“Stay the fuck away,” my bodyguard warned. My skin prickled, ready to grow thorns or use my power if this guy turned dangerous. The air around us swirled with Maddox’s power, ready to strike if needed.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to bother you.” The man raised his hands and backed away, his face pale with fear. Strange.
Multiple hands wrapped around my waist and pulled me away from Maddox. I yelled as my captor launched us into the air and began climbing up the wall with me in tow.
I punched, kicked, and thorns grew sharp against the person’s skin. He bellowed in pain and dropped me toward the ground, thirty feet away. I reached out for any of the trees near us to grow their limbs and catch me. I hit a branch seconds later and Maddox floated toward me, his arms were stretched to catch me.
“Forget me. Go get that asshole.” He nodded. Anger burned in me, and I hoped some other goon came near so I could take it out on him.
Maddox became a windstorm and went after the man who had attacked me. I was tired of people trying to steal me away, usually after I’d had a drink. I gently pressed my hand against the branch and lowered myself to the ground.
“The Collector wants a word with you in three days at the Seahill Bella Donna Club. You’ll sing, and then talk. If you refuse, we’ll take your bodyguard instead.” The man who’d asked for change earlier stood behind me, then disappeared before I could turn to throw a punch.
The Collector—that cursed name attached to horrid crimes with those who had powers. Whoever this mysterious person was, my previous fears had been confirmed.
They wanted me and possibly Maddox, too.
My cell phone rang and I answered without hesitation.
“Head back to the hotel. I’ll be there within an hour. Stay safe.”
Maddox’s call had me hauling ass the few blocks to our hotel. Once inside, I locked the door and waited. After what seemed like days, a pounding knock on the door had me up and at the peephole.
Maddox stood there with a blood-coated swollen lip.
Chapter Nineteen
Maddox
The man with powers had grown multiple arms like a spider and could walk on walls. We’d been distracted by the drunk man asking for change, so the eight-legged chump had the drop on us. Hazel got out of it herself, and I found the guy a block away. We’d fought and I wanted to use fists instead of powers and feel the pain bite my skin. Anything to help salve the rage scorching my insides.
He said the Collector wanted to talk to me in three days at a show Hazel would be singing at. Somehow, the Collector had the ability to control these people, making them do horrible things. I assumed the Collector had gifts—mind control or something like it—which meant Hazel and I needed to stay the fuck away.
I walked back to the hotel. My hands ached from fighting with a giant spider dude. My swollen lip tasted like blood, and I wanted a shower immediately to calm myself.
Hazel was at the door shortly after I pounded on it, then let me in. She launched into a hundred questions, and I ignored them all to head straight for the bathroom. I turned on the shower, and tore off my tattered shirt.
“Maddox, talk to me.” Her hands gripped my face.
“You OK?” I scanned her body for any injuries, and when I found none, my hands unbuttoned my jeans.
“I’m fine. Seriously, tell me what happened.”
“I found the guy. We played around with our fists, and I let him go at the police station. Now I want to take a shower and calm my shit.” I tugged off my boots and the rest of my clothes, then eased into the shower. The spray stung my cuts, but I grit my teeth and waited for it to subside. I didn’t mind pain. Pain was evidence I still lived.
I didn’t know if Hazel left the room or sat on the toilet lid to wait for me. Fuck, just an hour ago I had her body pressed against mine and her taste marinating my tongue. I had no expectations for what happened between us except she was mine. I’d wait it out, however long it took for me to show her we were the endgame.
Soft fingers caressed my shoulder, and my head shifted to see a nude Hazel stepping into the shower with me. All thoughts and rage circulating my brain halted in her presence. I didn’t care that she was naked, and so close to my own naked body. I cared that she came in for me, to comfort me. Hope flourished in my heart.
“I’m here, Maddox.” She placed her hand on my chest and peered at me with caring eyes. Despite whatever emotions she’d been feeling about our heated kiss, she pushed them aside for me.
“I’m sorry he got the drop on us.” The guilt ate at me for the incident never should have happened. I was good at my job. Unfortunately, being close to her after our kiss had distracted me. They picked a vulnerable time for both of us to attack, perfect for them, shitty for us.
“It’s OK. I don’t fault you. We are good, and you managed to stop him.” Her gaze darted to the right then back after she spoke. She lied, but I didn’t know which part of her sentence wasn’t factual.
“I’m glad you followed my orders and came to the hotel instead of trying to fight. I don’t want you to see me like that.” I’d been too heated to care how savage I’d become, and I couldn’t handle Hazel seeing me in any other light than protector.
“I’d been through worse and trusted you’d handle it. I’m just glad you came back and only with a few cuts.” Her thumb lightly trailed over my lip, and I winced from the pain. My hand reached up through the spray of the shower to place my palm over the top of hers.
