Becoming Maddie (The Casterhouse series Book 1) (39 page)

A really painful past.

As Charles unlocked the door he let go of Maddie’s hand but she never thought about running. Not for a second. The consequence would either be really bad for her or unthinkable for the love of her life.

The door came open and a strong smell came out of the room. Like a kind of off food smell and copper. The curtains inside the room were all drawn and it was taking Maddie’s eyes a little bit longer than normal to adjust.

Charles reached behind Maddie and pushed her into the room. Moving her feet quickly to try and catch her balance her foot landed in something slippery. Over she went, her arms flying around trying to catch a hold of something. She didn’t find anything. Charles stood in the doorway and started laughing.

As Maddie hit the ground she landed in the sticky, slippery mess that had been her down fall. She had managed to bring her hands up to protect her fall a bit but she had still closed her eyes for impact.

Opening them now she looked at what was on her hands and froze.

Charles stood in the door way still laughing. If anything it was harder and louder now.

“This is the lose end I was talking about.” He said finally walking into the room.

Maddie was still looking at the sticking thick red liquid on her hands. Turning her head as slowly as she dared, hoping it would never reach its destination.

There laying on the ground next to her was the beaten, bloodied and barely recognisable Craig.

Her body reacted before her brain could tell it not to. Maddie’s mouth opened and she screamed at the top of her lungs letting all the fear she was feeling all out.

Charles walked to her, bent at the waist and punched her. Quick and hard in face.

“Shut the fuck up bitch before someone hears you.” Charles barked.

Maddie barely had time to react to the extremely hard punch before she was up on her arms and emptying her stomach contents all over the floor. Over and over she hacked as any and all food left her system.

“Fucksake!” Charles cried jumping back. “That fucking landed on my fucking shoes you stupid cow.”

He flicked his foot trying to get a tiny bit of sick off his shoe. Maddie’s arms gave out and she landed in the mess all over the floor. This seemed to cheer Charles up. He chuckled and bent to clean his shoe. 

Her face laying in the blood and sick, her eyes looking into the dead ones of Craig, Maddie realised that this was a whole lot worse than she could ever imagine it would be. Charles had reached a new level of evil.

* * * * * * * *

Aiden paced back and forth in the too small family waiting room in the police station. The atmosphere was heavy and if he was actually paying attention he might have done something about it, if he had been paying more attention then that he might have realised that the atmosphere was mostly coming off him.

He had been in this god awful room for what felt like hours when he should be out there doing something! It wasn’t that he didn’t understand that this should be left to the people that were trained to find kidnapped people. The thing was this wasn’t any kidnapped person this was Maddie.
His
Maddie.

Sat in the chairs against one wall, staring at the door opposite, was Maddie’s hand-picked family. Sarah was huddled under John’s arm. Her face pale and she had not taken her eyes off the grey dull door. Aiden didn’t need to ask, he just knew Sarah was willing Maddie to walk through the door. John just held his wife, his face set in stone.

Fiona had been unable to sit still. Instead she had gotten everybody a coffee and was now quietly talking on the phone to Maddie’s parents. Fiona had asked if Aiden wanted to talk to them but he didn’t want anything to do with them. They had turned Maddie away after her husband had beaten her. They could have stopped this all from happening and saved her years of pain.

No, he wanted nothing to do with them at all.

Eddie stood with his arms crossed in one corner. Since the man that took Aiden and his sister in as a kid had entered the depressing room, he had said nothing. Eddie left his wife to fuss around, knowing that was what she needed. In return Fiona left Eddie to stand and talk to no one because that was what he needed.

Claire had wanted to be in the family room too but an angry looking receptionist had told her and her husband Richard that the family room was full. Fiona had started to argue declaring that they were
all
‘Maddie’s family’ and that meant that they would squeeze in if they had to.

Richard cut in and said that they would wait in the reception.

One time, when Fiona came back into the room after checking on the couple, she informed everybody that Harry and Alice were there too.

When the same receptionist tried to stop Marvin from coming into the room Aiden glared at her, for a long time, until she looked down at her feet. He then told her, in no uncertain terms, that Marvin was basically Maddie’s child so he was going into the family room wither she liked it or not.

In the room he now lay, staring at the door, waiting for his Mistress. The poor husky knew something was wrong, was on edge because of it, but didn’t fully understand why. He was not leaving Aiden’s side.

Fiona had also called Jean to fill her in on the situation. Jean said that Aiden and everybody else would need her there. Fiona convinced her to stay put in the hospital because they had to focus on Maddie right now and not be worrying about her.

For Aiden, this was all background noise.

Rubbing a hand over his face, Maddie was the only thing inside Aiden’s head. They weren’t good images of her laughing, playing with Marvin or the satisfied look on her face after the best sex of his life.

No, instead his head was filled with the worst images you could imagine. Maddie bloody and beaten, her crying out in pain as she got punched again and again. The worst was the image of her lying on a table in a morgue somewhere. Maddie, so full of laughter, lifeless.

Turning he moved to pace back across the room when he saw Marvin lift his head and give a little whine.

Aiden moved quickly so that he was stood right in front of the door as Detective Miller walked in. The man stopped short clearly not expecting anybody to be stood right on the other side.

“Mr Scott.” The Detective said.

Aiden crossed his arms and put his feet shoulder width apart. There were many things that he was good at but patience had never been one. In a situation like this it was clearly not even in his ability at all. That and he needed to be ready for any news that was about to be shared.

“Aiden.” Aiden said fed up of the formalities. “Tell me what is happening.”

The Detective nodded and opened up a little black book.

“Call me Chris then.” He started. “There has been some information come in that means I have to leave right now. I have also called for three back up police cars coming with -”

Before Miller had the chance to finish Aiden had clicked his fingers calling Marvin to come to his side, which the dog did straight away, and dug his truck keys out of his pocket.

“I’m following.” Aiden stated, before swiftly raising his hand to stop the man in front of him from objecting. “Don’t waste time by trying to convince me to stay or arguing with me. My fiancée is out there somewhere waiting on me rescuing her. So let’s go so I don’t break that trust she has in me.”

As Aiden had spoken it wasn’t the Detective that reacted. Instead there was a female gasp from behind him.

“You proposed to her?” The still paled face Sarah asked.

She was leaning forward but still John kept his arm around her. Aiden didn’t know why but this question seemed really important to Sarah or rather the answer did. Aiden stared at her for a moment, wasting what he thought was precious time, trying to contain his need to push Miller out of the room and speed to Maddie.

“No.” Aiden semi-snapped trying not to growl. “I haven’t asked her yet but I know she will say yes.”

Sarah nodded quickly. The woman then almost jumped out of her chair before striding over to Detective Chris Miller and jabbing him in the chest.

“You will leave right now, you will find my best friend and get the asshole locked straight back up.” Sarah basically shouted. “Maddie Smith is going to marry this man right here and together they are going to have the happily ever after she fucking deserves.”

Miller opened his mouth then seemed to think again so closed it again. He caught Aiden’s eye and gave him a chin lift before walking out of the room. John stood and walked over to his wife.

As Aiden and Marvin started to follow the police officer out of the room, Sarah grabbed his arm. Turning back to look at her with an angry retort on the tip of his tongue, Aiden managed to stop it after seeing the look on the woman’s face.

“Bring her back in one piece.” Sarah whispered her eyes filling and over flowing with tears. “
Please
, Aiden,
please
bring her home.”

John quickly moved, wrapping one arm round her waist and the other he used to make her let go of Aiden.

Looking up at Aiden, John nodded before saying huskily,

“Go.”

Aiden left the room and went after the man that was doing his very best to lead him to the love of his life.

Through he never turned round to look, Aiden could hear Sarah fall apart.

Chapter 30

Cuffing his wife to the radiator in the motel room, Charles felt a kind of calm come over him. The weeks, months and years that had seen them apart fell away and it was like old times. Maybe even better.

Maddison didn’t seem to struggle or react to the blows and although that was annoying him, he did miss the fighting, there seemed to be a new kind of pain. A pain that seemed to be in her very soul. Charles was going to have so much fun making that hurt. She had cheated on him and now seemed to actually be in love with the good guy. Knowing that was inside her was going to make it fun as he worked that out of her.

He didn’t know when but Charles was going to make her his wife again. The woman that stood at his side and did not speak, did as ordered, and took what she deserved. Now that could come in the form of sweet or it could be rough, hard and violent. It really depended on his mood. The main thing she needed to learn was that Maddison would have absolutely no say in what was going to be her life from now.

It wasn’t that Charles was a bad man. Not really. He just liked things a certain way. His wife having him sent to prison, running off to a new town and letting a man fuck her was not Charles’s way. Now she needed to be punished. In fact, that in itself showed what a good guy he actually was because he was willing to take the whore back and make her understand where she had gone wrong. Then he would help her get back on the right track.

As the cuff clicked around Maddison’s wrist he stood back to look at her. After she had fallen Charles couldn’t stop laughing. Granted it had pissed him off that she had nearly wrecked a new pair of shoes but then the moment took over him. Just having her back in his presence for a couple of hours had already turned him on, pissed him off and made him laugh so hard his ribs hurt. Nope, he was never letting her go again.

Hurting the fucker that defiled his wife was always going to be a threat that Maddison was too scared he would follow through on.

Although he had very pressing things to do, he could not leave her covered in blood and her own sick. What if he came home in the mood to get really ‘reacquainted’ with his wife and that was the mess he came back to, no Charles had to wash her up.

So being the gentleman that he was at heart he had made her take a shower. Charles had even stayed inside the room to make sure she didn’t try something funny. Once she was done he gave her a high necked dress to change into, see… he had even been shopping for her.

He really
was
a good guy.

It was about time she started dressing the way he liked again.

Maddison now sat on the ground with wet, but clean, hair. The clothes fitted great and it was nice to see her covered up again. Her eyes were to the floor. Although he would like to think that was because of him, Charles was certain it was more to do with Craig’s body.

Crouching down in front of her he lifted her head by grabbing a handful of her wet hair. Maddison needed that cut too, it just got in the way when it was long.

“I know it is tough being in this room just now sweetie.” Charles tried to soothe her by running a finger along her jaw. “Craig was a good friend to us both but he knew too much about my plans. The silly fool even thought he was going with us. I had to do something. Do you understand?”

Maddison kept her eyes on the ground and when it seemed she wasn’t going to respond at all he decided to do something about it. Charles tightened his grip on her hair and pulled sharply. Slowly her eyes came up to meet his and inside them he saw nothing but hatred.

God he was going to love beating that out of her.

He yanked on her hair again and gave a warning

“Maddison.”

The beaten and wet woman before him closed her eyes before nodding, well the best nod she could considering the hold he had on her hair. It was a response.

Just not quick enough.

Pulling his free hand back and keeping her face upturned, Charles swung his hand and slapped her hard across the face. Again she made no noise and did her best not to let the pain show on her face. Irritation flamed to life inside him but he really didn’t have the time to deal with it now. He would work the irritation out later.

“I don’t have time to wait on you today Maddison, don’t make me have to do that again.” Charles growled at his wife. “Now I have to go but I will be back in a couple of hours. I want you to think long and hard about trying to escape or something stupid like that. I know everything there is to know about your Aiden Scott.”

At that Charles watched her face flicker in fear before going back to the mask that she was set on keeping there. Fine, if that was how she wanted to play it, he knew it would just be funnier watching it fall and break with her will.

“I have to go.” Charles said standing and walking around the mess that was in the middle of the floor. “I will be back before nightfall. Try not to miss me too much sweetie just remember I will be back to look after you. In no time at all we will be sunning it up somewhere else.”

As he unlocked and opened the front door the fresh air hit him in face. It really did stink in the room now. Dead bodies and sick did not a good combination make.

Turning back to look in at his wife one more time, he couldn’t quite stop the smile that lifted his lips. Maddison sat curled up on the floor with her legs to her chest. Her head was tucked into her knees and all you could see was her wet hair hanging limp down over her arms. Maybe he wouldn’t make her cut it after all.

Just this sight of his wife like and the fun he would have later made his cock got hard. Putting his hand in his pocket he rubbed himself through the lining. He was really looking forward to claiming his wife again.

“Maddison.” Charles said huskily, when his wife slowly looked up at him with puppy eyes he carried on. “I can’t fucking wait to remind you what
real
man feels like slamming into your whore pussy.”

Charles grabbed his hard crotch and rubbed it blatantly. Maddie quickly looked away and tucked her head back into her knees. He really didn’t have time to do this now. Letting go of his dick he tried to ignore the unfulfilled ache.  

“Maddison.” Charles snapped wanting her to look up at him again.

She slowly lifted her head just enough so that she could see him. That would do for now because if he started to teach her how to behave right he would not leave the room for hours.

“You are my wife.” Charles stated smiling. “I own you.”

With that he turned and let the door close behind him. Turning he checked it was locked before pocketing the door keys and heading to the car he had stolen that morning. Time to get the money he and Maddison would need to start again.

* * * * * * * *

Aiden’s heart had been racing since he set foot in his truck. Every turn in the road or roundabout made him feel like he was getting closer to Maddie, like the very next turn was going to have her stood waiting at the end of it. It was stupid and crazy.

Mostly though, it was unrealistic.

He at least felt better being out on the road, following the Detective’s car, than he had done pacing in the family room. Here he felt like he was doing something, even if that something was just driving.

When Aiden had reached his truck outside the police station and was unlocking it he felt someone come up behind him. It had been Eddie. No words passed between them as none was needed. Eddie had to be out of that room too, he had to feel like he was doing something to save Maddie too. Aiden got that.

As the big black truck followed the grey car, which was behind three police cars, nothing was said between the two men. Miller had gotten Aiden’s number so that he could call when they were getting close. His mobile was linked up to his truck radio so that he could answer it while driving. There was many reasons that the two men didn’t talk but one of the biggest one’s was that they didn’t want to miss the phone ringing, not that they would.

Aiden didn’t know about Eddie but he was working really hard to try and keep what was inside him under control. With every fibre of his being he was praying for a happy ending to this situation but his gut told him to be ready. Ready for anything that they might find.

The only thing that his brain, heart and gut agreed on was that Aiden would never give up on Maddie. He was always going to be the man by her side. All he had to do now was find Maddie so that he could be next to her.

The grey car in front took a right on a roundabout three towns over from Casterfield. It felt like they had been driving for hours and hours. This turn off felt different. The other towns they had skipped through, taking every turn they could to get out of it as quickly as possible but this time they were heading in deeper. Surely that meant something.

Aiden’s racing heart stuttered as his mobile rang.

Hitting the pick-up button as quickly as his fingers could he called out,

“Aiden.”

“This is what is going to happen.” Detective Miller replied straight away, wasting no time. “We are going to pull up into a motel car park. I don’t want you to get out of the car until I give you the okay to do so. I will only give you that okay if I feel the situation is safe for you to do so. If you think that you can’t do that then I am asking you to not come to the motel at all. I am not being a bastard by asking you to do this I am trying to make sure nothing bad goes down.”

Aiden understood where this man was coming from but that didn’t stop him from wanting to growl at him. Tightening his hands on the steering wheel, he sucked in air through his nose and let it out slowly. Eddie put his hand on Aiden’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. It was just like before, no words needed to be said, Eddie was with Aiden no matter which choice he went with.

“We will stay in the truck till you say it is okay for us to get out.” Aiden replied his voice firm.

There was no way he was going to make this situation harder for the police. There was also no way he wasn’t going to be one of the first people Maddie saw when she got free.

She
was
going to get free.

“I need you to really mean that Scott. If Wallace is there and he sees you or somebody else he recognises then he might do harm to Maddison.” Miller said sternly.

Again Aiden’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. Fuck! Maybe he had made the wrong choice, maybe he should have stayed in the room. His gut disagreed with his head again and told him that he was doing the right thing. Maddie was going to need him.

“Maddie.” Eddie said next to him. “Her name is Maddie.”

Surprise that the older man had spoken he looked quickly at him only to find Eddie staring out the front window. His face was still blank but somehow Aiden knew there was a lot going on under the surface. Miller getting Maddie’s name right was not only important to Eddie but Aiden too. Giving the older man a quick nod he looked back at the road.

Maddison was Charles’s name for her. As far as Aiden was concerned he never wanted to hear that name again. More than that, he never wanted Maddie to be called that ever again.

“Maddie.” The Detective said softly, then more sternly. “I really need you to understand where I am coming from here. I want zero casualties today but to do that I need you to promise me right now.”

“I am a man of my word.” Aiden growled trying to not take his anger out on the man on the other end of the line. “We will stay in the truck till you say it is safe to come out.”

There was a pause down the other end of the line. Aiden held his breath. If the police Detective asked him to not go to the motel he would do as the man said. It was Miller’s choice to make and he was not going to put Maddie in anymore danger than she already was.

That didn’t mean Aiden wasn’t desperate to be there when she got free of that fucker. He wanted to be the first person Maddie saw so that he could scoop her up into his arms and tell her that she was safe, that never again would he let her be hurt.

Knowing that he had said those words to Maddie before burned in his gut. This time would be different… It had to be fucking
different
this time. It
had
to be.

“Okay.” Miller said down the phone. “We are about to turn into the car park. I need you to go to a space that is right in front of the entrance. If you can get a space that is between two other cars that would be best. I want to hide your truck and this car as much as I can.”

The two men in the truck watched as the three police cars went one way while the grey car kept going straight. Aiden kept following the grey car that held the Detective. He didn’t know the full plan but if they wanted him to park in the motel car park in a certain place, then that was what he was going to do.

“I am going to get out of the car and go into the reception. I want you to stay in the truck.” Miller carried on. “We think she is being held in a room on the furthest side of the building. The room has its own entrance. The information came from the man running the front desk so I going in to get the keys off him.”

Aiden and Eddie both sat up straighter in their seats as the grey car indicated to turn off into a motel. It was a long plain building. It was hard to believe that something so massive and wrong was happening in such a boring looking building. You really never know what is going on behind closed doors.