Dynasty Boys

Chapter 16

Elle

"Thank you so much, Madden..." I found myself thanking him for the fifth time in a matter of minutes.

After Carter had beaten up that guy, I panicked and ran, not sure where else to go. That's when I saw Madden. Without hesitation, he insisted on driving me home, and, in my dazed state, I accepted. I wasn't in the mood to argue, and honestly, I had a feeling Carter was following me anyway. I couldn't believe what I'd just witnessed. I had never seen anything like it in my life. Carter had looked like a wild animal, completely out of control.

"Shh, Elle, it's okay," Madden murmured in his calm, reassuring voice. "That's what friends are for. And I told you, if you ever need me, I'm here. Whenever you want. Always here for you."

His words melted the tension in my chest. Madden was one of the nicest people I'd ever met, everything he did was completely pure. That kind of kindness was rare these days. Just as I was about to get out of the car, I turned around again, unable to hold back. I looked him straight in the eyes, my voice a little louder than before.

"Seriously, Madden, thank you. I don't know what I would've done without you." I leaned in and pressed a quick, friendly kiss to his cheek, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me. He smiled softly, his expression warm and genuine.

"See you at school," he said, nodding. "And don't forget, I'm only a phone call away. I don't know what happened tonight, but whatever it was, I'm sorry."

With that, I opened the car door and stepped out, a swirl of confusion and gratitude filling my mind. Madden's words echoed in my thoughts, but I couldn't quite shake the image of Carter, his anger, his violence.

Everything felt so uncertain now.

___

I woke up to my phone buzzing. I took a quick glance and saw that it was Carter trying to reach me. I decided to ignore it. I didn't want to talk to him after what had happened the night before. I understood that his actions were for me, but he'd gone too far. The guy could've been seriously injured, maybe even ended up in the hospital... well, he probably did end up there.

It was already 9 a.m., so I quickly jumped out of bed, wiping the sleep from my eyes. I hated sleeping in, even when there was no school. The thought of school itself made me shiver. I'd have to face Carter and his friends. And the cherry on top... Billie. I wasn't ready to see anyone. I just wanted to hide in my room forever.

As I walked toward the bathroom, my eyes caught something on the floor, just a piece of paper. Weird. I swallowed hard, the unease settling in, before I bent down to pick it up.

" You look so cute when you sleep, so innocent and vulnerable, I left you a little present under your bed, maybe wear it for me tonight?" 

I could barely breathe, and my knees buckled beneath me. He was here last night... watching me sleep. He could have hurt me! I needed to do something about this.

I pulled my knees up to my chest and closed my teary eyes, trying to calm myself. I clenched the little note in my hand, repeating the words in my head:

A present?

Just as I bent down, my eyes landed on a red box with a bow on top. I didn't trust him. It could be something dangerous... or worse, someone's head?

After a few shaky breaths, I finally found the courage to open the box. I was shocked when I found red lace panties and a matching bra inside. My fingers touched the delicate fabric carefully. It looked expensive, something I could never afford to wear. I swallowed hard, disgusted by the gesture. Without thinking, I grabbed the box, my anger flaring, and stormed downstairs to throw it straight into the trash. There was no way I was keeping it. And if he thought I was going to wear lingerie he bought, he was dumber than I had ever imagined.