Chapter 45
Chapter Forty-Five
T he house was too quiet. Jax had been asleep for hours, but Madison couldn’t relax. She paced the length of the living room until her feet ached then sat on the staircase, eyes trained on the dark driveway through the window.
Where is he?
The screen on her phone was dark despite her repeated glances, and she didn’t want to text Alex in case she interrupted something. She’d heard his voice earlier. She knew something was wrong, and the fact that he wouldn’t… or couldn’t tell her, made her sick with anxiety.
What will I do if he doesn’t come home? If something happens to him ?
Her pulse thrummed in her ears, each passing minute stretching unbearably longer. Madison stood, paced the length of the foyer several more times, and then sat down again, resting her elbows on her knees. Her fingers tapped nervously against the stone riser.
The distant sound of a car made her head snap up. Lights flashed at the end of the driveway, growing brighter with each passing second. Relief surged through her—until she saw Liev climb out of the driver’s side and move to the passenger door.
Her heart stopped.
Liev opened the door and helped Alex out, one arm wrapped around his waist, steadying him. Under the house lights, she saw a dark stain across Alex’s ribs, soaking one side of his white shirt.
Madison threw open the front door and practically fell down the stairs in her hurry. “Alex!”
“I’m okay,” he said through gritted teeth, but his pale face and the blood all over him told a different story.
“You’re not okay!” She stared at him trying to gauge the damage. “You’re bleeding. Why aren’t you at the hospital?”
“It’s just a scratch.” His voice was thin, and she lifted her gaze to Liev.
Liev gave her a grim look. “Let’s get him inside.”
Madison nodded, holding the door open as they maneuvered Alex into the house. Sagging on the couch, he slumped back with a low groan.
His eyes fluttered closed for a second before snapping back open.
“Liev, call a doctor,” Madison ordered, panic threading her voice.
“No doctor,” Alex murmured hoarsely. “We can’t risk it.”
Her eyes flashed. “We can’t risk you bleeding out on the furniture, either.”
Liev cleared his throat. “He’s right. We can’t involve anyone we don’t trust. I’ve stitched him up worse than this before. I’m going to get some supplies.”
Madison knelt beside Alex. “This isn’t a scratch.”
Alex’s hand closed over hers, his touch firm despite the pain in his eyes. “Liev’s actually pretty good at this.”
Madison glanced at the door, then back to Alex. “You’re lucky,” she muttered. “But you’re not invincible, Alex.”
“Noted,” he rumbled, his eyes never leaving hers.
Liev returned with a bottle of vodka and handed it to Alex without a word. Alex unscrewed the cap with his teeth and took a long pull, wincing as Liev cut the remains of his shirt off him.
Madison gasped at the ugly wound in his side, the blood obscuring some of the black swirls of his tattooed torso.
“Ready?” Liev asked, after he’d cleaned the wound. He held up a needle and thread. Liev’s carefree tone and smile infuriated her, and when Liev bent over Alex for the first stitch she thought she was going to puke.
Alex leaned back against the couch and took another long drink from the bottle. “Go easy on me. I’m delicate.”
Liev snorted. “It’s a clean through and through. Didn’t nick anything important. You’re barely even bleeding anymore, princes s .”
“Barely?” Alex chuckled, then hissed when the needle punctured his skin.
“Hold still,” Liev muttered, focusing on his task. He worked quickly, stitching the wound with steady hands while Madison tried not to watch. Alex didn’t make a sound, but a sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead.
“You’re done,” Liev said a few minutes later, tying off the last stitch and sitting back. “Stop being such a baby.”
Alex tipped the bottle up again.
“I’m going to go get something to clean you up,” Madison said, hurrying to the closest bathroom for fresh towels. Rushing to the kitchen, she filled a bowl with warm water, trying to ignore the rolling of her stomach and shaking hands.
She didn’t normally have a problem with blood, but seeing Alex’s blood, knowing he…
Pasting a smile on her face, she set down her supplies, interrupting a quiet conversation between the men.
“Go take a shower,” she instructed Liev. “You’re covered in almost as much blood as he is. Take any guest room you want. I’ll stay with Alex.”
Liev stood, stretching his arms over his head. “Gladly.”
He turned to leave, but Madison stopped him, reaching up to kiss his cheek. “Thank you for bringing him back to us.”
Alex’s eyes narrowed. “Hey,” he said, only half joking. “Get away from my wife.”
Liev smirked, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Next time, I’ll try not to bring him back leaking so much.”
Madison sat gingerly on the sofa next to Alex, careful not to jostle him. She could feel his eyes on her as she dipped the cloth and wrung out the water before she gently wiped the blood from his ribs, careful not to get the fresh stitches wet.
They were silent as she cleaned him, and Alex rested his head back against the sofa, closing his eyes. Tears clogged her throat at the thought of what might have happened.
If he’d moved one way instead of the other. Been a half-second slower.
She pressed her palm to his chest, grateful for the steady rise and fall. He’s alive, she reminded herself.
Taping a thick gauze pad over the stitches on his ribs, she sat back. Alex opened his glassy eyes slowly, but whether it was from the pain or the alcohol, she didn’t know.
Alex watched her through half-lidded eyes. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I’m your wife,” she winked, hoping it would mask the feelings swirling inside of her. “This feels like a wifely duty.”
“You didn’t sign up for this part.”
“And you didn’t sign up for half the shit that’s been thrown at you over the last couple of months. Relax, Alex. Just let me help you,” she whispered, mimicking the words he’d given to her when she was sick.
He was quiet for a few moments, something dark crossing his face, and he turned the bottle up again. “I’m not like them… Current appearances to the contrary.” His words were slightly slurred.
“I know.” Madison brushed back the dark hair that had fallen over his forehead.
Lines furrowed between his brows. “I’m not… like my brother. It’s been so long since I was a part of… It’s not the life I want for you.”
“I know,” she repeated, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. She wanted to soothe him. Reassure him. “But it’s the life we have.”
His lids drooped, his head bobbing slightly. “I’d rather die than hurt you. Than have you think?—”
“Whatever you did, Charming. Whatever you had to do… It’s okay.” She stroked her hand over his hair, practically petting him, fulfilling her almost desperate need to comfort him.
“Saved Mikhail’s life tonight,” he slurred, his eyes drifting closed before popping open again. “Probably should have let him die. That would have put an end to it.”
“Oh, Alex.” Her heart broke for him. “You try so hard to pretend you’re the villain.”
“I am, Angel. I didn’t do it for him. I did it because I’m selfish—now he owes me.” Alex licked his lips. “Puts him in my debt. Made him promise that no matter what happens, you and our children will have the protection of the bratva.”
“How is that selfish?” She stroked a thumb across the lines in his forehead.
“Because I need you. Can’t live without you.”
Her heart stuttered. “You don’t have to. And no matter how hard you try to convince me, I know you aren’t a bad man.”
“Don’t make me out to be something I’m not,” he rasped. “I’m not a good man. The blood isn’t just on my hands—It’s bone deep.”
Madison’s heart clenched. “Never mine.”
“You don’t know… the things I’ve done.” A shudder rolled through him, and he tried to pull away, but she captured his face between her hands, holding him still.
“I am under no illusion about who you are, Alexei Kovalyov,” she said, her voice steady, fingers tightening slightly against his jaw.
His eyes flickered with something unfamiliar before he masked it.
“You don’t need to hide from me,” she continued, gaze locked on his. “Never. I see the light in you alongside the darkness.”
Her lips brushed against his, a whisper of a kiss, soft and deliberate. “And I love both.”
Alex’s whole body tensed, his breath catching as he tried to pull back, but Madison refused to let him go.
She squeezed tighter, just enough to keep him close. “Because I know that darkness means there is nothing you wouldn’t do for your family.” She kissed him again, more firmly this time. “For us.”
Alex stared at her, his emotions clearly warring in his eyes.
“How could I not love you?” she whispered, letting everything she’d fought so hard to bury rise to the surface. She let him see it all—her fear, her loyalty, her love. “I am so thankful for whatever powers brought you into my life. My own personal Dark Prince Charming.”
His lips parted, something raw and desperate flashing over his face. “With you… with our son,” Alex choked out raggedly. “Sometimes I feel like there’s a chance I’m not destined for hell. That my soul isn’t completely lost?—”
“You aren’t lost Alex. I’ve got you.”
He shook his head. “Eventually you’ll?—”
Madison cut him off with another kiss, harder this time, pouring every ounce of emotion she had into it.
“Forever,” she breathed against his lips.