Rival (Fall Away #2)

“Yeah,” he shot back, washing his hands. “I wanted you so much that I ran and screwed someone else right after I left you in the theater room.”

Oh, my God. I clenched my fists, drawing breaths in and out faster and faster. My face in its anger couldn’t get any more tightened. My feet were anchored to the f**king floor.

What the hell? I slammed my fist into the door, sending it swinging so hard that it hit the wall behind it. Both of them spun around to face me where I stayed rooted to the doorway.

“Fallon!” My mother made a big show of fixing herself. Putting her hand to her chest, she looked at me with sympathetic eyes.

“Fallon.” Madoc held up his hand and shook his head as if he was trying to stop my thoughts in their tracks. “Baby, it’s nothing, okay. Look at me.”

“I told you, honey,” my mother started. “Madoc doesn’t care about you. He and I—”

“There is no you and me!” he bellowed, turning his head and killing her with his eyes.

“Tell her, then.” She pushed off the wall, face even and voice calm. “Tell her about the theater room, you kissing me . . .”

“Shut up!” Madoc walked over to me, looking like he was in pain. “Fallon, look into my eyes.”

What? I dropped my eyes to the ground, trying to make sense of this.

“Ask him.” My mother’s voice drifted from somewhere behind us. “I told you he can’t be trusted, Fallon.”

I closed my eyes, starting to feel my feet melt into the floor.

“Fallon, nothing ever happened!” someone said. “I never touched her. She kissed me . . .”

I hated turning corners. Closed doors.

I could still hear them talking, but I had no idea what they were saying. My feet were gone. My legs up to my knees had faded away, and I couldn’t feel anything when I tried to tense my muscles.

Your life doesn’t interest me, Fallon.

You know what I used to call you? Pussy-on-the-Premises.

I sucked in quick breaths, but they left me slowly as if my body might not have the strength to take in air again. In quick. Out slow. In quick. Out slow.

How could he do this? How could she?

You’re just a slut like your mother. Madoc’s words hadn’t cut before, because I knew they weren’t true. Why did I feel pain from them now?

Did you really think he loved you? He used you!

I squeezed my eyes closed even tighter and swallowed. Swallow it down. Swallow it down.

I heard my name. Madoc. He was saying my name.

“Fallon! Look at me!”

Open your eyes! What do you see?

My eyes snapped open, and I saw Madoc standing in front of me. His eyes were watery, and he was squeezing my shoulders.

Who are you? My father’s smooth, Irish voice washed over me. Who are you?

I tightened my fists again and again, blinking as Madoc kissed my forehead.

I don’t try to kill your demons. I run with them.

That’s what makes Madoc a good kid, Fallon. He picks up the pieces.

I felt his hands on my face, his thumbs stroking circles on my cheeks.

He picks up the pieces.

Make that threat again. I will put you through a wall to get to her.

Finish up, Father. She needs to be kissed.

Madoc.

My heart swelled. He was mine. He was always mine.

Madoc. My Madoc.

I looked into his eyes, seeing the love, the worry, the fear . . .

And I held him in my gaze, filling my lungs with air.

“Nothing that happens on the surface of the sea can alter the calm of its depths.”

“Fallon, please,” Madoc begged. “Listen to me.”

“No,” I finally uttered, dropping my hands and tilting my chin up. “Stop talking,” I said firmly.

I walked around him and slowly—very slowly—approached my mother with my hands folded in front of me.

I kept my expression flat and my tone low as I dove into her space, sucking the oxygen up around her. “Lawyer up,” I threatened. “Madoc and I want the house, and it is very lonely in your corner, Mother.” Leaning into her face, I barely unclenched my teeth. “Stand against me. And. You. Will. Lose.”

I spun around before she even had time to react and sauntered out of the bathroom, grabbing Madoc’s hand on the way.

“Fallon, let me explain. Nothing ever happened. She came onto me, and I—”

I halted in the hallway and turned to face him. “I don’t even want to hear it. I don’t need any reassurances where you’re concerned.”

Taking his face in my hands, I took his lips that captivated my entire body the moment they touched. Madoc had me body and soul, and no one could stop us. Least of all my beast of a mother.

I certainly didn’t give her the reaming she deserved, but it wouldn’t have done anyone any good. I would’ve wasted my breath. The only things that woman respected were money and power, and I just threatened her with both.

Any more of my attention, and it would be at my cost.

Never. Again. Madoc and I have a life to live.

“I love you,” I whispered into his lips.

He let his forehead fall to mine as he sighed. “Thank God. You had me scared.”

I heard someone clear his throat, and I twisted my head, only to have my heart jump into my throat.

“Dad!” I gasped and pulled free of Madoc to nearly knock my father over with a hug.

“Hey, little girl,” he said, grunting from the impact.