Now, I knew I still had feelings for her. I just needed to get a handle back on them. She was so much better off without me, and better off with Morgan. I was never in the one place long, and who knew if I would come home in one piece. That was something I couldn’t put her through. No. I had to be an asshole and keep her at arm’s length. As much as I wanted to apologize for everything that happened ten years ago, it was best she felt the way she did.
Letting out a breath, there was a knock on the door. I moved across the room to open the door and came face to face with Morgan. “Why did you do it?!”
My brows creased in a frown and I stepped back so he could pass me. “Do what?”
Morgan turned to look at me and narrowed his eyes. “Why did you leave without a word? Why come back? Why did you do what you did down in the gym?”
I shook my head. “A) You don’t get to talk to me about my past. If Maddie wants answers then she can come to me for them. B) I came back because Lucas offered me a job, and I wanted to get away for a bit, so I took it. I had no idea Maddie would be here or I would have stayed away. I hate that I hurt her, and being here is hurting her all over again despite the front she is putting up. I know that girl like the back of my hand, and I know she is in pain. C) The gym was instinct. I see someone with their hands on a girl who is about to turn around and put them on their ass, then you can be damn sure I am gonna step in.”
Morgan ran his hands over his face. “How’d you know that?”
“Know what?”
“Know that she was about to put him on his ass.”
“I have done training with her. She is trained in Martial Arts, Morgan. I know the look. I have been on the other end of it. Maddison knows just the right way to put a guy twice her size and more on their ass. She isn’t a helpless kitten, so don’t treat her like one.”
He glared at me again and if he wasn’t technically my boss, then I would be hitting him right now. “She dreamt about you. I was lying in the bed beside her, and she dreamt about you.”
I tried not to let the smug grin show at his words. “Oh?”
“Yeah… She dreamt my dad was trying to kill her, or, well, he did kill her. Her ex Josh was my cousin, and her Uncle Michael was blackmailed into helping them both. You came in to save the day then, too…”
Moving to sit down on the bed, I nodded. “Maddison has dreams like that when she is upset, so you may want to be careful with that. I’d be surprised if she doesn’t have another one tonight. Have pancakes sent up to her. Blueberry. They make her happy.”
Morgan came and sat down beside me. “She is right. I have no idea who she is. I am getting raging mad and jealous over a girl I have known a couple of days.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “She’s somethin’ special, bud. Don’t feel bad. She has that effect on people.”
“Would you ever ask her for a second chance?”
Looking over at Morgan, I nodded. “Honestly? She is the love of my life. I hurt her really bad, though. She is better off with someone who gave her what I never did. Our whole relationship, if she forgave me, would be Maddie wondering what if, or am I gonna disappear again. I couldn’t do that too her.”
Morgan nodded. “I really wish I could hate you for that answer.” He gave me a look and I laughed. I watched Morgan as he stood up “Guess I better go see if I can get another room.”
I raised a brow. “Snowflake kick you out already?”
He shook his head. “No, we both just need our own spaces so she doesn’t have to run anymore.”
I snorted and gave him a nod. “Want me to come?” Morgan shook his head “No, you stay. I’ll grab our third, Daniel, and he can come on duty now.” I gave him a nod and Morgan waved as he walked out the door.
Falling back on the bed, I closed my eyes. Could I really walk away now? Every fibre of my being screamed yes, but there was a little voice in the back of my head that asked “What if?” Those two words were gonna haunt me if I did. I looked up at the door as I heard a knock and sighed. If that was Morgan again, I would give him my damn room. Walking over to the door, I pulled it open and came face to face with Lucas.
“You look like you could use a drink.” He told me with a Cheshire cat grin.
“Way to tell me I look like shit, Luke.” I stepped back and held the door open so that he could come in. Instead he stood in front of me and shook his head.
“Nope. We are going to the bar downstairs. You need to relax and get out of this room.”
“Aren’t I here on a job? Not a holiday?” I asked.
He replied, “Yes, but you are too uptight and I need you rested and relaxed. So, you can either come, or I am going to force you downstairs? What’s your choice?”
I narrowed my eyes and he straightened his back and crossed his arms over his chest, standing his ground. Shaking my head, I let the door go and walked into my room. Grabbing my wallet, phone and room key, I put them in my jeans pocket and moved back to the door that Lucas was now holding open. When he looked at me with a smug grin, I shoved him and laughed.
“You’re dealing with the boss, asshole.” I told him. Lucas replied with a snort and pushed the button for the elevator.
“Oh please. Morgan only thinks he is the boss. I am the one calling the shots.”
“I have the impression that is the story of his life.”
“Oh, you haven’t seen the real Morgan yet.”
As we stepped in, I gave him a confused look. “Morgan is good at making people seeing what he wants them too. You’ll see.”
I rubbed my hands over my face. “I know I am working for him and all, but if he hurts Maddison, so help me God, Daniel won’t be able to hold me back to stop me kicking his ass.” I dropped my hands and looked over at Lucas.
“He hurts her; I will hold him down while you do it.”
I wasn’t convinced, but I gave him a nod. Stepping out of the elevator, I headed toward the hotel bar and pulled the door open. Walking in and heading for the bar, I took a seat on one of the bar stools and waited for a bartender to come over and serve us.
A couple of minutes later, the bartender came over and asked what we were having. Ordering a double shot of Jack while Lucas ordered a whiskey, I rolled my neck and looked around the bar.
“Fuck.” Lucas swore and I turned to look at him. Looking in the direction he was, I saw red. Sitting in the corner of the bar was Morgan, and some chick that sure as fuck wasn’t Maddie. I turned and glared at Lucas.
“You holding him, or should I just go and beat the fuck out of him now?”
“Tim....”
I held up my hand and downed the Jack the bartender put in front of me and got off my barstool. I turned and looked again and really wished I hadn’t. Just as I did, Morgan’s hand was sliding up her skirt and left very little to the imagination. I went to step toward him when both Lucas and Daniel stopped me. Morgan turned to look our way and saw me. If looks could kill he would be six feet under. Shrugging both Lucas and Daniel off, I paid for my drink and left before I did something that would see me fired. Worst part was, I wouldn’t regret it either.
Heading for the elevator, I heard Morgan call my name and ignored him. When he put his hand on my shoulder, I pushed it off and turned to look at him. “You can’t tell Maddie.”
“Don’t tell me what I can or can’t tell her, Morgan. I am not going to sit around and watch you play around on her, so if that is your plan then tell me now. You can be damn sure I will tell her what an asshole I think you are and that she deserves much better than you.”
The doors opened to the elevator. I stepped in and hit our floor before he could say or do anything and before I could hit him. Closing my eyes, I knew I had to tell Maddie, but I knew this was gonna hurt her and I wasn’t sure I could do that.
When the doors opened and I headed for her room, I reached her door and held my hand up to knock. Chickening out, I turned and headed for my room. Unlocking the door and stepping inside, I face planted on the bed.
As soon as I closed my eyes, there was a knock at my door. Every part of me wanted to ignore it, but instead I pushed myself up off the bed and moved to open it. I came face to face with Maddie. Her eyes were red as if she had just been crying and when she saw me, she started again.
“Hey snowflake, what’s wrong?” She just about launched herself at me and I pulled her inside my room and wrapped her in my arms. My fingers moved through her hair as I tried to get her to relax. She would talk when she calmed down.
CHAPTER NINE
Maddie
After Morgan shut the door and left, I decided to call Jasmine. She would be on the first plane to track me down if I didn’t. Moving back inside and taking my phone off charge, I slid my finger over the screen and tapped on the phone app. I found her number as the most recent of my recent calls, I couldn’t help but smile at how fitting that was. Sure, I spoke to my Uncle, and we were close, but Jas was my person. The Christina Yang to my Meredith Gray, so to speak. Tapping my finger on her name, I walked back outside and waited for her to pick up.
“Sup, Mole.” I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Hey, bitchface.”
“I was wondering when you would stop boofing long enough to call me.”
I snorted and moved to sit out on the balcony. “We would have to have started to stop, Jazzy.”
“Disappointed. Where are you anyway?”
“Gold Coast.”
“Bitch.”
“I’ll trade you?”
“Wait… What? What’s happened? Mr. Perfect not so much anymore?”
I let out a breath. “It’s not that. We’re here while we waited for another of Morgan’s security team to show up.”
“And?”
“And… It was Tim.” I heard her spit her drink out and had to bite back a laugh. “Sorry, Jas. I should have given you a ‘don’t have a drink in your mouth when I tell you this’ warning.”
“No shit, Sherlock! What the fuck?!”
I shrugged my shoulders despite the fact she couldn’t see me. “Lucas wanted another person out here to help keep Morgan safe, but all the other guys had partners and kids to go home to, so Morgan agreed to hire a security company to do it. According to Lucas, the best in the world happens to be my ex.”
“Holy. Shit.”
“Mmmhm.” I moved inside and went to get a juice from the fridge.
“What did he say when you spoke to him?”
I frowned. “I haven’t.”
“Mads…”
“No, Jas! You know how fucked up I have been over him! Why would I want to reopen old wounds?!”
“Closure! If you know what happened, maybe you could heal better.”
I snorted. “I know what happened! He left. Why does no one think I’m over it? It’s been ten damn years! Why do I need closure!?”
“Because other than the man you are avoiding, Maddison Lee, I know you better than you know yourself!”
I let out a sigh when the bitch full named me, but she was right. All the important stuff, they both knew. “He told Lucas that he wrote to me. Why should I believe anything he says?”
“Because he was telling the truth. He did write to you…”
“What?”
“Didn’t Michael tell you? He said he was going to!”
“Does this sound like a person who knew to you?”
“No.”
“Exactly! Why the hell am I only learning about this now?! I honestly thought he didn’t give a shit about me!”
“He didn’t want you holding on! Michael just wanted you happy again!”
“If he wanted me happy again, Jasmine, then he should have given me the damn letters! I would have my fucking closure.” Before Jasmine could reply I hung up and moved towards the door. I waited a minute and tried to wipe away the tears that had started to fall from fighting with Jasmine. I knocked on the door and waited for him to answer. Looking up into his eyes, he called me “Snowflake” and the tears started up again. I flung myself into his arms and hid my face in his chest. Years of hatred for the man who broke my heart just cracked and started to fall away as his fingers ran through my hair and he tried to calm me down. I had to know the truth now.
Once I calmed down enough that I could speak, I lifted my head and met his eyes again. “You loved me.”
He nodded. “Did you doubt that, Snowflake?”
I dropped my gaze and nodded. He put his fingers under my chin and raised my head so that I was looking at him.
“It fucking killed me to leave you, Maddie. I hated my dad so much for making me leave. Still can’t look at him and not feel that pain all over again. If I could have, I’d have run back to you and never have looked back.”
“Why didn’t you?” I asked in a quiet whisper.
“I was put on a plane before I could. I tried to call and write but when the calls went unanswered and the letters got returned, I decided it would be best to leave it. You needed to heal and probably hated me.”
I shook my head and sighed. “I didn’t hate you. I couldn’t feel anything. I couldn’t get out of bed for weeks. I wouldn’t eat. My grades bombed. Uncle Michael almost had me hospitalized. The doctor he had come out and see me diagnosed me with depression.”
Tim sighed this time and pulled me against him. Resting my head on his chest, I closed my eyes.
“Uncle didn’t tell me about the letters… He just sent them back. The calls were from the unknown number. I couldn’t call back…” I felt Tim’s arms tighten around me and he dropped his head and nuzzled into my neck.
“I never stopped loving you. I wasn’t going to try after seeing you with Morgan, but I just can’t let you go again. I’ll do anything to make this right…”
I felt my chest tighten. My heart still belonged to him, but could I give him that chance? What about Morgan? I pulled back from Tim and shook my head. Before I could say a word the room started to spin and I had to sit down. Sitting down on the bed, I took big deep breaths and tried to get it to stop.
“Maddie?” I looked up at him and groaned as I felt a wave of nausea. Dropping my head, I lay down and closed my eyes.
“Need... Sleep...” I felt myself being lifted from the bed. Tim laid me back down on the pillows after pulling back the covers.
“Sleep, Snowflake.” I tried to say something as everything hit me and sleep took over. Fuck, I hated when this happened.
CHAPTER TEN
Ghost
I hadn’t seen it, but I should have. Morgan told me she’d dreamt about me, that Josh was his cousin and his dad killed her. Maddie won’t have slept since then. She hated when her dreams were of someone she loved dying or herself. It was understandable. Maddie had lost both her Mum and Dad. That was something that would stay with her forever. Maddie would hide the effects of her dreams until she hit a wall. When she finally hit that wall, then the head spins and nausea would start until she couldn’t fight it anymore and she crashed out. I looked up at the clock and saw it had been a few hours now and resumed my pacing.
There was a knock on my hotel room door. Moving to answer it, for the second time today, Morgan was on the other side of it. Stepping out into the hall, Morgan raised a brow. “Hey, have you seen Maddie?” I nodded and motioned into my room with my head. Morgan narrowed his eyes and I rolled mine. I wasn’t having a pissing contest with him. Opening the door and stepping aside, I let Morgan into the room.
“She came to talk to me earlier, but before we could, she hit a wall.”
“Huh?”
“The dream she had?” He nodded. “She hasn’t slept since then. She goes through the motions to please someone else, but will just lay there until the morning. Maddie will pretend that she is fine, but she isn’t. Now is the time where blueberry pancakes and strawberry milk come into it.”
Morgan ran his hand over his jaw and looked over at the bed. I half expected him to walk over to the bed and carry her back to his room or hers. Anywhere, as long as it was away from me. After his little stun
t in the bar, over my dead body was that happening.
“Make sure she is okay. Don’t worry about me till she is up and back to normal. Daniel and Lucas can cover me.”
Despite wanting to hit him again, I nodded. “She’s in good hands.”
Morgan couldn’t hide his snort and turned and left. It was in that moment that I made the decision. As much as I didn’t deserve a second chance, I wasn’t about to let Morgan get a first chance. Maddie would be back with me where she belonged. I was going to make it my mission.
I sat in the chair in the corner of the room and just watched Maddie for a few minutes. I knew it was a creepy as fuck thing to do, but I just had too. I was afraid that if I looked away for too long she would disappear or something. It was also that she was so peaceful when she slept. Even if she was having nightmares, she didn’t toss and turn, so you would never know until she woke up. It made me wonder just how bad it got after I went away. I watched Maddison for a few more minutes before standing back up and moving out onto the balcony. Taking out my phone, I called my second in charge back in the states, Mario. He was a genius. Whatever I wanted, he could get me in no time.
“Boss.”
“Gunner. How’s it?”
“Can’t complain. Boys are keeping busy. How are things there?”
“So fucking strange. You have no idea.”
“How so?”
“My ex is here…” Mario let out a breath and whistled.
“Harsh. How does she look?” I snorted. As good as he was in other areas, he was such a pig. Screwed anything with a pulse, and always asked about two things first. Looks and how big her rack was. Maybe I should have sent him out here. He and Morgan would get along like a house on fire. Then I remembered Maddie and changed my thought.
“Better than I remember.”
“Photo’s?” “Shut up or I will break you.”
Hell On An Angel (Fated Love Book 2) Page 4
