CHAPTER 3
Katya was right—I’m bursting out of my skin in this apartment. I have more space here than in our old house. Much more than my car or the shoddy motel rooms. Still, I’m beginning to feel claustrophobic.
There’s an ache beneath my skin, an itch I can’t scratch, and thirst that I fail to quench no matter how I occupy my time. Maybe getting out of here is the solution. I have to.
I need to.
Jay is here today. We’re alone again as Katya had to go to work sometime around nine this morning, and I still didn’t ask about her job. The opportunity came, but I chickened out. Even confined to this apartment, it’s not hard to piece things together and understand the type of world I stumbled into. And I fear I might judge her when she reveals it. I don’t want to resent her for being part of what’s clearly an organization dealing in less than legal endeavors. Even if she’s been helping us selflessly.
At least, I think it is selfless. Nothing has been asked of me—of us—so far.
If I’m right about her and their world, it might be better for mine and my sister’s safety to remain oblivious.
I shake my head before dropping it in my hands and rub my face as I brace my elbows against my knees.
That’s not me, though. No matter what the truth is, I’ve never been, nor will I ever be, a foolish, oblivious person. I can’t live in the belly of the beast without knowing its breed. I need to find out what I have gotten us into, and how to leave.
I jump when a knock sounds at the door, but it opens before I can react. Jay walks in, followed by a tall, dark shadow.
“Maddox,” I say on a sharp exhale, my back relaxing the moment the man comes into view.
He nods his hello, looking awkward as he walks into the apartment and shoves his hands in his pockets. I’m not sure if he’s uncomfortable being here, or in those jeans that seem a little too stiff on him. Are they new?
“Is everything okay?” I ask when he doesn’t say anything.
This might be the best opportunity for me to get answers to all those questions I’ve been having. Although, I’ve noticed that he’s quite guarded and doesn’t like to speak much. It’s not like I can ask anyone else, besides Katya. I don’t know the others.
Yes, you do—the golden-haired man who slipped into your dream once you fell back asleep last night.
I shut down that ridiculous train of thought before it has time to settle.
“Everything’s fine. Just wanted to see how you’re doing,” Maddox finally answers, and I’m so freaking thankful he did, because my mind needs to stay occupied. And distracted.
Definitely distracted.
“Actually, I remembered something, a name.” I pause, but Maddox doesn’t say a thing, just waits. “Vassallo. That guy with a lisp called him boss.”
Maddox nods and pulls out his phone that looks comical in his huge hands.
“Katya mentioned you haven’t left the apartment yet,” he says as he slides the phone back in his pocket.
“Not yet, no. We just”—we don’t have money to go anywhere—“didn’t know where to go.”
Maddox tilts his head, fixing me with his gaze.
“I thought Katya told you to use Jay or Brinn. They know Queenscove like the back of their hands, they can show you everything. You must need something. Clothes or… whatever cosmetics you women use.”
Women.The choice to use that word instead of girl feels good enough that I’m tempted to confess why I haven’t been doing any of the above. I despise being called a girl.
“She did, but I didn’t want to bother anyone.”
I don’t realize I’m chewing on my lip until a coppery taste touches my tongue.
“You’re not bothering anyone. No matter. Incidentally, I came here to take you and your sister out.”
Did he really? Or does he know how pathetic I am? Who am I kidding, of course he does. Where would I have money from?
He’s perfectly aware.
My lips part, but I’m unsure of the answer I want to give him.
“Can we go for ice cream, please?” Maya rushes into the room, skipping the entire way to Maddox and me with a great big grin on her face.
I need to have a talk with her. She’s too… open. Too eager. Too trusting with these people she’s barely just met. It scares me.
“Of course. If your sister agrees, we can,” Maddox answers.
“I can’t, umm… I don’t—”
“It would be my treat,” he interrupts, his gaze flickering to mine for a moment. It’s stern enough to show he knows exactly what I’m thinking and that I can’t argue with him.
“Can we, Evie? Please, can we?” Maya tugs at my sleeve.
“Yes.” I cave, knowing full well there’s no getting out of this. “Go brush your hair and put your shoes on.”
“Yaaay!” She jumps and sprints out of the living area before I speak the entire sentence.
There was no way I was going to say no. Not because I can’t deny her, but because I need to see if this outing will scratch this incessant itch and ease the ache beneath my flesh. I’m praying even to the gods I don’t believe in that it will work.
I know what would, but I’m afraid to do to myself what was done to me.
Twenty minutes later, Maya, Maddox, and I are walking through the clean, bright streets of Queenscove. Katya’s apartment overlooks a large natural park, and I didn’t realize how close she actually is from the center of the city.
Or town?
I’m not entirely sure what this place is. I think it’s big, yet there are no modern skyscrapers or cold architecture made of nothing but metal and glass. There’s not enough concrete to make it feel like a metropolis. The building Katya lives in is one of the tallest, and I only counted seven stories.
The streets are lined with period buildings, grass and flower bed verges, and mature palms amongst beautiful birches. And the smell… It’s intoxicating. Honey and sea. Sweet and salty weaving through the humidity that’s just at the edge of too much.
Maddox insisted on walking. Now I understand why. We’re quite close to everything. Dozens of both luxurious and charming storefronts, cafés and cocktail bars with tables outside, and people walking about everywhere. Yet, they all have a strange calmness in their step. Like they have no care in the world, no worries, nowhere to rush off to.
They seem happy.
Such a contrast to the place I call home. Fleeton always looks gray, like a cloud covers it permanently. The streets are nowhere near this clean, there’s barely any patches of grass, let alone trees. And the only people who smile are the ones who can afford to.
Maddox leads us to the right onto a cobblestoned side street, and my breath catches at the view at the end of it—the ocean. Sun sizzles the calm surface and that ache that has settled beneath my skin quiets.
Beautiful.
I had no idea it was going to be like this. I barely register Maya’s excitement as she pulls at my hand.
We near the beach, catching a glimpse of people sunbathing on the soft sand as Maddox leads us to a charming, small building right at the edge of it. Big, bold letters signal that we’re about to have Ice Cream and Coffee, and the corner of my lips twitch at the sight of this place. It’s simple. No pompous luxury or fancy branding. Stepping inside is like stepping back in the 1960s. An old-time, classic ice cream parlor with all its signs of aging.
But the decor blurs behind the patron’s reactions to us. There are probably a dozen people in here, half of them got a glimpse and averted their gazes in an instant, the tenseness evident in their shoulders. The other half are staring with a fervent mixture of sentiments etched on their faces. Everything from fear, to awe, and lust.
None are directed at my sister and me. They look at Maddox like they want to flee, yet I get the feeling that they’re deepest desire is to throw themselves at his feet.
Who did I come here with?
I narrow my eyes on the man who walks a step in front of me completely ignoring everyone around him, apart from the old shopkeeper who gives him a warm smile. He nods as he leads us out on the other side of the establishment and onto a small wooden deck set on the beach.
I want to ask what’s happening, but more sets of eyes fall on us. This time around they notice me too and stare in confusion. I don’t blame them. I feel utterly out of place in my too-big worn out jeans and ripped Converse—I didn’t want to wear Katya’s hand-me-downs out, so I’m dressed in the same clothes I was kidnapped in. Albeit washed way too many times to drown some of those memories. Maddox is wearing jeans too, but not only are they perfectly fitted on him, they look brand new.
Yes, clothes haven’t been my priority in the last couple of years, yet I’ve never felt so inadequate.
“Sit, Evelyn.”
I rip my gaze off my poor shoes and let go of Maya’s hand. She already took a seat and is dangling her legs excitedly as she reaches for the menu. I awkwardly sit, my gaze drifting to the eyes fixed on us.
“You get used to it,” Maddox mutters.
He shifts enough to swipe his gaze over the curious ones, and in unison, they all go back to their drinks.
“Why are they staring at us?”
He turns, sighing, and looks over to the soft waves of the calm sea. “Nothing better to do,” he grumbles.
No other explanation then. Maybe I should push and ask about them.
“I appreciate all Katya and you have done for us. Offering us a temporary place to stay and feeding us. I just…” The words fail me. Courage too. I’ll sound ungrateful, not just nosy.
“No worries. You’ve been through enough, you deserve it. Plus, your… situation.” He skirts around that particular area, pushing a menu toward me.
“I’m okay. I don’t need anything.” I slide it away without opening it.
“Nobody needs our gelato, little lady.” The man from the counter startles me as he shows at my side, a notepad in hand. “Everyone wants it, though. All you need is a taste, and you’ll be hooked.”
His smile is infectious, a single gold tooth gleaming in the sunlight as he scribbles something on the paper.
“Usual for me, Genaro,” Maddox says, pushing the menu my way yet again.
His gaze tells me he’s not going to take my crap. He’s onto me, and I hate it. It’s not only embarrassing, but down right humiliating not having money of my own to buy my sister an ice cream. Having strangers do these things for us is uncomfortable. Wrong, even.
“Can I have the salted caramel millionaire’s Sunday, please? And lemonade?” my sister orders, grinning from ear to ear, oblivious to my struggle.
Christ, she’s glowing. Thriving, even, here in Queenscove, with Maddox’s attention and Katya’s books. I’m heartbroken that I haven’t been able to put a smile like that on her face in… actually, I don’t know in how long.
Have I ever?
“And you, gorgeous?” Genaro turns his attention back to me.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t read the menu. Um—”
“Tell you what, I’ll surprise you.” He interrupts, and the prospect seems to excite him. Like I gave him an interesting challenge. Although, technically he gave it to himself. “What don’t you like?”
“Mint. I hate mint.”
“Finally! I swear everyone loves mint, and I can’t stand it. They all ask for it when they come into my shop, but I refuse to make it. Even the smell puts me off. You’re my kind of gal!” He squeezes my shoulder and shakes me a little.
The old man is filled with such energy, for a few moments I forget that I was feeling miserable.
“I’ll trust you then,” I say, giving him a gentle smile, and he seems to brighten even more. “And a cappuccino, please?” My gaze moves to Maddox involuntarily, seeking some sort of approval.
He doesn’t react, he only listens.
“Coming right up.” Genaro leaves and I’m left with Maddox’s gaze on me.
“What?” I ask.
He shakes his head once.
“Evelyn?” Maya pulls my attention. “Can I go there until the ice cream comes?” She points to a half built sandcastle at the edge of the wood decking, a small plastic bucket and little tools forgotten next to it.
“Sure. But you can’t move any further than that without me.” She’s only a few feet away, yet here, out in the open, it makes me tense.
When they took her from me, I was still holding onto her. Nothing could stop them now. Well, this giant of a man could.
“Take Jay shopping this afternoon, or tomorrow,” Maddox says out of the blue, his palm sliding on the table toward me. When he lifts it, a shiny black card remains.
“No.” I almost rasp, offended by the piece of plastic.
“You need clothes. Something of your own. Maya—”
“We’re fine.” I push the card back to him.
“Are you?” the question is rhetorical. “You’re in limbo, and refusing to leave this state is pointless. You have to get comfortable, and I know Katya’s clothes don’t fit you properly. Plus, wearing the same clothes as that night,” he nods toward my outfit, “is probably not doing you any good.”
“My clothes are none of your concern. We. Are. Fine.”
My tone seems to attract some looks around us, and I lower it immediately. Not because of the attention, but because I’m too embarrassed for people to hear we’re arguing over my crappy clothes.
“And it’s not forever,” I add, “I’m looking to get a job, then we will go back to our home.”
He raises an eyebrow at that last word.
“Home, Evelyn?”
“Do not dare—”
“You are stubborn. We both know you need this.” Once again, he slides the card my way. “Why are you refusing the help?”
“Why are you giving it?”
My question lands with a thud, and he narrows his eyes on me.
“Because it’s the right thing to do.”
“Forgive me, Maddox, but you and your… friends… don’t seem like the type of people to help someone off the street for free. Not only that but let them into your homes. Why us?”
“You didn’t come off the street, Evelyn.” He emphasizes my name with a hint of condescension.
“It’s not good enough. For days I’ve been trying to wrap my head around what we’ve been offered. Yes, I did tell you my sister and I can’t go back to Fleeton yet, but I was expecting to be put up in a motel. Not in Katya’s home. And judging from what I’ve seen so far, her work gravitates around yours. This is… it’s too much.” I breathe in deeply and prop my forearms on the glass table. “Why me, Maddox?”
“Like I said, it’s the right thing to do.”
Once again, I inhale deeply, focusing on that breath rather than the growing tension in my temples.
“What did you do for the other kids? Did you place them with people that work for you?” I ask, pushing the subject.
“Most are back with their families, but they have gone under the radar for their protection. Others have been placed in… a home, let’s say, as we track down their families.”
Wait, they actually care?
“Any of them with you guys? Anyone but us?” I press.
He doesn’t answer right away. I already know what he’s going to say.
“No.”
There it is.
“It makes no sense to me, Maddox. Why are you and Katya doing this? Why us?”
“We don’t want anything from you, if that’s what you’re trying to ask,” he answers, yet I’m not freaking satisfied with it.
I don’t think he’s hiding something important from me. More like he would rather keep the reason to himself. Is it more personal? Surely, it’s not because he likes me or something. That would be ridiculous.
“You don’t like me, do you?” I slap my hand over my mouth the moment the sentence spills out.
The man’s eyes bulge, and I swear he slid his chair back a few inches.
“No!” he answers quickly. “Christ, Evie, it’s not like that. Not with me. I mean I do like you, but definitely not like that.”
Thank God. I think I kind of like him too. As a friend, a protector, and without a doubt in no other way.
Wait, did he say not withme? God, none of my business.
“You helped us. If it wasn’t for you and your… sacrifice.” His words trigger the itch in my veins and flashbacks threaten to sneak through. “We wouldn’t have saved all those kids. A hotel was out of the question.”
Okay, when he puts it that way, it kind of makes sense. It doesn’t mean it’s easier to accept, but it does make sense.
“Fine. But tell me one more thing…”
He cocks his head, waiting.
“Who are you people?”