LYING on the cold cement floor, Riley rests her head on my lap and wraps her arm around my torso. Guilt washes over me, knowing that I brought her here with nothing more than a few snacks and bottles of water. If my body could be the bed she lies on and the heat that warms her, I’d do it in a second. But she insists she’s fine.
My fingers stroke her head, tangling in her messy, beautiful hair. Her eyes open and she turns slightly, cracking a smile. “Thank you for hiding away with me,” she says, as if I’d be anywhere else.
“You never have to thank me, babe. I’d hide away with you forever if it meant spending forever by your side.”
She squeezes my body tighter, returning to her position with her eyes closed. “I don’t deserve you, Maddox Crane.”
“I beg to differ. I am the one who doesn’t deserve you, Riley Cross.”
I don’t think I’ve ever spoken truer words. This girl is pure gold and I am nothing but worthless common metal.
Her head snaps back around until she’s staring up at me. “You better quit being so hard on yourself. You’re the type of man that little girls dream of marrying one day. You’re a saint.”
I shake my head slowly. “Nah. I’m no saint. I’m a sinner through and through.”
“We all sin, Maddox. We’re human. But please stop doubting yourself. You’re a good man.”
“The only good part of me is you.”
She chuckles as she closes her eyes again, and I resume stroking her hair. “You’re impossible is what you are. I guess I’ll let you be blind to your saintliness and I’ll just be the eyes that see it for you.”
My lips curve into a smile as if trying to convince myself that I am the saintly man she thinks I am. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t shake the feelings of guilt and regret, refusing to let me forget what I’ve done and what I continue to do.
A few minutes later, her audible breaths have her nostrils flaring. I watch for a moment as she sleeps peacefully before resting my head back on the wall and trying to get some shut-eye myself.
I’m startled awake at the repetitive sound of a gentle thrash. My eyes snap open and I squint at the darkness around me. Then, I realize Riley is no longer on my lap. I jump up, a twist of fear in my stomach. ‘Riley,’ I call out.
The sounds stop.
I reach down beside the wall and grab my lantern, quickly bringing the flame to life. I hold it up, and I see her standing as still as can be at the top of the ladder.
“What the hell are you doing?” I hurry over to the ladder and peer up, breathing a sigh of relief when I see that the trapdoor is still closed.
“I have to get out of here, Maddox. I’m sorry. But I can’t stay any longer.”
“We have no choice, babe. Please just come back down. You need to rest. We can figure something out in the morning.”
“But it is morning, Maddox. I can see a crack of light coming through the boards.”
Damn. I must’ve been really fucking tired to have slept all night. Then again, I have no idea what time it was when I dozed off.
“How about if we try and get through the door again? We’ll be safe on the other side.”
“No!” she snaps. “I’m not staying here another night, or another day. I’m leaving, and you can come with me, or you can stay behind.”
I set the lantern on the floor beside the ladder and take a step up, willing to carry her down if need be. No matter what, I am not letting her get out that door.
“Baby, please. Just come down so we can talk about this.”
Ignoring my plea, she begins pushing on the trapdoor again. “This thing is fucking stuck!”
“As it should be. We can’t leave, and no one can get it in.”
“Maddox, please,” she cries. “I’m suffocating down here. I need to get out.”
I take another step up. “Just calm down. Everything is fine.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down!” Her voice cracks with frustration. “This is not a calm situation. I’m worried about Ridge. He should have been here by now.”
“Baby…” I say softy as I keep moving upward. “I’m going to help you back down.”
“Stop!” she shouts. “Don’t take another step. I love you Maddox, but I’m not coming down. Something had to have happened to Ridge.”
“Is this really about Ridge? Or is this about your desperate attempt to escape and find Lev?”
Her face twists in confusion. “What makes you think I want to find Lev?”
She’s within arm’s reach now, but I think I can coerce her down without physical force. “I know what you were planning, babe. You were going to sneak off and try to find Lev because you think he’s the only person who can end this madness.”
“You were eavesdropping on my conversation with Scar, weren’t you?”
“I may have overheard.”
“So what? You brought me here to stop me from going to find him?”
My silence is telling and she scoffs. “You fucking tricked me, didn’t you? And Ridge?”
I bite the corner of my lip, realizing I fucked up again. But, I’d do it over and over again to keep her safe. “Just come back down.”
“No! You lied to me, Maddox. Ridge isn’t coming, is he? Does he ever know we’re here?”
I give nothing but more silence and it only pisses her off more.
“Oh my god! I can’t believe you did this. He is probably worried sick right now.”
“Ridge is resourceful and I’m sure he knows you’re safe since you’re with me.”
“Does he, though? Does he know that? For all you know, he could think we were both taken in by The Elders.”
“No. He would have caught wind of your capture by now. If anything, he’s out there trying to clear your name. So let him. Let him do all the work, while I keep you safe…here.”
“Is anyone out there?” Riley begins screaming as she pounds on the trapdoor. “Someone, please let me out!”
I move quickly up the ladder until I’m on the same step as her. Grabbing her hands, I hold them at her sides as she fights me, and I fight not to send us both falling down. “Stop!” I demand. “You’re wasting your energy and doing yourself no good. No one is out there, and no one is coming.”
“You fucking tricked me, Maddox! You lied to me!” Tears stream down her face and my heart splinters.
“I’m so sorry. I just couldn’t let you run off and risk getting caught. Once they have you, they won’t hear anything you have to say. We’d never see you again.”
“It’s still my choice to make. Not yours!”
In a swift motion, I grab her by the waist and squeeze her body tightly to mine, holding her up with one arm. She wails and screams, but I hold tightly to the edge of the ladder and turn around to descend backward.
“Let me go! I’m so fucking mad at you, Maddox!”
“I know you are, but you’ll forgive me eventually.”
“Oh no, I won’t. I will not forgive and I won’t forget.”
Her words hurt, but not as much as losing her would. My world would crumble without her. She can hate me now, and I’ll endure her wrath as long as it means she’s safe.
I set her down and take a quick step back, knowing what’s coming. As suspected, her fists fly into my chest and she pounds repeatedly, as if she’s trying to break through a door. “I can’t believe you did this! You tricked me into coming down here and you told me Ridge was coming!”
Ridge. Ridge. Ridge. It’s always about Ridge.
Words keep flying out of her mouth about how he’s probably worried sick, and I lose it. “God damn it!” I shout. “Would you stop talking about fucking Ridge? He’s not here! I am! Why isn’t that enough?” My hands rake through my hair and I spin around with my eyes downcast. “I get it, you love him, too. Great. I’m glad. But for once can you not think about him when you’re here with me?”
“This isn’t about me thinking about him. This is me worried about the other man I love. Ridge is crazy. Who knows what he’s out there doing to try and find me. He could be slashing bodies left and right.”
“So let him!” I huff. “Ridge isn’t my concern right now.” I drop my hands from my head and lift my eyes to meet hers. “You’re my only concern.”
She swipes the tears from her eyes and drops her hands to her sides. “I know you want to keep me safe, but this isn’t the way to do it, Maddox.”
“What other way is there?”
Her shoulders slump in defeat. “I don’t know, but I know I can’t stay here.”
“I’m sorry,” I say softly. “But I can’t let you leave. Not yet.”
“You don’t have a choice. One way or another, I’m getting out that door.”
She turns around and steps up on the ladder, but I grab her by the waist and pull her back. “No, babe. You’re not going anywhere.”
