11. Maddox

His Ellie

The bane of Maddox's existence. The reason he still lived and breathed. The most magnificent woman he had ever met. His Ellie. Isobel.

Maddox met her after his last bodyguarding position. The one where his objective died. Maddox already knew Oliver from years back when they were enlisted together. Except Oliver ended up leaving immediately after his four years. Oliver told Maddox, at the time, there was something more important for him to go back to. Maddox found out later that it was Isobel.

Maddox didn't blame Oliver. She affected everyone around her, and she didn't even realize it. The most oblivious prey.

But to Maddox? She was his tether to reality. She was what kept him from losing his mind and destroying everything in his path.

That's all Maddox was before he met her. Destruction.

Maddox had a few good years in the private sector after he finally left the service. Until the person he was supposed to protect died. Maddox took a bullet to the shoulder in his attempt to keep them safe. It was pointless. Their location was disclosed by another person in the company for a quick payday. It was then and there that Maddox lost the last of his faith in humanity. Where he finally let the years of suffering catch up to him.

He would never forget as the girl he was supposed to keep safe bled out in his hands. Her choking last breaths. Her cries for her mother. Her eyes as she realized that she wouldn't be making it.

She was ten years old, and he had failed her. The world had failed her. No death prior had affected him as hers had.

Maddox wasn't a good man, he had hurt more than he had saved, but he thought the private sector would do some good. That it would finally be a turning point for him.

With the failure of that, he had felt like he was floating with nothing to tie him down and keep him grounded.

He was essentially alone in the world, and he was determined to drink himself into an early grave. He was five days into a bender when she found him.

"You come here often?"

The silky voice infiltrated Maddox's stupor, but he didn't move his gaze from the glass in his hand. He assumed it wasn't directed at him.

The same smooth voice laughed softly. "Ouch, it burns. I was just trying to find someone for a good chat. I am officially, once more, disgustingly single. But it's fine, I'll respect your boundaries."

At that, Maddox finally moved to glance towards the noise, and he stiffened. Striking sage green eyes met his, they were a brilliant shade and he found himself lost for a moment before she was snapping her fingers in front of him. He was silently thanking his old military buddy for suggesting this bar.

"You good, my dude?"

He blinked rapidly at that and took in the rest of the beautiful woman attached to the eyes. She was a sexy, curvy, small thing, with a noticeable ferocity. It was in the way she held herself, as if she would fight him if need be. He almost laughed as he thought it.

He didn't believe in love at first sight. But lust? Even in his drunken trance he felt himself harden uncomfortably.

"Earth to strange man at the bar, if you're having a stroke, blink twice."

He met her gaze. "I'm good, sit with me?" He gestured to the vacant chair to his left.

Her brows rose dramatically high, but she sat elegantly beside him. Her curves stretched the shorts she wore delectably, and he forced himself to look away. He adjusted himself as discreetly as possible, before refocusing his eyes on her. It was a mistake. The blouse she wore allowed an unobstructed view of the top of her large chest. His brain was short-circuiting.

"So how about this weather?" the woman quipped softly.

He chuckled humorlessly. "Isn't it storming outside?"

"It is," she confirmed. "So, you want to talk about why you are clearly drowning your sorrows? Or how about a game instead? I am something of a mind reader, I'll have you know."

"Is that right?" He decided to play along with the eclectic girl. He was drawn to her energy. He needed it. Maddox flagged the bartender. "Her drinks on me, and can you grab me a coffee?"

"Rumple shaken," the woman advised the bartender when he turned to her expectantly.

Maddox snorted. "You are over 21, aren't you?"

"I'll have you know I quite like my alcoholic mouthwash. Get drunk while keeping your breath minty fresh, but Scotch is always a good second."

Maddox smiled at her. "So, before we start your mind-reading. How about a name?"

The bartender returned with their drinks, fast as usual. Ellie threw the shot back in one impressive gulp and Maddox averted his eyes from the column of her throat as she swallowed, the way her eyes glassed over, how the movement jostled her chest. She was enthralling. He wanted his hand around her throat, his lips on her neck. The thought startled him. Maddox, instead, chugged down the lukewarm black coffee, ignoring the flavor. He didn't want anything about this woman to be forgotten or to make a fool of himself. He couldn't remember the last time he spoke to a woman as interesting as her. Or to anyone at all for that matter. He needed the jolt to clear his mind.

"Isobel. But most everyone calls me Izzy."

He didn't plan on being "most everyone." "I'm Maddox, can I call you Ellie?" He didn't tell her about it also being his first pet's name. He doubted she would appreciate the namesake.

She let out a lyrical laugh. "Of course, Mad dog."

Maddox grumbled at her, and she placed a soft hand on his, stroking it.

"I kid, I kid. Maddox is fitting."

Maddox tried to ignore her touch, but as she went to pull her hand away, he reached out and grabbed it. "I'm sorry," he stated. Startled at his own actions he dropped her hand. "I haven't been touched in awhile," he divulged sheepishly.

Ellie gave him a soft smile, it wasn't pity in her eyes, but something else. She placed her small, smooth hand back on his. "I understand, sometimes when I'm touch-starved, I make my best friend hold me, just to feel something."

A flash of unwarranted jealousy radiated through Maddox, startling him. Maddox couldn't help but fall into the woman's touch. She was radiating kindness and empathy. He felt cared about more by this basic stranger than anyone else he had known for years.

Most of the world turned their back on damaged men. And Maddox was most assuredly damaged.

"Hm, my mind reading might have to wait. As it's a two-handed sort of thing, but how about twenty questions?"

Maddox raised a brow; the coffee was doing its job and he felt himself become more coherent. He gave her another appraising look, doing his best to ignore her curves. "You are over 21, aren't you?" He was mostly joking.

"Hardee har har." She flagged the bartender down and ordered another drink. "I would offer you one, but I think the coffee was a good choice. Join me at the booth?" She pointed behind them, and Maddox found he wanted nothing more than to have her pushed against him in it.

"Yes." He waited until she had her new drink in hand before gently tugging her to the booth. He sat down first. Sliding into the corner, he let her go, so she could make her own seating decision. She set her drink down on the table before joining him. He could barely contain his grunt of appreciation when she pushed into the seat until her body was snug to his.

"This okay, big guy?" She looked up at him through her long lashes.

He didn't think it through, he grabbed her face and pushed his lips to hers. She tasted sweet and floral. Minty. He groaned, deepening the kiss. She allowed him to take all that he could, and he was lost to her soft body. Finally, he gained the self-control to separate himself from her. "That okay?"

He noted her lips were swollen, and he felt incredibly happy at having left his mark.

"I knew there was something burning in that body. You feeling any better?"

He found that he was and nodded slowly.

She gave him a smile. "Well not that I didn't love that, but I don't want to treat you like a rebound when you give main character energy. My last boyfriend? Pretty sure he was an NPC."

Maddox was confused. "NPC?"

"Non-playable character. You know those people that ask you the same three questions every time you see them? Where it almost seems like they're lost to the same daily loop?" she explained in her soft soothing voice.

That actually did make sense, and Maddox grunted in agreement.

"Well, you seem like someone that wouldn't be boring. You would make everyday different and unique."

If by that she was alluding to his growing obsession with her, he couldn't disagree. "Thank you?" he questioned.

"You're welcome. Now first things first. Why were you watching your drink like it was the last thing you were going to do?"

Maddox wasn't sure what it was about her, but the next thing he knew, he began telling her his entire life story. He started with his stint in foster care, continued with his time in the military, and ended with his last job. He spoke more words to her than he probably had in the last year, but he just couldn't stop, and they continued to spill out.

Every time he shared something traumatic or especially awful, she would lean into him more or squeeze his hand. He never felt any shame or pity; all he felt was a warm, comforting reassurance.

Finally, he ended his story with being shot, gesturing to where the bullet pierced him.

For the first time, he had managed to shock her, and she let out an audible gasp. Ellie moved her hand up, trying to find the scar.

"Here." He placed her fingers on his shirt over where he had been shot. She slinked under the fabric, finding the scar. Just a few inches below his heart.

"Ouch. That is not on my bucket list." While she was attempting to joke, her voice pitched with emotion in the middle.

Her soft fingers continued their stroking up and down under his shirt and he hissed, "Ellie." It was a warning. His self-control was unraveling in every passing moment.

She withdrew her hand, and he missed the comfort immediately. Instead, he pulled her even tighter to his side.

"The military, huh?" she finally murmured. "My best friend was in the military. I wonder if you met him."

Him? Maddox's anger peaked.

"Oliver, in fact. This is our go-to bar." She glanced down at her phone that had been buzzing for quite some time. "Looks like he tracked my location, again. The overprotective man is on his way. I apologize in advance for his uncouth behavior."

Maddox was practically seething, he barely heard her. The man tracked her? The man held her when she was touch-starved? Who was this man?

"Welp, here we go," Ellie mumbled dramatically.

"Isobel Rachelle Kane." The voice was familiar, and Maddox tried to identify the man covered in shadows that just walked into the bar.

"Oliver Jullian McKell," Ellie responded.

Maddox stiffened. It couldn't be. This could not be that Isobel.

The man stepped out of the shadows and met Maddox's eyes. "Maddox, what are you doing here?"

Maddox didn't expect for her best friend to also be the man that suggested this bar to him.

Fuck.

Maddox hadn't left Ellie's side since that day. He and Oliver came to an understanding. An agreement. Maddox wouldn't take her from Oliver, and Oliver would allow Maddox in her orbit. It didn't take long for Ellie to agree to him as her driver, and while that was his official title… Unofficially? He watched over her and kept her safe, as best he could. He still blamed himself for Harry. He took the night off to visit the grave of the girl he couldn't save.

When he came back the next day, it was already too late, and he knew better than to tell Ellie what to do. Harry had attached to her like the parasite he was.

Maddox wanted to force Ellie to see reason, but he would never take her choice away. He would never force anything on Ellie that she wasn't ready for. That she couldn't handle.

Eventually Maddox furthered his agreement with Oliver. Maddox knew Oliver was as obsessed with the girl as he was. Maddox understood he would never be able to be with her and keep her happy without Oliver.

And so, their plan was born. Ready Ellie to take them both. To have them both.

Together.