TWENTY-FOUR
Jaxson
Owning a bar is awesome, but inventory fucking sucks.
Unfortunately, it’s a necessary evil and we do it monthly. At least I’m not suffering alone. Holden always makes sure he’s here to help me. Couldn’t have picked a better guy as my business partner.
I’m finishing up the counts on the last few cases of tequila when Holden’s phone rings. He pulls it from his pocket, silences the call, and puts it back.
“Nobody important?” I ask.
Shaking his head, he continues counting. “Don’t recognize the number.”
It rings again and I look over at him.
“Same number. The fuck?” he murmurs. Sliding his thumb across the screen, he puts the phone to his ear, “Hello?”
Being the nosy fuck that I am, I keep an eye on him as I finish my counts. All I hear is one side of the conversation.
“Oh, hey sis. Whose phone are you calling from?”
“Why do you have a different number?”
“Mads...you know you can talk to me about anything. Baby girl, please don’t cry.”
My curiosity is officially piqued.
“Where are you? I’ll come to you.”
“Okay...okay...I’m listening. No, I won’t say a word until you’re done. I promise.”
“Mads, please tell me what’s going on. I’ve never heard you like this before.”
Holden goes silent, listening intently to whatever Madelyn is telling him.
Inventory is all but forgotten when Holden’s brows draw down. His hands ball into fists and he’s biting his lip so hard it’s bleeding. He’s keeping his promise not to say a word, but whatever she’s telling him...he’s about to lose his shit.
I have no idea what’s going on, but I’m on edge as I watch Holden’s physical reactions. When tears start streaming down his face, I know it’s fucking serious. My spine stiffens and I move closer to him, trying to hear even the slightest bit of what she’s saying. Holden’s eyes dart to mine and they’re fucking black. Holy shit. It’s bad. It’s really fucking bad.
Holden doesn't talk about Madelyn much to me anymore. He knows that she's still a sore subject for me, especially when we found out that her husband abuses her. Knowing that she chose him over me and continued choosing him even after he physically hurt her...it was a major blow that I still haven't recovered from.
He knows that. He has told me though, that she's pulled away from everyone again. The last six months or so, she's barely talked to her family at all. They only see her when they drop in the bakery and that's only because she can't avoid them there.
This phone call is out of the blue. She hasn't willingly talked to him in months. I can only hope that she's finally being honest with him. From the looks of him—his entire body coiled with tension—and the rage I can feel radiating from him...that's exactly what's happening.
At this point, after everything I've dealt with, I shouldn't give a fuck about Madelyn. But for some godforsaken reason...I can't let go. I can't put her out of my head, or out of my heart. I love her today every bit as much as I loved her years ago.
I focus my attention back on Holden. He's still listening intently, his eyes blazing with fury. She talks for a few more minutes and finally, he speaks.
"Don't move a fucking muscle. I'll be right there."
He ends the call, slides the phone in his pocket, and grabs my keys off the desk.
He looks me dead in the eyes.
"Let's go. I'll explain on the way."
He doesn't have to fucking tell me twice.
Whatever Madelyn said to him, he's shaking with rage. We take my truck, because he's in no condition to drive after talking to his sister. He tells me where Hailee lives, and we pull out of the bar parking lot.
Holden doesn't waste time; he tells me everything.
"It's worse than we thought, man. So much fucking worse."
I suck in a breath, knowing I won't like whatever he says next.
"We knew he's been hitting her. She admitted that to the girls. But it's not a slap here or there, like I thought. He's been beating her unconscious. Breaking bones. He's been ra—" He chokes out a sob. "Raping her. He fucking rapes my baby sister, Jax."
I slam my fist down on the steering wheel, pure unadulterated rage taking over. My jaw clenches, teeth grinding with the force. "I'm gonna kill this motherfucker, Hold." I grit out. "I'm gonna tear him to pieces and they'll never find his fucking body."
"I'm supposed to protect her. Why wouldn't she come to me? Why did she keep this shit hidden for so long? My fucking baby sister…"
Holden is losing it, completely falling apart. I've never seen him like this, but he shouldn't be blaming himself.
"It's not your fault, bro. I love Madelyn, you know I do, but she's a grown ass woman. She made the choice to stay with him, to lie and keep secrets. That's not on you. You can't protect her from everything, especially when you don't know she needs protection."
He slams his fist on the dash.
"But I did know, Jax! I've known for more than six goddamn months and I fucking left her there! I left her in the hands of that sick fuck!"
Nothing I say is going to alleviate the guilt he's feeling. Honestly, I'd feel the same way if it were Henley. Part of me feels guilt even now. I knew something was off with that douchebag, but there's no way I could have done anything about any of this.
I want to do something now, though. I want to follow through with my threat. Then I want to take Madelyn home and make her feel safe. Protect her from any future pain. I want to hold her, remind her of the comfort and security my arms provide. If only she'll let me.
"You can't change shit, Holden. But we're almost there and she needs you. She needs your love and comfort, not your anger. You gotta pull it together. For her sake. She can't see you like this."
I see his clipped nod from the corner of my eye. "You’re right. I'm good. I've got this."
And I know he does.
He'll lose his shit here and now in front of me, but he'd never let Madelyn see him so broken.
I pull into the apartment complex and Holden tells me where to go. Once we're parked, we both hustle to get to Hailee's apartment.
Madelyn might not be happy that I'm here—I'm sure I'm not expected— but she's gonna have to deal. She doesn't know it yet, but she needs me. I know I need her. I need to know that despite everything, she's okay. I need to see her with my own two eyes. Once I do, I don't want to let her out of my sight. Not for a long fucking time. Not after the things I've learned today.
I talk a big game, but in reality, if she asks me to leave—I will. Right now, it's not about what I want, but what she needs. I hope that’s not the case, but whatever puts her at ease. Holden knocks on the apartment door and seconds later, it opens. Hailee invites us in, but she's not her normal smiling self. She's pale and withdrawn. The shadows in her eyes tell me that like us, she's only just learning the details of what Madelyn has suffered through.
Holden goes for his sister, but I wrap Hailee in a hug and ask if she's okay.
"Fine," she lies in a whisper. "Just trying to wrap my head around how she stayed for so long. My heart hurts for her."
Keeping my voice low, I tell her, "She's safe now, thanks to you. You're a good friend. She's lucky to have you."
She nods into my shoulder.
Keeping my arm around her, I guide her to the living room where Madelyn is curled up on Holden's lap. She's crying, and he's fighting hard not to do the same.
I try not to disturb them, but Hailee shuffles away from me and Madelyn's gaze shifts to mine.
Every bit of anger I felt on the drive over here floods back with a vengeance when I see what he’s done to her.
Most of her body is covered in clothing. Baggy sweatpants and a hoodie, even in the intense summer heat. What I can see turns my simmering rage to a rapid boil. The entire right side of her face is bruised, various shades of yellows, greens, blues, and purples. Christ. She’s got bruises on top of bruises. What really ignites my rage is the hand-shaped bruises around her delicate throat.
How in the hell has she been hiding this for so damn long?
If her face and neck look this bad, what damage has he done to the rest of her?
Even with the marks on her body, she’s still so goddamn beautiful. It breaks my heart to see her like this.
Madelyn’s hazel eyes are clouded with a mixture of pain and fear.
The thought of his hands on her sends a rush of anger through my veins. I want to break the man that put that look in her eyes.
Her choked whisper breaks through the storm brewing inside of me. A single word.
“Jaxson.”
No one is more surprised than I am when she springs from Holden's lap and throws herself into my arms, crying out my name. Everything melts away when I wrap my arms around her slender body. In this moment, there’s no one in the room but the two of us.
No abusive husband.
No protective brother, no worried best friend.
Not even the past matters.
Only me, Madelyn, and an overwhelming sense of belonging.
This is where she belongs. Where she’s always belonged.
Fuck, I’ve waited years to hold her again.
I don't know how long we stand there, arms wrapped around each other, holding on with all we've got. All I know is that I don't want to let go. Because while she obviously wants my comfort now, I don't know how long it will last.
Eventually, she pulls away. Wiping her tears, she looks up at me, whispering an apology before turning her gaze to the floor.
Gently, I reach out and grip her chin between my index finger and thumb. Turning her face to mine, I make sure she sees the gravity of my words.
"Don't ever apologize for coming to me for comfort. No matter what happens, I will always be here for you."
Choking back a sob, she cries, "I don't deserve you, Jaxson."
"Baby, there are a lot of things you don't deserve, but I'm not anywhere on that list."
Fuck this.
In one swift motion, I pull her into my arms, pick her up, and sit down with her in my lap, cradling her against my chest. I’m not finished holding her.
Nothing has ever felt more fucking right.