12. Maddox

Chapter 12

Maddox

His Ellie

T his had been a rollercoaster of a night for Maddox. He couldn’t decide which emotion was outweighing the rest but currently it seemed to be shock .

Oliver had given him bits and pieces of this town. Of the depravity, the lawlessness. How the former mayor, Oliver’s dad, was corrupt and it sent the town itself into a downward spiral.

He knew that the Castillos were washers, cleaning cash to then push out across state lines. He knew the Yorks were importers and exporters of different substances. What he didn’t know was much about who the Landons were. Or their relations with Ellie.

She never spoke about her step-father, or her mother for that matter, and Maddox knew better than to push her on those topics.

“Her step-father? You left her with a known criminal. And what? Assigned a watch dog? How do the Landons play into this?” Maddox wasn’t enthused with this new information.

Oliver didn’t answer him, it was Emilio that chimed in. “Sex, they sell sex. Strip clubs owned by the Landons popped up, but they were a mask for a much darker agenda. It wasn’t long before I had to step in. Isa, you haven’t seen your step-father much, have you? ”

Ellie was not back in Maddox’s arms where she belonged. “I’m tired. This is too much. I need to get away from it. Take a nap.”

“I understand. The bedroom from before is made up for you.” Maddox had previously noticed that Emilio’s voice was much softer when he spoke to Ellie than anyone else and that was solidified now. It wasn’t hard to tell that Emilio was a goner, that he was wrapped up in the web that was Ellie.

Maddox didn’t wait for Oliver, he readjusted his grip and tugged Ellie with him up off the couch. This time when he lifted her, it was bridal style. “You may not have married me, but I am going to be the one to carry you over the threshold of the bedroom.”

“Maddox,” Ellie grumbled, but there was no heat in her voice.

She was noticeably exhausted, dark shadows materializing under her bright eyes. A crease had formed between her eyebrows earlier this evening and it hadn’t smoothed. Maddox reached a free hand up to it.

“It’s okay. Everything is going to be okay. No matter what happens, you have us. All of us. Now lead the way Ellie.”

Ellie rolled on the bed to face him. They were in a room lined in bright colors, but with a blackout curtain in place. They had just made it into the bed after showering and changing into fresh clothes. Ellie was donning a sleep dress courtesy of Emilio, and Maddox was borrowing sweats. Now that they were finally stationary, he felt the weight of events settle on him.

“I love you, Ellie. I should have said it before everything happened, but it’s the truth. And I’m not going anywhere. I hope you know that you’re stuck with me. I promise to be the sane one as the other two make irrational decisions.” The words almost felt misplaced, but he needed to speak his truth. It was his main regret when she went missing, that he hadn’t told her.

And now she was married to a different man.

The thought sent vines of pain to wrap around his heart.

He didn’t realize she was crying until that very moment. He reached out, tugging her against his chest.

“I love you, too,” she hiccupped out.

The words solidified every moment that led up to this point. Oliver had been right, if all of this had come to light too soon, he doubted Ellie would still be here, in his arms. She would have run for the hills.

“Maddox, I can’t fault you all. I understand why he kept so many secrets from me. I always knew certain things were off. I knew my step-father wasn’t a good man. I knew there was more to this town than met the eye. But there’s something I never told either of you.” She was practically hyperventilating at this point and it took everything for Maddox to just allow her to vent. “My teacher, Sebastian York, he… he…”

Maddox heard the door to the bedroom open and close, but he was too far gone to care. “He what?” The room had turned a reddish shade as his anger filled him. York had hurt her? His Ellie? How? When? His mind was going a mile a minute, and he almost didn’t hear her. And why in the ever-loving fuck was a York her teacher?

“He tried to rape her,” Emilio’s voice supplied as he sat on the foot of the bed. “On the roof of the school over a decade ago. That’s how she and I became closer. I was already watching her for Oliver’s sake, to keep an eye on her step-father, but then I saw she was becoming entangled with a York. I know that one stayed off the radar, but even still, I didn’t trust him.”

“That’s why you avoid rooftops.” Oliver was leaning against the door, his arms folded across his chest .

“Yes,” Ellie sniffled out. “And I need you to know, that was when I fell in love with Emilio, when I promised to marry him after 10 years. He was there for me; he kept me safe.”

Maddox had a million things he wanted to argue on that, but he kept silent.

“ Safe ,” Oliver snorted sardonically. “Sure.”

Oliver may have bonded with Emilio over Camila’s death but they never became friends. If anything, they were enemies with a mutual tragedy that brought them together to retaliate, to commit murder.

After all, it was Oliver’s dad that killed Camila.

“Sebastian’s the one who took her from you two. But don’t worry I made sure he was dead this time; he won’t be rising from the grave again,” Emilio confirmed, ignoring Oliver entirely.

Maddox breathed in and out a few more times, his mind spiraling in overdrive, so much had happened in such a short time. He readjusted his hold on Ellie, pulling her even closer into him.

She was his sole purpose for living, the reason he looked forward to every day. Before, he was an empty shell that had watched a child die in his arms. Lost in a world that didn’t react kindly to broken men.

But now? He was happier than he had ever remembered being. Ellie had breathed life into every moment since he met her.

He would accept every piece that came with her. Even if it meant another man. Even if it meant two.

His mind was made up, he would be by Ellie’s side no matter what.