28. Madeline
Madeline
“That’s three shipments.” Running my fingers through my hair, fighting a headache. “Fifteen trucks. That isn’t random. Someone is hijacking them and sending a message.”
A message that was directed at me. My stomach twisted again. “Is there still no word on who?”
Sitting in the back seat of my Uncle Cole’s blacked out sedan. Twenty past four in the morning.
“We just have to wait for the guns to flood the market or watch who suddenly has more weapon power.” He was calmer tonight. Perhaps it was just exhaustion.
“Our relationship with the buyers was fragile before we lost their shipment twice.” Dropping my head back against the headrest. “It is not an option to tell him we have lost it again. I’ve negotiated until the end of the month.
We will have to wear the cost, buy up the market. Those guns were paid in full.”
He touched my leg. “Maddy, when was the last time you slept? You’re losing that spark we love.”
Turning to look out the window. “It’s hard to sleep, knowing someone is purposely making me look stupid.”
My uncle’s driver pulled to a stop at the top of Vince’s driveway. Two hours we drove around talking. No closer to a conclusion.
“Maddy, this isn’t the first time our guns have been taken. Nor will it be the last time someone will want to challenge you. Normally you see that, normally you expect people to underestimate you. You thrive on proving them wrong.”
Dropping my head to the side to look at him. My vision was blurry for a moment before I blinked.
“So, I’ve asked Nathaniel to fly in and take over for a few weeks. Give you a break.”
I groaned, loudly. Rolling my eyes. It took all my self-control to not throw a tantrum.
“A leader is only as good as their self-awareness. You need a break and we’re enforcing it.”
This would be the second time the family had stood me down. Immediately, I felt like a failure.
“Fine but, I deal with the buyer at the end of the month.” I want to look that man in the eye and apologize to him, but more importantly, I needed to see if he was the one stealing them.
“Can you at least tell Nathaniel no bright colored shirts and bold patterns? There is never a reason to wear fluorescent shirts with a brown business suit.” I could gag just at the memory.
He unlocked the compartment, handing me my phone. “Goodnight Maddy,”
“Goodnight uncle,” I closed the car door, yawning. Like normal, he didn’t pull away until I was inside.
Even though the chances of anything happening to me here was non existent.
The security at the Crow's gated compound was unlike anything else.
I left the front door unlocked. Walking upstairs. At least the bedroom lights were off. Opening the door softly. Thank God, he was asleep. I was starting to get worried that my routine was affecting him.
It had been over a week since Vinces fight with Bastion, and he still didn’t seem any better.
Glancing at the cigarettes on the bedside table. I hated to admit I needed one. Was I becoming a smoker? Pouting, I climbed onto the bed next to Vince. Laying on top of the blankets.
Maybe my uncle was right. I needed a break.
I didn’t even have the energy to get undressed. Sleeping fully clothed like a psychopath. God, what could I justify next?
The doorbell rang for the third time.
I walked downstairs, still dressed in last night’s clothes.
Why did Vince suddenly decide to get the doorbell fixed this week? Knocking was easier to sleep through.
I opened the door to see Bastion.
“Did I wake you?” he frowned.
Taken back by Bastion’s injuries. When Vince said he hit him, I thought once. Not this. Geez. No wonder Vince was still punishing himself.
“Um yeah.” I opened the door fully for him. “But it's okay.”
Bastion walked in, still looking at me. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Maddy, but are you okay? You look?—”
“Awful?” I finished his sentence.
He followed me into the kitchen. I really needed a drink and painkillers.
“So, is everything okay?” he asked.
I opened the fridge. Looking for sugar free juice. Only there wasn’t any. So, I settled for a bottle of water. “Just family stuff. Do you want one?”
He shook his head, looking around the kitchen. Something was wrong with him.
“So, what can I help you with?” I asked, twisting the cap off the water bottle.
“Is Vince home?”
Odd question. “So you came to see Vince?” They hadn’t spoken in over a week since the fight.
He nodded.
He was lying to me. Interesting. “Vince is at the office and doing the site visits.” Which Bastion would know. Vince kept the same days every month that he checked in with the construction sites.
“Right. I forgot.” he leaned back against the kitchen island.
Fighting exhaustion and a headache, I walked to the cupboard, getting painkillers. “Is there something you want to ask me, Bastion?”
“Why do you stay?”
I frowned, opening the tablets. “Stay with Vince?” I glanced at him.
“You could have any guy. I’d say all of them would treat you better. So why him?”
I never asked what the fight was over. Why am I getting the feeling it has something to do with me?
“That’s not your question, though, is it?” I turned around, crossing my arms.
“Always straight to the point, aren’t you?” He sighed, “are you going to leave him Maddy?”
This felt like a fever dream. Why would Bastion suddenly be concerned about me leaving Vince? Did he forget our arranged marriage, or the fact their family crest is tattooed on my back.
“Why would I leave him?” Perhaps that was the better question.
“If you sleep with other men. What happens if you fall in love with one of them?”
“Did he tell you about the agreement?”
He arched his eyebrows, nodding.
“Falling in love is easy, staying in love with someone. That’s harder.” Sighing, I ran my fingers through my hair. “There are always reasons to leave. People change. The person you fell in love with today might be harder to love in a few years.”
I tied my hair up.
“I love Vince. And I know he will always love me differently. But I’ve made peace with that.”
“Why?”
I shrugged. “Because he is everything to me.” Taking the painkillers and put the water down. “Now Bas, will you tell me what’s really going on?”
“I’m worried that my brother's life depends on you being a part of his. What happens if you leave, or he screws up, which he does, regularly. And then you leave him. Or you fall in love with one of your fuck boys?—”
“Bas, stop.” Grabbing his arms, I stood in front of him. “You’re over thinking this.”
This felt like a child worried their parents were going to split up.
“You’re right. Vince will screw up. So will I. And when it happens, we’ll talk it through. That won’t change. The only time I will leave him is if I die. Otherwise, I’ll be here. Friend, wife, whatever.” I smiled, “Though, even if I die, I could see myself haunting him. You know. For fun.”
That caused Bas to smile. I never thought I’d miss seeing it.
“Now, are you okay?” I touched his cheek lightly, trying to inspect the damage without hurting him. “Vince didn’t say it was this bad. But it makes sense. I’ve never seen him so upset.”
He sighed, “I’m fine. I sort of deserved it.”
“I doubt that.” Lowering my hand. “Have you two spoken since?” By his expression, I would take it as a no.
“Sorry,” he looked away from me.
“For?”
“For coming here, waking you up, demanding answers to questions that I shouldn’t ask.” He looked guilty all of a sudden. “Maybe I’m the one with the problem.”
“God forbid you ask a question. You know, I still don’t get that in your family. Why is asking a direct question so hard?” Holding my temples for a moment.
He moved to hug me, but I stepped back.
“I am in no fit state to be touched. I committed a crime last night. I slept in these clothes.” I was still disgusted by my own actions.
“Like a psychopath. I slept fully clothed.” Making sure he understood, “When I find out who is purposely ruining my life, they will get pay back for this. Bastion. I even nearly lit my own cigarette.”
He grinned. Perhaps the only good thing to come from me sleeping fully clothed was seeing Bastion back to his normal self.
I woke up to the feeling of Vince stroking my back. I wasn’t even sure when I had fallen asleep. His fingers moved through my hair before slowly running down my back again.
“I’m sorry,” I opened my eyes, rolling on to my back. How long had I been sleeping on him? “You should have woken me.” I frowned when seeing his expression. “What’s wrong?”
“They’re working you in to the ground.” He slowly traced my cheek. “It really pisses me off that they think this is okay.”
“They stood me down,” I stretched my arms, “Nathaniel took over as of this morning.”
“Really, cause your phone hasn’t stopped.”
I turned my head on his leg and reached for my phone off the coffee table.
“Fuck. I shouldn’t have said anything. Don’t call them back. Please.”
I looked at the number of calls. “Something must have happened.”
“Something always has happened.” His jaw tightened. "Please. Madeline. Don’t call them back.”
“I’m sorry.” I sat up, calling Nate back. To have this amount of miss calls from every one of them. That wasn’t normal.
“Where the fuck have you been?”
“Um. Uncle Cole said you were taking over, so I um,” I moved away from the couch to make sure Vince didn’t hear our conversation. He barely tolerated my family at the best of times. “I was asleep. Is everything okay?”
“I found out who took our guns.”
“Really, who?”
“Marcel Crow. Making some fucking point about business, we apparently costed him.”
“Oh.” I nervously glanced at Vince before walking into the kitchen. “Well, I guess we can organize a sit down.”
“No. Fuck that. He has wasted my time. Costed us money. So, I made my own fucking point.”
The one time I don’t answer my phone. “Nate. Please tell me you haven’t already reacted?”
“They costed us three shipments. What kind of man does it make me look like if I let that go unanswered?”
“A man that doesn’t let his ego blind his decisions.” Holding the side of my head, “What did you do?”
“I blew up their shipment containers. Apparently, Marcel and his wife were on the property at the time?—”
“Are they okay? Please tell me you didn’t kill one of them?” I moved further through the house, trying to put as much distance between Vince and I. “Please tell me that they are okay?”
“Do you remember what family you belong to? I’m starting to think you’re on their side.”
“There are no sides.” Nervously I looked around the corner. “Answer my question, please.”
“You know this whole thing started because of you.”
I rolled my eyes. I refused to entertain this theory again. “Nathanial. Answer my question.”
“You’ll be happy to know. They are both alive. But his wife did go into early labor.”
For a moment, it felt as if the whole room had started moving. “Is she okay? What about the baby?”
“How the fuck am I supposed to know, and I don’t care.”
“You need to care.” I glanced down the hall. “Their grandfather is a fucking psychopath. If something has happened to his first great grandchild, he will lose it.”
A long silence followed.
“Nate, you need to find out if they are okay.”
“I already told you. I don’t care. If you’re really that concerned about his great grandchildren. Then you can get on your back and give him one. Because your loyalty right now. Is really fucking clear to me.”
He ended the call. Of all nights for my cousin to get blinded by his own pride. I tied my hair up, walking back down to the lounge.
“I have to go.”
Vince was still sitting on the couch. “What a fucking surprise.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Madeline. I’m over this. I am over them always calling you and expecting you to clean up?—”
“It’s my job!” I threw my hands up. “And it’s my family. You never hear me complaining about yours.”
“Mine doesn’t drag me from our bed in the early hours of the morning.”
“Yes, they do Vince.” I put my runners on. I didn’t even have time to waste by walking slow. “I just don’t make a big deal about it.”
“Which one of them fucked up tonight? What state are you suddenly expected to rush to?”
“I’m not fighting with you.” I walked back into the kitchen, looking for my car keys. “I understand you're frustrated, and I’m sorry. We will talk about this.” I turned around, not even surprised to see he had followed me. “But I can’t right now.”
I went up on my toes and kissed him. “I am sorry.”
Before I could step away from him, he pulled me back to him. Kissing me harder.
“I promise. When I get back, we will talk about it.” I kissed him one more time and left. Praying to a higher power that Marcel’s wife and their baby were okay.