Malum: Part 1 (The Elite King's Club 4)

I lean back in my chair, my brain spinning with all the possible ways I can take this scenario. Right now, I know I don’t have many options. She holds all the cards in her hand right now, so for right now, I have to play the hand she has dealt me.

I exhale. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

Tillie

I knocked three times with no answer, so I sink onto the cool steps in front of my best friend’s plantation-style mansion. There have been so many times that I’ve been on these steps, and not one time did they ever feel empty like they did now. Wind whisks through the trees that line her long circle driveway, causing the spray from the water fountain to splash against my face in light misty waves.

Madison was raised with money, but make no mistake, her life was not privileged. I think that’s why she and I clicked so hard and so fast. Her other best friend, Tate, on the other hand…

I don’t have anything against Tate, but she is everything you would expect from a rich bitch who was raised with a gold (that’s right, not silver, gold), spoon in her mouth, but even when Tate and I don’t see eye-to-eye, we still have a common ground to form a bond on—Madison.

I sink my face into the palms of my hands, for the first time, reality starts really sinking in. She took my daughter. My sister is undeniably fucking crazy, and there’s a very real possibility that she could harm her if I don’t do exactly as I’m told.

I lost Daemon.

I lost my sister—somewhat.

I lost my daughter.

I have no one. I am no one. Nate is going to hate me for thinking I ran with his daughter, and if he doesn’t already, he sure will when all of the truth comes out. Either way, I can’t win and the walls inside my head feel as though they’re closing in on me.

I hear a car pull up, headlights sneaking through the cracks of my fingers. I swipe the tears off my cheeks and zero in on the car. A matte black Audi comes into view with the license plate “KINGII.” My heart thunders in my chest. There’s only one person who would have that license plate.

Nate.

I shoot up from the step, swiping the fresh tears from my eyes. A car door slams shut, and then another with heels clicking against the stone driveway. I know instantly that that wouldn’t be Madison because she doesn’t wear heels. It could be Tate. I choose to ignore all theories and remain focused.

“Tillie?” His steps are slow, calculated. I can’t see anything else but the outline of him. He’s wearing dark jeans, heavy boots, and a leather jacket with a hoodie underneath.

I clear my throat, thankful that I can’t see his face, or his eyes. “She took her, Nate, and she’s not giving her back.”

He pauses and then cranks his head over his shoulder. “Get the fuck back in the car.”

I wince at the tone, only to realize for once, it’s not aimed at me. He turns back to me. “What do you mean she took her?”

I can’t stop the tears now, they’re free-falling all over the place. I try to swipe them away, angry at the fact that my body might be doing it robotically from Peyton ordering me to show up all damsel in distress. “Peyton took Micaela and she’s not g—” I choke on my words, a hiccup interfering my speech. “Giving her back.”

Nate flies forward, his hand coming to mine instantly. He pulls me into his chest. I didn’t expect it. My body turns rigid.

His hand comes to my chin, and he squeezes so roughly that I flinch. This, I expected. He yanks my head up to face him. I see his eyes now, at least the curve of them. “If I find out that you’re lying to me, Tillie, regardless whether we have a child together, I’ll fucking kill you, do you understand? Don’t fuck with me when it comes to Micaela, Tillie. I swear to God…”

“Nate!” Madison’s voice claps through the air like a bolt of lightning.

I pull my face out of his grip just as Madison pushes him to the side where he falls beside me lazily. “Oh my god!” she screams, her hands coming to my face. “I tried to tell them that you wouldn’t run. I told them…”

I exhale my held reprieve, pulling her in for a hug. “I wouldn’t run, Madison, but Peyton has Micaela and she’s not giving her back. I can’t do anything, I’m powerless.” It’s not a lie.

Madison turns to face Bishop and then turns her head toward the house. “Come on. We can talk more inside. Nate!” she snaps at Nate as he’s walking toward the house. “Get rid of your ho.”