41. Maddy
41
MADDY
I was so horny. Like, truly horny. I felt like I was an omega in one of those omegaverse books, and I was in heat. This wasn’t healthy. It couldn’t be. I felt ready to come, which sounded weird and disgusting because my parents were here, and so were Max’s, but it wasn’t about that. Or them. It was because this was the action I’d been missing all my life.
I loved Fallen Crest.
I’d never felt so alive. It was like I was drunk, but I’d never been this blissed out from alcohol. It was like I was on speed. Or how I imagined that would be. The only drug (besides allergy medication and antibiotics) I’d done was a bit of marijuana, and I hadn’t liked it. It made me chatty, and I tended to tell people about some of the twisted shit in my head. I usually wasn’t invited back for another smoke.
But this? With my dad sneaking out, then my mom, then Max and me? We’d heard some yelling, and the violence in the air was palpable . And the smells in here…
Blood.
Violence.
Adrenaline.
Ahem—violence. It bore a repeat.
Purpose.
Violence.
My heart pumped so fast. I was tripping out.
“Logan Malinda Kade!” My dad lunged out of the cage and stalked toward me.
Oh. That wasn’t good. My full name, from my dad.
I swallowed my excitement. I needed to tone this down. I blinked a few times, trying to get some fear into my eyes, but fuck. I couldn’t. This night was already amazing. I was so on for this shit.
“Mason.” My mom ran over, touching my arm before Dad could get to me.
I frowned her way. Dad wouldn’t do anything. He was all show. He’d stomp over to me, glare like he was going to yell at me, which he might actually do, but Dad was a softie.
Mom was trying to block him, but I sidestepped her. “Dad,” I breathed.
Shit . I couldn’t hide my high. I’d found my calling. I was going to be a professional vigilante. I breezed over to him, walking on air. “Is this what it was like when you grew up here?” I took hold of his arm.
He turned to stone under my hand.
“Maddy,” my mom warned.
I waved a hand to dismiss her concern. I was going to fly away. Giddy. “This is amazing. What are you doing?” I looked around him to see who was in the cage. They were lying on the ground, not moving an inch. My dad had totally knocked that guy out.
So. Fucking. Cool.
“Maddy,” my dad murmured.
I danced around him, knowing he’d be fine in a second. I was the switch. He could never stay mad when I was around. Especially not when I’d reverted back to my ballerina days. Pirouette here. Arch my back. Extend my arm. And then I switched into another pirouette.
I couldn’t stop moving.
He sighed. His hand closed around my arm.
“Mason.” My mom drew in a sharp breath.
“What do you think I’m going to do?” he asked. “She’s my daughter.”
“No. I know. It’s not that. She’s…” She moved closer. “She’s on something.”
He snorted, pulling me to his front so I was forced to stop dancing. I’d been in the middle of a fouetté and gave him an annoyed frown. “Rude much? That was the best form of my life.”
“See?” Dad said to Mom.
Mom huffed, rolling her eyes. “Mads, you quit ballet in third grade. You said the other dancers were too delicate for your vibe.”
“I would never say that. I loved ballet.”
She said dryly, “You threatened to burn your leotard.”
I frowned. “I did?”
“And the leotards of every single girl in your class.”
“Ah. Yeah. That sounds like me.” I grinned. “I was funny back then, huh?”
My dad put a hand on Mom’s back. “That’s a conversation for later.”
I didn’t think he was referring to my ballet days. His gaze returned to the cage. The body was still laying there.
My mom snapped to attention, scanning the room. She looked closely at Axel and Steele, then swallowed when she looked past them to where the big dude was holding Traine. That was Stevie’s uncle.
Traine was not looking good.
My mom clapped her hands, taking charge. “Okay. I’m not sure what we missed before we got in, but we are leaving now .”
I recognized that tone and that look in her eyes.
General Mom was back.