Becoming Maddie (The Casterhouse series Book 1) (34 page)

“My baby gets jealous.” Aiden whispered in her ear.

The huskiness and the closeness sent shivers down her spin and back up again.

“A little.” Maddie whispered back blushing again.

Aiden laughed loud this time and held her closer as they reached their little waiting group. Marvin run to her and licked her hand before running to Rosie. Yep her husky loved her but he loved Rosie too.

“That looked fun.” Sarah said laughter still in her eyes.

Maddie thought about and it had been nice showing Cheryl that Aiden belonged to her and she belonged to him. Saying that though it hadn’t all been nice.

“Poor little girl.” Maddie muttered.

The group went quiet as they watched the mother and daughter get into their expensive car and leave the parking lot.

“I hope she doesn’t pay for what I said.” Maddie said starting to worry.

Aiden looked down at her and then at John. Something passed between the two men.

“Right bitch.” Aiden said and John nodded.

“Looked it, man.” John replied.

“Maybe get Ethan to befriend Isabelle so she can hang out with us more.” Aiden asked in a way that wasn’t really a question. 

“Yeah.” John replied. “Well get on that tonight. Should try and give her something good to hold onto so she knows what is waiting for her when she gets free.”

Maddie hugged closer into Aiden and Sarah did the same to John.

These two were good men.

Awesome men.

Slowly the group started making their way to the parking lot. John started talking and telling them quietly so that the kids wouldn’t hear that he was trying to convince Sarah to get a dog. The bickering between the married couple was so funny that Aiden and Maddie were laughing as they got to the cars.

Sarah and John helped buckle Rosie into her seat and check Ethan’s seatbelt before walking round to say bye to Maddie and Aiden. Before they managed to finish they heard someone shout something.

Marvin who had be quietly stood at Maddie’s side turned and started growling. Looking down at him Maddie frowned.

“Bitch, I want a fucking word with you!”

Marvin, as if he understood the words started barking loudly and growling more.

Before Maddie could turn round Aiden stopped her.

“Sarah get in the car and get the kids out of here. Take Maddie with you.” Aiden said quickly looking at them each in turn. “John can you get the police here ASAP but stay here with me to keep Jessica here.”

The shouting was Jessica? Fear shot through Maddie. Her legs started shaking but something else came over her too. Determination to not let the fear control her.

Maybe Maddie should have stayed in bed after all. The park seemed to be filled with ‘man snatching’ woman and ‘crazy abusive’ sisters.

Sarah took the keys her husband was offering and jogged around to the driver’s side.

“Maddie come on.” She called semi pleading.

Maddie looked at her friend and then at Aiden who was giving her a hard look, He really wanted her to get into the car and get away from whatever Jessica wanted to say, or do to her. Looking at John she could see he had his phone out of his pocket and was subtly calling the police already.

“
Bitch!
” Jessica screeched from behind her, clearly annoyed that none of them had turned round to acknowledge her yet.

Marvin started to move away from Maddie, still barking. He was very slowly headed towards Jessica to protect her.

“
Maddie!
” Sarah said again more urgent this time.

She couldn’t leave, Maddie had been running for a long time but no more. John would have the police on the way and both he and Aiden were here. Nothing would happen to her if she stayed. Just nasty words but Maddie had some of her own to give back this time. No she wasn’t going anywhere.

“Sarah go.” Maddie called to her friend. “I am going to stay.”

“Maddie.” Aiden’s tone was like steel.

Holding her hand up so he could say no more to try and convince her to go. She looked him right in the eyes. If he could read her mind she really wanted him to see that she had to stay here. That she was not prepared to run away anymore.

“No Aiden, I am staying.” Maddie stated.

Looking deep into her for a second or two he nodded.

“Sarah out of here.” John shouted at his wife having seen the nod Aiden had given and wanting his family to be clear of this mess.

Sarah gave Maddie a quick worried look, Maddie smiled trying to reassure her friend, then jumped behind the wheel and got out of there.

“Are you all fucking deaf? Your runt hears me.” Jessica shouted at their backs.

They all just ignored her as John spoke into the phone then hung up. Turning back to Maddie and Aiden he asked.

“Plan?”

“Marvin stop.” Aiden said to the still barking dog. “Guard.”

Instantly Marvin came back to stand by Maddie. Although he had stopped barking he still growled angrily. He stood so close to Maddie that she could feel the heat coming from his body. Just having that made her feel a little better.

Aiden looked between the 3 of them and sighed. He didn’t want this to happen. It was going to be hard and it was his sister but Maddie knew he would do whatever he had to do to keep her safe.

“Let me talk to her.” Maddie said.

“
Assholes
!”

Jessica was getting much closer.

“No.” Aiden said firm and straight to the point.

“Aiden, please!” Maddie said wanting to say more.

“No.” He just repeated.

John put a hand on Aiden’s tense shoulder to get his full attention.

“It might be the only thing that keeps her occupied long enough for the police to get here.” John explained. “Jessica steps out of line we cut in.”

Maddie nodded. That sounded exactly like what she wanted to happen. Although Maddie wanted to talk to Jessica she did not want to be left hang out there to be attacked in a way she couldn’t handle.

Aiden ground his teeth and Maddie could feel the tension flowing over him. Not wanting to give the go ahead using actual words he just nodded.

“
Whore
, fucking pay attention.” Jessica shouted even though she must only be a few steps away from the three of them now.

This was it. This was Maddie’s first chance to stand up for what she believed in. This was her chance to be strong. That and she could tell Jessica exactly what she thought of her and what she had done to Maddie and her own family. Especially Aiden.

Turning round slowly she crossed her arms and cocked her hip.

Maddie was ready.

Chapter 26

“So you answer to whore now?” Jessica said with a cruel smirk on her face.

Maddie didn’t reply as she took in the woman stood in front of her. Jessica’s hair looked even worse than it had done not that it looked great before. It was lank, greasy and had not been brushed in a good long while. Her clothes looked in about the same condition. They were dirty and hung from her even thinner frame, all of her looked thin, like skin ‘n’ bones. Jessica had on a pair of denim jeans that looked like they would fall down at any minute. A pink blouse, well a blouse that use to be pink but was leaning closer to grey, with a denim waist coat on over the top. She had on the same awesome black cowboy boots.

Maddie still couldn’t wrap her head round how someone that clearly had such good taste in boots could be the way Jessica was. She hadn’t shared this thought with anyone because she was aware how superficial it sounded but that didn’t stop her from thinking it quietly to herself.

“Don’t look at me like that bitch.” Jessica snapped crossing her arms.

It struck Maddie that she seemed almost embarrassed at how she looked. If that was right then why did she let herself get into that state?

“How was I looking at you?” Maddie asked calmly.

The bedraggled woman in front of her just snorted.

“Like you are better than me?” Jessica replied waspishly.

Maddie shook her head and crossed her arms mirroring the angry woman. Behind her she could feel Aiden’s heat. He was stood close enough that she knew he was there but he kept far enough away that he was letting her lead the conversation. Basically he had her back.

“You’re wrong.” Maddie said softly losing some of her fight. “I don’t look at you like that. I look at you with pity.”

It was hard to stay angry at someone who was such a mess.

Jessica bent forwards and spat on the ground. This cause Aiden to growl and John to move forward a little. Marvin just kept growling at her feet.

Jessica turned her head slightly so that she was looking Aiden in the eyes and not Maddie.

Maddie found herself bracing even more than she already was. Whatever was about to come out of Jessica’s mouth was not going to be good.

“Nice to see you in person Brother.” Jessica said, her face twisting into an evil smile. “Instead of sitting outside my flat in your stupid truck. That’s right I saw you that’s why I knew to stay away.

That’s why Aiden had been getting home so late at night. Maddie had put it down to him looking for Jean because he hadn’t stayed out like that since. Clearly that wasn’t what he had been up to at all.

“We both know you were staying away because of the police and not because of me.” Aiden replied trying to keep control of his anger.

If the police were watching Jessica’s flat then why did Aiden feel the need to watch it as well. How often had he been going there? Maddie didn’t know what to think or how to feel. Betrayal wasn’t a question because he trust Aiden to look after her. Confusion as to why Aiden felt the need to sit outside Jessica’s place was definitely more likely.

“Like I would want to speak to you now that you have had her legs in the air.” Jessica gestured towards Maddie. “She probably had you wrapped round her prefect little finger.”

Aiden pushed forward but Maddie stopped him. She was so focused on keeping Aiden back that she didn’t have a chance to stop John from stepping forward. Sarah’s husband had his hands in clenched fists at his side. His impressive, muscular frame was tense but under control.

“Bitch I just met you and I want to hit you already.” John said from behind clenched teeth. “Luck for you I would never hit a woman but you need to watch your fucking mouth.”

Maddie let go of the no longer struggling Aiden and reached for John. Aiden was obviously not the only one that swore when he was pissed off. John let her pull him back and Maddie had no doubt that this big man was
letting
her pull him back.

“Got you wrapped round her finger too, huh?” Jessica laughed.

Before either of man could jump in and say something Maddie decided she needed to work what exactly was going on inside Jessica’s head.

“Why do you hate me so much?” Maddie asked keeping all her anger and hurt out of her words. “You don’t even know me.”

“You are nothing but a whore that steals families from people.” Jessica spat at her. “You spread your legs for my brother and you now think you rule the bloody town.”

“Jessica.” Aiden said in a stern warning tone.

“Fuck you.” His sister shot back. “Fuck you. Fuck Fiona. Fuck Eddie.”

Putting her hand behind herself, Maddie searched quickly for Aiden’s hand and gave it a squeeze. Maddie needed him to stay calm. If Jessica gets really annoyed or scared she would run.

“I haven’t stolen anyone.” Maddie said firmly. “You pushed everybody away. Then you attacked me. So I have done nothing but be beaten and bleed all over my own floor. You screwed up your own life.”

“Fuck you.” Jessica screamed at the top of her lungs.

Maddie breathed deeply and told herself to try not get caught up in the anger that was coming from Jessica. She had to be the one that kept a level head here.

“Yeah I think you said that already Jessica.” Maddie said smoothly. “I just have one question?”

Jessica had started to look around herself. Was she looking for somewhere to run to?  No that didn’t seem to be right. The slightly worried look on her face made Maddie think that maybe she was looking for someone. Were there other people waiting to come across the parking lot too?

A sharp bolt of fear shot through Maddie’s body making all of her muscles tense and her flight instinct to kick in. Her feet were stuck to the ground there. Her resolve to see this through kept her in place.

Shaking at that feeling, Maddie stuck to the point she was trying to make.

“Do you care about what you have done to them? Your family?” Maddie asked.

That seemed to hit a nerve.

“You have no bloody idea what you are talking about!” Jessica spat at her. “They don’t fucking care about me!”

“Bullshit!” Aiden spat back with just as much anger as his sister had given him. “We have always cared. Most of the time going way beyond caring and putting up with shit that we should have nipped in the bud. A long time ago!”

Maddie turned to look at Aiden who had moved from behind her to stand next to her. She thought about stopping him but maybe that was the wrong thing to do. Maybe he needed to get this off of his chest to.

“Like hell you have. I was too much hard work for you all and then you gave up on me, everyone of you.” Jessica said throwing her hands up in the air but it was easy to see the tears filling and spill out of her eyes. “You got a whore and I didn’t matter anymore.”

“Call her a whore one more fucking time and me and you are going to have even bigger problems than we have now.” Aiden specified

Right it was time for her to cut in again. Putting her hand up on his chest Maddie tried to get his eyes. Aiden looked at her for a long moment and took a deep breath before he relaxed his shoulders.

“You know what Jessica?” Maddie started having lost any patience she had with Aiden’s sister. “You’re just a fucked up bitch.”

John and Aiden both sucked in air at the same time. They got how fed up she was with this whole situation.

Maddie never swore.

“Excuse me?” Jessica said cattily, no longer looking around.

The guys were right. Maddie had had enough of this already. Jessica would not blame this on the family that had always been there for her.

“You heard me!” Maddie sapped back, putting a hand back on her hip again. “I can’t stand here and listen to you blame everybody else for what you have become and not the person that is actually to blame
. You
.”

In the distance Maddie could hear the very vague ring of sirens.  Jessica’s mouth was open and closing clearly not knowing exactly what to say. She needed to keep the woman busy so that she wouldn’t realise what was happening. That and she wanted to get her point across. Even if it doesn’t sink in, she will be able to live with herself because she faced her fear and made her point.

“You don’t know me. You know nothing about me but you have decided to blame your whole life and crap choices on me. Before I was even in the picture you were stealing everything inside your own brother’s flat.” Maddie ranted. “Do you even get how screwed up that is? And it wasn’t even a one off! How many times did you rob your brother exactly?”

“You have no idea what you are talking about!” Jessica repeated herself. “Aiden is my fucking brother. Fiona and Eddie raised me! Not you! They understood what I did and why I did it. They get what I am going through and they get that when things are good for me I will pay them back for everything! Right Aiden?”

Unexpectedly Aiden’s laughter filled the parking lot. It was not the laugh that Maddie loved, the one that made Maddie feel all warm and happy, instead it was one that she had never heard before. It was a loud, sarcastic laugh that was empty and made her shiver a little.

“Jessy your life is a mess. There are two thugs out there that you seem to have hooked yourself too.” Aiden said, there was no humour in his voice but instead plain anger. “After you took everything that I owned, more than once, you decided that wasn’t bad enough. So instead you and your thugs went to Maddie’s flat and have them beat the shite out of her. Do you know how fucked in the head you would have to be to do that to someone?”

Jessica moved towards them but Aiden moved in front of Jessica and held her hand up to stop her progress.

“Don’t come any closer.” Aiden growled.

John had moved so that he was stood next to her. He was like Aiden, he may look relaxed but he wasn’t, clearly it was an Alpha thing.

“I didn’t mean for things to get that bad.” Jessica pleaded having stopped moving forward but holding her hands up in a ‘please listen to me’ gesture. “I…I…I owed him some money for something. Then he told me he would write it off for a date. So I went but then…well…I owed him more money and I liked him. We are a couple now. I had to give him back the money though so we went to yours and… we took a couple of things. I know…I know it happened a couple of times and that wasn’t, in anyway, good. Then
she
was at Eddie’s and Fiona’s house. They are my fucking family. Then I thought instead of hurting you, I would save you from being sucked in by her false perfectness. The bitch ruined it by coming home too soon. Gary went over the top. Although she did deserve some of it. ”

Aiden did the laugh again, “You need help because your thinking is seriously fucked. You’re not the sister I knew and loved, my sister Jessy
was
fucking amazing. This woman in front of me is just a junkie that screws over anybody that is close to her. Fuck, they don’t even have to be close to her for her to screw them over.”

Maddie could see that his words had made a direct hit. The true words hurt Jessica and she was looking around for an exit strategy.  

“I don’t understand what that has to do with me?” Maddie cut in trying to make Jessica bring the focus back on her. “Why have you focused that all on me?”

The sirens were getting louder and louder, closer and closer. Jessica still hadn’t seemed to have noticed yet. Maybe because her plan had worked and Jessica was back to attacking Maddie or maybe because she didn’t care.

“You
stole
them all from
me
!” Jessica screeched at the top of her lungs moving closer to her again.

That was it, Aiden had reached the end of the line. He was not taking any of this crap anymore.

“I told you to stay the fuck back.” Aiden barked. “You hear that noise? That is the police coming. That is what should have happened the second time you took everything from my flat. But I am was an idiot who still loved my sister. That went away though. It went away round about the time that said sister and the people she owed drug money to, broke into my girlfriends flat, robbed her and then beat the shit out of her.”

Jessica had the grace to wince and then stumbled back a couple of steps as 2 police cars pulled into the parking lot. Looking back at her brother the tears now pouring down her face.

Maddie had to admit that she found it hard looking at Jessica’s face, the pleading and total lost look that was directed Aiden’s way. He never looked away and Maddie felt that she shouldn’t either.

It wasn’t that she felt sorry for Jessica exactly it was more that she felt
totally
sorry for her. How did she get so lost with so many people being there to help her? A brother that would do anything for her and proved that repeatedly.

Then as if she became another person the look on Jessica’s face was taken over by ugly twisted hatred. Her eyes moved quickly from Aiden to Maddie.

“This is all your fucking fault.” Jessica shouted walking towards her quickly. “You ruined everything. I wish Grant had killed you!”

Maddie stepped quickly back to try and get away. John wrapped his arms around her and pulled her further back and then behind him.