Chapter 33 #2
Maddox sent his guys off with their orders, and we said goodbye to Bonnie and headed back downstairs. On our way out, we decided to grab some lunch before we returned to the cabin.
“When is the last time that you spoke with Alexander?” I asked as we walked through the garden.
“It’s been a few days. I am going to be giving him a call today and let him know that if he wants this chance to be heard then he needs to be here Monday morning.”
“That’s a good way to put it. If he doesn’t show up, then no one is going to believe that he is innocent. He wanted to be heard. He asked for this. Do you know if he is bringing Charlotte with him? I never did call him.”
“Yes, he did, and no, I am not sure. I will ask him about her when I call. I know you said yesterday that you wanted to call him but right now I don’t think that is a good idea.”
“Why wouldn’t it be a good idea?”
“I want him to understand that this is a serious matter and that he needs to be cooperative. I don’t want to give him the chance to try to use her as a leverage again.”
“I guess I will let you do your job then. So, what about Scott? You told Bonnie that he should be here by morning.”
“Yes, I have a team that is flying out tonight to collect Scott and bring him back to the compound.”
“Sounds like you have all your ducks in a row,” I said hoping I was right.
“Always,” he said with a smile. “I am going to call Alexander and get that out of the way when we get back to the cabin. I will find out if Charlotte is going to be coming with him.”
“Sounds good to me; I want to give my mom a call. I haven’t talked to her in a while, and she is probably worried about me. I can’t tell her about Charlotte though, and I am a horrible liar. Especially where my mom is concerned.”
“Well, it’s good to know you can’t lie. That is something that can come in handy though when dealing with an enemy.”
“For most people I can tell the truth in a way that is misleading. Lying but not, if you will; I just have to look at things from a different angle and then bam there it is.”
“To be honest with you, that sounds like psychological warfare—it sounds disturbing.”
“Try having my brain. It’s like, let me pretend to be psycho for a second.
Get the angle I need and then use it and try like hell to forget it.
I can understand why someone does something, but my brain doesn’t work like theirs so it’s not how I would handle it, but I get why they did. It’s really hard to explain.”
“Like your own personal superpower?” he said, staring at me.
“Or like ADHD. Whichever you prefer, I guess. Once you find out someone’s driving force—the reason they are the way they are.
You suddenly have power over them; especially if it happens to be insecurities and fear.
Which it usually is. We are all either trying to prove someone right or someone wrong.
A person grasping for control wherever possible because they have no control anymore where it actually matters.
Those are dangerous people who are normally desperate. ”
I was just talking and not paying attention. When I looked over at Maddox, he wore a look of admiration mixed with a little tinge of fear on his face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked immediately, feeling insecure.
“Every moment I spend with you is better than the last. You have so many layers and so much depth that sometimes all I can do is stare. I could see how you could be intimidating and quite frankly the thought of destroying someone using their own mind is scarier than them fighting for their life. If I don’t kill someone, they will recover.
If you don’t talk someone into ending their own existence, then you have more than likely completely altered their mind or planted a permanent seed.
That is some other kind of shit. You amaze me in so many ways. ”
“Thanks—I guess.”
We got to the cabin and went inside. I went directly to the bedroom and changed into a pair of yoga shorts and a tee. I sat on the bed and called my mom.
“Hey baby. I was wondering if I was going to hear from you soon.”
“Sorry Mom. I have been really busy, and I met someone.”
“Really? Is it serious? When do I get to meet him?”
“Yes, yes, and hopefully soon. I was thinking of making dinner tomorrow and having you come over. I will see if he can make it.”
“That would be wonderful. What can I bring?” she asked with excitement.
“If you want to bring dessert that would be great,” I said, knowing that it was her go to.
“I will bring a pie or two. What time would be good?”
“Well, we can eat around six but if you want to come over early, we can have some extra time to visit.”
“I will be there around three. Does that sound good to you?”
“Sounds great. You can talk to me while I cook.”
I was getting excited. I really missed my mom, and I needed her to remind me that I was just her baby.
“I can’t wait to see you tomorrow. I am going to get off this phone so I can get to baking those pies.”
“Okay Mom. I love you and I will see you tomorrow.”
“I love you too, Joslyn. See you tomorrow.”
I ended the call and went into the kitchen. I could see Maddox through the window on the patio. His phone pressed to his ear. Opening the fridge, I began to scan the contents and reached for a bottle of water. We would get dinner when we landed in Michigan.
I grabbed a fork from the drawer and lifted the lid off the cake.
I sank the fork in and pulled out a big bite.
I shoved it in my mouth quickly as it threatened to fall from the utensil.
It was a delicious cake. I picked up the whole cake, my water, and walked to the end of the island where there were stools and took a seat.
I happily ate cake until Maddox returned inside.
He walked over to where I was seated at the counter and reached out and grabbed my fork taking the bite of cake that was attached and sticking it in his mouth.
“So, what did Alexander say?” I asked anxiously.
“Well, I can tell you that he is turning himself in on Monday. I can also tell you that Charlotte isn’t coming with him.”
“Okay, so she doesn’t want to see me.”
“No, that’s not it at all. He broke up with her. She is currently packing her stuff, and he is going to be putting her on a plane back to Michigan.”
“Did he tell you why he broke up with her?” I asked, praying that it didn’t have anything to do with him just using her.
“He said that he really liked her, but she couldn’t get over the fact that he was using her to get to you.
She was always arguing with him over you.
He tried to explain to her that initially it was to gain access to you but that he really liked her.
That her staying with him wasn’t gaining him points with you.
She just kept questioning him and thinking he was still using her. ”
“She screwed it up herself. Maybe I can talk to her or maybe you can,” I said, looking at him.
“I hate getting involved in things that don’t have anything to do with me.”
“You don’t seem to mind getting involved when it has to do with me. This has to do with me.”
The look on his face was telling me that I was being a huge pain in his ass.
“Jos, please don’t make me do this. I have very little patience for dramatics.”
“You heard what Alexander said. He told you how he felt about her and why he broke up with her. Besides, I was just about to ask you if you want to go back to Michigan with me. My mom is coming to my house tomorrow afternoon and staying for dinner.”
“Are you saying you want to introduce me to your mother?” He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my forehead.
“I would love to meet your mother, but I am not overly excited about having a conversation with Charlotte.” I got up from the chair and slid my arms around his waist and looked up at him with a smile.
“Fine, you don’t have to have a conversation with her alone, but if I ask you to tell her what Alexander said then you will.”
“Oh, I will? What do I get out of it?” he asked coyly.
“What do you want?” I said, curious as to what he was thinking and dead sure it involved zero clothes.
“I want you to go on vacation with me when this whole thing is over—just the two of us.”
“Well, that sounds more like a reward. I’m good with that.” I pushed up onto my toes and pressed my lips to his.