Going Mad For Maddox

CHAPTER THIRTY

KODI

Five months ago...

I QUIETLY CLOSE my car door, staring at the empty and bottomless expression that watches me through the broken glass window. I tuck my keys into my back pocket, and chew on my lip when the flat expressionless face lifts his whiskey glass to his mouth, taking a long drink.

Our eyes stay connected and I can't help the fear that keeps me rooted in place when I see his lips twitch. My breath hitches when the glow of the television screen alights his grim features, showcasing the man that took everything from me until I was nothing but soulless body begging for my monster's retribution.

I sway on unsteady legs when he disappears from my view and the familiar screech of the screen door is opened. "Kodi, that you?" He takes a step onto the porch, his head barely grazing the bug zapper above him. "Why ya comin' home so late?" His thick southern accent that is the reflection of mine has me wanting to shove darts into my ear drums until the blood clogs my hearing.

"I—ugh... I went to the movies."

He directs his attention toward the trailer next to ours. The one where Finley and her family live in, eyeing it peculiarly, noticing that my best friend isn't with me. "With who?" His tone is hard. Lethal. And sharp enough to cut me.

"I just went alone."

"You want to the movies alone?"

No, but I have no reason to actually tell him I was at the Nights Hotel downtown, meeting with a woman who gave me the two things I've been saving up too much damn cash for. "Yeah, I wanted to see a new scary movie and Fin didn't."

He laughs. It's hollow and makes my skin crawl. "What's with ya and your horror shit, huh?"

I shrug my shoulders, "it's just what I like."

"You like scary shit, Little Dear?" I say nothing. My tongue glued to the roof of my mouth and shove my hands into my hoodie pocket to hide their tremble. "You don't got to answer that... I know more than anyone that you do, kid."

His definition of scary is completely different to mine, but again I say nothing, needing to tread carefully.

He takes another step, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. It's barely midnight so I know he's just starting for the evening and begin to wonder how much he's already had to drink.

"You gonna come on inside. It's damn cold out here."

I open my mouth, but can't get my words out and when he goes to take another step toward me I hear a voice to my left that makes my rapid beating heart slow down to a pace that evaporates the ball in my throat. "Ko! You coming in, Ollie wants to see you!" Finley. My grandfather turns his head, his lips twitching into a snarl at my childhood best friend. "Hurry up it's cold, girl!"

The rocks crush underneath my tennis shoes as I practically race toward the red head who is the epitome of my guardian angel. The moment I reach her porch she's having a starting battle with my grandfather and my hard headed, fear nothing best friend doesn't even flinch when his anger is practically palpable from here.

Finley grabs my hand, squeezing it, and whispers, "you okay?"

I nod my head and that seems to suffice her enough. She ushers me into her tiny trailer, the complete replica to mine except this one is filled with love and the warmth that mine has never once garnered.