Becoming Maddie (The Casterhouse series Book 1) (35 page)

Aiden had moved as fast as lightening and gotten a hold of Jessica by wrapping his arms around her waist. This didn’t stop her from fighting against him and giving Maddie the finger and so on over his shoulder. It also didn’t shut her mouth.

“Maddison you are nothing but a whore. One day my brother will see you for the slut you really are!” She screamed with bits of saliva flying out of her mouth. “I can’t fucking wait for him to crush you.”

When Maddie might have said something back, something to defend herself but also to shut her up so that Aiden didn’t have to hear this anymore, John stopped her. When would Jessica learn that this was only pushing the people she claimed to love further and further away? Not to mention Maddie had done nothing wrong,
nothing
.

“Don’t.” John whispered in her ear as he let her go but didn’t move too far away just in case. “The police are getting this all. Don’t add yourself into the mix.”

John, of course, was totally right. The police were moving forward to help get Jessica free of Aiden. They had not missed a thing. Of course it didn’t hurt that the cars had cameras on them, all pointed at Jessica.

Aiden moved away from the police as they struggled to get Jessica under control and into a car. She was still screaming and shouting stuff, it wasn’t even making a lot of sense anymore either. Not that it mattered because Maddie wasn’t even hearing it anymore. Her eyes were totally locked on Aiden and his face.

There were so many things she should be feeling but Maddie was blown away by that the one look she could see on his face. It was concern, for her.

Aiden’s sister had made another scene, got arrested by the police and said the most awful stuff and he was worried about her, Maddie

Lifting his hands so that they cradled each side of her face, Aiden bent his head so that their foreheads were touching and kissed her nose.

“Are you okay?” Aiden whispered softly.

God, he was such an amazing man.

“Are
you
okay?” Maddie said softly.

For a quiet moment they just looked into each other’s eyes, taking the other in. Maddie’s senses were filled with him. Her lungs with the smell of him, her body with the touch of him and her eyes with the look he was giving her.

“I have the woman I love in my arms.” Aiden whispered. “I will always be okay. Even if the super fucked shit is happening all around us. You in my arms and I know I will be okay.”

Feeling tears fill her eyes at his words, Maddie swallowed trying to control it.

“I feel exactly the same.” She whispered to him. “The best place in the world.”

Aiden smiled huge as he pulled back from her a little.

“Best place in the world.” Aiden agreed back tucking her under his arm.

So there they stood, John, Aiden and Maddie, watching the police finally get Jessica into a car. They didn’t leave because they all knew they would have to give statements but that didn’t stop Maddie from feeling a little better.

It was at least one person off the streets that had attacked her after all. Even if it cut deep that Jessica was who she was.

* * * * * * * *

Aiden watched Maddie’s face as she talked to the female police officer taking her statement. She didn’t look upset or traumatized by the Jessica encounter. Granted it hadn’t ended the way the last one did, not that he would ever let anything happen like that to Maddie ever again, but he was worried that she was hiding what she was feeling because of him.

His Ruby was sweet and always put other people before herself. He knew that Maddie would be worried about him and how he was reacting to what had happened. He loved that. He loved that she was worried about him. He loved Maddie full stop.

It was that love that Aiden felt for her that made him worried about what she was feeling. He was already angry that he hadn’t been there to protect her when shit hit the fan.

John walked up from behind him to stand to his right. The man lifted his hand and grabbed his shoulder quickly before letting his hand drop.

“She seems fine.” John.

Aiden had decided that he liked John almost instantly. It had just be solidified today by him watching Aiden’s, and more importantly, Maddie’s back. The fact that he managed to hook the outrageous, but funny, Sarah was more proof that he was a good guy. So John saying that meant something to Aiden.

At the same time John didn’t know Maddie the way he did. Aiden wasn’t sure if the other man knew her past or not but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to see that she had issues that she was working through.

“Saying that though, she seems really worried about you.” John carried on. “From where I am standing, seems like you have good reason to be feeling like crap.”

Aiden said nothing but nodded. He did feel crap but somewhere along the lines he knew that things were going to end up this way. Jessica had not just crossed the line when she did what she did to Maddie. No she had seen the line, jumped up and down on the line and shit on it. Somehow he had come to accept this. Aiden loved his sister, always would, but she had a lot of work to do before things would ever become even slightly good between them (if ever). She broke his heart and that would not heal any time soon.

What he had with Eddie and Fiona was the best family he could ask for. Maddie was set on building that family with more friends and he was happy to welcome them too, but at the end of the day all he needed was her. Maddie was his family and if in the future they add to that family by bringing children into the world then he would love them with his whole heart. If she didn’t want that, he would work hard to deal with it, because every night he wanted to sleep with Maddie in his arms.

Damn he needed to put a ring on that finger. Aiden didn’t care how fast it was Maddie was his and Aiden was hers.

“I have spoken to the police and now I need to get home.” John said.

“Yeah, get home to your wife and kids.” Aiden said turning to look at John and clapping him on the shoulder. “Can’t find the words to tell ya man, being here for my woman, being here for me and watching that... Means a lot.”

John nodded before rifling in his pockets.

“Anytime.” John said acknowledging that it was a serious moment but letting it pass. “Shit I am gonna have to get a taxi.”

Sarah had left in their car with the kids. Aiden reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys for his truck. Holding them out to John, he realised this showed how much he trusted the man already.

“Take my truck.” Aiden said. “Just drop off the keys this afternoon.”

John looked at the keys for a moment then nodded before reaching them. He put them in his pocket but didn’t move away from Aiden. 

“Never met her till the other day but Maddie is pretty special.” John said looking at Maddie again. “Look after her. Sarah told me her past, Maddie said it was okay, so I know she hasn’t had it easy. Don’t want to know she had to go through it again.”

Aiden understood where John was coming from but that didn’t stop him from being a little annoyed. John didn’t know Maddie the way he did. John hadn’t held Maddie in his arms as she cried herself back to sleep after another bad dream.

Taking a deep breath, Aiden reminded himself that just a minute or two ago Aiden had been thinking about what a good guy he was. This was really just more proof that he was a good man. John gave a crap about a woman that he only just met and that was his wife’s best friend.

“I will never let anything happen to Maddie.” Aiden said is voice clear and purposeful. “She is my life.”

John still stood next to him saying nothing. This was new territory for Aiden. He had not lived like a monk, that was for sure, but he had never found a woman that he wanted to have around for a while. In this case he wanted Maddie around, for life. So this whole situation was something he had never had to do before, never thought he would do, ever.

“Again, means a lot.” Aiden muttered.

Jiggling the keys in his pocket, John nodded before giving a wave to Maddie who noticed straight away and waved back.

As Aiden stood there by himself wondering how Maddie was really feeling, how he was going to get her to talk to him about it and lastly, how he was going to break this to Fiona and Eddie.

Sighing he looked at the ground and rubbed a hand over his eyes.

His sister was a fucking mess.

Was it really Aiden’s fault? Had he really given up on her? He had tried so hard when he was younger to always make sure she had a smile on his face. Sure, as he got older he had things going on his life that meant he couldn’t always be there every time she needed a smile put on her face but he tried though. Aiden had never abandoned her. He may not have been able to get there straight away but he got to her when he could. Aiden loved his sister. When things got bad he worked his ass off to try and keep her head above water. Then he worked even harder when her head went under. Then he forgave everything that she did until one day it was just too far gone.

The day he walked into Maddison’s flat and found her bloody and beaten on the ground.

That image would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Suddenly he felt two familiar female arms wrap round his waist and a head settle under his chin. Taking a deep breath he filled his lungs with the scent that was pure Maddie. Aiden would never get use to that smell, he never wanted to, he wanted it to hit him this way every time.

“Baby I need you to listen to me this time.” Maddie whispered in his ear somehow creating a world that had only him and her. “I am fine, I will be fine later too. So now we are going to focus on you. Then we are going to focus on Eddie and Fiona. Then we are going to go home, get a take away and snuggle up with a crappy film.”

Aiden wrapped his arms round her and kissed her soundly. This was Maddie, kind to the core, making it clear she was fine so he could deal with his feelings and making sure she was going to be there for Eddie and Fiona.

“Fuck I love you my Ruby.” Aiden breathed.

Maddie didn’t hesitate for a second when she breathed back, “I love you Aiden.”

They turned ad started to walk down the path towards the flat. It wouldn’t take them long to get back by walking. Aiden only ever took the truck to football because of the kit that went in the back. It was actually a nice autumn day if a little chilly. They both had plenty of layers on so neither would feel the cold too bad. Marvin was loving the walk and his coat was made for colder climates so he was fine too.

Under that was a quietness coming from Maddie. They had times when they didn’t talk and just enjoyed each other’s company. That wasn’t often though because Maddie liked to talk. She liked to share her days or something funny that she heard. Aiden liked it. Meant that he knew she was in a good place. This is why he knew this quietness was different.

“Talk to me Maddie.” Aiden asked.

He knew what was bothering her but he needed to hear he talk about it so that he could work out where her mind was at. Maddie, he knew, thought that Aiden could read her mind. Unsurprisingly he couldn’t. What he could do though was work out from her facial expressions and her voice what she was thinking. Aiden needed her to talk to work out if he had fucked up in not sharing his flat watching with her.

“I know you would tell me if it was something I should be worried about.” Maddie started. “I trust you totally.”

Maddie then lapsed into silence again. Aiden let it go on for a minute before saying.

“Maddie.”

She jerked slightly under his arm as if Aiden had pulled her from deep within her thoughts.

“I just can’t work out why you would be sat outside her flat.” Maddie muttered. “Surely you knew she wouldn’t go back there after I ID her.”

Aiden sighed as they kept walking. His amazing Maddie gave him the time he needed to put his thoughts into words. How does he explain that he needed to do something even if that something was sitting outside an empty flat hoping his sister would come to him then turn herself in.

“Your right I knew she wouldn’t go back there.” Aiden explained running a hand over his face. “Part of me hoped that Jessy would see my truck and come talk to me. Mostly though I just needed to do something,
anything
. I needed to be a part of keeping you safe. I think when I went searching for Jean I realised I wasn’t helping the situation by leaving you home alone so much without a good reason. So I stopped.”

Maddie stopped walking abruptly. Aiden moved so that he stood in front of her looking down. His eyes flickered over her face before settling on looking deep into her eyes. What he did not find there was annoyance or hurt.

Instead they were filled with total love and understanding. Trust his Maddie to understand something he himself didn’t fully.

“You look after me and keep me safe every single day.” Maddie said, doing an Aiden and talking straight. “Every time I think you can’t get any better you go and do something that proves me wrong and I love you even more for it.”

Aiden stared at her once again. Nearly brought to his knees by the sweetness that was inside her. Plus she was letting it out and showing it much more easily day to day.