Maddox #2
The worry must’a shown on my face as her look of annoyance softened, “Don’t worry.
I gotcha big bro. Do you really think I am going to leave my oaf of a bestie to deal with this alone?
I got him too. Hopefully time will fly by and this’ll be just a blip in your love story,” she said, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
I chuckle, looking down at the ground, tonguing my cheek, I look back at her, “No letters, no calls and no visits from him. But you’ll let me know how he is doing, right?” I ask, pleading with my eyes.
She nods, “Of course. But who’re you punishing by cuttin’ yourself off from him like that? He doesn’t deserve that.” Mel grabbed my face and made me look at her when I tried to look away, “And neither do you. It seems extreme. Make it make sense Dax. Why?”
I twist my head hard pulling out of her grip, “I’m not punishin’ anyone, I’m protectin’ him, dipshit.
You know what Mack’ll do if he finds out anything about us?
It’s bad enough that you have to be here without me, but him?
He will kill him and I can’t live with that.
So please, keep him safe from Mack! Promise me. ”
Mel nodded, finally understanding, “I get it, but I think you should reconsider.”
I stood, breaking the contact, ‘I need to get out, do something.’ I think, lighting the joint as I walked over to the window. Opening it, I stared out into inky darkness as I took a hit.
Blowing the smoke out the window, I looked back at her, “You gonna promise me or not?”
Mel walked over to me shrugging, plucking the joint from my hand, taking a drag before handing it back, “Safe? Yeah, I’ll promise that. But the no contact part? No, Maddox, I won’t make that promise. It’s only a couple months anyway, right?”
Anger flashes in my eyes as I stare her down. Rolling her eyes, she sucks her teeth and continues talking, “Just…trust me, I won’t put him in any danger, okay?”
I calm down a little thinking, ‘it is only a few months,’ while I mull over what she was saying, “Okay, okay…but if he…” I start to say, going completely silent when I hear a door slam.
The sound brings the conversation to a dead stop as we hear familiar footsteps heading our way.
Our eyes snap to the bedroom door as the footsteps get closer.
We stay frozen as 6’5” of hateful bastard takes up the doorway, muscles rippling as he crosses his arms over his chest, “You better not be smoking the profits there, jackass,” he snarls, nodding his head towards the joint in my hand. Turning his eyes toward Mel, he barks at her,
“Mel, dinner. Now! You know better than to make me wait.” As she makes her way to the kitchen, his eyes track her movements across the room as he shifts so she can squeeze past him.
‘I’m gonna take her away from all of this as soon as I can.’ I think, turning to face him. He looks me up and down like he knows something but I know he doesn’t or, at least, I hope he doesn’t know anything.
“You know what you’re doin’ tomorrow, right?” Mack asks me as he readjusts in the doorframe.
I nod, “Yeah, I know. Makin’ sure you don’t get caught for whatever you did.”
He shakes his head, “Watch your mouth. You better be more convincin’ than that tomorrow, Maddy,” he says, venom in his voice as he turns away and leaves the room. I wait to hear his bedroom door slam shut before I join Mel in the kitchen.
As she sets dinner on the table, Mack hollers that he’s going out. A what the fuck look is shared between the two of us as I think, ‘he demanded dinner and then doesn’t stick around to eat? Just more proof of his need to control everything. At least the house will be quiet tonight.’
Mel and I have dinner while watching a movie before going to bed. Tomorrow is gonna be a shit show. Even if we stayed up all night, tomorrow’s still gonna come.
Melody
Sitting at the kitchen table, a cup of coffee cooling in front of me, I’m dreading this day.
Last night, after dinner, Dax dumped a foot locker in my room before pulling off a necklace from around his neck.
Handing it to me, I found a key dangling from the chain.
Looking at him confused he told me to keep it hidden for him until he comes home.
After he buried it in the back of my closet, he told me not to touch it and that the key was not a free pass to look through it.
“Wha’cha got in there anyway?” I had asked him as he went to walk out the door. The death glare I got back from him told me that he was not in a sharing mood and answered any other questions I may have had about the box.
Now I’m the holder of all his secrets. ‘Great, if anything happens to this box, I’m dead.
Yay me!’ I think with a deep sigh and a heavy eyeroll.
Toying with the key around my neck and thinking about last night, while I sipped my coffee, it seemed weird how stressed he was about going to juvie this time.
‘Maybe it’s because he’s got feelings for Kai or maybe he just has more clues out there that Mack could figure out his secret from. ’ I think to myself, eyeing his door.
The door flings open and Dax enters the kitchen, pulling me from my thoughts. I watch him grab a cup of coffee and drink half of it in one gulp when I’m struck by the realization that I’m gonna miss my annoying as fuck twin. Sighing at my own sappy shit, I finish my coffee while looking him over.
His dark hair is slicked back, his black dress shirt paired with the new dark wash jeans. Knowing that Kai would kill to see this, I grab my phone and snap a picture as he bends his arm to adjust the button on the sleeve.
He rolls his eyes at me, "Whatcha gonna do with that?” he asks, coming over to kiss my forehead.
“Wouldn’t you like to know.” I reply, standing to put the empty cup in the sink. Turning to look at him, he gestures for me to elaborate and I roll my eyes. “Yes, I’m gonna send it to him, asshole. Like I said, trust me,” I tell him as we grab our stuff and leave the house.
We speed walk to the L, getting there just in time to catch our train. Once we’re settled in our seats, I watch Dax pull out his phone and send a text before powering it off. I smirk, knowing who he was texting as I think, ‘he ain’t slick.’
After turning off his phone, Dax seems to be lost in thought so I pay attention so we don’t miss our stop. If we missed our stop and were late getting to court it would be bad, not just in the legal way, but also with our piece-of-shit dad.
While keeping an eye out, I wonder what Dax is gonna do with his phone after court when I feel a tap on my hand. Glancing over, “Keep this safe. Keep it on you at all times. Mack can not get his hands on it,” Dax mutters as he presses his phone into my hand.
‘So that’s what he’s gonna do with it. Give it to me, the keeper of secrets.’ I think, slipping it into my purse with a nod. The rest of the ride to the courthouse is spent in silence.
The distance from the L to the courthouse is too short and before I know it, we are at our stop. Stepping off the L, we hurry to the courthouse. Jogging up the steps, I grab his arm, stopping him at the entrance. Turning towards me he meets my eyes.
I look at my twin, taking him in before I don’t get to see him for who knows how long.
He’s a little taller than me, and where mine is long and straight, his inky black hair is cut short on the sides and left longer on top.
Blue eyes that match mine stare back at me, trailing over my face, worry and fear buried under a hard glare.
‘I'm gonna miss him,’ I think, pulling him into a hug.
He stiffens as my arms wrap around him before he exhales and relaxes into it, hugging me back.
We communicate without words, a lot was said in that short hug.
I know I won’t be able to give him one once we’re in front of Mack.
“It’ll be okay, Mel. Kai and Seb will make sure you’re safe, you will be okay. Aight?” Dax says, letting me go.
“I know, but it’s not the same, fuckhead.” I sigh, looking around, “Come on, we should go in before he comes looking.” I say, turning towards the door. Dax pauses, holds the door for me and lets out a deep breath as we head inside.
Reaching the hallway, we see Mack standing with his pencil-dick public defender, Ronnie. Spotting us as we get closer, he grabs Dax by the arm and pulls him away from me. The three of them enter a room off the hall leaving me standing outside, alone.
As I wait, I sit on a bench, head down, looking at the floor. After a few minutes, Kai comes to mind. I know he has to be freaking out right now and I’m not there to take his mind off any of it.
‘What the hell Mel, seriously, what can you do for him right now? Not like I can kiss it and make it better.’ I think, shaking my head at myself.
“But….He had all these plans for him and Dax and now they don’t mean shit.
Can he marry someone with a record as an army officer?
’ Remembering the picture of Dax from this morning, I fire it off in a quick message, turning my phone off as a door closing down the hall brings me back to the present.
Looking up, I see Dax exit the room alone and eye him as he walks over and sits next to me.
His legs parted slightly, he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
Reaching out, I rub his back glancing back at the door where I see Mack step out of the room and shake the lawyer's hand before turning his focus on us.
Dax sits up quickly, as if he feels eyes on him. Mack heads our way, stopping in front of us to say, “Boy, sit up. Be proud of what you did. You saved the family business and will be rewarded for it,” through gritted teeth.
Dax snaps his head up at him, anger flashing in his eyes, “Fuck…”
Mack’s eyes flash black and grabbing him by the arm, pulls Dax up from his seat.
Leaning in close, he whispers menacingly, “Don’t even think of finishin’ that sentence.
No matter what you do now, it’s on the record.
It’s done. So you can get mad, but at the end of this, I’m goin’ home and you’re still gonna be my whippin’ boy. ”
Dax drops his head in defeat. Mack tightens his hold causing Dax to yelp, “Whacha gotta say for yourself?” he snarls, dropping his arm and waiting for the next words outta Dax’s mouth.
“‘M sorry,” Dax mumbles as he hears “Mikhailov” being called to the courtroom.
“Thought so,” Mack says as he points to the courtroom.
As we enter the courtroom, I sit in one of the chairs behind Mack and Dax as they take their seats by Ronnie.
From that moment, everything happens so fast. Ronnie and the DA approach the bench, the judge listens as everything is explained.
The two lawyers turn and shake hands before returning to their respective tables.
As the Judge tells Dax to stand and verify everything he was just told, I feel the blood drain from my face. The judge rubs his chin as Dax agrees to everything asked. The judge looks at the smug smile on Mack’s face, then he looks at Dax.
“I must say, I’m inclined to disagree with your accounts Maddox Mikhailov, but I have a sworn statement from you.
If you say this is how it happened, I have no choice but to believe you.
With that said, I sentence you to 18 months in the Juvenile Detention Center to start immediately after these proceedings.
” Banging the gavel on the desk in front of him, he continues, “Bailiff, take him into custody.”
Dax looks back towards me and nods. ‘Eighteen months? What am I supposed to do without him for eighteen months? How is Kai gonna handle this?’ I think, watching as my twin is handcuffed and escorted out of the courtroom.
Holding in my tears as Mack shakes hands with Ronnie before they part ways, I flinch slightly when Mack moves to stand in front of me. His form towers more than a full foot over me as he looks down and snarls, “Curfew little girl, your ass better be in the house at curfew. Understand?”
I shake my head yes and bolt from the courtroom, running for the bathroom. Slamming the stall door, I lock it and sink to the floor burying my head in my hands as I pull my knees tight to my chest. ‘How am I gonna protect myself from that monster for that long?’
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Dax was only supposed to get a few months and be home by summer. I sit there for a bit, allowing myself to wallow before I start pulling myself together. I wipe my eyes and sniffle when I remember that I have to tell Kai.
‘He’s gonna be devastated.’ I think as I feel fresh tears spilling down my cheeks.
I allow myself a few more moments to fall apart before dropping my head back against the side of the stall.
‘Okay bitch, pull your shit together. You know you’re sitting on a public bathroom floor, right?
This isn’t what Dax asked us to do. Get your ass movin’.
You have a best friend to break the news to. ’
Taking a deep breath, I stand up, wipe the grimy bathroom floor off my ass, readjust my skirt and head out of the stall. I stop at the sink to wash my face and leave the bathroom, my head held high, pretending as if my entire world isn’t crumbling around me.
Leaving the courthouse, I keep an eye out, making sure that Mack isn’t waiting nearby. Hopping back on the L, I head home to change. I had somewhere to be.
While I take the same ride I took with Dax this morning on the reverse path, alone, I shoot Kai a text and let him know I’m on my way home to change, and then I’ll come to him. I just need to know where he wants me to meet him.
After I change, I check my phone and find a message from him.
He’s at home wallowing in that crappy van.
Shaking my head, I grab my purse and head for the coffee shop, thinking, ‘I'm gonna grab us something sweet to wash down the hard conversation we’re about to have.
We can cry and rage together, and then we're gonna to get through the next 18 months like Dax asked us to. Leaning on each other.’