That son of a bitch wasn’t getting far.
I raced after him, but Josie caught my arm. She spun me back, but she hadn’t heard the spiteful, vile truth of Bob Ragen’s words.
I knew the racist prick would one day cause trouble for Josie and her family. But was he just threatening us? Or did he admit his fucking guilt?
Hell if I knew, but I couldn’t find out if Josie didn’t let me go.
Her words punched through me.
“Did you…did you assault him?” She already knew the answer. “I can’t believe this! Why the hell would you attack him for offering on my property?”
“Josie—”
“Don’t.” She pointed at me. “Maddox, I knew you were trouble when I started dating you. I knew your history, and I knew you were dangerous…but this?” She stepped away, every inch separating us ripping through my heart. “This is why we can’t be together. I can’t do this anymore.”
“Let me explain.”
She shook her head. Her voice wavered.
Fuck. I made her cry.
“I’m sorry, Maddox. This is over.”
“I’m sorry too…because you’re not leaving me.” I grabbed her hand before she could escape. She struggled, but my grip tightened. “I’m not letting you go until you understand why I did what I did.”
“Why would I even listen?”
“Because you know you’re in danger.” I held her gaze. “And I’m the only one who can protect you.”
Chapter Eleven – Josie
“Let go of me!”
It wasn’t the first time Maddox carried me home, but this wasn’t like the time he accidentally got me drunk on an iced tea that was a little too long-island for my tolerances. He hauled me over his shoulders. When I tried to wiggle away, he smacked my behind.
Hard.
Then he threatened to carry me all the way to his motel room.
I never feared Maddox before, but I had every reason to get pissed at him. Assaulting Bob Ragen? Was he insane?
And he wondered why I said he was bad for me. Why the town thought he was dangerous.
No wonder Chief Craig had searched for a way to put him behind bars. Maddox lived on the wrong side of the law, never responding to a conflict like a reasonable person. He didn’t look for trouble, but he never hid from it either. And every time he came home with a black eye or busted lip, he asked me for forgiveness.
I couldn’t pardon his crimes, but I’d take responsibility for them, for what would happen if we stayed together. I couldn’t handle blood on our hands, and I was running out of ways to prevent it from spilling.
Maddox’s rented room stank of cigarettes, but he didn’t smoke. He set me on the bed next to a scorch mark. I ignored it and picked up the glass on the nightstand.
Lipstick prints.
My imagination was pretty vivid, but Maddox shook his head.
“Chelsea’s been staying here. It’s hers.” He held his arms out. “You know I’m faithful.”
“It doesn’t matter, Maddox.”
“Bullshit.”
Maddox spun the chair out from under the desk and sat. He stared at me, unashamed that he just dragged me through town. He’d never apologize. It wasn’t his style. Wasn’t how our relationship worked. He used his strength and stubbornness to get what he wanted.
Well, it wasn’t working this time. The entire town saw him with me at the meeting. Nolan especially. I endured most people’s judgments, but Nolan’s grimace wasn’t meant to shame me. It was a warning for me to stay away from Maddox.
And maybe he was right. If Maddox stayed, Nolan would hurt him. At least the decision was made easier knowing that Maddox was as dangerous as Nolan.
“This is the last time we do this.” I suppressed the indignation. I couldn’t out-attitude Maddox, but I’d make him listen. “I need you to respect what I’m about to say.”
“I always do…when you’re right.”
“I’m right in this.” I didn’t look at him. “A year ago, I broke up with you. I did it for a reason, and you proved it was the right one today. I want you out of my life.”
“Because I threatened Bob Ragen a year ago?”
“Because nothing has changed since a year ago.”
“Bullshit.” Maddox tossed the chair back. He paced the room, but he wasn’t a man for indecision and waiting. How long until he did something foolish? “Bob Ragen was the first to call the police during the fire.”
“This has nothing to do with the fire.”
“Of course it does! Why was Bob Ragen at his store at ten o’clock that night? Don’t tell me his schedule is any different since I’ve been in jail. He always closes his shop at five, hits the bar, and stumbles home after last call. Somehow I doubt Saint Christie has a thriving AA program he’s attending instead.”
“What are you saying?”
“Did you hear what he said? If he had known the problems it would’ve caused your family, he would have lit the match years ago.”
I didn’t feel so good. I stood, swallowing the bile that rose.
This wasn’t happening.
“Now you think Bob Ragen burned down my store?” I whispered.
“Doesn’t it make sense? He was in a property dispute with your family. Hates your granddad and you. He’s a goddamned racist, and he wanted to send a message.”
A message… or retaliation? “And he only struck the match after you intimidated him.”
Maddox had the decency to look ashamed. “Maybe.”
“This is ridiculous.” I wove my fingers through my hair. Felt like I tied my scarf too tightly and everything that made sense was getting squeezed out of my head. “I thought you were convinced it was Chief Craig?”
“I am. Maybe.” He shrugged. “Look, Chief Craig was following me that night. He knew I was alone and had no alibi. Maybe he took the chance and set fire to your shop, not realizing Matt and you wouldn’t get out in time. I saved you, but he was able to frame me.”
My heart thudded too hard against my chest. This had to end. Now.
I revealed exactly what I knew in my gut. “Or maybe Nolan Rhys was upset because I refused to sleep with him? I didn’t sell him the property he wanted—the property he already had mapped, zoned, and planned for a conversion into a bed-and-breakfast. He offered me ten times what the property was worth and took it personally when I refused him.”
Maddox hesitated. “Maybe.”
“Not maybe. Nolan is the arsonist, no question. I’ll prove it to the town.” I turned to leave. “But I’m doing it alone, Maddox.”
His hand flattened on the door the instant I pulled it open. It slammed shut. What was he trying to prove?
Maddox stepped behind me, entirely too close for the blistering confusion and rage coursing through my veins. I protected a man who didn’t deserve protection. I didn’t want to lose him, but who was I losing? A lover…or a man slipping from the house late at night only to return bruised and bloody?
“I dealt with Bob a long time ago, Josie.”
“That doesn’t make it right.”
“I only wanted to protect you.”
That was the most idiotic thing I’d ever heard. I spun, pushing his arm from the door and forcing him to hold my gaze. I’d never intimidate him, and I was cruel enough to break his heart, but he had betrayed me. He used my name to hurt another person, and that was inexcusable.
“You want to protect me?” I whispered.
“Yes.”
“You can’t.”
Maddox slammed a second hand beside me. I edged back, but it only invited him closer.
“You think I can’t keep you safe? You think I won’t find the son of a bitch who did this, who hurt you, who framed me and separated us?”
“It won’t matter what you do.”
“Why?”
I hated that I had to say it. “Because it’s your fault it happened.”
His eyes blazed, dark and fierce. “I didn’t torch your shop.”
“You didn’t have to.” I dodged his arm, but he didn’t let me go. He pinned me on the door, and damn if I didn’t want to feel more of him against me. “You didn’t light the match, but my shop burned because of you. Chief Craig and you were feuding. Bob Regan is a racist prick, but he left my family alone—until you assaulted him in his store.”
Maddox looked away. His arms dropped, but I didn’t move. My chest rose in ragged breaths, shuddering as my heart shattered.
“And if it was Nolan?” I dared to meet his eyes. The darkness shadowed his face. “He framed you because it would hurt us both. You antagonized him, even when you had me, even when we were together. Do you get it now?”
He didn’t answer. I didn’t expect one.
“You aren’t the arsonist. You were the fuel on the fire, all because you wanted to protect me.”
Maddox gritted his teeth. “I never wanted that to happen. I hate myself for dragging you into my life, through the blood and violence and gangs. I don’t fucking deserve you. I never deserved you. I’ve always been the shit on the bottom of your shoe, but just knowing I had a chance to make you mine forced me to change. If I could shed that past, it’d be gone in a second.”
“This isn’t about your past.”