A Promise For Tomorrow (The Triskelion #)

1. Chapter 1 - Madison

One Year Later - New Year’s Eve 2016

“ Gahhh !” I shriek for the umpteenth time this year.

Scorpions .

Nasty, creepy, crawly little creatures.

We’re not in New York anymore—that’s for sure. I have no idea what I was thinking when I dropped everything to come live here. An escape? A chance at hitting the reset button? Putting as much distance as I could get between me and the two men who have my head in a constant tailspin?

Ding. Ding. Ding.

Regardless, here we are. Donning a flip-flop in one hand, and a can of scorpion killer in the other. Beady black eyes fixate on me as its pinchers spread wide, poised for an attack. A venomous barbed tail protrudes from its hairy pale exoskeleton, pulsing with agitation. This pet of the devil himself is preparing to launch itself at me— or so I tell myself.

As if it can read the fear in my eyes, or perhaps is intelligent enough to take in the trembling of my hands, it launches itself over the lip of the bathtub. Scuttling . Right . Towards me .

I release a blood-curdling scream. A scream that should’ve had the neighbors in apartment 4C running over thinking something unspeakable happened. Luckily, Simon and John are used to my ‘unwarranted outbursts’. The couple gave up racing over after my first few encounters with these eight-legged monsters. Now, they just opt to send a hysterical text about me being a giant baby or playfully remind me I’m not cut out for a life in Arizona. Usually, followed by an offer to go grab a drink or join them for a glass of wine in their apartment next door.

Spray foam smacks the space next to the scorpion, making it bob its tail in my direction—not that I am anywhere near the ledge of the tub. My ass is firmly pressed against the granite countertop of the vanity. It’s just a scorpion, Maddy. A small one at that. You’ve got this, girl. Now smack the shit out of it. I brace the sandal, ready to send the creature back to the depths of Hell, where it belongs when the black sparkled shoe is tugged out of my grasp.

Slap.

“Jesus, Mad. I woke up thinking Diego was at our front door,” Lexi mumbles groggily, handing me back my shoe. She shuffles over to the vanity, retrieving two tissues before leaning over the tub and removing the mangled, very dead , scorpion.

“ Pshh . Even Diego couldn’t make me scream like that,” I scoff defensively.

She tosses the balled-up tissue into the wastebasket, then leans a hip against the granite, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Oh, really? So you’re admitting that Diego can’t make you scream?” A smirk forms on her lips as she arches a sassy brow.

“That’s not what I said…I mean not like… that . And you’re a bitch,” I joke. “Can we lay off the Diego topic, please? As if today is not bad enough already. Ya know, with it being my one-year anniversary of moving here. Of course, the Universe just loves to fuck with me and had to add a nice cherry on top of my already shitty day,” I groan, nodding to the trash bin next to the toilet .

“It was the smallest scorpion ever. John and Simon text you yet?” She laughs as footsteps approach from down the hall.

I snag my phone off the vanity and notice a new text in our group chat.

Simon

That scorpion had to be the size of my nan’s knickers for you to scream that loudly.

John

Or maybe, she had a guest over… the kind who own private jets…

Lexi’s fingers fly across her phone screen, click-clacking away before my phone chimes with a new notification.

Lexi

*gif of a girl with her index and thumb finger hovering close together, indicating tiny* It was THE smallest scorpion If it was the size of your nan’s knickers this apartment complex would have already been on fire.

Maddy

A deep chuckle radiates from the doorway. Conor is leaning against the door frame, barefoot and shirtless, sporting a pair of gray cotton sweatpants. He’s biting his lower lip, holding back another chuckle while shaking his head. His giant paws hold out his iPhone, the screen illuminated, revealing a group chat we are all in. Should have never included that asshole in our sacred neighborly group chat.

“And you want to visit Australia ?” He bends over at the hip with tears in his eyes as he starts to crack up some more. “Good luck with that, lass,” he says between snickers.

Heat rushes to my face. Conor reminds me so much of Liam. If Lexi wasn’t head over heels in love with him I could have just as easily cut him off. Okay–not easily. I love Con. He was one of my first friends in the Tri-State Syndicate. My own personal bodyguard before Liam ever was. None of this was easy. Letting go of the friends—the family I had created with all of them.

I stalk his way and jam my pointer finger into his tattooed chest. “If my best friend didn’t love you so much, you would have already been cut off.”

His amber eyes soften as he delicately wraps his hand around mine. “Aw, Mad. I was just playing around. Look, I even set the timer on the coffee pot last night. How could ya possibly cut me off when I help supply ya caffeine addiction?”

At the mention of coffee, the rich aroma of dark roast permeates our space and the melody of the machine brewing soothes my misplaced anger.

A smile forms on my face as I stare up at him. Untangling my hand from his, I pat his cheek twice.

“Such a good bodyguard you are,” I praise, the sarcasm flowing so easily off my tongue.

We both know that although he is here visiting his girlfriend, he is also keeping tabs on me. I side-step him, entering the hallway that leads to the kitchen. And coffee .

Lots and lots of coffee.

The cabinets clank in my search for a clean mug. Coming up empty, I open the dishwasher and grab my favorite one off the top rack. It’s sparkly purple and embellished with a crescent moon and stars. The words LET THAT SHIT GO are stamped proudly below the moon. I figured if I saw the words enough they would stick.

They haven’t.

Lexi and Conor’s matching mugs are also in attendance. I retrieve them, placing them on the counter next to mine before grabbing the oat milk from the fridge. Lex and Con have been eating a plant-based diet for the last few months. While I agree that oat milk tastes just as delicious in my coffee, old habits die hard. I snatch my half and half from the fridge, adding it to the coffee receiving line formed on the counter. Another text notification chimes on my phone.

I swear, if there are any more jokes in the group chat at my expense, I will lose it.

Today just isn’t the day.

Glancing over at my phone while pouring coffee into each mug, I notice it’s a text from my mom:

Mom

Call me.

A chuckle escapes my lips as Lexi and Conor make their way to the kitchen, taking a seat on the stools at the kitchen island. She couldn’t just call me? She had to text me to call her? I quickly finish up, placing their respective drinks in front of them before leaning back against the counter.

Lexi grabs hers, bringing the steaming cup to her lips. “What’s so funny?” Her bright blue eyes search mine.

I mirror her, bringing the purple mug to my lips and savoring the smell before sipping. “It’s just my Mo—” Coffee sloshes over the rim of my mug as I slam it down on the counter. “What is that?!” I point my index finger at the giant rock on her left hand.

“Oh, this?” Lexi feigns innocence, holding up the ring finger that houses her newly acquired engagement ring. My gaze remains locked on the stunning diamond ring before shifting to Conor—who is sporting the biggest shit-eating grin.

“I asked her to marry me last night,” he announces proudly while gazing at his fiancée. Waves of love and devotion pour off him. It's freakin adorable.

A squeal leaves my lips as I run over to stand between them, pulling the love birds into a hug. “I am so happy for you both. Welcome to the family, Con,” I wink at him. He returns the sentiment while taking a sip of his coffee.

Clearing his throat he says, “The two of us were going to spend New Year’s Eve with you, Simon, and John…but we…” He stumbles around with his words as Lexi jumps in to intervene.

“We were invited to celebrate our engagement in New York. Liam has plans to dedicate a special portion of the gala to us.” Lexi grabs my hand and searches my eyes. “I know you want to completely separate your life from theirs , and I respect that one hundred percent. It’s just that navigating this wedding will be challenging. I want my best friend to feel comfortable and happy…but you know Conor has an obligation to his syndicate and intense loyalty to his best friend. He asked Liam to be his Best Man, Mad. I would be honored if you would be my Maid of Honor—and possibly consider joining us in New York tonight?”

“I…of course, Lexi! Yes! I’ll be your Maid of Honor. I can handle Liam for a few interactions. We are adults, after all. But New York… tonight… I…”

“Lass can’t handle a little scorpion yet claims she can handle Liam,” Conor mumbles over the rim of his mug.

My eyes slide over to his with venom way more potent than that of the ‘little scorpion ’.

He leans back with his hands raised in surrender.

I was about to explain that it has been over a year and I am perfectly capable of keeping my feelings separate from my duties as a Maid of Honor…when my phone vibrates against the kitchen counter, rudely interrupting me.

“Hey, Mom. Sorry, I meant to call you. I just got some exciting?—”

“ Madison . I need you to come home tonight, sweetheart.” My heart drops at her tone. “Your father, so typical of him, has been hiding the severity of his heart condition from all of us. He called to let me know that the surgeon has him scheduled tonight for a triple bypass surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. The surgeon spoke with me after I demanded I talk to him. He told me to—” her voice cracks, “ prepare . This surgery has a thirty percent chance of being successful. If he doesn’t go through with it, he will most likely suffer another deadly heart attack—which is what led him to the ER in the first place.”

“Why is he in the city?” I ask, my voice quivering with anxiety.

“He was stable enough to transfer to where his surgeon does his open heart surgeries.”

I cup a trembling hand around my mouth. “Oh my God, Mom. Okay. Yeah, I’m coming home. I’ll book something right now.”

“I love you, sweetheart. I have to run and call Mikayla. Call me when you land.”