Going Mad For Maddox

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

MADDOX

MY EARS ARE ringing, my eyes are burning, and my chest feels too tight, making it impossible to breathe.

I hold Kodi, taking advantage of the rush of adrenaline that courses through my body and lift her in my arms, ignoring the pain the erupts in my shoulder.

I maneuver us through the crowded isles of screaming patrons when I hear, "HE'S GOT HER OVER THERE!"

I look up to see three burly man, two of them holding nine millimeters in their leathered gloved hands, the other holding a tactical tranquilizer gun.

What the fuck—

"Maddox?" My head whips to the side to see a familiar pink head of hair, crouching behind a deli cart. Her eyes immediately go to Kodi, and she stands abruptly, letting Disney themed  fruit snacks leave her hands, "oh my god."

"Josephine?"

I hear another shout down the aisle and my body stands still, instinctively holding Kodi tighter to me. Before I have time to say anything else, Josephine's face hardens with determination and she gives me a stern look, "follow me." She whizzes through the isles, and I stay hot on her heels. "I used to work here, there's an emergency exit through the back of the pharmacy."

The pain in my shoulder heightens, and I begin to feel a liquid drip down onto my bicep. I pay no mind, following the girl that I know my childhood best friend is secretly in love with, but also the girl I've never spoken a word to.

Something is thrown and glass shatters causing a sudden burst of more chaos to explode. I turn my head to see the flames coming from the front of the store and then a foul smelling gas  begins to fill the place along with bright red smoke.

Josephine rounds the holiday isle, and swiftly grabs a stuffed chicken, dodging the crowd, "my niece was eyeing this the other day, and I'm gonna take my chance while I can!"

Jesus Christ, this girl really is perfect for Talon.

We race toward the glowing pharmacy sign and I hastily look down at Kodi, feeling how my lungs are shriveling in size, my ribs are begging to break through my chest. The only thing easing this unfamiliar aching is the soft feel of her breath that fans across my bicep.

"C'mon." Josephine ushers us behind the counter, a middle aged woman wearing scrubs gasps and I ignore her as we weave through the shelves filled with prescriptions.

An alarm sounds when we shove the heavy exit door open and the moment I feel the summer air fall across my heated skin my entire body eases. The ever-present knot in my stomach pulls tighter and I hide my face in Kodi's neck, kissing the pulse that beats against my lips.

"We can take my car to the hospital—"

"No hospital."

"Why?"

"No. Hospital." I repeat myself, knowing that the moment we step foot into the ER, police will be swarming the place in minutes, asking questions I don't need or want to answer.

Whatever Kodi has herself involved in is my responsibility and I don't need to be suspect in a case when they find the three men's heads who shot at my girl dangling from a tree.

She drops the subject, heading toward her parked mustang that I recognize from the ride or die race, lifting Kodi higher, we make it to her vehicle quickly and she doesn't waste time, putting her car in gear, letting the tires squeal as she races away from the curb.

"Is she okay?" Her eyes shoot to toward Kodi, her forehead creasing in worry. "Shit, I don't even know what the fuck happened? One second I was grabbing Gracie's snacks and the next second I hear shots. Fucking loud shots, people screaming and... and—"