Chapter Six

The hard part—the outline of the trio of doves—was done. All that remained were the details. And wasn’t the devil ever present in them? He didn’t know how much longer he could allow the needles to puncture her skin like this, to make her bleed and flinch.

But she hadn’t said a word to anyone in the past three hours. The camera guy looked a little bored, and the PA had finally stopped talking altogether.

However, he knew Cadence. He knew her tolerance for pain was laughably low, and he felt like crying. Yes, he, Maddox Stewart, youngest son of a duke and former utility player for the Scotland Blue, felt like bawling.

He swiped at the ink and blood with a clean towel, then bent to his task once more, feathering out the delicate lines of the wings. A hint of pink and grey mixed with white gave the birds depth and the appearance of real feathers.

New beginnings.

God, he’d had everything before the accident. There was no need for new beginnings, only to come clean to Jude—his best friend and Cadence’s older brother—and the rest of their respective families.

Except... he needed to make Cadence understand why he left. Maddox needed her to understand that he had no choice in the matter.

“What the lovely Cadence didn’t finish telling in that old tale of boy meets girl was that there was an accident. An accident that was the boy’s fault. It was my fault.”

Simultaneously, the PA and the cameraman’s attentions were caught. The PA made a go-on motion with her hand.

Maddox glanced at Cadence, but her eyes were firmly fixed on the wall. He knew she needed closure. He owed her that much.

“It was a day like any other. My team had won—”

“Your team?”

“Aye. I played for the Scotland Blue.”

“Soccer?”

He frowned. “Rugby.”

“Give me a sec.” The PA whipped out her cell phone, her fingers flying. Eyes widening, she gasped. “You’re that Maddox Stewart?”

“Yeah.”

“Holy shit. You’re royalty.”

He made a face. This was why he hated when Americans found out who he was. Well, the British Monarchy obsessed ones. “Youngest son. No title.”

“But if everyone dies—you get to be king!”

Cadence’s nose scrunched as she lifted her head. “What a horrible thing to say. Maddox loves his family. The only time he wishes death on anyone is when he’s on the pitch.”

Maddox wanted to gather her to him in that instant. His fierce defender.

The PA had the grace to blush. “Sorry. I got carried away.”

Cadence shook her head a little, her shiny brown hair sliding to one side and exposing the nape of her neck. How often had he kissed her there?

He grunted.

Not often enough.

“Back to my story. We were celebrating. My mates and I... decided to be irresponsible that night. I was supposed to be the sober one, but I allowed Jude to sway me. He was celebrating as well—box office hit and all that. We should have called a cab.” He swallowed hard. “I don’t remember much about that night, but I do remember Jude and me arguing over a family matter.”

Maddox could barely say Jude’s name. How his mate must hate him. If only he hadn’t been so damned pigheaded. Okay, so Jude was worried for them because they hadn’t told their parents yet. He hadn’t wanted his little sister to get hurt. “He was pissed. Royally so. That damned Romanov temper.”

Cadence made a noise. “Not all of us.”

“Present company excluded.” Maddox nearly grinned. Nearly. Instead, he applied ointment to the tattoo and continued. “In any case, I woke up the next morning in a hospital.”

Cadence stared at him as she sat up, swinging her legs over the sides and letting them dangle there. Her boots didn’t touch the floor.

“Later that day, I went to see Jude. I went to apologize, and I thought,” he began, swallowing hard. “I thought if Jude didn’t look as bad as my imagination pictured, then I could apologize to you, my love.”

Her hazel gaze turned bright, and her cheeks flushed the loveliest of colors.

“But when I saw him... he didn’t look like the man I knew, the boy I’d grown up with. Then your parents came in the room... They bloody hated me. Especially your father. Your mother... she was torn because I was like a son to her, or so she said. But at that moment, I was the enemy. I was the one who had turned their boy into a monster.” Maddox dropped his gaze to the floor. “I could hear him every night—cursing, moaning, and shouting with pain when they changed his bandages. They couldn’t figure out why the meds weren’t working.” He shivered at the memory. “I wish it were me and not him, my love. Believe me. I would gladly take his place, but since I can’t... Since I couldn’t, I ran. I came here to start over.”

“Without me,” she stated.

He nodded. “Without you.”

“How’s that been working for you?” Cadence asked, crossing her arms over her perfect breasts. The tank top offered little coverage. That was something he’d be talking to the PA about.

“I’m fucking miserable.”

“Good.”

He clenched his jaw and fisted his hands. Life was so bloody unfair. The woman of his dreams was here in New York City. Yet, she was so far away that he couldn’t touch her. Especially not her heart.

But that was the punishment he would endure while the lawyers sorted things out. The only reason he hadn’t gone to jail, he reasoned, was due to his fame and fortune... and the fact he was banned from driving in Scotland. Hell, he hadn’t driven here in the city either. Public transportation was the only way he traveled, even if he could well afford a car and parking.

Apparently, it was time to move to another place. He didn’t need to work, so this time, he would pick an island. Maybe the one where he was born. He and Cadence had spent two erotic weeks there.

Had it only been four months ago? It seemed like a lifetime.

“Thank you for the honor of inking you, Ms. Romanov.” He stuck out his hand.

Cadence eyed him, crossly smacking his hand away. “Oh, I’m not leaving yet, not until I’m done.”

“What else is there to do?”

She hopped off the table and marched up to him. “Bring you home.”

***

Cadence rather enjoyed the look of shock and awe on Maddox’s face. She might not have the Romanov temper, but she did have their flair for the dramatic.

After a beat, she couldn’t take the silence. Apparently, she’d inherited their impatience as well. “Did you hear what I said?”

His mouth dropped open. “You can’t be serious.”

“I can, and I am.”

He ran a hand through his hair, mussing his short, black curls. “Did you listen to my story?”

“Yes.” She had, with bated breath and anticipation sending her heart into her throat. Her entire being was thrilled with the knowledge that he hadn’t left her because he didn’t need her. He had left because he was hurt, embarrassed, and didn’t want her to have to make the choice between siding with him or her family. “This is where you finally get my side. I stayed away far too long, Maddox Stewart. I shouldn’t have let you push me away. There was no deciding between my family and you, and if you had stayed long enough, then you would have learned the truth.”

“The truth? We already know the damned truth. I nearly killed your brother from choosing to drink and drive.”

“But you didn’t.”

“Only because God had other plans for Jude,” he grumbled. “Not that I’m complaining.”

“You didn’t push Him away, huh?”

He gave her an annoyed look. “My faith is the only thing that has kept me sane. It’s the only thing that’s kept me grounded. Always has.”

“Until me. You were most definitely not sane when you rejected me,” she pointed out. Cadence didn’t begrudge Maddox the fact he embraced something they both had in common. “And it was my faith that kept me from completely giving up on you.”

His face softened. “I don’t deserve it.”

She grabbed his hand, which was still covered in latex. Her shoulder pulled a little, and she winced. “You didn’t hurt Jude. You’re not responsible for him either.”

“But I am. I—”

“Hush.” She rose on her tiptoes and brushed her mouth across his lips. They were warm, smooth, and full. His beard tickled her skin. “If you had bothered to stick around... or answered your phone, maybe even your emails, then you would know what the investigators discovered.”

“What’s that?” he asked, his voice husky. He wasn’t rejecting her now.

“That Finn was the one who was driving—not you.”

Maddox let go of her hand and stumbled back. Even the camera crew gasped. “No way. No fucking way.”

She nodded. “Yes. He admitted it. After they found the bruise on his chest anyway—the one in the shape of a steering wheel. It even had the emblem for your car in the center.”

“But you said he was unharmed.” Maddox looked like he was about to pass out with relief, while she was so damn giddy that she wanted to sing. “You said he walked away.”

“I did and he did, but that’s because he declined any care. He was awake when the emergency vehicles showed up. They checked him for the obvious signs, but you were unconscious... and Jude was a bloody mess.” She blew out an unsteady breath as images of her big brother appeared in her head. Helpless. Scarred. Angry at the world. His legs not moving like he wanted.

Jude had sent them all away. He now lived on a remote island off the coast of North Carolina, refusing visitors or family.

“The next morning, he went to a different hospital because he was having problems breathing. They took a picture of the bruise—well, one of the nurses did, because she’s a fan of his hot chest.” Cadence rolled her eyes. She’d always thought Maddox’s teammate, Finn Davenport, was a cocky jerk who couldn’t play as well as he talked, but Maddox had always given him the benefit of the doubt. He had tried to work with him, to get him to understand that his attitude wasn’t helping him win friends, but rather to make enemies. Privately, she thought Maddox was wasting his time.

“What don’t you understand? Finn put you in the driver’s seat so he wouldn’t get charged and you would.”

Disbelief gave way to raw fury. His face turned dark as his jaw worked. “If you’ll excuse me.” Snapping off his gloves, he tossed them in the trash and left the room.

“Holy shit, that was awesome.” The PA rammed her fist against the cameraman’s in victory. “To think, we wouldn’t have gotten any of that if Warner hadn’t been sick.”

Cadence shifted her weight from one foot to the other, all her earlier giddiness gone. “Could you please edit out the last part—about Finn? My family’s lawyers and his are still negotiating a settlement.” Plus, they had no idea she was there, attempting to reconcile with Maddox after he’d left her—and Jude—behind.

“This won’t be aired for six months.”

“That should be enough time, but if it’s not?” She cast a lingering glance at the door, everything inside of her screaming to go after him.

“I promise to email you first. We’ll have a viewing party before it’s released.”

Cadence nodded. “Thank you.” Unable to wait a minute longer, she grabbed her shirt and pulled it over her head, then ran after the man she loved.