“What the hell happened in our flat, then? There’s a note to the landlord on the counter. Were you going to tell me we’d moved?”
“For god’s sake. I haven’t been able to call you, either.” I blow out a frustrated breath, but I can’t blame him for the panic. A lot of strange things have happened in a short space of time. It’s natural he’d be worried. “I’ve been staying at a dorm room at school.”
“The note says you’ve gone down south and won’t be back.”
“Yes, it was—” I break off because it was something I can’t disclose without worrying him further and it sounds like he’s already frantic. “Just stay there. I’ll come and get you.”
“Not if you’re thinking of taking me back to your psycho’s house. You shouldn’t be there either.”
“He’s not a psycho.”
“He fucking is. I know his sister did some messed up shit to him, but it doesn’t explain half of what I saw when you left me alone with him at the clinic.”
“Trust me. It’s okay. I know what he told you but it’s not how it sounds. He’s good to me.”
“And you once told me you enjoyed living on a farm because you were bonding with the animals.”
I inhale a shocked breath, heart racing.
His voice comes back on the line, much softer. “I don’t want to hurt or upset you, but I need to make sure you’re okay. I don’t think he’s a good person to have in your life.”
“People would say the same thing about you.”
“And those people would be right. But at least I’m family. I understand where we both come from and how different we used to be. You deserve better than to spend your life making excuses for the people who hurt you, me included.”
I glance towards the door, feeling guilty for talking about Maddox behind his back. “You don’t understand and that’s fine. We can talk about it later.”
“Come home then. We’ll discuss it tonight.” He exhales in a long sigh. “I really missed you.”
“I missed you, too.”
“Come home, Evie.”
My free hand curls into a fist. Doubts assail me, making it hard to think as I slowly plod backwards through our conversation. My stomach shrinks with dread, and I take three tries to ask, “What did his sister do to him?”
“Come home.”
I walk to the doorway, listening to the sounds of Maddox humming underneath his breath, completely out of tune.
“Did you sell drugs to Addie? Are you the one who got her hooked?”
He makes a strangled noise, and I can imagine him pacing back and forth, the way he always does when he’s stressed or upset.
“I love him, Ant. I trust him. Things are hard right now but we’re finding our own path and way of working. I don’t want to come home if all I’m going to hear is a string of accusations or negative opinions. He matters to me.”
There’s another audible sigh before my brother’s voice comes through the line. “Okay. I respect that. Please just… I miss you.”
“Okay. I’ll see you soon.”
He sounds happier as he says goodbye and I’m better for having told him how I feel. Not wanting to hide a thing, not any longer.
I walk upstairs, slowing when I hear the garage door, then the heavy tread of footsteps.
Blaine walks along the corridor, coming to a stop as he sees me. His face is blank as stone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
MADDOX
