Chapter Nineteen

 

Audrey

 

I wasn’t all that surprised when Maddox called to say he was coming over.

What did catch me off guard was him asking me if I could come pick him up. The fact that he told me he would be walking down Highway Seventeen was also worrisome.

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

“I’ll explain when I see you,” Maddox tells me. “And I really need to see your face…”

“I’m on my way,” I assure him, shocking myself because I didn’t even feel the need to pull up the weather forecast and radar first to make sure no storms were on the way before heading out.

I made it to Hampstead before I came upon a lone figure walking toward me. It took me a second to even realize it was Maddox, since he wasn’t wearing his typical black leather cut.

I pull over to the shoulder and he opens the passenger door to climb in.

“Hey,” he says, leaning across the console to kiss me.

“Hey,” I repeat when he pulls back, and then I see the fallen expression on his gorgeous face. “What’s going on? Why are you walking? And where’s your cut?”

“I got voted in today,” he says blandly.

“To the MC? That’s great, Maddox!” I reply, becoming confused when he doesn’t share my enthusiasm. “Isn’t patching in what you wanted? Why aren’t you happy about that?”

“Because I couldn’t lie to your brother anymore,” he responds. “I told him about us.”

My eyebrows shoot into my hairline because I didn’t see that coming.

“You told War that we’re seeing each other?” I repeat. “And I’m guessing he didn’t take it well?”

“Nope.”

Gasping in understanding, I say, “He kicked you out of the MC? I’ll kick his ass!”

I start digging in my purse for my phone, but Maddox pulls my hand away and keeps holding it.

“It’s fine,” he says.

“It’s not fine!” I argue. “The club means everything to you, and he has no right to act like my father…”

Giving my hand a squeeze, Maddox says, “I’m not going to stick around and cause more problems in the MC when they have enough shit to deal with. War can have the club as long as I still get you.”

And my heart just melted into a little gooey pile in my chest.

“Oh, Maddox, are you sure?” I ask as I reach over to wrap my arms around his neck. “I know how much you wanted to be a King in the club your father built. Maybe you can have me and the MC both?”

“Can I stay with you for a while?” he asks as he continues to hold me tight.

“Of course,” I tell him, pulling back enough to see his face. “I would love for you to stay and, as an added bonus, it’ll drive Mindy crazy.”

“I don’t want to be a mooch. I’ll get a job and help with rent…” he starts to say.

“I like having you around,” I assure him. “And if you want to help out with rent, then I could finally boot Mindy.”

“So, you would really want me to move in?” he asks.

“Yes!”

“Okay, thanks,” Maddox replies. “Having to leave behind the MC was pretty devastating because it was all I had wanted for so long…but now, with you, my future is looking even brighter.”

“Aww,” I say before I reach for his face to kiss him again.

But despite his words, I know the loss of the Savage Kings cuts him deep, deeper than he will probably ever admit.

 

…

 

Maddox

 

Over the next few weeks, my life transforms into something completely different than the past four years as I fall into brand new routines with Audrey.

She and War have had several arguments on the phone, but he hasn’t come by her apartment to demand I leave, which has been a relief.

I was able to get a job as a valet for an uppity beach resort, making decent money in tips, and the best part was that I mostly worked during the day while Audrey was in class.

Occasionally, on my days off, I even go sit with her in Organic Chemistry to “observe” and remind the pervy professor to watch himself.

It only took about three days before I was successful in running off Mindy. She complained bitterly at first about our lovemaking keeping her awake. When we realized how much it aggravated her, we cranked it up an extra notch, until one afternoon, she was simply gone.

So yeah, things are going really great. I have an amazing girl, a nice place to live, and yet, there’s still this emptiness inside me, like I’m missing out on an important part of my life.

I miss the MC and hate that I never had a chance to tell the guys, especially Torin and Chase, who my father was. I was hoping they could share stories about him with me, but now that’s never gonna happen.

I can finally admit to myself I’m madly in love with Audrey, but the cloudy imaginings of the family I could have had with the Savage Kings casts a depressing shadow over me that never seems to break apart and blow away. Audrey notices when I get quiet and wistful, and always helps me by asking me to tell her about the brothers I had found in the MC, and reassuring me that if we just give Warren some time, he will definitely come around.

I can only hope she’s right.