“I’ll ask her if she knows anything.” While I understood our conversation was important, all I wanted to do was get back to the room and be with her. She was frightened, and I wanted to do everything I could to comfort her.
Both men rose from the table and I followed, but before we walked out of the room, I stopped Marek by grabbing his arm. “Is it all right if she stays here for a bit, until I figure something else out?”
“Yeah” was all he said before he left.
My dad stopped next to me on his way out. “Your mom is gonna be here soon, and she’s bringing Sully with her. If anyone can relate to that girl, it’s Marek’s wife.”
Agreeing with a nod, I had something else I wanted to ask. “Does she know about this?” I pointed to the small bandage on my temple.
“No, so you better downplay it.”
Not only did my mom and Sully show up, but so did my sister. All three of them bombarded me with questions as soon as I met them outside.
Grabbing my face, my mom turned my head to the side. “What happened?” She sucked in a lungful of air when she pried the bandage away from my skin. “Oh my God! Who shot you?”
“Shot you?” Riley parroted, stepping up next to our mother and leaning over her, both so close I had to take a step back to breathe.
“Uh… nobody. We just got into a scuffle.”
“Bullshit. Not only are you a terrible liar, Linc, but I know what it looks like when a bullet grazes the skin. I’ve seen too many of these in my time.”
After spending five minutes toning down what really happened, and reminding them that I was fine and still breathing, I turned the conversation around to the reason they were here.
I explained the situation with Maddie, and after having heard what Sully had gone through when she was in the Reapers’ clutches decades ago, I agreed that if anyone could reassure the girl she would be safe with us, it would be her.
I wasn’t sure if Marek ever told her that we now knew what happened to her at the hands of her father and Vex, but I sure as hell wouldn’t bring it up. Kaden and I had discussed this new information about his mom on the ride home that night, and for a full hour, he was inconsolable. It was one of the few times I saw him break down and cry, and his anguish tore at my heart.
“Where is she?” my mom asked, walking past me and into the clubhouse. I followed, as did Sully and Riley.
“Last bedroom.”
“Is she okay?” Riley asked.
Our mom had filled my sister in on what was going on. “Physically, she’s bruised up, but emotionally… that’s a different story.”
Riley shook her head, her fallen expression something I expected. She was tough, stubborn to a fault, but she had a big heart and hated to see anyone suffer.
“Linc?” I turned to look at my mom, who stood in the middle of the hallway. “You wanna go in first so we don’t scare her?”
“Good idea.” Maddie knew she was coming, but she didn’t know about Sully or Riley, and I had no doubt she’d feel overwhelmed and nervous if all three women waltzed in there unannounced.
I rushed ahead of them and knocked on the door twice before entering. Maddie was looking out the window. The only view she had was of the lot, but she seemed entranced because I unknowingly startled her when I walked up behind her.
“Sorry. I thought you heard me knock.” She just shook her head. “My mom is here, and she brought her friend. My sister is also with them.” She looked worried and scared, the emotions weaving not only into her furrowed brows and wide eyes, but in her posture as well. Her shoulders rose right before she backed up, but because she was so close to the wall, she didn’t have anywhere to go. I reached out and gently touched her shoulder, and she recoiled, the gesture infuriating me. I wasn’t upset with her. Instead, my anger continued to be heightened with every reminder of what she’d endured.
“I know it’s a lot to deal with, but my mom is a nurse, as you know, and her friend Sully, who is Marek’s wife, can relate to what you’ve been through, and my sister, Riley, wants to make sure you’re okay.” I wasn’t going to provide Maddie with any personal information about Sully because I didn’t want to overstep, but if she chose to tell her, that was her business. Although to be fair, I’d just indicated the woman had been through something similar.
“Why do they all care?” Maddie closed her eyes briefly before reaching for my arm. Her slender fingers wrapped around my wrist, the heat of her touch causing a reaction—desire mixed with something unfamiliar.
“Because I do.” My admission caused her to relax enough for me to guide her toward the center of the room, which was only several steps from where we stood.
They must’ve been listening at the door because they all entered the room without me asking. My mom was first, her smile big and inviting. She had a calming way about her, making me believe with a simple grin that everything was going to be okay, even when I was unsure myself.
“Hi, honey,” she said, setting her black medical bag on the bed. “I’m Addy, Linc’s mom.”
“Addy?” Maddie asked, her tone bordering surprise.
“Yeah.” My mom nodded before opening her bag and pulling out tubes for blood and a pee cup.
“Your name rhythms with mine.” A shy smile crept across Maddie’s face. “Addy and Maddie.”
“That’s because we’re cool,” my mom responded. I saw the tension evaporate from Maddie’s frame right before my eyes, which in turn made me relax.
“So, tell me, Maddie. How are you feeling? Any issues? No matter how small, you should tell me so I can make sure there isn’t a bigger problem.” She placed her hand on Maddie’s arm in comfort. “Okay?”
Maddie looked to me, then back to my mom, biting her lower lip but not saying anything.
“Linc, can you wait outside?” It wasn’t really a question but instead a command. I abided without giving her an issue. Whatever Maddie wanted to tell her was obviously private, and because I wanted her to be as comfortable as possible, I left them to it.
18
The moment I sat down with Addy, a calm washed over me.
“Now that it’s just us girls, how about you tell me what’s wrong.” I opened my mouth to start, but she interrupted me. “Sorry, how rude of us.” She pointed toward a pretty dark-haired woman who looked to be about her age. “This is Sully, Marek’s wife. And this,” she said, gesturing toward the younger female who was probably several years older than me, “is my daughter and Lincoln’s sister, Riley.”
Both women smiled and said hello. The young blonde shared a strong resemblance to her mom, which even included a similar shade of hair color and a family resemblance to Lincoln.
“So, what’s goin’ on?” Addy asked, her eyes on me as she sat on my right, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“For the past few days, it hurts when I pee. And sometimes I get dizzy.” I looked down at my hands in my lap, feeling embarrassed. Had one of those men given me a disease? Would these women and Lincoln, if he found out, think I was dirty, unworthy to remain with them?