“How do you know?”
He shoved a hand through his hair, his eyes scanning the street. “A hunch, and it’s not safe for you. He knows where you live.”
I wrapped my arms around myself. “Shit.” I frowned. “Should I be worried?”
“In this town, yeah, definitely, Hales.” His hand found mine, lacing our fingers as he ushered me back toward the house.
When we got to the porch, we stared at the pizza box, cheese congealing, pineapple scattered. Maddox bent and picked up the ruined pizza as I opened the door for him. Grease had seeped through the bottom, leaving dark stains on the porch. He carried it inside, following me into the kitchen.
The box went straight into the trash, but the knife twirled in Maddox’s hand.
My gaze fixed on it, unable to look away. “What are you going to do with that?”
“I’m going to find the owner,” he stated flatly.
A chill ran through me, raising goose bumps along my arms despite the warmth of the kitchen. “And then what?”
His eyes lifted to mine, pale green and deadly calm. “I’m going to teach him what happens when you fuck with the wrong crew.” Reaching for the paper towel roll, he tore off a sheet and wiped the cheese and sauce off the blade. He slid the knife into the back of his waistband, tucking it against his spine beneath his shirt. “I need to talk to my brothers,” he said, already pulling his phone from his pocket, thumb moving toward the screen.
“Now? You don’t think I should call the police first?” I had absolutely no intention of making a report to the cops, but as I hoped, I wanted it to be his idea.
He paused, his thumb hovering over the phone, eyes glimpsing up to meet mine. “You have a lot to learn about Elmwood, Hales.” His fingers tapped on his phone as he sent off a text, leaning a hip against the counter.
Suddenly, the thought of him leaving me alone made my stomach twist. “Maddox?”
“Hmm,” he muttered, attention still on his device and the messages coming in.
“I don’t want to be alone,” I admitted. “Do you think you can stay?”
His gaze snapped to mine, registering what I was asking. “Like the night?”
I nodded.
For a second, he just stared at me. “What about your mom?”
“I don’t know when she’ll be home, and when she does get home, she’ll go straight to bed.” He didn’t say anything, and I got self-conscious, thinking this was a horrible idea, asking him tostay. “I’m probably just being paranoid. It’s fine. You should go if you need to?—”
“I’ll stay.”
Relief washed through me. “Are you sure?” I asked, giving him another out even though everything in me was screaming at him not to take it. Maddox had to be a safer bet than the stalker.
His mouth tilted slightly, not quite a smile but close. “As long as your mom doesn’t kill me if she finds me still here when she gets home.”
A nervous giggle escaped. He had no idea how possible the idea was, which was exactly why I’d make sure he didn’t get caught in my room.
23
MALLORY
Itried not to think too hard about Maddox spending the night with me. It wasn’t like he said he’d sleep in my bed. Did I want him in my bed?
I probably shouldn’t, but I did.
I wasn’t lying when I told him I didn’t want to be alone, and having him here, just in the house, made me feel a thousand times safer.
Maddox leaned against the kitchen counter, the position making his shoulders look broader, more imposing.
“So,” I said, opening the fridge, trying to be normal. “Weirdly, I could really go for pizza.”
