Take Me in the Night

by R. L. Kenderson

  “He’s hardly innocent.” Brantley seemed to have regained his voice. “I know what you two were doing that night and why you were able to alibi him.”

  Addison rolled her eyes. “So what? Teenagers having sex is not a criminal offense. And Maddox was not guilty of the robbery.”

  “I—”

  “I don’t care,” she cut him off. “I don’t want you in my life, I don’t want your money, and I don’t need your blessing. Just stay away from me.”

  I took her hand. “Come on, Addy. Let’s go.”

  With a slight tug on my part, she came with me out the door. I took her around the corner and pulled her into my arms to let her cry.

  “Oh my God, what happened?” Olivia yelled as she made a beeline for us.

  “No, Olivia, it’s not—”

  “Why didn’t you wait for me?” She pulled out her phone and began pacing back and forth.

  “Olivia.”

  She was shaking her head back and forth. “This is what happens when clients don’t listen to me.”

  “Olivia, shut up,” Addison said from my chest.

  Olivia froze as her eyes widened.

  “Will you just listen to Maddox, please?”

  I bit the inside of my cheek to not laugh at the two women.

  Olivia looked at me with raised eyebrows.

  “They found out that Simon had done it,” I told her. “Brandon woke up this morning and told them it wasn’t me.”

  “And Simon just confessed,” Addison mumbled.

  Olivia clapped her hands. “Yes. Victory.” She pointed at me. “I’m still billing you for the hours.”

  “Okay,” I said as Addison said, “No way.”

  Olivia backed up, so she could look from the corner we’d just come around. “Do you think Simon has an attorney?”

  Addison lifted her head. “If you represent him, I’ll cut you.”

  Olivia rolled her eyes and held her hands up in surrender. “Fine, fine.”

  “You don’t want to be his lawyer anyway,” I told her. “He confessed, and the victim can identify him.”

  She smirked at me. “But I do love a challenge.”

  Yikes. I bet she did.

  She looked at Addison. “But I’ll stay away from him. Out of respect for our friendship.” She raised her phone and began typing away on it.

  Addison put her hand on her hip. “Then, what are you doing?”

  “I’m contacting the media. We need to do a press conference.”

  “No,” I said.

  She sighed and looked at me. “An interview then?”

  I hesitated.

  “I’ll waive my fee,” she said in a singsong voice.

  “Five-minute interview. Not a second more.”

  She grinned.

  “And no talking about my time in the service, or the interview is over.”

  Olivia frowned and lowered her phone. “But that’s one of the things they’ll want to talk about.”

  “I’ll answer basic questions but nothing about what I did while overseas.”

  She sighed. “Fine.”

  “And I’m not dressing up. You can take me as I am.”

  She looked horrified. “But…you’re wearing cargo pants.”

  “Fatigues,” I corrected.

  “Tomayto, tomahto. They look the same.”

  I shrugged. “Take it or leave.”

  “Fine,” she said as she turned around and put her phone to her ear.

  “Ooh, my man is going to be famous,” Addison teased.

  I frowned at her. I didn’t want to be famous. Not even a little bit.

  She tapped her chin. “Of course, then everyone’s going to see how hot you are, and you’ll be getting letters and used panties in the mail.”

  I wrinkled my nose. No, thank you.

  She gasped and grinned. “I know. I’m going to write Addison’s Man on you. We’ll put Addison on your forehead, and then the M on your left cheek, an A on your nose, and the N on the right cheek.”

  She outlined her plan on my face with her finger as she said it, and I shook her hand away.

  “I don’t think so.”

  She blew a raspberry at me. “You’re no fun.”

  I wiggled my left hand. “Why don’t you just put a ring on it?”

  Her eyes widened. “I’m going to pretend like you didn’t just say that because that is not how you’re going to propose to me.”

  “Why not?” I teased.

  “The sheriff’s department. Really? And you don’t even have a ring.”

  “Well, it is where we met up again after twelve years.”

  “No,” she said and turned her back to me and walked away.

  I laughed as I followed her out.

  Fifty-One

  Addison

  There were several groups of townspeople crowded outside as Maddox prepped with the reporter and Olivia. He’d opted to have the interview on the edge of town, next to the sign that said Brook Creek. Word had spread like wildfire about the interview, and people were coming in droves. They hadn’t even turned the camera on yet.

  Olivia broke away from the news crew. “Are Maddox’s friends still here?” She looked around at the people in the crowd.

  I smirked. “No. Why? Did you want to see Flash again?”

  She met my eyes. “No.”

  I nudged her. “Liar.”

  “Okay, yes. But only because it would look good for him to have his friends here.”

  “They wouldn’t be seen on camera anyway.”

  I saw Maddox’s family off to the side. His mother, sister, and niece all wore smiles, but Foster looked almost sad.

  “Excuse me a moment,” I said to Olivia.

  “Okay.”

  I walked over to his family. I wasn’t sure how they’d respond to me because it was my father’s assistant who’d tried to frame Maddox, but they were all smiles as I approached.

  “You did it, Addison,” Serena said.

  I blushed from the praise. “Not really. But I’m super glad that everything turned out okay for Maddox.”

  Betty took my hand. Her fingers were ice cold, a reminder that she was sick and that she and Maddox didn’t have a lot of time to spend with each other. Just another reason I was happy that everything had ended up the way it did.

  “We know how hard you fought for him,” Betty said.

  I looked behind me at Maddox. “He means a lot to me. I wasn’t going to let him go without a fight.”

  She patted my hand as I turned back around to her.

  “Hey, Foster, do you mind if I talk to you for a minute?”

  His eyes widened in surprise. “Uh…sure.”

  “I’ll bring him right back,” I said.

  Foster and I walked to the side of the crowd where we wouldn’t be overheard.

  “Maybe it’s time to exonerate your brother for something he didn’t do.” I nodded toward the camera crew. “Now seems like the perfect opportunity to tell the truth.”

  “You knew it was me?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you never told anyone?”

  “Maddox wouldn’t have wanted me to. He loves you very much, you know.”

  Foster kicked the rocks at his feet. “I know. That’s why I feel so bad.”

  “You know, the statute of limitations on the robbery ran out years ago. And, while they could go after you for the death of George Fike, the prosecution isn’t going to waste its time with that. He wasn’t stabbed; he wasn’t accidentally shot. He had a heart attack. They wouldn’t spend time or taxpayer dollars on a case they’d probably lose.”

  “I know. It’s just…I’ve worked so hard to build up my reputation and business in this town. I don’t want everyone to look at me…”

  “Like the way they look at Maddox?”

  Guilt washed over Foster’s face. “Yes. I sound like a horrible person.”

  If he was waiting for me to argue, it wasn’t going to happen.

  “Attent
ion, everyone. We’re going live in less than a minute. Please be quiet and don’t interrupt the interview,” someone on the crew said.

  I squeezed Foster’s arm. “I know that you know the right thing to do. I’ll let you think about it.”

  I walked away to let him think. I wasn’t going to pressure him. He needed to make a decision on his own.

  I pushed my way in front of everyone. I wasn’t going to miss Maddox being on live TV. He hated it, and I thought it was so cute to see my alpha male be uncomfortable about the whole thing.

  The reporter asked him questions about the attempted murder charge, and Maddox handled it well. He said he’d always known justice would prevail and that the truth would come out. She asked if he knew who had committed the crime. Apparently, the news hadn’t heard yet. And Maddox said the suspect was only an acquaintance. She moved on and asked him some questions about the Navy. There was only one time the reporter veered off from where he was comfortable, and she reworded her question after he refused to answer.

  “You’re still young. Is there a reason you retired when you did?”

  “I wanted to spend more time with my family,” Maddox said. “I hadn’t seen them for twelve years. It was time to come home. I wouldn’t have been able to get through all this without them.”

  “Is there anyone else you’d like to thank?” the reporter asked. “Is there a special someone in your life?”

  “Now that you mention it.” He crooked his finger at me.

  I raised my brow. No way. I wasn’t going over there.

  “Olivia? A little help, please?” Maddox said.

  Two small hands were suddenly at my back, pushing me toward Maddox. When I was close enough to him, he grabbed my hand and yanked me toward him. He made sure to keep a firm grip around my waist.

  I smiled, but inside, I vowed to kill him. My hair was piled on top of my head in a messy bun, I wasn’t wearing any makeup, and I was wearing yoga pants and an old flannel shirt tied at the waist. And not in a cute way where my belly button was showing. It was oversize and hung on me. We were supposed to be cleaning. Not be on the news.

  “This is my fiancée, Addison.”

  Fiancée?

  The reporter looked at my bare ring finger. “Is this a new thing?”

  “Addison and I are high school sweethearts and recently became reacquainted when I came back to town. The engagement is very new.”

  “And not quite official,” I said into the microphone, turning away a little as I felt him let go of me. “He didn’t propose to me or anything. It was something we joked about earlier today.” I felt like it was my duty to clarify things.

  Maddox cleared his throat, and I looked over at him.

  He was down on one knee. With a ring box in his hand.

  “Addison Graham, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

  I started crying, and Maddox’s smile wavered for a split second.

  I stared at the ring and almost forgot he was waiting for an answer.

  “Yes. Yes. A million times yes.”

  Maddox’s smile turned into a grin, and he stood and opened the box. Inside was a tiny princess cut solitaire diamond on a white gold band.

  “I saved all my money the summer before my senior year in high school to buy this. I know it’s small, but I want you to have it. I’ll buy you something bigger soon.”

  I started hiccuping because I was crying so hard. “Don’t you dare. It’s perfect.”

  Maddox removed the ring from the box and slipped it on my finger. It was a little tight, but right now, it was the best present I’d ever received in my entire life.

  I threw my arms around him as I noticed that everyone was clapping for us.

  Maddox kissed me and then whispered, “Now, everyone knows that you’re mine.”

  I laughed. “Yeah, they do.” I raised my brow. “And you’re mine.”

  He grinned and kissed me again.

  Fifty-Two

  Maddox

  I turned back to the camera, and Addison rested her head on my chest as the reporter asked a few more questions.

  “Addison, you are part of the project that is building a new golf course here; is that correct?”

  She lifted her head. She hadn’t been prepared to be asked any questions, but like Olivia had said, this was good publicity. “Yes, although things have slowed a bit while Brandon Taylor has been in the hospital. I think they’re hoping to have it done by next spring.”

  “And I heard there was some controversy about some of the homes in the area being torn down to make room for the new construction.”

  This lady. She had to remind us of the one bad thing in the middle of all this good. This was why I hadn’t wanted to do the interview in the first place.

  “No houses are being torn down,” Addison said. “It is a mobile home park. Each resident owns their own trailer. We just need new land for them to move the homes to.” She looked up at me, and I smiled. “We’re working on it, but you can understand that, with everything that has happened lately, we’ve been delayed.”

  “I might be able to help with that,” a feminine voice said in the crowd.

  We all looked over to see Claire stepping out from the throng of people with Ben at her side. Her eye was a greenish-yellow color now, but at least it was open, and she could use it. The opposite cheek was also yellowish-green. This was what she looked like after a week. I wanted to find Mickey Williams and kill him.

  “Maddox,” Ben yelled the minute he saw me.

  I picked up the boy as soon as he ran to my arms and smiled. “Hey, buddy. How are you?”

  He wrinkled his nose. “I had to stay with some weird people for some days, but now that Mommy’s back, I get to go home with her.”

  The reporter’s eyes lit as she realized whom Claire and Ben were. “Claire Williams?” She looked at Ben. “Young man, can you tell me—”

  I narrowed my eyes and shook my head at her. She was not traumatizing this boy again.

  She cleared her throat. “Can you tell me how you know Maddox?”

  “He’s friends with Addison, and Addison is friends with Mommy. And, now, Maddox is my friend, too. We played Army together.”

  “Ben, that was supposed to be our secret.”

  Ben cupped his mouth and giggled. “Maddox said his Wavy friends wouldn’t like him pretending to be an Army guy.”

  “Navy.”

  “Huh?”

  “My Navy friends.”

  Ben shrugged and wiggled, so I set him down.

  He ran over to his mom and grabbed her hand. “Come on, Mommy. Tell Addison your idea.”

  She wrung her hands, shying away from the camera, but she still stepped forward. “I would be willing to sell my land if you would take it.”

  “But what about—” I almost said Mickey.

  Thankfully, Claire laughed at my blunder. “It’s being taken care of. My lawyer says I will be able to do what I want with the house and land. It’s yours.”

  Addison pulled Claire into a hug. “You’re amazing.”

  Claire’s cheeks were now red.

  When Addison let her go, I stuck out my hand. “Thank you. My mother, my siblings, and I appreciate it.”

  She smiled at me. It was timid, but I’d take it. “Thank you. And please tell your friends thank you, too.”

  “I will.”

  The reporter looked at me, and I knew the question that I had said absolutely no to was coming.

  “This is great news for your community. Do you think, with this recent development along with the charges being dropped, that you’ve redeemed yourself in the eyes of your town for what happened twelve years ago?”

  I clenched my jaw and barely pried it apart to say, “As you remember, the case was dismissed.”

  “Yes, I’m well aware, but I also know small towns have very long memories.”

  She was like a pit bull.

  I was about to tell her to fuck off on television when I heard my brother’
s voice.

  “Excuse me, I have something to say about that.” He stepped next to me.

  “What are you doing?”

  “It’s time, Maddox.”

  “You don’t have to do this,” I told him, meaning it.

  “Maddox, yes, I do.” He took a deep breath and said, “It was me who robbed the gas station twelve years ago.”

  Epilogue

  Addison

  From the doorway of our bedroom, I watched my new husband yank his bow tie off and throw it across the room.

  I rushed over and picked it up off the floor. “Hey, we have to turn this in to the tux rental place tomorrow.” I set the bow tie on our dresser.

  Maddox and I’d bought a house about ten months ago. It was an older home, and Maddox had been busy with remodeling things one room at a time. He’d insisted the bedroom be first. I’d insisted the kitchen be second. That had been a rough few months.

  Maddox let his jacket slide down his arms and set it on top of the bow tie. “Sorry, Addy. I’ve had it with being dressed up.” He was struggling to unbutton the shirt. His fingers were too big.

  I pushed his hands aside. “Let me.” I began unbuttoning him myself. “So, you don’t like being dressed up, but did you have fun?”

  “Yes.” He smiled wickedly at me. “But I’m going to have more fun now.” He reached behind me and began unzipping my dress. His brows furrowed when it didn’t fall off me right away.

  I laughed and paused my unbuttoning to pull the tulle from underneath. My dress immediately fell to the floor.

  “What the hell is that?”

  “Something to make my dress look fuller without adding more fabric.”

  He looked at me like I was crazy. “This is why the bride and groom can’t see each other before the ceremony.”

  “You’re probably right.” I finished taking the buttons apart on his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. “Maddox Wolfe. Navy SEAL, sheriff, husband.” Alpha male, I added to myself.

  He smiled. “That’s me.”

  After Simon had been charged with Brandon’s attempted murder, getting thirty years in prison, Detective Porter had begun to look more into Sheriff Whitlock’s conduct. Detective Porter thought there might be enough to press charges. However, the consensus in town was that, if Sheriff Whitlock stepped down and avoided future law enforcement positions, he wouldn’t be charged.