Making the Cut (Saving Dallas 2)

“One more time and I’ll splatter your brains against the wall. I don’t give a fuck who is watching.” Maddie managed to keep herself together; not letting on that what Luke was doing was bothering her. Frankie nodded, unable to speak and Luke slammed him back in the chair.

“He called me yesterday morning. Told me if I didn’t come willingly he was taking Maddie and I’d never see her again. I told him I would rather have you kill me than him. I thought he was bluffing,” he said, looking at Maddie, begging for understanding. She looked away with tears in her eyes, knowing that he would have given her up in an instant. “They grabbed me and the next thing I knew, we were here. He took Maddie and Dallas and left me for you. I thought we had a deal, but apparently we didn’t.” I saw the wheels in Luke’s head spinning. He was focusing on something when he turned back to Frankie.

“Tell me one more time, and don’t fuck up, what were his exact words to you about Maddie.” What was Luke getting at?

“He said, if I came willingly he would leave Maddie alone. If I didn’t, he would take her and I would never see her again.” Luke nodded his head, smiling a smile with no humor for a reason only he knew.

“Tie him up,” he said softly to Possum, then grabbed Maddie’s hand to exit the room.

“I’ll do it,” Frankie blurted, causing everyone in the room to turn their attention to him.

“No, you won’t,” Luke said softly, then kissed Maddie’s confused face and started out again.

“You promise me,” Frankie stuttered. I looked to see that his eyes were full of tears. “You promise to take care of my little girl, and I’ll do it.” Luke turned to stare at Frankie, his brows drawn together, probably wondering if Frankie was telling the truth or not. “You chose my girl over your own. I don’t care why you did it, or what reasons you had. You did it and that’s all that matters. I don’t know if your Dallas is alive or not, but if she is, I’ll take her place.” You could have heard a pin drop, as we all took turns staring between Luke and Frankie.

“You would do that?” Maddie asked, pulling her hand from Luke’s and walking towards him.

“I would. Not for Luke and not for Dallas, but I’d do it for you. I’ve fucked up my whole life where you were concerned, and now I have my chance to make it right. I always had your best interests at heart, Maddie. I just had a fucked up way of showing it. Luke can take better care of you than I ever could.” Frankie straightened in the chair, trying to salvage what little pride he had left. “He will keep you safe, keep you and Logan both safe. He did it before, he’ll do it again. I never meant to hurt you, Maddie. I know you lost any love you ever had for me after what I done to your sister. I’d rather die at the hands of the man I hate, than live without the only woman I love. My world only exists with you in it, and that just ain’t possible.”

I didn’t care that I hated this man. I didn’t care what kind of sick, sadistic creature he was. At that moment, I loved him and respected him more than any man in the room. Anyone willing to give their life for someone they love, no matter what kind of person they were, deserved a show of respect.

“If Dallas is alive, you will do this for me. You will take her place and bring her back to her family. I deserve happiness, Logan deserves happiness, and so does Dallas. That doesn’t exist in this world as long as you are in it.” Maddie’s words were cold, but I could tell a little piece of her died as she walked up the stairs and out of the sights of a man she would never see again.

Chapter 15

DALLAS

“You are going to love your new home, Dallas,” Charlie said, his deep silky voice was so smooth that I almost believed him. I looked at him, sitting next to me, smiling like he had just won the lottery. I would not give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry, although I was dying on the inside. I was tired, sore and my bladder felt like it would bust any minute. If I told him I had to pee, then I would have to talk to him. Talking to him was something I didn’t want to do. I leaned forward in my seat, sticking my head toward the front of the car to speak to the man driving us.