I gape at the phone. "Did he pick up??" Jess asks.
"Hello?" His spicy voice distracts me.
Oh god, say something.
"Hi...it's me. Madison. Umm..." I struggle to find the right words.
"Is something wrong?"
I shut my eyes and force myself to speak without overthinking. "I know you're probably tired of doing things for me...but I need your help with something. The driver was caught. It's on the news. Brad freaked and sped off to try to kill the guy. I would have called the cops. I don't want him arrested or..." My jaws lock. "Or worse. That's why I'm calling. I'm hoping you can help."
I hang onto the white noise from the line, concluding that my attempt was wasted.
This is too far-fetched. Jace will decline. He doesn't owe me anything. Why would he help?
"So, the news upset him?"
"Yes...which I get. What I don't get is why he took off like a mobster."
"I agree...Brad is being thoughtless."
"Don't say, "I told you so," alright?"
"I won't." He states sincerely...he means it. "I can schedule an off-the-radar recovery." He states professionally.
"A what??"
"My squad will reprehend him without the involvement of law enforcement. His death threat will remain private. They'll be no investigation...or charges."
"Oh..." I mumble.
"I'll need his license plate."
"We have his car phone number."
"That works."
I cover the bottom half of the phone with my palm. "Lil, what's his car cell?" She speaks ten digits. I repeat each into the phone.
"How long ago did he drive off?"
"About five minutes, I think."
The noise of typing on his phone fills the brief silence. "I'll have my squad conduct an air search."
"They won't hurt him, will they? He's pretty agitated."
"My men are trained to restrain, don't worry."
"Okay." I rub my neck. "Thank you...again."
"You're welcome." I hear a grin in his words. "Rest your mind. I'll handle this."
"Okay..." I tense my jaws. "Thanks again...bye." I hang up.
Jess sits beside me on the bed. "That sounded good."
"Yeah...it's good news. Jace has people to handle it."
"I knew he had to have some men in black at his disposal."
Lily returns to the room. She rushes over to hug me. "I don't get how one person can be this silly!" She shouts. "It's not right. His rage will only get worse." My bestie pulls from the hug and gazes deep into my eyes. "Do you know what I'm saying?"
Is she serious??! Lil can't be serious.
"He wouldn't...".
Jess clamps her hand over mine. "Maddy...don't wait to find out."
"You guys just want me to trash him like that?!"
"Hon, listen..."
Someone clears their throat from the doorway. We all look. Five men in dark suits stand in a triangular formation. Each wears shades and wrapping earpieces.
There's a horror element to their presence...I don't know why
.
The one in the front has a shredded body. He parts from the pack to approach us. "Hello, senoritas. My name is Alonso." He speaks with a gruff Spanish accent. "I require a photo for identification." His face is slim and expressionless.
I reach for the phone...then realize none of my data is on it. I freeze "Umm..."
Lil unlocks hers. She must be going to the messenger where I shared Brad's Tinder profile. For the first time ever, I witness her being intimidated by someone. The man whips a phone from his pocket and snaps a picture. The whooshing of helicopter propellers erupt from beneath the floor.
Jess is startled by this. Lil recoils out of fear. I almost jump from my skeleton. "Thank you, senoritas." Alonso twists around on his heels and marches from the room. The rest of the squad about faces and trails after him like robots.
"Holy fuck!!" Jess breathes.
"Right?!" Lil holds her head with both hands. "That was some Hitmen shit. I thought I was gonna get assassinated."
"I don't like sending them after Brad...it doesn't feel right." I massage my temples.
"It's our best choice...they won't hurt him." Lily consoles.
"How do you know that?"
"Because Jace has a clean rep. I did a background check. He hasn't done anything violent in the past. Your boo has a clean slate."
"He's not my boo!" I growl.
"The fact that he's helped you this much, says otherwise." Jess wiggles her brows.
The helicopter swooshes from below the house; rattling the deck. It nosedives in a straight line. I elongate my neck to watch it. The blades thrust sand into a tornado. The metal machine gleams in the sun as it zooms toward the sea.
I'm anxious. I hope Lil is right. I hope the men won't have an altercation with Brad. I hope everything goes smoothly. Brad needs to come back in one piece.
A gut feeling warns me that he won't be reasonable. Brad is too irrational! What was that look he gave me?? What's with all the anger he has??
Are my friends right about it being a gateway to abuse? Brad wouldn't hurt me. He's so sweet and considerate....he just has a strong vengeance. He needs to fix that animosity. I shouldn't have to be wary and frightened around him.
I miss the early stage of us. I miss the Brad that made me happy and excited. I don't want the version I have now; that's hell-bent and mindless. Nothing is the same anymore.
Do I stop caring for him? Do I stop seeing him? What do I do?? Brad loves me...he isn't faking the disrupted chemistry of his eyes. He isn't faking his attraction. I wish he was...then this wouldn't be as complicated. I don't know. I need to rest. I don't get how I even survived that horrible scene. I'm lucky for the on-call doctors. I'm pretty sure that was a heart attack.
I'm fortunate that I'm being tended to. Lucky to have Jace. Jess is right...so was Lil when she said he wanted me. His actions destroy all my previous assumptions. He's kind...annoyingly pleasing, infuriating, charming, and reserved. Is it possible that the billionaire isn't who I stereotyped him to be?
Lil and Jess leave me to rest...they don't go far, though. The two stand on the deck, watching the ocean swish. I lay back on my pillow, too anxious to sleep. So, I watch the yellow, blue paradise outside.
What do I do about Brad? Once he gets here, do I act as if all is forgiven? Do I pacify his actions again? This time wasn't like the last; it wasn't an argument. It was a kill attempt.
I can't let him walk it off or cool down. This was extreme...too extreme. How did he become this violent? Why didn't he listen to my screams? Where is he?
The mixed emotions in my mind hop between complication, wonder, and longing.
