Chapter 6
Six
DARCIE
The clink of dishes mixed with the chatter of customers had become the soundtrack to my days. Though, you couldn’t forget the classic country tunes that played on the jukebox. It wasn’t horrible as jobs went, but I often found myself wondering if this was it. Was this all my life had to offer?
I’d worked at the diner a month already, and I was itching for something new.
“Order up, sweetheart,” the old fry cook hollered, dinging the bell. I laid the silverware I was rolling up to the side, walking over to the window.
“Thanks, Joe.” I smiled sweetly, my face hurting from the gesture. Some days, I wondered how long I’d be able to hold up this fake sweetness before I cracked. By the end of the day, I’d walk home exhausted and want nothing more than to hide under my covers, pretending this wasn’t my life.
But Maddox wouldn’t let me.
He was both saving and drowning me. I didn’t know which I wanted to win.
Sighing, I grabbed the food and walked it over to the table. “Here you go, sugars. Y’all be sure to let me know if you need anything else, okay?”
A hand started to roam up my backside under my uniform, and I froze for a second, the feeling making me want to hurl. The dark part of me snapped, reaching down to grab the hand that thought it was okay to touch me. Twisting the wrist, I pulled it free, raising it up over the table. The man winced, crying out.
“I’m not on the menu.” I threw his hand back at him, turning to leave. I’d wanted to make him hurt worse, but the second I let go, reality crashed in, and I was on the verge of falling apart.
Making it to the bathroom, I locked the door behind me, and sank to the floor. Tears cascaded down my cheeks, and I scrubbed my hands on the apron I wore. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop crying, the feeling of his hand left an imprint on my body.
Why did men think they had the right to touch me? Did I have a look about me that said they could?
A soft knock had me bolting up, wiping my face. “Darcie, sweetie, you okay?” Jodie asked.
“I’m good. Just a minute.” I sniffled, wiping my face. I turned to the mirror, cursing my choice to wear makeup today. Splashing some water on my face, I sucked in a breath, holding it until I had to let it go. My hands shook as I tried to dry them.
Pulling my skirt up, I took my flesh between my fingers and pinched the area on my upper thigh. My legs were riddled with bruises. I knew I should stop, that it wasn’t a healthy way to cope. But the pain was the only thing that helped me center myself, reminding me I was still here.
Once the bite of pain lessened, I let go, rubbing over it softly. Fixing myself, I held up my chin and headed outside, hoping I could make it through the rest of the day.
Another month passed, and things weren’t getting easier. I woke up screaming, thrashing out as I tried to get away from my attacker. Maddox no longer slept in my bed when we moved into the tiny house we rented. He opted to sleep on the sofa, but he was always there to calm me when I woke in a panic.
Needless to say, we both looked like shit, neither of us getting any sleep.
He rocked me back and forth, smoothing my hair. “I’m sorry, Maddox.” My body shook, and I whimpered as the tears fell. I hated feeling this way.
“It’s okay, Princess.”
“It’s not, though. I’m tired of feeling this way. Make it stop, please.”
I turned, cupping his face. Slowly, I leaned forward, touching my lips to his. He stayed frozen, not wanting to spook me. In the time since we’d been on the run, we hadn’t kissed again. I’d thought about it, but each time I’d remember what came after a kiss, and I’d freeze up, not ready for it.
But maybe I’d been going about it all wrong? Darla had said something at work the other day that the best way to get over someone was to get under someone new. She was with a new guy every week, so maybe there was something to it.
I pulled back, staring into his eyes. “Will you,” I swallowed, “will you give me a different memory? Please?”
Maddox froze, looking at me. “What?”
The response hadn’t been what I expected, so I pulled back, feeling rejected. “Never mind. It’s stupid.” I turned, pulling the covers to crawl under them and die.
He touched my hand, stopping me. “Don’t hide from me, Princess. Let’s talk about this. It’s a big deal, and I just want to make sure you’re ready.”
I turned back, some excitement filling me. “I just figured if I had another experience, maybe I wouldn’t have as many nightmares. That the way to heal is to get back on the horse, so to speak.”
He snorted. “Don’t think I’ve ever been referred to as a horse before.” He scrubbed the back of his head, running his palm over his hair. He blew out a breath. “Everything in me feels like this might be a horrible idea.”
“Why?”
“I dunno. I don’t want our first time, my first time, to be because of him,” he whispered, dropping his head. I realized then what I was asking of him.
“Shit. I’m sorry. I just didn’t think it would be your first. That’s all.”
“Well, yeah, it is.” He peered up, looking at me, his cheeks red in embarrassment.
I crawled into his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck. I laid my head against his chest, listening to his heart. He laid back, pulling me with him, covering us both up.
“Forget I said anything.”
“It’s kind of hard to do that. What if we do it on our terms? Let’s go on a date. I didn’t want to push you with things, wanting to let you have some space before I threw my hat in the ring.”
“Oh?” I asked, rubbing my hand over his chest. I smiled into him, a new feeling warming me, and I liked it.
“Yeah, Princess. I’ve been thinking about this moment for years. Let me romance you.”
“I think I’d like that. To be romanced by Maddox King.”
“Good. It’s settled then. Now, sleep.” He kissed the top of my head, and my heart started to race for a new reason.
Being romanced by Maddox King was romance on a whole other level. The morning after our talk, I woke up to a daisy and a note telling me I was beautiful and to have a good day. Each day after that, there was a new flower and a new note.
Sometimes they were funny one-liners; others were sweet messages. I kept them all in my journal, taping them to the pages until they filled it. I had twenty-one so far, and they’d become my favorite part of the day.
He’d also started walking me to work when he could or picking me up after. We’d walk hand in hand, talking about the most random things. It was a domesticated bliss I’d never seen for myself, but with Maddox, I liked it.
Swinging our hands, I smiled freely, the gesture feeling honest with him. “Do you think Joe and Jodie have sex on the back counter?” I laughed.
“I sure hope so. Often and lots. They deserve it.”
“Oh, God, I won’t be able to get that image out of my head now.” I swatted his arm with my other hand, giggling.
“Hey, you brought it up.” He narrowed his eyes at me, the sides crinkling as he tried not to laugh.
“Maddox! You’re late.”
I sighed, turning to see his boss leaning against his truck, undressing me with his eyes. I snuggled into Maddox’s side, not liking the way his boss eyed me.
“Still got five minutes, Bill. I’ll be there once I’ve kissed my girl goodbye.” He waved, not bothered by the man. Maddox walked me the last two steps to the diner, stopping before the door. His boss was meeting him here this week before they headed out of town for a bigger job.
“I don’t like him,” I whispered, glad I couldn’t see him anymore.
“It’s a job.” He shrugged, leaning down toward me. He was so tall he had to bend down or pull me up to kiss me.
Taking my face between his hands, he kissed me deeply, his tongue swirling with mine. My legs rubbed together, a slickness beginning to develop between them. His wanting to wait was both the best and worst thing.
It had given me time to heal some more, my body beginning to respond like it should, but the greedy hussy in me was ready to take it all the way. Almost a month of kissing, and I was about to combust.
“Be good, Princess. I’ll be thinking of you all day.” He kissed my lips once more before he spun on his feet, heading over to the idling truck. As soon as the door shut, the truck took off, almost hitting a car at his impatience. Shaking my head, I headed into the diner, not hating the day so much. It was a start.
Maddox was late, and I couldn’t reach him by phone. Shoving my phone into my bag, I took off, deciding to check home. Maybe he wanted to surprise me with dinner or something and forgot to tell me he wouldn’t be here.
I’d only been walking for a minute when Bill’s truck pulled up to the curb. I stopped, hoping it meant Maddox was here. Walking over, I peered into the cab, but I didn’t see his smiling face. The window rolled down, and the driver leaned over. Bill.
“Hey, darling. Maddox sent me to pick you up. We got held up at the site, and he didn’t want you to wait. I’m supposed to take you there.”
“Why didn’t he tell me?” I asked, crossing my arms. The hairs on my arms raised, not liking the situation.
“He dropped his phone earlier, and it busted all over the ground. Why he sent me, so you wouldn’t worry. Come on, darling. Get in, and I’ll take you to him. Nothing to be scared about.”
“I think I’ll just walk home and wait there. Thanks.”
“Suit yourself, darling.” His voice was stern as he gunned the engine, taking off.
Shaking off the weird encounter, I walked quicker, eager to be safe at home now. Something didn’t feel right, but I didn’t know if it was my paranoia or intuition.
Maddox hadn’t made it home by dinner, and I was worried. It also meant I had to ask his boss where he was since he was the last one to know. Sucking it up, I made sure to wear jeans and a long sleeve shirt to cover myself before I headed out.
Using the bicycle we’d gotten at a garage sale, I made my way to the site. Maddox had taken me there last week on his motorcycle. It was a luxury suburb; the whole neighborhood would be half-million-dollar houses.
Some anxiety left me when I pulled up to the house and saw several cars there with lights on. Leaning the bike against a tree, I made my way up to the window, peeking in to see what was going on. It looked like a party was underway. Girls and guys were scattered throughout the room, red cups in their hands. I leaned forward, trying to find Maddox.
A body pressed me into the glass, and everything in me went into overdrive. All my training came rushing back, and I reached around, elbowing the person in the gut. Using the hand that had landed on me, I spun underneath them, stomping on their foot.
“What in the Sam Hill?” Bill cursed, looking at me like I’d lost my mind. He wheezed, rubbing the area I’d hit. “Dammit, Darcie. I was coming to ask you if you wanted to come inside. Maddox’s there.”
Sucking in air, I bent at the waist, trying to compose myself. “Sorry, you scared me.”
He gave me an evil look, giving me a wide berth as he made his way inside. I avoided looking at the others as I followed him, afraid they could see the crazy on me. He stepped into a room, holding the door open, motioning me in. I hesitated, not wanting to follow him in.
“He’s inside.”
He didn’t step in, but stayed in the doorway. Making myself small, I stepped into the room slowly, apprehension filling me with each step. When the door shut behind me, the lock sounding, I knew I was in trouble. Instinct had me running for an exit, but a hand wrenched me back, pulling at my hair, dragging me to them. An arm wrapped around my throat, cutting off my oxygen.
Slowing my breaths, I tried not to panic as the body behind me held me close. Making my body a dead weight, I stopped pulling against him even though every instinct in me wanted to. Bill rubbed his groin into me, making me want to throw up.
No, this wasn’t fair. Everything had been going so well. I was healing, and Maddox and I were creating something.
“Be a good little whore now, and we won’t have a problem. You shake your booty all over town, so now it’s time to pay the toll. Your boyfriend wasn’t willing to take the discount, so instead of just me, you’re going to lay there and take it for all my men. Understand?”
I stayed silent, not wanting to answer him as my plan of escape started to form in my mind. He kept talking, but I didn’t give him anything back.
“The more you struggle, the more I’ll enjoy it. Got it, darling?”
I waited for my moment. I wouldn’t let another man take something from me. Not this time.
“No, I don’t ‘got it,’ Bill.”
Using every ounce of strength I had, I leaned forward and flipped him over me. His body went sprawling, and I used the moment of surprise to get away. It was all I had as I staggered to my feet to escape.
“You, bitch,” he grunted, but I was already running toward the door.
I grasped the doorknob and was so close to freedom when something hit me over the head and it was lights out for me.
Waking with a splitting headache, it took me a minute to orient myself to where I was. I tried to move my arms but found them bound above me.
“Good, you’re awake. I was getting bored.”
The moment I heard his voice, everything came flying back to me. I tugged on the ropes, but it was to no avail. He’d secured them well.
The man climbed on the bed, straddling me. It was then I realized I was naked. Fear welled up in me, and I just wanted it to be over with. I was so tired of this.
Closing my eyes, I accepted my fate.
The door crashed against the wall and caused me to jump. I barely had time to open my eyes before I felt the body over me leave.
“Maddox.” His name had never sounded so good.
His face was covered in rage, and I could spot some cuts and bruises on him. Had they tied him up to keep him from me? He kept punching the man, and I was suddenly worried we’d have a bigger problem on our hands if he killed him.
“We have to go, Maddox. We have to go now.”
My voice pulled his attention, and he looked at me, sweat dripping from his brow. His eyes were wild, his breathing ragged. When I pulled at the bindings, he snapped and rushed toward me, taking a knife from his boot to cut them. Once I had one arm free, I felt better, not even caring I was naked in front of him right then. Maddox cut the last one, pulling me into his arms. I clung to him for a moment, needing to feel his solid presence.
“Come on, we need to get out of here.”
He took off his shirt and pulled it over my head, helping to hide my nakedness. I didn’t know where my clothes were, but I didn’t particularly want to look at the floor either. When we walked around the bed, a moan snagged my attention, and my eyes fell to the man I’d wanted to avoid.
Before thinking about it, I reared my foot back and kicked him. It hurt since I didn’t have a shoe on, but it felt worth it to hear him groan as my foot collided with his chin. Pulling my leg back one more time, I landed another kick to his groin, and he doubled over, moaning more.
“Help,” Bill groaned, but I ignored him. “You won’t get away with this,” he wheezed.
“Watch me.” Maddox pulled me into his arms, carrying me, which was much faster since my foot hurt. Still worth it.
“How’d you get here?” he asked, scanning the hallway and heading out in a different direction.
“Bicycle.”
“Shit,” he mumbled. “Okay, we’ll have to leave it and jump his truck.”
We stepped out into the night air, and I felt like I could breathe again. My blood pounded in my ears, adrenaline racing through me.
“What are we going to do?” I asked.
Maddox glanced down, worry lining his brow. “I dunno. Leave, I suppose. I really don’t know. I’m sorry, Darcie. I can’t believe he tried that.”
“Where were you? Why didn’t you answer?” I asked, not knowing if I wanted the response.
His brow furrowed, and a harsh look crossed his face, but he shook his head, not wanting to tell me. I’d let it go for now, but I knew it was something I needed to know. I couldn’t deal with secrets. Maddox opened the truck door, placed me down gently, and buckled me in. He shut the door and went around to the other side. He paused, walked back to grab my bike, and threw it in the cab.
I watched in amazement as he pulled the cover down and hot-wired the truck quicker than I could ask how we were going to get out of there.
“Okay, you’ve gotta show me that!”
Maddox glanced over, a smile spreading across his lips. “Sure thing, Princess.”
He pulled out of the neighborhood, and we both sighed in relief, the energy-draining from me. My body began to shake as the adrenaline wore off, and I realized how cold I was.
“I really need to stop only getting your clothes when I’m naked,” I said, attempting to joke. It fell flat, Maddox’s jaw tightening.
“You can have anything of mine, Darce.”
I sighed. “So, where to now?” I asked, looking out the window.
“Let's worry about getting out of here first. Grab what you want to take with you, whatever will fit into a bag.”
“Okay.” My voice was small, but I knew it was the right choice. We couldn’t stay here now. As much as I hated my job most days, I’d miss Joe and Jodie. They were friendly, and I liked them.
“I’m—”
His words were cut off by the red and blue flashing lights. We looked at one another, panicking.
“Just stay calm. I’ll take care of it.” I nodded, fear climbing up my throat.
The officer knocked on the window, shining a light on us. “Roll down the window, sir.”
“Yes, officer.” Maddox nodded, keeping his hands visible. “Can we help you, sir?”
He eyed us, shining the light on Maddox, probably checking his eyes. “License and registration.”
“Well, here’s the thing, officer. It’s my boss’ truck.”
“I bet it is. License and registration.” He shined the light on me. “Real careful there, miss, reach in and grab the registration. No funny business, now.”
“Of course, sir. We don’t want any trouble.”
We both pulled out the items he asked for and handed them over. He glanced at them, looking back up at Maddox.
“What happened to your face, son?”
“Construction accident.”
“Hmph. I’ll bet. I’m going to have to call this boss to confirm. Do you have a number?” Maddox froze, and I leaned over, rattling off the only number I knew, praying Chase would come through.
He wrote it down, tapping the truck. “Don’t go anywhere.”
Maddox glanced over at me. His jaw was tight, but he didn’t ask whose number it was. It was probably for the best. The longer he took, the more I was freaking out. My hands shook, and I tried to remember what I could do to get out of this. When the officer came back, I was so hyped up I was sure I’d pass out.
“Here’s a warning. Fix that taillight. Your boss said to call him.”
Maddox nodded, taking back the items. We both sighed in relief as we went one way, and the cop turned in the other direction.
“I hate to ask what that just cost us,” Maddox said, gripping the steering wheel. I didn’t know how to respond, so I didn’t.
When we pulled into the house that had become our home the past few months, I knew nothing would ever be the same from here on out.
We were on the run. Again.