33. Chapter 33 - Liam
I wish these two would get a fucking room. Then again, I am putting myself through this hell. I could be playing poker right now, ignoring this Godforsaken love fest. Yet, here I am. A fucking masochist, sitting on the edge of this awful bean bag chair, trying to get any scrap of information I can about their time together.
About what their relationship is really like when no one is looking.
I would say behind closed doors, but we all know what they do there. I run a hand through my hair, gripping the back of it.
Conor shoots me a sympathetic look. He was with me on the beach last night as I let it all out. Losing Madison and the finality of her decision is driving me mad. I agreed to let her go… but I can’t. She and I had it all. What the fuck happened to us?
We reach the final question. The last two were easy. Favorite drink . Favorite season. You’d have to be blind and deaf not to know Madison’s favorite drink. All she does is talk about how much she needs a coffee or how it gives her ‘ life ’. The same goes for Diego—except, he isn’t as theatrical about it.
As for seasons, Maddy is a fall girl. Pumpkin being her favorite seasonal coffee. Those damn Ugg boots she loves so much are a dead giveaway. Beyond fashion and her studded leather jacket that she adores, Madison thrives when the weather turns crisp. Her mood always changes, like the leaves, adding a little spark of color to her personality. She’s always smiling and headed out to a vineyard or farm. The princess loves a good bonfire.
Don’t even get me started on Halloween. Anything spooky and spiritual has her name written all over it. I swear she and Lexi are some sort of witches with that telepathy of theirs. They are probably reading my mind right now— get out of my head, ladies.
The last question is who made the first move. Con did first with Lexi, asking her to save a dance at the New Year’s Eve Masquerade Gala. Selena and Kil laughed at their turn, agreeing Killian made the first move by asking her out but felt pressured by their fathers to do so. Sel made the first real move, kissing him when he continued to stay a prude. Lexi’s brother and his husband went in for a kiss at the same time at a mutual friend’s party. And Lexi and Maddy’s neighbors met at a cooking class. They were assigned the same station. Simon asked John out for drinks after class.
And now that we are all caught up…I’ve been anxiously awaiting Madison and Diego’s responses. It’ll put things into perspective for me about when Madison really fell for him.
“Maddy?” Lexi asks.
“I did,” she states as my heart plummets.
What the fuck? I expected Diego to have made the moves on her first, considering she was his fucking prisoner . Did she lose feelings for me before he even laid on the charm with her?
Diego chuckles like a smug arsehole, rubbing a hand up and down Madison’s back, encouraging her to tell the story. Jealousy like no other runs rampant through my body, heating it to the core. I take a healthy chug of my beer as I lean forward to hear this, resting my arms on my thighs .
Madison’s eyes connect with mine for no more than a second before she begins. Was that a flash of sympathy?
“It was after Liam and I had broken up. Diego was consoling me while I was spiraling, questioning my worth and questioning my role in Liam and I falling apart. I knew deep down it was because I had grown feelings for Diego beyond attraction. I continued to mentally fight with myself, trying to convince myself this wasn’t a case of Stockholm Syndrome. That night, I couldn’t deny it any longer. This connection went far beyond attraction or forced proximity. He was someone who understood me almost better than I did myself. Diego, knowing Liam and I had just ended a few moments earlier, continued to respect my boundaries. I was the one who asked him to kiss me.”
“Are you fucking serious, Madison?” I stand, unable to help my reaction to this new information. I knew about her having sex with him on their wedding night, but I chalked that up to her mind being in a haze with everything going on in her life.
She was the one to kiss him first? Did she ever really love me at all?
“ Liam ,” Killian warns through his teeth. “Why don’t you go take a walk and cool off?”
“You're not the leader anymore, Kil. I am. I don’t need to listen to your commands,” I growl at my brother. Fuck him. He’s been in my shoes, he should know why I am reacting the way I am.
Diego looks like he wants to say something but remains quiet, allowing Madison to do his bidding. That’s the difference between him and me; he’ll bite his tongue where I wouldn’t. That’s your girl, mate. Speak up.
“You didn’t let me finish, Liam .” Madison sneers at me.
I’m pissed. What more can she say to break my fucking heart?
I hold my hands up in mock surrender, the neck of my beer bottle held between my thumb and index finger. “The floor is all yours, princess .”
“I asked him to kiss me. But he didn’t. He knew I would likely regret it since my emotions were all over the place,” she says calmly, looking me dead in the face.
As if her explanation makes it any better. So Diego stopped her from making a mistake. Good on him. The fact that she asked him is what is ripping my bleeding heart right out of my chest. The woman who claimed to love me asked him to kiss her right after I left that yacht, a broken man.
“So when did you finally kiss him?” I goad.
“Our wedding day.” Diego growls. “I’d say this game is over, yeah?” He looks around at everyone. They nod their head in agreement, tossing their papers into the fire and dispersing.
Madison storms off as I struggle to get to my feet. Fucking bean bag chairs. I punch it for good measure.
It guts me to see her upset. I somehow always manage to find a way to fuck it up with her.
Godfuckingdammit .
When I finally get to my feet, I storm off after her, but Diego stops me, standing in my way. “I know that was hard to hear, but you are your own worst enemy, Liam. Quit inserting yourself into situations you know will bring you further pain. It fucking sucks. She moved on from you. But you have got to stop hurting her. She takes what you say so deeply. Not only that, but you are ruining your best friend’s bachelor week.”
He’s right. He’s always fucking right. Christ. I toss my beer bottle into the fire. This needs to stop. I need to stop with the bullshit. I just hope I’ll be able to earn back Madison’s friendship. If that is all I will ever get, that’s what I need to preserve. That woman will always mean the world to me.
“I’d like to talk to her. You’re right. I need to apologize,” I concede.
“Start with Con and Lexi then come find us. If she is willing to talk with you, I’ll give you guys privacy and time to talk. If she’s not—you’re not going to get very far,” he threatens.
Noted.
I nod my head in understanding, trudging my way over to the couple.
“Sorry, brother. That was a lot to take in.” Con squeezes my shoulder.
“It’s my fault. I did it to myself. I’m sorry for causing a scene. I’ve been a shit friend and an even shittier Best Man.”
“It’s fine,” Lexi consoles, touching my arm. “Just please give Maddy some grace. This decision wasn’t easy for her either.”
“I’m hoping to get the chance to apologize to her,” I groan, hanging my head in shame.
“I’ll talk with her,” she offers.
I enter the living room of the main house in search of Madison. She was with Lexi at the beach a little while ago. Diego went off to check on something. I figured now would be the best time to offer her my apology.
The sliding glass door clicks shut behind me. The vibrating sound of the tattoo pen infiltrates my ears, instantly sending adrenaline coursing through me. Getting inked could be therapeutic right about now.
I am about to ask if I can be next in line when I discover who is in his chair.
Looks like I won’t have to continue my search any longer. Madison is there, lying prone on the leather chair. Her purple hair cascades in waves over one side of her head, dangling to the floor. Danny, my tattoo artist, is bent over her, etching something that looks iridescent onto the back of her neck. The colors are similar to that of spilled oil.
Madison’s eyes are scrunched shut. Her fingers clench the leather headrest. She hasn’t noticed me yet. Rhythmic breaths ease in and out of her as she attempts to soothe herself.
I plop down on the couch beside her and pry her hand off the leather. Gorgeous chestnut eyes stare at me, a mix of sympathy and anger wrestling there. I grip her hand more firmly, afraid she’ll pull away.
She doesn’t.
“Keep breathing, princess. It’ll help.” I offer her a small smile.
Her nostrils flare as she inhales deeply. Danny is working on some shading, which is always a bit more painful than line work.
I crane my neck over her to take a look at what she’s getting.
Wow . A scorpion.
“It’s a reminder to keep facing my fears while also owning them. Scorpions represent healing as well as… fuckkk …” she groans. “Self-discovery,” she says through gritted teeth.
My other hand lands on top of hers, my thumb creating soothing circles on her soft skin.
“It looks amazing. You are going to love it. Look, I’m sorry, Mad. Jealousy caused me to lose my cool back there. The truth is, I still want you. You know this. Doesn’t change how you feel, I know that. Saying it out loud feels good. I had to get it off my chest.”
Danny whistles like this gossip is about to get juicy. I can’t imagine the shit he hears from his clients.
My lips form a thin line. “I don’t want to lose you from my life,” I lean in and whisper.
“It’s okay, Liam. I never meant to hurt you. Not back then on Diego’s yacht, and not now. I don’t want to lose you, either. But you need to focus on dealing with your anger. The drinking needs to slow down, it doesn’t help you whatsoever. Take some time to heal,” Maddy suggests gently, giving my hand a reaffirming squeeze .
I bring her hand up to my lips and kiss it. “I promise you. This time I will.”
“All done, sweetheart,” Danny announces, leaning back in his chair. He sprays the diluted green soap onto a paper towel and cleans up the leftover ink. The iridescent black scorpion comes to life, almost looking 3D. Damn . Danny’s work is truly top-notch. He snaps a picture with his phone and lowers it down to show her before placing a Saniderm bandage over it.
“Oh my gosh. It’s perfect. Thank you so much, Danny.”
“You’re welcome, darlin’. Hit me up anytime you’d like. Tattoos on the back of the neck are painful. I’ve had grown men ask for a break. You took it like a champ,” he praises, patting her calf.
I help her sit up, monitoring her for any dizziness. On instinct, my hand drops to her waist, guiding her out of the chair. Just as she stands, Diego enters, his eyes immediately going to my hand. I remove it, valuing said hand.
“Baby, if I had known you were getting a tattoo, I would have stayed with you,” he says remorsefully.
“I needed the time alone,” she asserts.
The Bone Breaker eyes me, seeing as that is not the case. “Have you two made up?” He crosses his arms over his chest.
“We have. It’s all good now,” she insists, smiling reassuringly.
I can see why he’s good for her. Why, perhaps, he is the better man. He knows how to compartmentalize his jealousy and anger—whereas I don’t.
The front door slams open and my heart sinks into my stomach for a whole other reason. Half a dozen Feds enter the house, guns drawn.
“Diego De La Cruz. You are under arrest for the murder of Geraldo De La Cruz, the explosion of your yacht that killed fifteen others, faking your death, evading the law, and bribing a medical doctor. Everybody put your hands up where I can see them,” shouts the lead female officer. The same lass I am quite familiar with. Intimately. She goes by the name Lindsay.
Diego slowly turns his back, hands raised. It doesn’t go unnoticed that he shifts his body to stand in front of Madison. Her eyes are wide and her hands tremble as she stands glued to her spot.
Lindsay steps forward, lowering her gun and placing it back in its holster. A bulky male officer comes up behind her, aiming his weapon at Diego’s skull. Blondy moves over, stepping between The Bone Breaker and Madison. She angrily tugs his arms back, cuffing him, and begins reading him his rights.
“They are all enjoying a friend’s bachelorette weekend. Please leave them to continue the festivities,” he requests calmly.
She ignores him. “Your wife is coming with us.”
“She has nothing to do with any of this. I forced her to marry me.”
The officer spins Diego around to face us. Madison has tears dripping down her face. “Is this true?” Lindsay asks her.
“No. He’s trying to protect me. I will not say anything else without my lawyer present.” Maddy crosses her arms over her chest and raises her chin. Good girl.
“We don’t believe you are associated with his crimes. That means you are good— for now. Do not leave the country until we let you know you are in the clear.” She turns to me, winking. “Liam, it’s always a pleasure seeing you. Hope you’re staying out of trouble.”
“Sure am,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest and flexing them. Her eyes immediately greet mine with lust.
“I’m not as heartless as the Bureau makes me out to be. I’ll let you say goodbye. You have two minutes,” she states sweetly, stepping back a few feet to talk to her peers.
“We don’t have time for tears, Mariposita . I need you to trust me and I need you to be strong. You’re going to have to face all the fears running through that pretty mind of yours. Just like that scorpion tatt you got— which is sexy as hell, by the way,” he jokes. “I’m fucking hard right now.”
And he is. Sick bastard. Only The Bone Breaker would be turned on at a time like this, in a pair of cuffs with the FBI breathing down his back.
If he is feeling anxious, he hasn’t given himself away. A mask of indifference is firmly in place.
“Someone sold you out,” I growl, lowering my voice to a whisper. “I’ll find out who, don’t you worry,” I vow. And I will. This will destroy Madison. I can’t have that.
“Good. Liam, take care of my girl. I promised her father I wouldn’t bring her down with me and I won’t. If shit goes south and we don’t come up with the evidence we need to wipe my case, I need you to look out for her.” He pauses to glance over at Lindsay. “Looks like your little friend over there is coming in clutch. I suspect she is working on my release?”
“Damn, you and her father had a heart-to-heart? I’m impressed. He’s not a man to be fucked with. And of course I’ll take care of Madison. You know I will. Hopefully, you’ll be out of there soon, brother.”
“We did. He gave me his blessing. He also threatened my life if I got her involved with the Feds,” he laughs, looking at his wife. “So if I do make it out of there, I’m not so sure I’ll be around long enough to see my wife.” He gives Madison the puppy dog eyes.
“Diego, stop joking. What am I supposed to do without you?” Her voice, now full of nerves, has crept up a few octaves.
“If everything works out the way Antonio, Liam, and I have planned, I will be back, baby. Then we can live the life you deserve—God willing your father doesn’t put a hit out on me. But if I’m not… Mariposita , please listen to me. If I am not, you move the hell on. Let me rot in prison. Don’t associate yourself with me. Do you understand?”
“Diego, I can’t,” she weeps .
He lowers his head close to hers. “You can, and you will. I love you, Madison.”
“Times up, buttercup,” Lindsay sings, pulling him back by the cuffs. “Oh, and by the way, be careful who you consider family. Some of the most beautiful snakes are venomous,” she whispers.
It must click into place for all of us at the same time. Madison looks like she is ready to commit murder. Diego remains calm, but a look of understanding crosses his features.
As for me? My body trembles with how much red-hot anger is coursing through me… I am ready to tear this house up in search of a snake to behead.