21. Madison
Madison
I found myself standing in the middle of an empty room, my hands covered in blood—none of it mine, and there was no body in sight to claim it.
The knife I had held in my hand was now on the floor, soaked from tip to heel.
Monster. Psycho. Murderer.
“There she is.” His voice dripped with sweet, succulent honey as his footsteps grew nearer.
The smell of his burnt ash cologne incinerated my senses as it wrapped around me like a noose. “My Madison. My sweetheart.” Adrian.
Possession. Property. His.
I had forgotten how I got here and what I had supposedly done. Adrian always loved to play me like some sick game, switching me off for his fucked-up entertainment when he was bored of handling business himself.
Poison. Venomous. Toxic.
“You always know exactly what to say to get what you want, don’t you, Adrian?” I uttered, my voice dissociated—hollow as I turned to face him. “Effortlessly feeding me your fucked up version of love on a silver spoon.”
Malice. Resentment. Vexation.
He did this.
Ruined me.
Destroyed any chance I had at being a woman worth wanting.
Instead, I was a twisted heart—mangled and mutilated into something only its creator could love.
What was the point of even trying anymore? There was nothing left of me.
Insanity. Rage. Madness.
“Now, that’s not true, is it sweetheart?
I’d never serve you something on a silver spoon.
” Adrian chuckled as he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me into him as he murmured in his silky, seductive tone—the one that I could never refuse.
“If I’ve taught you anything, it’s that you will lick it off knives like the good girl I trained you to be. ”
Adrian tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his fingertips lightly grazing my cheek with the motion. I stared into his eyes as mine darkened with savage hate—seeing straight through the man who no longer held a soul.
Absolution. Retribution. Revenge.
“All that pent-up aggression and rage, eating you alive from the inside out.”
His words echoed on repeat in the deep recesses of my mind, and I wanted to fucking kill him.
It had been over a week since Chyler and I rescued Alexis, and I still didn’t feel like my usual self.
On the outside, I was fine—significantly quieter, but fine. While on the inside, I was lost in a void that Adrian had created within me yet again.
“So… what’s new with Madison this week?” Chyler hummed as she chewed a considerable chunk of her breakfast.
Chyler wanted to meet for coffee and a quick bite to eat before spending the day lazily strolling the stores downtown for new furniture.
She and Atlas had spent the last week searching for their dream home, waiting to hear back on an offer they had made only yesterday, and shopping was the easiest distraction—
“Madison.”
“Hm?” I glanced at her from across our table, my attention anywhere but here as she continued speaking. “I’m sorry… Did you say something? ”
“Mads…” Chyler sighed, dropping her half-eaten bagel onto her plate and clearing her throat. “You know the guys talk. So it shouldn’t surprise you to know that I—”
“What?” I scoffed, interrupting her while crossing my arms as I slouched further into my chair. “That you know what?”
Of course, Marcus and Dean would gossip to Atlas and Derek about me… Why wouldn’t that surprise me?
“Hey, don’t rip my head off for caring just like you do with Marcus and Dean.” Chyler leveled me with a pointed glare. “They care about you, Mads... Fuck, Marcus loves your stubborn ass, for Christ’s sake. But that being said, I know you’re still struggling with the whole… Adrian reunion .”
“ Reunion ?” I laughed with hysterical sarcasm. “Reunion, as if I had planned to see him and let him destroy my sanity all over again for shits and giggles? Reunion, like I wanted to have to choose between my sisters and Dean in a life-or-death decision? Be real, Chy… It was no fucking reunion.”
“Yes, yes, okay… Sorry… No need to get your panties in a fucking twist.” Chyler back peddled, and I immediately felt bad for snapping at her; my stupid emotions were still running loose all over the goddamn map.
“No… You’re right, I’m sorry, Chy.” I breathed, reeling myself in as I stared at my latte. “I’m still just working through everything.”
And by working through everything, I meant having endless nightmares about Adrian, losing sleep unless Dean or Marcus was there to hold me, and being unable to think straight at work .
“What can I do to help?” She asked, placing a hand over mine to garner my attention, her eyes softening as I gave her a weak smile.
“Just be my sister.”
“Now that, I can absolutely do! Come on, help me decide on an aesthetic for the new house since you’ve always had the best taste in furniture.”
I rolled my eyes with a light laugh as we both stood from the table and headed down the street towards Daylilies, a new, trendy furniture store that had just recently opened its doors to the public.
Chyler and I wandered the expansive store—everything bright and vibrant, just like her newest personality. She was still her strong and independent self, yet different—happier. Since the day I first met Chyler, I don’t think I ever saw her this effervescent.
Atlas’ love had changed something within her, and I was beyond grateful to see the spark I always dreamed she’d have—burning bright.
The store was divided into sections by color, and Chyler made a beeline for the creams and grays, similar shades to the ones inside my townhouse.
I lifted one of the price tags on an ornamental chaise lounge as I followed her down a row of sofas, and my jaw immediately dropped at the number listed in bold red print .
“Chy…” I whisper-hissed as I caught up to her side.
“Yes?” She sang in bliss as she inspected a stunning modular sectional, plopping down and sinking into the plush cushions to test it out.
“Want to tell me how you plan on affording any item in this store?” I gritted out through my teeth, glancing around to avoid contact with any of the store associates who might be lurking for an easy sale.
I hoped to god that she wasn’t considering stealing just to play house with Atlas—the fucking disaster that would be.
“Oh, I’m not buying any of this overpriced garbage. Atlas and I have enough furniture between our apartments to be more than comfortable for now.” Chyler beamed at me, sandwiching her hands between her thighs as she admired the upholstery of the couch.
“Umm…” I gave her a puzzled look. “So, why are we even here if you’re not furniture shopping?” I questioned, gesturing my hands out wide in annoyance.
“I needed an excuse to get you out of that apartment you’ve holed yourself up in these past few days,” Chyler sighed, patting the spot next to her as an indication for me to sit.
I reluctantly sat down and pressed my shoulder against hers.
“I know you haven’t been going to work… calling in sick and pretending everything is okay.
You’re not okay, Mads…” Chyler murmured as she wrapped her arm around me and held me close.
“I don’t want to talk about— ”
“And you don’t have to… Not unless you’re ready. But if you won’t open up to the two men pining over you—loving you. Then you need to at least open up to me. You can’t spend the rest of your life avoiding your feelings and emotions.”
“Like you?” I mocked, rolling my eyes at how the tables had turned between us.
“Exactly like me.” Chyler laughed, giving my bicep a gentle and loving squeeze.
“If I—the cold-hearted, off-switch monster, could find love and acceptance within Atlas, you—the hopeless romantic, could find the same with Marcus and Dean. Jesus Christ, even Alexis found love, and that woman can be a goddamn menace when she wants to.”
I laughed at her words of encouragement, feeling a tear slide down my cheek as I dropped my head to rest on her shoulder.
“You’re right, Chy… for the first time ever, you are actually right.”
“You bet your pretty tight ass I am.” She smirked, pulling away from me, standing up from the couch, and holding her hand out as I wiped my tears with the heels of my palms. “Come on. Let’s go and get a treat.
I’m craving sugar.” Chyler winked as I took her hand, and we exited the store, heading straight towards the Sugar Shack a block away.