Madden (Boston Bay Vikings #17)

13. Madden

13

MADDEN

My head feels like it's going to explode, and my mouth is dry as hell. I groan and bury my head in the pillow. I have no idea how I got this way, but I feel like I have the worst hangover in the history of hangovers.

I remember going out last night. At least I think I did. I'm completely fuzzy on the facts and who I was with. Why the hell can't I remember?

A moan next to me makes me hold my breath as I lie motionless, my heart beating like a drum in my chest.

When I feel the touch of a woman's hand on my ass and hear a voice say, "Morning," in a deep, sultry voice I don't recognize, I shoot out of bed and stumble over what appears to be my clothes and shoes.

I curse and struggle to regain my balance. Seconds later, I'm praying to the porcelain gods. I rinse my mouth out and grabbing another bottle of water from the fridge, I drink it down. Feeling a little better, I rest my hands on the vanity in front of me and stare at my reflection. I see exhaustion and confusion in the gaze staring back at me.

The hotel room is unrecognizable, and the woman's voice is vaguely familiar. As I concentrate on breathing, I try to remember what happened last night. No matter how fuzzy my memory is, I know that the woman in the other room is not Tessa. I hang my head, trying desperately to remember. Why am I here and not with Tessa? I'm not an asshole with women. I never have been. My parents raised me better than that.

Falling in love with Tessa tells me something is wrong. I would never betray her with someone else.

I look down and sigh in relief that I'm wearing my boxers. I rub my chest and head for the bedroom.

My shoulders tighten as I recognize the woman. "Davina, what the fuck?!" I yell in anger. "You fucking drugged me." I approach her and she jumps out of bed, quickly wrapping a sheet around her body.

I follow.

"You have two fucking seconds to tell me what happened and where Tessa is." I pause to think. "Otherwise, you can tell the cops.” Shocked at myself, I add, "Actually, I think I'm going to call the cops anyway. I know I didn't get here on my own. There is no way in hell I would want to be anywhere near you.”

Davina is no longer cowering in the room. Her eyes narrow. Her face twists with anger. She straightens her spine, and then her steely gaze meets mine. "You came to my room willingly. How else could I have brought you here?" She grins.

Needing to get out of here before I strangle the woman, I quickly get dressed. The fact that I've probably missed practice doesn't bother me as much as it should, as more and more things come back to me.

I stride into the living room and give Davina a look that makes her step back. Just to be sure, I say, "I know you drugged me because that's the only way I'd have been in bed with you. Stay away from me. Stay away from the woman I love.” I notice my dead phone and grab it on my way out before I commit an unprecedented act and hit the woman.

To my surprise, I find myself in the same hotel as the team. I'm still not feeling well as I rush toward the room I'm sharing with Tessa, wondering what the hell happened last night.

Dodge comes out of the room. He's surprised to see me. "Where the hell have you been?"

"Tessa?"

"Inside." He frowns and follows me into the room. I'm momentarily surprised to find Bradford and Rhodes in the room with Tessa and the team doctor.

She looks up at me, her face as pale as mine. Tears are trickling down her cheeks.

Bradford frowns and says, "Doc, can you take some more blood?"

"Who?" Doc asks, glancing my way.

Rhodes puts a hand on my shoulder and pushes me down next to Tessa. She doesn't hesitate to curl up in my lap.

"What the hell is going on?" I ask, hugging Tessa.

Doc takes my blood. "I'm going to take this to the lab."

"I'm coming with you," Dodge says, leaving no room for argument.

I meet Bradford's gaze over Tessa's head. He finally answers my question, "Tessa was drugged, and by the looks of it, so were you."

I nod slowly. "What else?"

"I woke up in there on the bed. Alone. No phone. Bradford came here looking for you and found me in need of help." Tessa waves her hand around the room.

I close my eyes for a moment and say, "I woke up in the same room as Davina."

Tessa's head jerks up. I cradle her pale face. "I don't remember anything, but I don't feel like anything happened." I take a deep breath. "I promise I never fucked her."

She nods and curls into me, crying softly.

I say to my friends, "Whatever happened to us, Davina is behind it."

"Ralph got me, Madden." Tessa sniffles. "In the elevator. He covered my mouth and nose. I think he drugged me too, because I was out for a long time."

Anger overcomes me at the thought of what Tessa went through. How scared she must have been.

"Can someone please get me a coffee and lots of water? I need to clear my head so I can think straight." I rest my aching head against the back of the sofa as I gently stroke Tessa's hair. "I'm not letting this go," I say, closing my eyes. "I suppose the bitch and Ralph are connected somehow. That must have been Davina's plan, but I don't know what she expected to achieve." I pause. "Was she planning to break Tessa and me up? Her actions don't make sense. She knew I didn't want her. I told her that long before I even met Tessa."

"She's unhinged," Bradford comments. "Dodge has a cop friend here. Between the two of them, they're trying to track your movements." He pauses. "One minute you were sitting on a stool at the bar next to me, and the next you were gone." He shakes his head, annoyance clear on his face. "I thought you left with Tessa. I had no idea anything had happened until you didn't show up for practice."

"It's not your fault. Stop blaming yourself." I give my best friend a wry smile.

"I have a vague recollection of seeing Davina last night while I was waiting for Tessa. She told me she had more photos of me and Tessa in her room. I remember going up there." I wince. "I don't remember anything after that."

"Fuck!" Rhodes hisses.

My eyes snap to his and Tessa looks up at him. "What now?" I ask when he remains silent.

With a grimace, he hands over his phone. "Rosie sent me this."

I got #married #vegaswedding #iloveyou @MaddenTylerBBV #togetherforever

A slideshow of pictures of me and Davina is there for the world to see. None of which I remember.

"No way did that happen!" I mutter, shock rippling through me. "She's delusional."

Tessa takes the phone from my hand and begins to scroll through the pictures. Her hands are shaking when she's finished. "I think someone needs to find out the truth about this. The name of the chapel is in one of the pictures.” She hands Rhodes his phone back and leaves my lap. Without a word, she walks into the bedroom.

My heart breaks. "Can you give us some privacy?”

Rhodes and Bradford nod, the latter saying, "Your coffee and water are here. I'll bring them into the room. Got some fruit for you, too." My friends leave and I push myself up off the sofa and follow Tessa.

Not finding Tessa in the bedroom, I notice the shower is running. I hesitate at first, not knowing whether to give her privacy or follow her. I choose the latter and throw off my clothes.

Tessa is huddled in the shower, so I quickly pull her to me. Her tear-filled eyes find mine as I pull her into my arms. I don't say anything at first. I just hold her and enjoy the feel of her against me.

"I didn't do anything with her, Tess. I know my body."

She lifts her hands to my face and says, "I believe you, and more importantly, I trust you. If she did anything to you after she drugged you, I'd kill her."

I'm so surprised that I laugh. “Sweetheart, I want to spend a long time with you. So, stay away from her." I chuckle. "Ivan probably knows a hit man or two, though."

She gasps. "What?"

"Bad joke. Ivan's a Russian pussycat."

She bursts out laughing. "Something tells me that wasn't a joke."

"You think he's a pussycat?"

She rolls her eyes and pinches my bare ass, and we both know which part she believes. She would be right.

"Now, sweetie, behave. I'm trying to be nice and sensitive, so there's no need to raise my temperature." Becoming serious, I kiss her on the forehead. "How are you feeling?"

"Numb. You?"

"Furious." I take a deep breath. "Will you let me show you how much I love you?"

She blinks her lashes quickly as a beautiful smile lights up her face. “Always. I love you too."