27. Chapter 27
Chapter twenty-seven
Maddox
Jinx told us that Roan wasn’t overly threatening in the meeting, but how he spoke to her spooked her. I can’t blame her; knowing what she does, I’m surprised she attended that meeting. I would’ve lost my shit and painted the walls red. Roan wouldn’t be breathing.
Wilde has been staying at the barn with the twin's dad. He doesn’t fully trust him and swears someone will try to break him free. No matter what we told him, no one knows where Augustus is. But he won’t listen. I think a little paranoia is creeping in from his past.
“Jinx, I need to know this plan that you keep talking about.” I make eye contact with her once more.
“Don’t worry about it. I have it all figured out.” She smirks and shoves a chip in her mouth.
I stare at her and wonder who the fuck she is. This isn’t the same person that we once knew. Wherever the old Jinx went, she can stay there. I like this fisty one. But her planning skills have never worked out. Well, that’s a lie—great planning, but poorly executed.
“Seriously, Jinx. The plan. You need help, and you know it.” Ashton reaches over her head and steals a handful of chips from her bowl.
“I do not.” She smacks his hand.
“Keep telling yourself that, but it’s the truth,” Atticus tells her. “I think the only thing that worked out was your accidental divorce plan between Prescott and Mother.”
“I didn’t mean for that to happen, but I’m glad Dad realized what a witch she was before he died.”
“We know, baby. But it was for the best either way.”
She takes another chip and stares off in the distance. “I wanted to meet with Serena and Roan privately.”
“Nope.”
“Fuck that.”
“Ain’t fucking happening.”
She continues like we haven’t interrupted her. “To tell her that she can have the school.”
“Are you crazy!”
“Why would you do that?”
“Sweet fucking Jesus.”
She exhales. “And when Roan thinks he finally broke me, I’ll strike. Wilde will haul your dad in, and their gig is up.”
“That’s your plan?” Ashton asked, his words coming out judgemental.
She tilts her head backward. “Yeah, why?” She shifts so she can face him.
“There’s only one hole in that plan. Serena can sniff a fucking lie from a mile away. She’ll know you won’t give her the school. You’ve been fighting her on it from day one. Why would you suddenly have a change of heart?”
“Because I’m young and I can’t handle it. I think that’s a good reason; honestly, it’s not a lie. How the fuck am I supposed to be in charge of a school?”
“Jinx, you have us three behind you the whole time. We wouldn’t let you fail.” Ashton cups her face. “I promise.”
“I know, but it’s still in the back of my mind.”
“And that’s okay, no one is saying you can’t have those thoughts,” I remind her.
She goes back to eating. And I can’t help but think of her plan. It could work. Serena is only after money, and Roan wants power and status. But trying to get them to admit to murder that’s the tricky thing. Having Augustus show up won’t prove much, except Roan stalked her, and we still need to know why. I have my suspicions as to why he did. Scare her away from the school, but why wait until the twins show up? That’s what I don’t understand. Did Serena think having them here would make Jinx an easier target?
“When are you following through with your plan?” I need to know because if I know her, it will be tomorrow.
“Tomorrow. I figured, why wait? We can meet at Dad’s.”
“Leave it to you. I’ll call Wilde and get shit figured out.”
I leave them alone and head to my dorm. It’s not like there is a lot to plan, but trying to escort a fucking asshole can get a little tricky if he decides to fight.
Wilde's phone rings twice before it connects. “Hey, Maddy. How’s life in the castle?”
“Oh, you know, peaches and all that.”
“Yeah, I bet it is. This barn life might be it for me. It’s perfect out here, peaceful, no one to bother you, and I can piss wherever I want.”
I can’t help but laugh. “The freedom of the land.”
“You know it, Maddy. What did you need?”
“We need to move dickwad tomorrow. Jinx has a plan that involves him.”
“Okay. I sense something else is wrong.”
Him and that spidey sense. I don’t trust any of this, and that’s the problem. “What if something happens when we get Augustus to the house? I don’t trust Roan.”
“If that happens, I would be amazed. This cunt probably can’t even walk. I’ve only been giving him enough that he can’t pass out. Roan would have to drag him out. He’ll be tied to a chair. I’m not worried.”
“You don’t worry about anything, and that’s what scares me. Alright, I’ll text you a time tomorrow. If you need anything, let me know.”
“Will do.”
The line goes dead, and I hope this plan works because I want it all to end. I head back to the twins’ dorm when something catches my eye, a black piece of paper on the floor. I bend down and grab it. The golden lettering is addressed to Odette Hawthorne. I turned it around and noticed DCM stamped in shiny gold wax, keeping it shut tight.
I enter the door code, still trying to figure out where this came from. “Jinx, something arrived for you.”
She tilts her head over the arm of the couch. “What is it?” I hold up the envelope; she sits up, and her eyebrows furrow. “I’m not opening that. The last time a mystery gift was dropped off, it was from Unknown. ”
“You think Roan did this?”
“I don’t know. Open it.”
I look at the wax seal before breaking it. The flap pops open, and I look at Jinx. “Are you sure you don’t want to do this?”
“Yeah, if it’s from him, I can’t do it again.”
I slip the paper out, and my heart punches me in the chest. If this is from Roan, he has some sort of sick game. The envelope drops to the floor, and I carefully unfold the paper. I stare at Jinx.
“Baby, I think you’ll want to read this one.”
“Why?” Her voice raises a notch.
“Trust me. Where’s the guys?”
“They went for a smoke; they should be back soon.”
I walk around the couch, staring at Jinx. She’s going to be so shocked when she reads this letter. Maybe this is what she needs. A fucking break. God, I’m so proud of her. I drop the letter on the couch and grab her chin.
“You’ve seen me at my worst and never gave up on me. I don’t know what I would do without you, but please never give up on your dreams. Don’t let anyone hold you back, not even me.”
“What are you saying? You would never hold me back. Maddox, you’ve helped me so much that I can’t express it. I want the best for you, too. I’m proud of you, you’ve come so far this month.” Her hand reaches up and lightly strokes my scar. “You’ve come so far from this also.”
I grab her hand and move it to my mouth, kissing her palm. “A life lesson that I’ll forever remember.” She moves forward, pressing her lips to mine and wrapping her other hand around my neck, pulling me closer. The feeling of her mouth was almost too intense; I pull away, dropping my forehead to hers. “I’ll never get enough of you.”
“I hope that feeling never ends.”
Her green eyes pierce deep within my soul, sending warm shivers throughout my body. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her to feel this when I stare at her. Knowing she’s the only soul for me. “If for some reason that feeling ends, I’ll find you again and do this all over again. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to keep loving you.”
A silent tear rolls down her cheek. “Well, shit.” She laughs, whipping her tears away. “I don’t even know what to say after that.”
“You don’t need to. I can see everything I need to.”
She wraps her arms around me, “I love you, too. Maddox,” she whispers.
The door swings open, and Ashton smiles at me. “What’s going on, you two love birds?”
I pull away, caressing Jinx’s chin, and grab the letter. “This came for her, and it’s best she reads it in front of all of us.”
“What is it?” Atticus narrows his eyes.
“Nothing terrible, I swear. And definitely not from Roan.”
“Good.” Ashton claps his hands. “Read it, sweet cheeks.”
She laughs. “You haven’t called me that in months.”
“I know, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t thought about those cheeks.” He wiggles his brows.
I hand her the letter.
With a deep inhale, she unfolds the letter, and her mouth drops open. “Get the fuck out of here.” She pulls the letter to her chest and looks at me.
“What?” Atticus moves closer.
“Jinx, what the fuck is it?” Ashton moves behind her.
I nod. “Yeah, baby. You did it.”
“Will somebody start talking,” Ace demands.
“It’s from the Darwin School of Music. It’s an acceptance letter.”
Ashton jumps over the couch, crushing her into his chest. “Get the fuck out of here. Congratulations.”
She laughs. “Right, but how?”
“Who the fuck cares. You did it.” Atticus drops to his knees and wraps her and Ashton in an embrace. “Fuck, Odette, your dream is coming true.”
“I did it. Oh, my God.” She bursts into tears.
“Yeah, you did, baby.”
She reaches for me. “I’m sorry, Maddox. It was your dream also.”
“No, it was yours. You’ve been talking about it your entire life. Go make something of yourself, and we’ll be cheering from the crowd.”
“Fuckin’ rights we will. Everyone will know who Odette Hawthorne is and her crazy ass boyfriends.” Ash chuckles.
“Oh, sweet baby Jesus.”
Now, we only have to deal with one more issue, and we can finally move on with our lives.