48. Chapter 48
Chapter forty-eight
Maddox
I’m fuming by the time I pull into my mother’s driveway. Rhodes is standing on the porch, his truck parked on the curb like he’s been on a fucking month long bender.
Slamming on the breaks, I rip off my seatbelt before I face Ivy. “Stay in the truck.”
I jump out, my rage boiling as the asshole yells at Laiken through the door.
“Rhodes.” I call, taking long strides across the yard.
He turns at my voice, then saunters off the porch toward me. He looks like shit. His shirt is half unbuttoned, and his jeans wrinkled. He’s been on the circuit, and clearly riding bulls has always been his priority. Not my sister. Or Trace. I’ve known him for the majority of my life, and quite frankly I’ve never liked him. He’s arrogant, self centered, and a shitty father. I have no idea how someone like Laiken got caught up with him.
“Will you tell her I want to see my son,” he bellows.
“I ain't telling her shit. You gave up that right when you decided you didn’t have time for either of them. You aren’t even listed on the birth certificate.”
“This is bullshit,” he barks. “I want to speak to Laiken. Now.”
We meet up, toe to toe. “Best thing you can do is get off this property. You’re trespassing.”
“Fuck you, Maddox,” he spits. “I got a right.”
He moves quick, shoving me back a few steps. I react without another thought, throwing a solid punch that lands on his chin. He may be a prick, but he’s tough. He falters only a second before he swings at me, clipping me on the temple, causing me to stumble backwards. When I lose my balance, I slam into a body, and I hear Ivy’s painful cry behind my back.
Motherfucker.
Righting my feet, I whirl around to see her sliding down the front of the truck, clutching her back.
“Fuck!” I shout, crouching to grip her shoulders.
I ignore the chaos behind me, but I can faintly hear Laiken’s voice before the wail of police sirens grow closer.
“Baby, look at me.” I lift her chin. “Are you hurt?”
She shakes her head. “I’m ok. It just knocked the breath out of me.” She winces.
Again, terrible liar.
I help her stand, feeling Laiken’s hands land on my arm.
“Are you ok?” She squeezes my bicep before reaching for Ivy. “Oh my God, Ivy. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m good.” Ivy hugs her tight. “Are you ok? Where’s Trace?”
“I’m good. He’s inside.” She looks to me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know who else to call.”
“You always call me, Laik.” I move to press a kiss to her hair.
When a squad car pulls into the drive, I notice Rhodes has already bailed. Jefferson, an officer we went to school with climbs out of the car and approaches.
“Maddox. Where is he?” He asks.
“He left.” Laiken looks rattled. “He showed up, yelling and pounding on the door. He threatened to take Trace if I didn’t let him see him. The same as always,” she scoffs. “But he was off. He seemed like he was on something.”
Jefferson glances at me. “You two get physical?”
“He made the first move,” Ivy defends me. “Maddox was only protecting himself, Laiken, and Trace.”
He nods. “Maybe he stayed close. I’ll put a bolo out for his pickup. Still have the white Ford?”
“Yeah. He hasn’t been by in almost a year. I wasn’t prepared.” Laiken shakes her head. “He just shows up sporadically.”
“I'll let you know if we see him. In the meantime, he shows up again you call immediately.”
“Thanks man, I appreciate it.” I shake his hand before he walks back to his cruiser.
Hugging both girls to my chest I hear a small voice call from the porch.
“Mama? Is he gone?”
“Maddox. Seriously, I’m fine.” Ivy is bent over the bathroom counter while I clean the cut across her back.
Fine my ass. She bled right through her damn shirt.
“I told you to stay in the truck," I grit out.
“Yeah, well I wasn’t just going to sit there and let him hit you.”
“And what were you going to do?” I swipe an alcohol wipe over the cut. “I don’t want you around him anymore than I want Laiken around him.”
“You forgot I know him too, Maddox.” She rolls her eyes. “He’s usually a bunch of talk.”
He was. Rhodes had always been mouthy, and it always got him into trouble.
“Can you just do me a favor next time and listen to me?” I ask as I smooth a Toy Story band aide over the cut.
“We’ll see,” she sasses.
Lowering her shirt, I swat her ass before spinning her around. “Just agree.”
“And what do I get for agreeing?” She muses, her eyes dropping to my lips.
I wrap an arm around her waist and press a kiss to her sexy smirk.
She opens for me just as a knock sounds behind the bathroom door. We jolt apart, before Laiken slips in.
“You ok, Ivy?” She asks in concern.
Ivy clears her throat. “Yeah. All good. Maddox patched me up.”
I can see the nervousness in the way her hands fidget.
“Thanks,” she says as she brushes past Laiken.
We’ve been in our bubble for the last few days. It’s clear us being in the open may be a different story.