too much for me.” Jace pushed himself to standing, feeling the weight in his chest. “I’ll tell Jeremy what I’m going to do and let him deal with the fallout. Give me a couple of weeks and I’ll go.” He gave Beth a pleading look. “All I ask is you keep me updated, be the keeper of that trust fund and make sure my child is okay.”
“Of course.” Beth hugged him. “I’m sorry, Jace.”
Jace hugged her tightly and shut his eyes tight. He was sorry, too. Sorry for getting mixed up with a woman he should have run away from.
Chapter Thirteen
Maddie lay on the bed, burying her face into a pillow as she sobbed. This was not how it was meant to go. She and Jace were supposed to be a partnership, have a baby and raise it together like a happy family. Or as close as to a happy family as you could get, considering who they were. Not arguments and Jace not being there at all.
She knew she was being unfair. It was not right to do this to Jace at all. He was right; he couldn’t help her when she was bleeding, and nobody had noticed her car being trashed so how was Jace supposed to have helped there?
Maddie knew her hormones were taking over. They were getting out of control and there were times when Maddie wanted to completely snap. Having a baby wasn’t as easy as some people made it out to be and it was taking its toll.
This was what happened when you didn’t protect yourself. And Maddie cursed herself for it every day.
She had always wanted to become a mother but didn’t trust Drake to be a good father. Despite their differences and her past with Jace, Maddie had thought Jace would be different. He had the makings of being a good father. But then something small happened and Maddie needed someone to blame. That ended up being the person closest to her.
She had to apologize to him. Maddie knew that. Whether Jace would accept it or not was another matter, but she had to find him and apologize. Not having him around was hard but Maddie could cope if she knew he would be home in the evenings. She would get used to that. But the thought of having a baby alone, when Jace was not about, was terrifying.
Maddie had said she didn’t want him around anymore but, in truth, she was so scared of being alone that she pushed Jace away. It was illogical, but she was letting her hormones take over.
There was a gentle rap at the door. Maddie sniffed and sat up. Had Jace come back?
“Jace?”
“It’s me, Beth.”
Maddie tried not to let the disappointment take over. She needed to talk to someone and she needed her friend.
But she wanted Jace more. Maddie slipped off the bed and padded to the door. Beth stepped inside and hugged her.
“Honey.” She stepped back and cupped her face in her hands. “What’s going on? I heard there was a fight earlier?”
Maddie nodded and stepped back, moving towards the bed.
“Jace and I had another fight. I told him I won’t have him in the baby’s life if he’s going to be unreliable.”
She was about to say that she was going to find Jace and apologize when she saw Beth’s eyes roll. Maddie stopped and frowned at her.
“What does that mean?”
“What?”
“The eye-rolling.”
Beth sighed.
“We’ve been over this before. You had a bleed and your car was destroyed. What was he supposed to do? Snap his fingers and things would be okay?”
“He said he would protect me and he didn’t.”
Beth’s face twisted into a glare, staring at Maddie with a hatred Maddie had never seen before. At least, not directed at her.
“You’re insane, do you know that?”
That knocked Maddie off-kilter. She took a step back in surprise.
“What?”
“You’re insane. Your hormones have been all over the place since you got pregnant. You keep going back and forth on things that are not only superfluous but crazy. I’ve been as patient as I can, But pushing Jace away because he wasn’t there when things happened that were out of everyone’s control, and not apologizing for it, is fucking ridiculous.”
Maddie was stunned. She had heard Beth speak with such venom on things before, but this was different to earlier. Mention of apologizing to Jace disappeared from her mind as Maddie went on the attack.
“You’re taking his side in this?” she accused.
“Too fucking right, I am. Jace held up his hands when he made a mistake and he’s trying to do the right thing. But you are pushing him out of the baby’s life when he wants to be there…” Beth shook her head. “You’re looking like the jealous, psychopathic girlfriend.”
Beth had never spoken like that to her. Maddie could feel her anger rising.
“Psychopathic?” she gasped. “Did you just call me ‘psychopathic’?”
“Yes, although I’m surprised you didn’t pick up on the jealous part.” Beth snorted. “You may have depression and you’re overwhelmed, I get that. This is a hard adjustment for anyone. But you’re taking it out on the wrong person and refusing to get help. Jace is leaving Tucson because of you. He can’t stay here if you’re going to actively keep the baby from him.”
He was leaving Tucson? Maddie felt it like a punch to the stomach. Jace had said he wouldn’t abandon her or the baby. Had she pushed him too far? Maddie grunted and turned away, trying not to show how hurt she was.
“I knew he’d leave eventually.”
“Because you’re pushing him away!” Beth yelled. “He wouldn’t have left if you hadn’t said you’d keep the baby away. The Maddie I knew would never do that. You need help. And I’m not going to be there until you do.”
“What?” Maddie spun around. “Beth…”
“No.” Beth strode to the door and flung it open. “Go to your doctor and get help. You’re going to ruin your life if you don’t. Come and find me once you’re levelled out, as I won’t be around until you are.”
“Beth…”
But then Beth was gone, slamming the door behind her. Maddie let out a frustrated yell and picked up her cell phone, throwing it across the room. It hit the wall and shattered into several pieces.
&nb
sp; Maddie didn’t care. She just wanted something to destroy.
Chapter Fourteen
Once she’d calmed down, Maddie found herself numb. After both Jace and Beth walking out, she realized that the people she cared about, her support, had left her cold. The only one left was Jeremy and he was starting to get frustrated with her antics.
Her hormones were going haywire and it was affecting her relationships with everyone.
Maybe Beth and Jace were right. Maybe she did have depression. Maddie had no idea about depression but whatever was going on was pushing everyone she cared about away. It was either carry on as she was or get her help and mend fences.
Beth would come back once Maddie had got herself sorted. But Jace… Maddie knew she had already lost him. He would be leaving whether she got herself help or not. There would be no building bridges there. They had been burnt down.
So, the next morning Maddie approached Jeremy in his office and asked if he could take her to her doctor for an emergency appointment. Jeremy was surprised but agreed when Maddie said it was related to the baby. They got into his pick-up and headed downtown to her usual surgery. Maddie didn’t have a doctor at the surgery she worked at and she was glad about that; that would have meant seeing Martin and Maddie didn’t want to see him at all. He had caused a lot of trouble.
Her stomach was still churning like crazy as they drove. Being in a vehicle seemed to ramp up her sickness and her headache was turning into a persistent migraine. All Maddie wanted to do was go to her own home and curl up in bed. Preferably with Jace holding her but she was certain Jace wouldn’t be doing that.
Jeremy’s phone started ringing as they went onto a main street. He fished it out of the centre console and handed it to Maddie.
“Could you answer that for me, sis?”
Normally, Maddie would answer the phone and put it on speaker. But then she saw Jace’s name on the caller ID and she couldn’t bring herself to answer.
“I’m Jace.”
She hung up and tossed the phone back into the console. Jeremy glanced at her in confusion.
“What the…? What are you doing?”
“I’m not answering a call from Jace.”
“Look, he works for me and, if he’s reporting in, I need to hear it. I can’t talk while I’m driving, and I haven’t got my hands-free.”
“Then pull over and answer I,” Maddie snapped. “I won’t answer it for you.”
Jeremy was staring at her with a strange look. Then he indicated and pulled over, putting the car in park on a no-parking line. He turned to Maddie.
“What’s got into you?”
“I’m not talking to Jace, nor do I want to hear his voice. That’s not difficult, is it?”
“Seriously, Maddie, what’s going on? You’ve been acting very strangely lately, and I don’t like it.” He chucked her chin, the way he used to do when she was a kid. “Where’s my little sister gone?”
Jeremy was going to be furious. He was the one who had pushed Jace towards Maddie, the one who wanted the baby to grow up with both parents. And Maddie had blown it. He was going to be mad.
“I can’t do it, Jeremy,” she said, staring at her hands in her lap. She couldn’t even look him in the eye.
“What?”
“I can’t do it with Jace. He and I can’t be together.” She swallowed hard. “And I can’t have him in the baby’s life.”
She winced when she felt Jeremy explode.
“You what? You got rid of him?”
“He wasn’t there when I needed him, Jeremy!”
“That’s because he’s working. What do you expect him to do?”
Maddie growled. She was holding her hands and knew that there was something wrong, but she wasn’t about to back down and be attacked for what she had done.
“Why is everyone against me?” she whined.
Jeremy growled. Maddie risked a glance at him and saw Jeremy sitting back with a dark scowl.
“At least I see the reason why you’re asking to go to the doctor. I wondered how long it would take for you to say something?”
“You thought there was something wrong with me?”
“Jace was concerned about you. We both think you’ve got ante-natal depression. You’re pushing everyone away because of your spiraling moods and you’re going to lose everyone who loves you if you don’t sort it out now.” Jeremy shook his head. “I won’t have your baby be taken away from the family.”
Maddie hadn’t realized that everyone was genuinely worried for her. Jace had noticed it a while back. He wanted her to get help. Even with their arguments, he still loved her. He was trying to turn things around and Maddie had thrown it back in his face because she just wanted a fight.
She had lost Jace. He was leaving, and she was going to be alone. Tears clogged up her throat.
“I’m a mess.”
Jeremy’s expression softened. He shifted across the seat and tugged her into his arms, making her lean her head on his shoulder.
“I know. I’m here, though.” He kissed her head. “And when you’ve got yourself some help, Beth and Jace will be there as well. They love you, which is why they’re urging you to get help. You just need to talk to them. And you don’t need to deal with this alone.”
Maddie knew that. She knew Jeremy would be there regardless, even though he had been on the cusp of walking away. But they were siblings and they were close. That bond wasn’t being broken anytime soon.
Then Jeremy’s cell phone started ringing again. Sighing, Jeremy eased back and scooped it up. He gave Maddie a glance.
“It’s Jace again. Okay if I answer it now?”
Maddie knew she couldn’t avoid him forever. And it needed to be done in baby steps. She rolled her eyes and shoved him arm. Jeremy chuckled and answered.
“What’s up, Jace? We’re parked on the curb just outside Ravers.” Then Jeremy’s smile faded, and he looked concerned. “What? Are you sure about that? Okay, we’re coming back to the clubhouse now.”
Maddie sat up. She heard the worry creep into her brother’s voice. Whatever Jace had said was bad enough to scare him. And when Jeremy was scared that was not good.
“What is it?”
Jeremy hung up and looked up at her, his face pale.
“There’s a hit out on both of us.”
“What?”
It was then that the back window exploded.
Chapter Fifteen
Maddie ducked, Jeremy covering her as she went into the footwell. Another window exploded, and bullets rained down onto the back seat. Her heart was pounding, and the shots were ringing in her ears.
Keeping himself low, Jeremy kicked his door open and slithered out, tugging Maddie with him. Clambering over the gearshift, Maddie managed to get onto the sidewalk, Jeremy cushioning her fall as she landed on the concrete. He urged her to sit with her back against the wheel and keep her head down. Then he was on his phone.
Maddie couldn’t hear anything, what with the screaming, and the sounds of the bullets were making her head ring. She could feel a panic attack coming on and forced herself to breathe deeply.
Jeremy hung up, stuffing his phone into his pocket, and took out his gun. Then he shuffled over to Maddie.
“You okay?”
Somehow Maddie managed to hear him. She took a deep breath and sat up.
“I’m fine.” She beckoned with her hands. “Give me a gun.”
“What?”
“I know you carry a spare. Give it to me.”
“In your condition?”
“Jeremy!”
There was no way Maddie was cowering when someone was shooting at them. Maddie was a fighter and she wasn’t about to back down now.
After a brief hesitation, Jeremy reached into his ankle holster and passed his gun to Maddie. She checked the magazine and took the safety off. Then she shifted around onto her knees, glancing around the front of the jeep.
There were bikes across the street and a pick-up. Men she
recognized as Wild Leopards members were taking cover behind their own vehicles and other cars. They had bandanas up over their mouths and noses, sunglasses on. All of them were carrying huge guns and they were directed at the jeep.
Maddie was a sharpshooter. She didn’t carry a gun and preferred not to use them outside a gun range but, if she had to, she knew her way around one. Even Schuman, who was one of the best marksmen in Broken Hounds, was hard-pressed to match her.
