Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
EVIE
"I'm telling you! They are just these two weirdo kids who were best friends. Shared trauma and all that." Lou waves dismissively sloshing half her drank margarita all over the table.
"Bullshit!" I whisper yell.
We were four pitchers deep at Bangers, discussing whatever the fuck that was earlier between Mercy and Sophie. Joe dipped out after the first round, but we stopped by and picked Allison up along the way.
Bangers is your typical backwoods bar where all the good ol' boys stop by after work to bitch about their lives and their wives. Just imagine your local place for a happy hour pick me up and that's Bangers.
Bangers is owned and run by Crow Crosby, and his brother Crew. Both men are pretty to look at. Blonde hair, pale blue eyes, and have that whole blue-collar working man thing going. Too bad I’m more into a certain emo asshole with a penchant for self-loathing.
Okay, okay, maybe he isn’t emo, but damn if he doesn’t make my fucking panties drenched with his menacing glares and fuck me lips.
"Hello! Evie!" Lou waves a hand in front of my face.
"What!" I snap, damn her for pulling me from my thoughts.
"Go ask Crowbar for another round. Pretty please?" Lou flutters her long lashes at me.
"Why me?"
"Because he'll give me the whole big brother spills about needing to be more responsible and yadda, yadda, yadda. Plus, I'm pretty sure I'm one more 'go fuck yourself' from finding a new job. Also, you’re the sweet one, no one can resist you.”
"Fine! But only because I love you." I hop off my stool and everything seems to be titled on its side. I slowly make my way to the bar and clear my throat. Crow turns an artic gaze my way.
I hold up a finger. "One more round please."
"I don't know about that, Little Bird." Fuck, his eyes are hypnotic. I almost forgot why I had stumbled over here to begin with.
"Last one, scouts honor! Then I'll be sure to get mouth out here safe and sound." He and I both know who the hell I’m referring to. We exchange a silent understanding before he nods his head.
"Last one, Little Bird."
"Yep! Thank you!" I head back to our table and barely sit down when I notice Lou is gone.
"Where the hell is—" My words die in my throat as some pop hit from my youth plays, and I find Lou’s willowy ass dancing on the dance floor with her finger crooked my way. I down the rest of my drink before looking at Allison, who looks scared to death.
"Girl code one on one, never leave a bitch hanging." With that, I grab her hand and tug her tiny ass to the dance floor with me.
We don’t stop there, I honestly lose count of how many songs we dance through. We are too busy in our little bubble to acknowledge much else. One of us will randomly stop and go get a drink from the table but we never leave the dance floor. It's on one of my trips back that I feel an arm snake around my middle.
"Hey Evie, surprised to see you here tonight."
Good lord, I sigh to myself. Trip Waller. I’ve been turning down this man left and right for the past two years. He’s nice enough just not the previously mentioned emo asshole I've grown attached to.
I turn out of his grasp. "Well, it's a bar, everyone comes in here."
"Say how about me and you go find a little quiet place to chat?" His greasy smile makes me uneasy.
"No thank you."
Trip steps closer. "Come on now Evie, you've been teasing me for a few years now. I've been patient, but a man only has so much patience."
"I have not been ‘teasing you’ and newsflash, buddy I don't give a damn about your patience because I'm not interested. Like I've been telling you for two years now."
Trip gets in my face. "Listen here you fucking bitch," he hisses. "You owe me a good lay and I'm going to get it one way or another."
Owe him? Is that how his peanut brain works? Any women he’s interested in has to put out solely because he’s interested? Women should seriously stop populating with asshole’s who are beneath them because the world could stand less Trip’s in it. This raggedy bitch has me fired up and ready to go. I’m about to light his ass up like a Christmas tree, I just have to wait for him to make the first move then fucknut is in for one hell of a surprise.
I laugh in his face. "I don't owe you shit."
His sweaty hand grabs me by the throat, but before I can make a move, Trip is yanked clear off his feet. Looking behind him, a familiar murderous glare clashes with my own. Holding Trip midair by the scruff of his neck Maddox leans in. "Did I just see your filthy fucking hand wrapped around my woman's neck?"
Trip's terrified eyes meet mine. "N-No!"
The only way to describe the smile that sneaks across Maddox's face is pure malevolent. "Liar."
Then faster than my drunk ass can comprehend Maddox drops him putting him in an arm bar. The sickening break of his arm vibrates throughout the silent bar. Standing to his full height he picks Trip up by the throat again squeezing. "You ever look at her again or fucking attempt to breathe the same air as her, and I’ll fucking kill you.” Not a threat, a chilling ass promise. Trip's face is growing more purple by the second.
"Enough! Maddox, let go!" Henry bellows across the bar. Maddox lets go and Trip goes crashing down like a sack of potatoes.
"How dare you, Maddox Cole!" Ignoring my two friends urging me to keep quiet, I push on. "I was about to handle that!"
If I wasn't intoxicated, I might have paid closer attention to the man before me, because I’ve never seen him like this. His pupils are blown away, and he looks every damn bit like a vicious predator. He has a wicked gleam in his eye and that air of violence he carries with him fills every space of the room we are in.
"Henry, lock his ass up!" I hiccup, "Teach him a lesson or two." I look around the massive mass in search of his brother when suddenly everything is flipped upside down, and the room is getting smaller and smaller. I overhear Henry and Crow talking as we pass.
"Damn, Crow! I said cut them off at two or three max!"
"It's not my fault! They sent the sweet one over asking for one last round!"
"Of course she did. LOUISANA ROSE!"
I giggle as Maddox stomps his way down the steps. That damn girl is always up to no good. Maddox sets me on my feet as he fishes a single key out of his pocket. A. Single. Damn. Key.
"Well, damn Big Guy. You didn't have to do that because of me." Maddox falters for a brief second before unlocking the door and tucking me in the car. He buckles me in, checking everything before getting in on his side and doing the same.
"Whose car is this?"
"Mine." That single word steals my breath. Even in my drunken stupor, I grasp the weight of this moment: a man who has refused to even sit behind the wheel after that terrible accident drove here because of me.
Maddox starts the engine but remains still as a statue at the wheel. I run a drunken hand through his hair, and he softens just a bit. Once we finally get on the road, I notice him relax even more.
"Care to explain why Trip Waller had you by the throat back there?" he says in a clipped tone.
"You mean you forgot to ask that before snapping his arm like a damn twig?"
"Evie."
“How do you know he wasn't showing me some new hold or something? You may have just broken that man's arm for nothing."
We both know that’s complete bullshit, but I can’t help the sassy remark. Anyone else would be terrified at the thought of him breaking someone’s arm as easily as reading the morning mail, but not me. I understand that the man beside me revels in violence in a way that’s both captivating and intricate. And despite that, I know I’m safest with him.
His jaw clenches, his eyes fixed intently on the road. "Are you trying to be fucking funny?"
"Nope. Just sayin' is all." I shrug, tugging on the frayed end of my shorts.
"Mhm."
I don't know why, but I want to push him to his breaking point. I want to make him snap. Who’s Maddox without all his coveted control? Is he as deranged and as dark as I think he is underneath all that self-control? How far can I poke the growly bear ?
"Said I owed him a taste, since I’ve been teasing him for two years."
He hums in response, the low, throaty sound vibrating through the air. I find myself savoring the rich timbre of his voice, each note sending a thrill through me.
Swallowing, I push on, "But I told him he can’t have a taste of this fat shaved pussy because it isn’t his.” Sober Evie would never be able to say that with a straight face, but the alcohol is giving me confidence tonight.
Maddox doesn’t seem to have a reaction, so I decide to poke him just a bit further.
"Maybe when my friend and I get done toying around..." I say cautiously, twirling a lock of hair around my finger.
"Evie, baby.."
"Hmm?"
"Shut the fuck up." The way he announces each syllable tells me maybe I poked a bit too far with that last one. "When we pull up to the house you have a ten-second head start, and that's me being very fucking gracious." His eyes remain fixed on the road ahead.
"Head start for what?"
"For me, baby. Because once I catch you, that ass is mine. I'm going to finally fuck that goddamn word out of you," he says menacingly and I know without a doubt I indeed pushed him a bit too far.
"Jesus Christ."
The car comes to a stop, and I realize I'm a withering mess. Maddox unbuckles me slowly, then himself. He rolls his neck a couple of times, a hint of tension easing away before he turns towards me. His gaze is pure predatory, sharp and intense. "One, two—" he begins counting.
I’ve never moved so damn fast in my life. Hurrying into his house, I scavenge for a place to hide. Casting my shoes aside I opt for a nonobvious spot, sinking on the other side of his kitchen island so I can maneuver around as he moves around the house and bide my drunk ass some time.
Listening, I hear the backdoor open and close, then his heavy footfalls lead into the back of the house. I wait until he makes his way slowly into the living room before slowly crawling to the other side of the island. As he searches around, I figure I'll wait until he circles around and heads back before sneaking between the couch and the wall. I mean hell, he's already looked there, so it should be fair game.
I listen and wait, and when he heads towards the back of the house, I make my move. Just as I wedge in a hand grasps my ankle. Screaming I bail and run for the kitchen. From opposite sides of the island, we stare at each other panting. Don't get me wrong, I’m not scared of the man per se, but my vagina knows she’s in for a beating.
"Truce?" I offer as sweetly as possible.
The look on his face tells me there isn’t a chance in hell of that happening.
I quickly look around. I could fake him out. If I'm quick enough and pivot right, then I can slip past him on the left side. I take a deep breath and pivot right before hauling ass left, too bad Maddox knows exactly what the hell I’m doing. He catches me around my middle, and I kick out landing a shin kick that makes us both haphazardly fall on the floor.
In a blink, Maddox flips me on my belly and pins my arms above my head in one of his hands. "Pray to whoever you need because once I’m done with you, you’ll wish they’d showed you a bit of mercy." He licks the column of my throat before biting me.
"Get off me!" I buck and flail around trying to get out from under him, but it's no use.
Maddox straddles my ass while still holding my arms above my head. "Fuck, you feel good. This soft ass body makes me fucking crazy."
"No shit, you broke someone's arm tonight. "
"That's because he had the nerve to fucking touch you, Evie. He's damned lucky I didn't snap his damn neck for that."
One hand reaches under me and effortlessly undoes my shorts and zipper before Maddox wiggles them down under my ass cheeks. He kneads one ass cheek and then the other before a stinging slap lands on my left ass cheek, then the right. Then he slaps each cheek again and again. He lets go of my hands as he moves down my body, tracing what I'm sure is his handprint with his tongue. Damn, that helps soothe the ache.
With sudden and jerky movements, Maddox rips my panties off. "Fucking soaked. You liked our little game of chase, didn't you? I bet that pussy is throbbing right now, isn't it? Just aching for me to play with it."
"Maddox," I whine.
“So greedy.” Using my panties, he ties my hands together and hangs them on the pantry door. Keeping my back to him he slaps my legs apart. I’ve never felt so exposed or turned on in my whole life. I feel his breath on my neck. "Take a deep breath."
I don't even get a breath in or out before he slams all the way inside me, stealing the oxygen from my lungs. "I said fucking breathe!"
A shaky breath rattles my lungs. "Maddox, I?—"
"You can take it, Evie," Maddox says in that commanding ass tone of his.
Oh, this cocky motherfucker. "Shut up, are you going to start moving any time today?" I manage to wheeze out having obviously lost my damn mind.
Maddox suddenly pulls back and snaps his hips so hard and fast I’m sure I’m about to sail through the pantry door. The man fucks me like a savage animal. Despite the tears streaming down my face, the pleasure’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt.
Maddox pulls me flush against his chest, never slowing his vicious pace and all you can hear is the brutal way his body is fucking mine. It's primal and making me wetter than ever. "Never talk about another man getting to taste this pussy again." Maddox reaches around and grabs my mound roughly with his hand. "This pussy is mine, baby, and the thought of anyone else getting to see it makes me fucking psychotic. Are we clear?" His grave voice harshly whispers in my ear.
I'm too busy getting my brains fucked out of me to answer. "Are. We. Clear?" Maddox pinches my clit making my vision blur.
"Crystal!" I sob.
With a firm slap to my clit, he places both hands on my waist and slams into me so hard my teeth knock together. "Now, be a good girl and pinch your clit so you can come all over my cock." My fingers barely graze my clit before I shatter into a million pieces against him.
"That's right, coat me with your cum baby. Just like that,” he grits out and with a final thrust, Maddox comes screaming my name. The egotistical side of me loves every time he does that. I hiss as Maddox gently pulls out and takes my hands down from the door handle, rubbing the circulation back into them.
Maddox kisses along the back of my neck with open mouth kisses. "Think you can stand?"
I laugh. "Hell no.”
"Damn, woman you trying to boost my ego here?"
"Oh, hush! You know damn good and well that thing between your legs is well above average." Maddox shoots me a cocky grin as he unties my panties from my wrist.
"You don't need to walk for the next part anyways." My poor body is spent and there’s no way I can handle him putting his mouth on me right now.
"No, no, no! I'm good Big Guy! You made your point."
Maddox pockets my panties and chuckles. "Which was?"
"Yeah, you obviously don’t like being called my friend, and I should never tease you about someone else getting a taste of me."
"Now, now don't get all shy on me. What was it you said in the car? Let me think." Maddox scratches his head pretending to be deep in thought. "Your fat shaved pussy.”
Standing on shaky legs, I turn on my heel and flip him the bird. "I'm going home. I don't have to stay and hear this." I take two painful steps before Maddox leans over and gives my clit a gentle flick with his tongue making my knees damn near buckle.
"Your ass is staying here tonight. Now, let's go shower." Standing at his full height, he gently scoops me up in his arms before heading to the shower.
Showering with Maddox Wilder is a treat. The man lavishes me with affection and care every single time. It's one of my favorite things we do together. After rinsing my hair, Maddox leaves me under the spray of the water and gently touches my neck.
"Are you okay?”
"Yes, although I am a little pissed you didn't give me a chance to handle it."
Maddox throws his head back and laughter rings loudly in the bathroom. "God woman, you’re something else. I’m talking about what happened in the kitchen. Did I hurt you?”
Blame the alcohol but the genuine look of sincerity on his face makes me laugh. “No, although God wants me to tell you he heard my prayers, and my vagina will be out of commission for the next few days. Also, I’m pretty sure there’s a hole in your pantry door.”
"Are you sure you have the room?"
"For the sixth time, yes I do." Maddox stands shirtless, glistening in sweat as he puts the finishing touches on this tree house monstrosity he insisted on building the boys. "Just go get the cake woman. I wouldn't offer to put it in my place if I didn't mind."
I cross my arms under my chest. "Fine, you don't have to be a dick about it."
Maddox turns giving me his full attention. "We both know I’m not. You're just so used to doing everything on your own that you're looking for a reason to refuse my help."
"No, I'm not," I tell him defiantly.
"Evie…" He blows out a frustrated breath and for the first time, I can tell how annoyed he is with me. "Earlier it was helping hang the decorations that you know damn good and well you are too short to reach. Then it was trying to rearrange the picnic table and patio furniture by yourself, now you're arguing with me about storing their birthday cake at my house."
Well, when he puts it like that it does seem like I’m being difficult for no reason. "I could have hung those, and the furniture wasn't even that heavy," I grumble. It isn’t that I’m purposely trying to pick a fight.
This is a new experience for both of us. He’s here for my son's birthday, trying to find comfort amidst the pain of losing his daughter. Meanwhile, I’m accustomed to managing everything on my own. My fierce independence is a defining trait that he both admires and struggles with. I’m not entirely sure how he feels about being so deeply involved in this unfamiliar situation or how my need to handle things solo is affecting him.
My heart races as Maddox closes the few inches between us and brushes his nose along my nape, the scent of pine and sweat suffusing my body, and he completely melts away my prickly demeanor. I can feel myself melting against him as he trails his lips along my earlobe before sinking his teeth into my neck, making me whimper softly. "Go get that fucking cake and stop picking a fight with me. It's not just you on your own anymore, I'm here." With a quick nod, I tell him I won't be long and head to Joe's.
The parking lot’s empty, as expected since it’s well past closing time. Still, the dark and desolate lot makes me uneasy. Allison should still be closing up, so I call her name as I enter the back door of the café. She doesn’t respond, but that isn’t unusual; she often zones out while working.
"Ally, I'm going to grab the boy's cake!" I call over my shoulder, walking to the walk-in cooler. As expected, Soph knocked it out of the damn park, this cake is just a bigger replica of the chocolate cupcakes Charlie and Bash love so much. She even added a few of those crime-fighting turtles they love so much, and a banner that says, 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE AND BASH'. They’re going to freak out when they see it. Hell, I'll be surprised if they shared with anyone.
Deciding it best to come back for the cupcakes, I gently pick up the cake and slowly make my way out of the cooler. "Ally, you should see this cake! The boys are going to love it!" Where is that heifer? I check our prep area, but she’s not there. I check the office, but she’s not there either.
I enter the dim diner, my stomach twisting with unease. Something's wrong. I head behind the register, and my cake slips from my hands, landing in a mess at my feet. There, amidst scattered money, sits Allison tied to a chair with tears streaming down her face. I rush over, ready to rip the tape from her mouth, but she begins thrashing wildly in her chair, her eyes wide with terror. She shakes her head violently from side to side as if telling me no.
I urgently try to soothe her. "Shh, it's okay. You're okay. I'm going to get you out of here." My heart pounds like a drum in my chest as I desperately try to figure out who could have done this to her and why. My hands fumble with the knots, trembling with anxiety, so absorbed in the task that I don't realize we're not alone until it's too late.
"Petal, it’s been a while."
The color drains from my face as a terror unlike any I’ve felt before washes over me. I have always known, deep down, that this day might come—that eventually, he would find me. But I'm no longer the fractured woman he once knew. I've healed, rebuilt myself, and emerged stronger and more resilient than before. I’m Evie Taylor goddamn it and I refuse to cower for this shit stain excuse of a human. I give Allison a wink before turning to face my devil .
The Trent standing before me is a ghost of his former self. The robust, fearsome figure who once used his strength to intimidate me has withered into a mere waif of a man. His once formidable presence has been replaced by a skeletal frame, and the only thing that betrays his identity is his lifeless, icy eyes. If not for those haunting eyes, I could almost convince myself that this isn’t him. Plus, he's dirty and his clothes look three sizes too big.
"Not long enough, fuckhead," I spit my words at him.
A greasy smile spreads across his cracked lips. "I can see you've forgotten our last lesson." The scars on my thighs tingle as if saying, we'll never forget.
"Stick your lessons up your ass."
Then quicker than a snake’s strike, he lunges at me, plunging a needle into my neck. Allison’s muffled screams pierce the air as everything around me fades to black.