Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
F elix crossed his arms, his smile widening as he waited for her at the Armstrong’s front door. Madison was tired and frustrated after an unproductive trip to North Carolina and was out of patience for Felix’s bullshit.
“So,” he said, looking smug. “You think you’re going to bully me by having your attack dog embarrass my father-in-law? You’re just as stupid as your sister. Look where that got her.”
Madison’s stomach sank to her feet right before her temper flashed to life. After being stonewalled and borderline threatened by several firefighters over the last twenty-four hours, she was ready to throw down. And Felix deserved it more than anyone else she knew.
“You think you’re being bullied?” she hissed. “You are a grown man who has spent his entire life abusing and taking advantage of people physically weaker. You are a parasite. Now, go get my son before I take your fucking head off.”
Felix's laugh had a nasty edge, and he took a step toward her. “You won’t do shit. You know why? Because you can’t touch me, and neither can your gangster boyfriend.”
“Husband.”
“Huh.”
“My gangster husband .” Madison knew she needed to stop, take a breath, and calm down, but she’d officially reached the end of her rope.
Felix’s eyes darkened. “I hate having to tell Jax what a deceitful, greedy bitch his mother was and what a ball-busting cunt you are, but I think it’s important that he knows how women are, so he’s prepared for life.”
All of her air whooshed out of her. Felix was lying. He had to be. Even he wouldn’t be that despicable.
“You always tried to act like you were so much better than Opal,” he sneered. “Turns out you’re just the same. Spreading your legs to get what you want.”
“Fuck you.” Madison managed to get out, but she felt sick.
“The only reason you married that dude was you thought he could protect you when you decide to blackmail my father-in-law like your dumb bitch of a sister. But you are too stupid to know who the actual players in the game are.”
What? Madison tried to make sense of his words.
“It didn’t work out so well for her, did it?” His gaze sharpened, eyes glinting with twisted glee. “Maybe you should learn from your sister’s mistake.”
Madison’s pulse pounded in her ears, a cold shiver skating down her spine. Her mind raced.
What is he saying?
He had something to do with Opal’s death?
Blackmail?
She wouldn’t put it past him to say these things just to torment her. Felix had chosen his tactic well. Madison had always found it hard to accept that her sister’s death was an overdose.
She took a step closer, her hands shaking with a mix of fear and rage. “What do you mean?” Her voice was low. “Did you kill Opal? What did you do, asshole?”
Felix scoffed, unmoved by her anger. “Opal got what she deserved. If she hadn’t gotten greedy and used—” His mouth snapped shut. A flash of irritation crossed his face, his gaze darting away for just a moment.
He tried to hide it, but it was obvious he had said more than he’d intended.
Now she needed to figure out what it meant.
“Felix?” Mary’s voice came from somewhere in the house, and Felix’s jaw tightened.
“Tell me,” Madison growled, knowing her time was limited.
“There you are.”
Madison could hear the clicking of Mary’s heels growing louder and Jax babbling.
“Fuck off,” Felix hissed.
“I’m going to find out what you did. And I’ll make sure you never see Jax ever again,” Madison’s voice shook with barely contained fury.
“I’m getting the kid, and there’s nothing you or your thug can do to stop it.”
“Over my dead body.”
Felix laughed. “Exactly.” His hand lashed out, his fingers digging into her skin. “I’d rather see you dead like your sister than let you win.”
Madison’s pulse raced, but she forced herself to meet his gaze, her voice barely a whisper. “Let. Go.”
He smirked, his grip tightening momentarily before he released her, and stepped back as Mary reached them with Jax on her hip.
Mary said something, but Madison didn’t hear her. Taking Jax and his bag, she left without uttering another sound. She was grateful when Jax fell asleep in his seat soon after she pulled on the highway.
What had Felix meant? What exactly had Opal done?
Opal was excited about something in the days before she died. It was the primary reason Madison had a hard time accepting that her sister had started using again.
Am I being na?ve? Hearing what I want to hear?
Madison’s hand lifted to rub where her arm was sore from Felix’s grip.
Damn it, Opal. What did you do?