Wholly Apart

Chapter 41

LOREN KENSINGTON

The doorbell rang and Madelyn jumped up and looked at me in absolute terror. That had been her reaction to anyone coming into our apartment since the university attack. The guy was back in prison, he would be there for a hell of a long time too, but Madelyn was still freaked. I was guessing she would stay freaked for a while.

We were in the living room and when I turned to the door to go and open it, Madelyn ran in front of me, pressing her hands to my chest, looking at me in panic.

"You can't open it," she brought out quickly.

I pressed my hands over hers, keeping them on my chest, "Maddy, it's alright"

She shook her head quickly and then looked nervously over her shoulder at the door.

I cupped her face softly and made her look at me, brushing her jaw with my thumbs.

"It's probably Warren"

"You don't know that," she whispered quickly.

I leaned down to her and pressed a kiss to her forehead, "I don't. But I'm guessing it is. Let me check"

I stepped around her after a long look, but Madelyn gripped onto me tightly, "Lo wait"

"Baby," I whispered, my heart breaking at the look on her face, "He's not coming here. He's in prison"

She still looked terrified. Like she didn't trust that he was really gone.

I guess that was my fault since I had promised he would never hurt her and then that had happened. But this time it really wasn't going to happen. I would never let anyone lay a hand on her again.

She lifted her arms up to me, wanting a hug. I wrapped my arms around her waist and lifted her to me, her legs going around my hips. Madelyn pressed her face to the crook of my neck, letting out a small sob, "Lo, I'm scared"

"Shh," I whispered, stroking the back of her head and keeping her pressed up against me, "I've got you, love. I won't ever let anyone hurt you again"

"What if it's him?"

The only thing I could think of telling her was that he wouldn't knock at our door. But that would just make her even more paranoid.

"It's not," I assured her, "Do you wanna wait in our bedroom while I open the door?"

"But then you're alone," she said shakily, clinging to me so hard.

"I'll be okay," I promised her, walking to our bedroom and putting her down on the bed softly, "I'll come back in a minute. I'm sure it's Warren or Emma, Mads"

She was hesitant to let me go, but did after a moment.

I kissed her nose gently, "It'll get better, sweetheart"

She gripped her knees close to her body and nodded quickly, watching me walk out of the bedroom.

I went to the door and opened it up, seeing Warren standing there.

He pushed past me and slammed the door shut behind himself, "Need advice"

I groaned, "Right now?"

He nodded once, "Jup"

Madelyn was on edge and she hadn't exactly been doing great lately. I'd much rather stay with her.

"Madelyn is naked in my bed right now," I lied to him, not wanting him to start asking questions about her state. I could handle it.

"And I need someone naked in my bed," he muttered, "So I need advice"

I gave him a long look and ran my hand through my hair, "Fine. Sit down. Give me five minutes"