“I probably wouldn’t have if my window wasn’t still down,” I admit to her.
There’s a knock on the door that makes us both jump.
“It’s Lucas and Jake. Don’t shoot us,” the voice I recognize as Lucas’s says.
“Come in, it’s open,” I tell them.
They come inside, both panting and thankfully neither are bleeding. “They got away,” Jake says.
“There’s a fence…in the back,” Lucas starts. “By the time we both got over it, they were jumping into a car someone else was driving.”
“I shot the fender as he drove away, but that’s all either of us hit,” Jake says. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. You did your best,” I tell them. “One of you stand outside the front door; the other stand outside the back one.”
“Yes, sir,” they both reply before they split up without arguing. Jake was closest to the front door, so he goes out that one while Lucas starts toward the back.
“Can I help you up?” I ask Madison when they’re gone.
She shakes her head no, so I stand up and give her some space since she doesn’t want me to touch her. I can’t blame her after what just happened; I just wish she wasn’t so stubborn and didn’t hate me so much.
Madison doesn’t get to her feet. She feels around on her coat like she’s looking for something, and then she pulls her cell phone from one of the pockets.
“What are you doing?” I ask her.
“Calling the police,” she says, her voice growing stronger.
“Why?”
Her eyes meet mine and now they look like usual – full of anger. “Why do you think, Cannon?”
“Think about it for a second, Madison. Why were those men here waiting for you tonight? If it was a random act of violence, then it’s one hell of a coincidence.”
Her jaw tightens, and then she says, “They told me why they were here. They said I had to drop out of the race for mayor by tomorrow or they would…”
“They would what?” I ask, anger raising my voice.
She swallows roughly like her throat hurts and then says, “Do what they were going to do tonight and then slit my throat.”
“Goddammit! I should’ve put a fucking bullet in both of their backs!” I run my fingers through my hair and stare up at the ceiling, counting to ten to try and calm down. I made a split-second decision to stay with the woman who won’t let me touch her instead of chasing down the fuckers responsible. So stupid.
I hear three soft beeping sounds and when I finally look down, Madison has her phone up to her ear.
“Hang up. You’re wasting your time,” I tell her.
“No,” she says, watching me with her eyes full of nothing but defiance that I don’t understand. “How do I know you’re not working with them?” she asks.
“What the fuck did you just say?” I yell at her.
I hear a clear, professional voice on the phone come on confirming it’s 911.
“My name is Madison Monroe. I live in townhouse B-4 on Villa Drive. Someone broke in and held me at knife point.”
The operator asks her more questions while I try and wrap my head around the words, “knife point.” They could’ve killed her tonight. Or worse, finished what they started when they tore her shirt open.
“Thank you,” Madison says before she hangs up. “They’re sending an officer as soon as they can.” I thought the 911 operator always stayed on the line until police showed up. Guess the problem with that is that this particular operator would have had to spend the rest of their lives on the call; because, if I had to guess, the police aren’t coming here.
“We’ll see,” I tell Madison, who is struggling to get to her feet.
“What does that mean?” she asks when she’s finally standing across from me, her coat clutched to her chest.
“It means I don’t think the police will come because they still take orders from the former chief.”
For a second, there’s concern on her face that I’m right. But then she shakes her head. Noticing the loose pieces of hair, she pushes them behind her ears. “You’re wrong.”
“He sent two men to rape you and kill you, Madison! Why wouldn’t he keep the police away from helping too?”
She keeps shaking her head. “I’m going to change. You can wait outside.”
“Outside?” I repeat. “It’s freezing cold!”
She won’t look at me, and I realize that she’s not being a bitch; she’s honestly so shaken up and scared that she doesn’t want me in the house when she changes clothes.
“Fine. I’ll wait outside. But if they’re not here in thirty minutes, I’m coming back inside for you.”
“They’ll be here,” she says confidently.
Chapter Eleven
Madison
I don’t know why in the world I told Cannon to wait outside when the truth is, I would’ve rather had him in the bathroom with me while I undressed. I would rather be falling apart in his arms, but I can’t afford to fall apart or get involved with him.
Besides, I’m fine.
There’s not even a scratch on me, I don’t think.
In that bathroom, carrying a pair of black leggings and a long, heavy cream sweater in my arms to change into, I finally see myself in the mirror for the first time.
And I look like absolute shit.
My skin is paler than usual, the mascara smeared underneath both of my eyes, and my hair is coming undone. But the worst part to face is my shirt that’s ripped all the way down, not a single button spared. The lacy cup on one of my bras is pulled back, making me remember the stranger’s gloved hand squeezing it.
I drop the clothes on the counter and hurry back into my bedroom, my fingers keeping the two sides of my suit jacket together while I look for a new bra and underwear. I want a shower and a complete change of attire before I talk to the police. In fact, back in the bathroom, after I take my shirt and bra off, I throw them both away because I never want to see either of them again.
While I take a quick, hot shower to scrub my skin, I don’t wash my hair because I know I need to hurry up. I keep listening out for the door, wondering if Cannon would let the police officers in when they get here. All I know is that I feel safe knowing he’s outside. Which scares me almost as much as the intruders who assaulted me.
I can’t afford to let myself start depending on the outlaw biker. This time he may have come to my rescue, but he won’t always be around. That’s one of the first lessons I learned growing up – I only have myself to depend on. Everyone else in my life eventually let me down.
And while I want to trust Cannon, I’m still not sure if I do.
He and the Savage Kings are only helping me because they hate Bailey and want him to lose the election. They would be backing anyone else going against him; I just happen to be the only person crazy enough to take on the challenge.
Once I’ve dried off, I reapply my makeup, redo my hair and get dressed, all without hearing any voices in the living room or any knocks on the door.
When there’s one on the locked bathroom door right before I’m about to come out, it nearly makes me jump out of my skin.