Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Maddie
I stare at the Wild Steps confirmation email on my phone for the third time today. When I didn’t hear anything straight away, I figured Ace had vetoed the idea with Archer, and it wasn’t going ahead.
I filled out the form with Riley over FaceTime, and we went through all the questions, some of which were: What are your hard limits? What’s your safe word? How rough are you comfortable having sex? Please give examples.
But now that I’m in the back of the SUV, heading to Kade’s band practice, the reality of what I’ve signed up for is sinking in.
Strangers. In masks. Chasing me through the woods.
The thought should scare me after everything I have been through, yet it doesn’t. It sounds freeing.
My thighs clench involuntarily at the thought.
“You good back there?” Rhodes asks from the driver’s seat, catching my eye in the rearview mirror.
“Fine.” I lock my phone and shove it back in my bag. “Just checking my messages.”
Ace shifts in the passenger seat but doesn’t turn around. He’s being unusually quiet, even for him. I wonder if he’s still pissed about the club; he hates it when I get drunk.
The warehouse studio comes into view. Kade’s band has been practicing here for years, even though he now has access to the best studio spaces in town. This is one of the few places where I can exist without feeling like I’m under a microscope.
Rhodes parks and immediately scans the area before he gets out. Ace is already opening my door, his hand extended, and today I take it because arguing about every little thing is exhausting.
“Three hours,” Ace says. “Vander’s already inside.”
“I know the drill.” I sling my camera bag over my shoulder.
Inside, the familiar sound of instruments being tuned fills the air. Kade’s hunched over his guitar, and the rest of the band members are scattered around the space. My eyes immediately find Finn at the drums, and he lights up when he sees me.
“Mads!” He drops his sticks and bounds over, all lanky limbs and infectious energy. “Thank fuck, I was dying of boredom.”
He throws an arm over my shoulders and pulls me against his side, pressing a kiss to my temple. Finn and I have been close since he joined the band a few years ago.
“Missed you at poker night last week,” Finn says as he guides me toward the worn couch against the wall. “Kade cleaned everyone out. I’m convinced he’s counting cards.”
“Kade can barely count to ten,” I retort with a laugh, settling onto the couch.
Finn flops down beside me, keeping his arm draped over my shoulders.
I glance up and find Ace standing near the door, his gray eyes locked on where Finn’s arm rests across my shoulders. His jaw is tight, his stance rigid, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe.
He looks jealous.
Ace is my bodyguard. He’s not supposed to care who touches me, just as long as they’re not a threat. Yet the way he’s looking at Finn right now suggests otherwise.
“Earth to Maddie,” Finn waves a hand in front of my face. “Are you okay? You zoned out there for a sec.”
“Yeah, sorry.” I tear my gaze away from Ace. “What were you saying?”
“I was asking if you’re free on Friday. There’s this gallery opening, and I got tickets.”
“Send me the details. I’ll see if my keepers will allow me out.” I say it loud enough for Ace to hear, and I swear I see his jaw clench tighter.
Kade runs through a new song, and I pull out my camera, grateful for the distraction.
That is until Finn leans in close. “So, who’s the new guy with the dimples?”
“Rhodes. He’s Dad’s latest attempt to smother me with security.”
“Is he single?”
I elbow him in the ribs. “Seriously?”
“What? I can appreciate a good-looking man, and those dimples are doing things to me.” Finn grins. “Besides, you should see the way he’s been watching you. It’s giving some strong ‘I want to bend you over something’ vibes.”
“Finn!”
“I’m just saying”—he shrugs—“all three of them have an obsessive vibe going on.”
“At least it gives me something for my spank bank,” I reply with a smirk, and Finn pulls me in closer with a snicker.
Kade barks at us to shut up and listen, which only makes us laugh more, and I manage to snap a picture of my brother’s face all distorted with anger—a perfect shot for my socials.
Practice runs long, as it always does, and by the time Kade finally calls it, my stomach is growling and I’m ready to get home. Finn walks me to the door, his arm slung around my waist now, and I feel Ace’s eyes on us the entire way.
“Text me about Friday,” Finn says, pulling me into a proper hug. “Love you, Mads.”
“Love you, too, you menace.”
The drive back to my apartment is quiet. Rhodes tries to make small talk, but I’m distracted, my mind jumping to what I know is ahead.
Tonight, 11 p.m., be ready.
Once we pull into the building, Vander does his usual sweep of the hallway while Rhodes and Ace flank me to my door. I unlock it, and then they move through my apartment, checking every room, every window, and every entry point.
“Clear,” Vander calls out, heading for the door.
“Clear,” Ace shouts and follows, but Rhodes lingers in my doorway. Those dimples make an appearance as he leans against the frame.
“Any other plans tonight?” he asks.
“Just me and Netflix. Maybe some wine.”
“Hmm.” His eyes drop to my lips, then back up. “You know, if you go through with that Wild Steps thing . . .”
“What about it?” I ask defensively.
“I’ll be watching,” he says. “To make sure you’re safe.”
The image of Rhodes watching while masked strangers chase me, catch me, and then do things to me that should be illegal comes to life in my mind.
“Good to know,” I manage to say.
His smile widens. “Sleep well, Maddie.”
Then he’s gone, the door clicking shut behind him.
I check my phone, and it’s 8:47 p.m. Only two hours and thirteen minutes to kill.
I shower and shave everything, then try on three different outfits before settling on black leggings and a sports bra under an oversized hoodie.
At 10:55 p.m., I get a text.
Unknown Number
Leave your apartment. Head to the park two blocks north. Come alone. Don’t make us come get you.
I grab my keys and phone, shoving them in my hoodie pocket.
When I peek out, the hallway is empty. It means Ace, Rhodes, and Vander are either in their adjacent apartment or doing a perimeter check.
I have no doubt one of them will see me leaving and follow.
I only hope they keep this to themselves and don’t tell my father.
I slip out the side exit of my building and hurry to the park.
It’s close, and I know the route by heart.
As the entrance comes into view, the trees create shadows where anything could be hiding.
I hesitate as the rational part of my brain screams at me to turn back, but the other side tells me you only live once.
I have been stuck living in fear for almost a year.
Then I see them moving out of the shadows, engulfed in black clothing with their hoods pulled up. Each of their glow masks has orange X’s for eyes and a red mouth.
My instincts scream at me to move, but I’m frozen.
The night the stalker had me plays on repeat.
But this isn’t the stalker, I remind myself.
Even if it was, Vander and Ace have prepared me well. We train every other day, and I am confident I could kick someone’s ass if they ever tried to hurt me again.
The middle figure takes a step forward, and that breaks the spell.
I run.
I don’t know where, but I keep going.
Behind me, I hear multiple sets of footsteps getting closer.
I veer off the path and into the trees. A branch catches my hoodie, but I rip it free and keep moving. I dodge left, my heart hammering in my chest. This is dangerous and extremely stupid, but I’m sick of living my life in fear.
Riley assured me she would talk to Archer, and he would make sure whoever was chosen could protect me if the need arose. We may have met because she runs my brother’s and the band’s social media accounts, but she has also become one of my best friends.
A hand catches my hoodie. I wrench away, but it costs me my balance. I stumble, and before I can recover, arms wrap around me from behind.
“Got you,” a distorted voice sounds in my ear, and I’m lifted off my feet.
My elbow connects with something solid, and I hear a grunt. The arms loosen slightly, and I twist, managing to get one foot on the ground.
Then I realize the other two are there, boxing me in. I’m outnumbered.
“No,” I gasp, still struggling, my body responding to being caught. “Let me go.”
“That’s not how this works,” another distorted voice says, this one coming from my right.
The one behind me adjusts his grip, pinning my arms to my sides. I kick backward, connecting with his shin, and he curses.
“Feisty,” the third says. “Just the way I like it.”
My body trembles with a mixture of fear and arousal. Even though I know these men are not my stalker, it’s still hard to shake off the feeling of being watched.
“Are you done fighting, or do we need to tire you out first?”
I should say my safe word. Stop this before it goes any further. But apparently I love role play, and this whole thing is making me feel powerful, like I am in control of what happens.
“Fuck you,” I spit out instead.
All three of them still. Then, in unison, they laugh.
“We’re going to have fun with you.”
Before I can run, I find I’m suddenly weightless.
A distorted laugh echoes as I’m thrown over someone’s shoulder like I weigh nothing. My stomach smacks against hard muscles, and I grunt, the breath knocked from me.
“Got you now, little brat,” the voice rumbles.
The world turns upside down as he walks, his arm locked around the back of my thighs to keep me pinned. I thrash, but he only slaps my ass, hard enough to sting.
“Keep squirming, and I’ll fuck you right here in the dirt.”