The Scottish Bride (The Brides of Holland Springs Book 5)(8)

His heart thumped against his chest, the monitors beeping like crazy. “Go on.”

“You, Jude, and Finn... the driver lost control and rammed the side of St. David’s. Y’all were celebrating the Blue’s win. I wasn’t there because, well, I was home and working... and we still haven’t told our parents about what we’ve done,” she said.

“Son of a bitch,” he breathed. “And the others?” Please let them be okay, he prayed. Please.

“Jude... he’s hurt really bad.” Cadence began to cry. “They don’t know if he’ll ever walk again, and he refuses to see anyone because of his bandages. The doctors insist the scars he sustained might permanent, but that cosmetic surgery could help. Of course, Jude told them to sod off.”

Cold fear ran through him. He remembered getting into his car, but he wasn’t sure if he’d sat on the passenger side or not because when he was drunk, he forgot shit like that. Spending equal time in the States and in Scotland as he grew up had always messed with his head. It was something Jude had found incredibly funny.

“How do you not remember something so fantastically easy?” Jude said, his blue-eyed gaze full of amusement. “It’s due to all the balls hitting that hard head of yours, isn’t it?”

Maddox rolled his eyes. “What’s your excuse?”

“Breasts. Glorious, big-breasted beauties bouncing in my lap.” Jude grinned. “An actor’s life is hard, mate, but I manage to thrive.”

“And Finn?”

“He walked away without a scratch. Apparently, he was sitting in the back of the car.” She gave him a watery smile. “Lucky him, huh?”

For some reason, that didn’t sound correct to Maddox, but he couldn’t argue with what they’d found. “Aye. I don’t remember driving, my love.”

Cadence bit her lip. “Jude was thrown from the car, but you and Finn... you were in the driver’s seat. I know you didn’t mean to hurt my brother, but... I don’t know what to do. My parents are—well, you know how Romanovs are about the ones they love, and they want to press charges. Your parents... They love you and—it’s hard because they love Jude, too. But no one is speaking to each other, and... I’m not even supposed to be in here. They... no one knows I have a right to be here. Your parents are on their way and mine...” She let out a cry of despair, and his world closed in on him. “I can’t choose between y’all. I just can’t, but I—”

“Get out,” he said as the doctor walked into the room. “Get out now.” The doctor immediately did an about-face. “Fuck me. I wasn’t talking to you.”

Confusion collided with despair on her face. “What? You want me to leave? After...”

He wouldn’t make her choose between him and her brother. Jude was blood, and he was... He shook his head. He was nothing to her, not anymore. Cadence was kindhearted and sweet. Whatever lay ahead would destroy them. Since he was twenty-eight to her twenty-three, that made him the older and wiser one of the relationship.

Though it physically hurt him, he shoved her away. She stumbled backward, catching herself against a chair in the corner.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“I said get out! I don’t want your bloody pity, and you won’t get a fucking thing out of me to share with your parents. Their lawyers can sort everything,” he roared. “What happened between us is over.”

“Don’t do this,” she whispered, her face as white as bone. “I didn’t come in here to—”

“Leave, Cadence.”

Suddenly, she firmed her shoulders up and nodded. “I’ll give you time to come to your senses, but don’t you dare say we’re over. You’re my bloody husband.”

Hell yes, he was, but when everyone found out, there would be hell to pay. “We’re over,” he flatly replied. “Go to your brother. He needs you. I don’t.”

Liar, a voice in his head screamed. Bloody stupid liar.

With his jaw set, he watched her eyes widen.

For a minute, he thought she would argue with him. Hell, he wanted her to argue with him. He wanted her to tell him she was staying and that, no matter what, they would get through this together.

He couldn’t, though. He’d been the one driving. He’d been the one to hurt her brother—his best mate—so badly their parents were about to come to blows over this. Jude might not ever walk again... and it was all his bloody fault. Not to mention that the press would have a field day with him and Cadence.

Unless a miracle happened.

She didn’t deserve to have to hope for a miracle. She did not deserve what would be said about them both.

“Leave now. If and when I need you, I’ll text you.”

“As you wish, you stupid arse,” was her only reply as she stormed out of the room.

***

Two weeks later

Maddox would change his mind soon. Cadence just knew he would.

He only needed some time, lots of healing, and her love.

Their love.

So she went to his—their—flat and waited for him to call or text while she wrote and worked, and wrote and worked some more.

Only his call never came. Neither did his text. And he never came home. He didn’t show up for rugby practice either. It was as if he disappeared from the planet, which she knew couldn’t be possible because there were legal dealings going on.