Chapter 6
FINN
I've wanted to hold Maddy like this for weeks now, but not under these kinds of circumstances.
She's slumped against me, and her eyes are shut as her arms hang lifelessly to the side of her. The only comfort I have is that her breathing is steady, and when I check her pulse, it feels even too.
I'm unsure what kind of drugs they doped her up with, since when I was dragged in here, she was already chained up and unconscious, but it's causing a rage of a storm to burn inside me.
I am usually not a very violent guy, but I'm about to become one.
The moment someone steps foot into this room, I'm beating their ass.
While I wait, I hold Maddy in my arms, trying my best not to smell her hair like a fucking creep, but she smells wonderful, like sugar and strawberries. I breathe in her scent, letting my eyes fall shut.
I've never been so obsessed with a woman before. Usually, I hook up, and that's it. But Maddy is so different from anyone I’ve been around. She is feisty as hell, smart, and hot as hell. She also cares about people. She’s all heart, even if she won’t admit it.
If she wasn't into my brother and he was pretty much in love with her, I'd do everything I can to be with her. Unfortunately, River wants her enough to stray from the betrothed path that has been set in stone for him since the day he was born.
I'll admit when he had proposed the idea to me that I should fake date Maddy to keep the society off her back, I had been so damn tempted to do so. But he wants her, and I can't take that from him, even if I want her too.
"Finn," she murmurs, rousing from her groggy state. "I think… I'm like super high."
I smooth my hand up and down her back. "You are, but I won't let go of you until the drugs are out of your system."
"What if… What if they take you away from me, though?" she whispers through a breathy sigh.
"I won't let them," I promise.
And I mean my words. I'll fight them off if I have to. I'll do everything I can to not let them touch her.
Silence settles in again, and I assume she's fallen asleep as her breath fans against the side of my neck.
"Finn," she says, startling me badly.
"Yeah, sweetheart," I reply, and I know she's in bad shape when she doesn't reprimand me for calling her sweetheart.
"Is my watch still on?" Her voice is so fragile it's starting to worry me.
I run my fingers down her arm until they land on her bare wrist. Then I check the other arm and feel a band on her wrist. "Yeah, why?"
"Because… River tracks me with it, so… we'll be found." She nuzzles closer to me.
"He tracks you?" I question. "And you're okay with that?"
"Well, I wasn't… At first… But then it saved me… so, it’s not so bad… River isn’t bad either…” Her voice fades away for a beat. “Either are you.”
I latch onto that as she falls asleep in my arms, hoping to god she’s right about the watch. If not, though, I’m ready to protect her no matter what I have to do.