The Legacy series: The Love series, the Wrapped series, and the Burning Souls series.
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���Okay, Maddox, I don���t want to know anything except this: has Jane been one of the people you have been with sexually?���
He looked at her and let out a frustrated breath, ���It���s different with her then it is with you.���
Harper swallowed hard, ���Is she the other one you have kissed?���
He looked at her and scowled, ���Harper, still not the same. I get that you don���t understand because you lack������
Harper stood up and tried to walk away. He grabbed her arm and pulled her around, ���You can’t just walk away from a conversation like this.���
���Don���t you get it? It should have never happened. I am walking away because I can���t stay; I can���t be the other woman. I can���t be������
���The other? Jazz took comfort in my body, Harper. I care about her. It���s not what I feel with you.���
���You still don���t get it. I have waited my whole life for someone to choose me and only me������
���I���ll make her move her things into another bedroom. Will that make you feel any better?���
���You sleep in the same room?���
���Yes, but we don���t have sex, Harper. She has horrible dreams still and������
���Maddox������
���Meet her. Come with me tomorrow and meet her. You will see that what Jazz and I have��� it���s not love, Harper.���
���I don���t want������
���She knows about you.���
Harper looked down, exhausted, and not wanting to fight, ���I can���t go to the city. It���s my brother���s graduation party.���
���Then I���ll bring her here.���
���You need to figure out what will work for you. I could not trust������
���Harper, just meet her.���
���I don���t think my parents would appreciate������
���I���ll talk to your father.���
���Maddox, do you remember how angry you were when I was on someone���s shoulders? Totally innocent— and you came undone.���
���We were younger then. I still needed to grow������
���Maddox, I will never be okay with the person I give myself to, the person who held my heart for so long, sharing a bed or having a roommate who he has been with. So it IS me, not you. I don���t want to meet her������
���If you did you would understand Harper, I know you would.���
���Maddox, if I fell in love with you the very first time I saw you, she������
���Stop,��� Maddox held her lips together.
���You know that still makes me mad?���
He smiled and kissed her softly, ���She is nothing like you, Harper.���
���Maddox it���s������ he interrupted her with another kiss.
���Will you trust me?���
���Will you earn my trust, Maddox? It���s been������
Another kiss and she giggled, ���Knock it off.���
���No,��� he leaned in again.
She stepped back and smiled, ���I missed you. But I will not allow myself to go through another two years of hell, Maddox Hines.���
���I bet an hour in heaven would help erase some of the pain,��� he winked, and she laughed out loud. ���I missed you, Harper.���
���We could be really good friends, Maddox.���
���We will be, and more.���
Harper smiled and walked up the stairs to the deck, and he followed her. ���What are you doing, you���re next door?���
���We���re going to talk,��� he pointed to the chase, ���I want you to know everything you need to know. I want to know what you have done over the past two years. You know, get this friend thing out of the way.��� He laughed.
���Out of the way?���
���You know what I mean. I promise, PG only.��� Harper took a deep breath and sat, ���I watched Bambi you know.���
���Oh yeah, how was it?���
���Well, it hit home.���
Harper looked at him, ���The momma deer?���
He smiled, ���Sure, but I was thinking������
���Twitterpated?���
���Yes, and it made me think of you every time I watched it.���
Harper looked at his smile, relaxed and happy. ���Every time?���
���Shut up, Harper,��� he pulled her into his arms.
���Every time.���
���Told you I missed you.���
���What the hell is going on here?��� Harper jumped when she heard her father���s voice.
Maddox sat up and looked at Collin, ���Sorry, we fell asleep.���
Harper could feel her face burning, and Tessa walked out onto the deck. ���Harper������ she said sadly.
Harper sat up on the double chase and rubbed her eyes and looked at Maddox who was staring at Collin, ���I need to talk to you.���
���Maddox, I don���t think that���s a good idea,��� Harper whispered.
Maddox pushed the blanket off of them and stood up, ���It���s something that has to be done,��� he bent and kissed the top of her head.
Collin growled. ���Maddox, you���ll have to give me a few minutes to talk to my husband,��� Tessa took Collins hand and dragged him into the house.
Maddox squatted beside Harper, ���Good morning.���
���Good morning?���
���Come with me to New York?���
���No, I���m not ready for that.���
���But will you meet her?���
���It depends on what my father says, Maddox.���
���Okay,��� he kissed her softly, ���I missed your lips, Harper.��� Harper rolled her eyes and covered her face. He pulled her hands away, ���Answer a question?���
���Sure.���
���Be mine?���
���What?��� Harper laughed.
���Be mine, and only mine.���
���Will you do the same?���
���Absolutely.���
She nodded, smiled, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Tessa cleared her throat, and Harper sat back and looked up at Collin���s infuriated gaze.
���Let���s go have a chat, Maddox.���
CHAPTER TWELVE
New York
They sat in Collin���s office, or the bat cave, as Harper had once referred to it. Collin flipped on the surveillance cameras and Maddox moved uncomfortably in his chair.
���I love your daughter.���
���We���ll wait for your father,��� Collin was still agitated.
���With all due respect Collin, I am almost twenty years old, live on my own, and make my own decisions. He has nothing to do with this,��� Maddox looked right into Collin���s eyes.
���We���ll wait for your father,��� Collin sat behind his desk strumming his fingers.
Brody walked through the opened door, ���Is everything alright? It���s five in the morning.���
���Harper and I fell asleep on the deck, Collin is angry. And I love Harper,��� Maddox looked at Brody.
��
���Collin?��� Brody looked at him for answers.
���Your son lives with another woman,��� Collin glared at Maddox.
���She���s my roommate,��� Maddox glared back.
���Maddox��� easy, this is his daughter.���
���I am well aware of that. I won���t hurt her.���
���Maddox, where did you meet this girl?��� Collin began typing on his computer.
���What are you doing?���
���A background investigation,��� Collin looked at Maddox.
���Is that necessary?���
���If you want my daughter to meet someone who London refers to as Satan���and whose name does not come up in a search,���
���Jazz is her stage name.���
���Fine, give me her real name.���
���No.���
���Excuse me?���
���Maddox, I don���t think it���s too much to ask,��� Brody began.
���And why the hell have you not done this?��� Collin snapped at Brody.
���He has been a little stand offish lately, Collin. He has security.���
Collin cleared his throat, ���Her name or it���s never going to happen, Maddox.���
���Your daughter is twenty years old, she������
Collin stood up and leaned over his desk. His blue eyes were fierce, and he fisted his hands tightly, ���This is where you and I will have problems, Maddox.���
���Maddox��� it���s his daughter.���
���It���s Jane, Dad.���
���WHAT?���
���It���s Jane. She was sold by her family; she doesn���t want anyone to know who she is. Harper knows this; we talked about everything last night.���
Collin sat down and took several deep breaths, ���Last name.���
���I don���t know���Doe?���
���Holy shit, Maddox,��� Brody groaned.
���What? I am helping her!���
���She is in your band, a legitimate job. She has been helped Maddox. You cannot think that.���
Collin stood up, ���The answer is no.���
���It���s not up to you,��� Maddox stood facing him.
���The hell it isn���t,��� Collin looked at Brody, ���Find out who she is. Get her help.���
���She doesn���t need help, she is fine,��� Maddox snapped.
���When you tell her about another woman, see how she is then Maddox. She sees you as her savior. My daughter will not be exposed to that kind of danger.���
���She knows all about my feeling for Harper. She knows more than Harper knows!���
Collin shook his head back and forth, ���Maddox, you may not see this, but you are putting yourself and my daughter in danger.���
���Does Zach know this?��� Brody was angry.
���Why are you pissed off?��� Maddox yelled at him.
���You���re smarter than this, Maddox! What we have been through, what you���ve survived. You have talked to Lucy for over two years, she���s a mess, and she has parents who love her and look what she is going through. Maddox���you���re moving home.���
Maddox laughed loudly, ���I have a cross country tour starting in a week. I���ll be here, and so will the band, which includes Jazz. You can both see for yourselves. Hire all the security you want, hell hire a shrink to travel with us. I can assure you, she is fine.���
���My daughter will not be������
Harper walked in and looked at Maddox and smiled, ���I won���t be what, Daddy?���
���You will not be in danger,��� Collin scowled at Maddox.
���Hey Maddox, you need to catch your flight, right?���
���Yes,��� Maddox tried to calm himself down.
���I would like to go������
���Harper, that���s enough!���
���Dad, Tomas can come.���
���You are not going anywhere!���
���Harper, it���s not really a good idea yet, okay?��� Brody said, siding with Collin.
���Brody, I understand all of your reservations, but I am an adult.���
���Harper Ann, get your ass out of here!��� Collin snapped.
���Do not speak to her like that!���
���Maddox, that���s enough!��� Brody yelled.
���Come on, Maddox,��� Harper took his hand and they walked out the door.
Tessa stood, looking horrified, ���Please don���t do this, Harper.���
���Mom, I���ll be back; Maddox when will we be back?���
���We are on at nine, and we can be back by one at the latest. Harper��� you don���t have to do this.���
���Yes I do. Mom, I���m sorry. Can you see if Tomas will meet us? I think it will make Dad feel better,��� Harper smiled sadly and hugged her.
Tessa looked at Maddox, ���She is our baby.���
Maddox looked at Harper conflicted, ���You really don���t have to do this. I understand completely. I would never let anything happen to her,��� Maddox looked at Tessa.
���I believe you, Maddox, I do. You need to find out more about her.���
���Okay, if that will make this easier I���ll,��� Maddox turned to Harper and held both of her hands, ���Stay.���
���No.���
���Harper, let me get them some answers and then������
���No, I���m going with you,��� she stomped her foot.
���Maybe your Mom needs your help,��� Maddox looked down at her.
���I���ll be back by one, party starts at five. I���m going with you. I don���t need to meet her,��� Harper turned to Tessa, ���I���ll stay with Tomas.���
���Are you asking permission? Because the answer will be not yet, Harper,��� Tessa���s voice shook slightly.
���Maddox, let’s go,��� Harper took his hand and walked into the house and grabbed a bag and threw clothes into it.
���Hey,��� he turned her towards him, ���Stay, let them get used to the idea. I have a show in three days, come to that. Stay the night with me in New York. Fight that battle after your brother���s party.���
���Is that what you want?���
���I don���t want this to be a fight for you.���
���I can make my own decisions.���
���I���ll be traveling all summer right here in the United States. Make your decision then. I would love to have you with me.��� She looked at the ground and closed her eyes. ���Let���s be honest here, last night you said no. I think your choosing this time to rebel,��� Maddox lifted her chin and smiled.
���Better late than never,��� Harper rolled her eyes. He hugged her and kissed her pouty lips, ���I understand their reservations������
���You didn���t seem to then?���
���I don���t like being told what to do,��� he laughed softly, ���We are both rebelling.���
���Fine, you���ll come back though, right?���
���Of course.���
���Good Morning New York!��� Maddox yelled, smiling into the crowd, and T laughed. ���
Right now, there is no place I would rather be than in the United States! Hit it, T!��� They played You Never, and the crowd went crazy.
There she goes again smile on her pretty little face controlling my heart and setting its pace. Laughing and touching no more worlds apart. Moments of closeness race in my heart
The music stops we still feel the song, moving us higher all night long.
Breathe on my skin intoxicating scent
The first time I Love you, that���s how it went. Don���t open your eyes you���ll miss her lips the sound deafening of empty clips
You never should have loved me, and then you’d never leave me, standing outside in the rain, feeling all the hurt and pain. You never should have loved me, and then you couldn���t leave my head, heavy from, all the noise, looking for ways to fill your void. You never should have loved me, you never should have trusted, I could be the one for you, the one who would be worthy and true. You never should have loved me; you never should left me crying out in the night, waking to life���s endless fight.
One more drink or two, I will see her soon and hold her under the spring���s full moon Holding, touching, swaying back and forth to the beat. You set the tempo I follow your feet
You sing to me the sweetest melody.
About healing love that makes you see me not one that hurts you not one that tears you away. A soft gentle song making your hips sway. A beat we created long, long ago, trying to move so slow One moment of anger and we let go.
You never should have loved me, and then you���d never leave me, standing outside in the rain, feeling all the hurt and pain. You never should have loved me, and then you couldn���t leave my head, heavy from, all noise, looking for ways to fill your void. You never should have loved me, you never should have trusted, I could be the one for you, the one who would be worthy and true. You never should have loved me; yu never should left me crying out in the night, waking to life���s endless fight.
How could I want this for you? You deserve better this we know is true. I���ll disappear from your life I will leave you alone. Seeking solace in the knife twisting and turning until I take comfort in my sleep. How did this happen I ask to the sky, how did I hurt you enough not to say goodbye.