Rescuing Madison (Book 1)

Chapter Four

Jackson's POV

Madison was quiet the whole way to my place. I knew she was worrying about that text. Hell, I was worrying about it. I just didn't want her to see that I was. She didn't need any more stress.

I was seriously pissed when I read that text this morning. I know that Madison wanted to just pass it off as a joke, but I have a feeling that it's really not. She had never told anyone about what had happened to her, other than my brothers & myself. I hoped my brother could find where the text came from.

& I had been so close to kissing her this morning. I had woken up with her cuddled up to my chest. It felt so right to have in her my arms. She smelled like vanilla. I don't know if it was her shampoo or perfume, or even just the scent of her skin, but she always smelled that way. I loved it. But, then we had been pulled apart by that stupid text. Now I wasn't sure when I'd get another chance to kiss her.

We pulled up to my place, & Madison still didn't say anything, or even move to get out of the car. I touched her shoulder.

"Madison?"

She jumped. "Huh?"

"We're here."

"Oh. Sorry. I must have been thinking." she said, frowning.

I grabbed her hand. "Madison. It's okay. We're going to get to the bottom of this, one way or another. I promise."

She smiled at me. "I know we will."

We got out of the car, & went inside my house. I could hear my brother watching TV in the living room. He was obsessed with watching TV & movies. We walked in the living room, & he was sprawled out all over the couch, eating a bowl of popcorn. He was so into the show that he was watching, that he hadn't heard us come in.

I looked at Madison & held a finger up to my lips, signalling for her to be quiet. She silently giggled & nodded. I crept up behind my brother until I was a few inches from him.

"KOLT!" I yelled in his ear.

He jumped, sending popcorn flying everywhere, & fell off the couch. Me & Madison burst into laughter.

"DUDE! You scared the crap out of me. I think you gave me a heart attack." He was clutching his chest.

"I'm sorry. I had to." I said, out of breath.

"Just know you'll get it back worse. & You get to clean all this popcorn up."

"It's totally worth it." I laughed.

He got off the floor & straightened out his clothes. He turned to Madison. "How are you doing, darling?

"I'm okay." she said, shyly.

She was always shy around Kolt. I think his crazy personality scared her a bit. I walked over to her & held her hand.

"What's this I hear about a random number texting you?"

"Um.." she looked at the ground. She grabbed her phone from her pocket & handed it over to him.

As he read the text, his eyes widened. He looked up at Madison, then over to me. Rage flashed across his face. I knew he thought of Madison as a little sister, so I knew how pissed he was. He opened his mouth, probably to say something about the text, but I shook my head. She didn't need any more stress.

He nodded. "Well, I'll try my best to trace this text."

"Thank you, Kolten." she said.

He smiled at her & left the room. I really have no idea how Kolt learned to do what he can do. He had really been into electronics when we were younger. I mean, really into them. He always had to have the most advanced systems. I told him he should have gone to college for electronic engineering or something, since he wasn't interested in working for our father's construction company. But, he said it was just more of a hobby for him. He didn't want to do it full time. I knew he was good enough to make a career out of it, though.

We sat down on the couch & started watching whatever movie Kolt had already started. I decided that I should probably call Dominic & let him know what's going on. So, I told Madison I'd be right back. I went into our backyard, & sat on the swing we have on the patio. I hit call, & Dominic answered after it rang a couple times.

"What's up, little brother?"

"Hey, Dom. We got a little issue here that we're trying to work out."

"What's going on? Are you & Kolt okay?"

"Yeah, we're fine. It actually has to do with Madison."

"Is she okay? Do I need to come up there?"

He sounded seriously concerned. He had only met Madison a couple of times, but he had felt protective of her ever since he first met her.

"She's okay." I reassured him. "She just got a really weird text today."

He already knew everything that had happened to Madison when I had first met her, so I proceeded to tell him about the text. When I finished, he was silent for a few seconds.

"Do you have Kolt looking into it?"

"Yeah, he's trying now. I just have a bad feeling about it."

"So do I. Let me know if Kolt finds anything on it. I have to get back to work, but I'll come up there if you need me to."

"Will do." I hung up, then went back to Madison.

***

Half an hour later, Kolt came back & didn't look too happy. "I couldn't find anything. I'm really sorry, Madison."

"Oh.. It's okay. It was probably just a joke."

Kolt & I looked at each other. I just shrugged, & he shook his head. We both knew it wasn't just a joke, but whatever made Madison feel better about the situation was fine with me for now.

I turned to Madison. "Want to go get some lunch?"

"Let's just eat here."

"You don't want to get out for awhile?"

"Not really.." she looked down.

I grabbed her hand. "It's okay. We'll stay here."

"Yeah, you can make us lunch." Kolt joked.

She smiled at us then walked to the kitchen to make lunch.