Don't Hate the Player...Hate the Game(54)

She shook her head. “You have to leave, Will.”

Cocking his head, he challenged, “Now is that any way to treat your big brother?”

“But you know the rules. Until you get clean, you’re not allowed to be around me or Josh.”

At the mention of Josh, Will’s face flooded with concern. “How is he?”

Maddie sighed. “He’s better. The doctors think the treatment is going to work.”

Will bit down on his lip a minute before he finally replied, “That’s good to hear.” He then turned his attention to me. “Who’s this? Another punk playing you to get a little ass?”

Maddie gasped, and I stepped forward. “Hey don’t talk to her that way!”

He raised his eyebrows. “Wow, another chivalrous little douchebag, huh? Just like that last f**ker. What was his name? The one who blew himself up.” He chuckled harshly. “What an idiot!”

“Don’t you f**king say a word about Jake!” I shouted, shoving Will with all my might. His dark eyes narrowed at me. “Easy, you don’t want to get me riled.”

Breathing harshly, I countered, “If you say or do anything to Maddie, I’ll break your head it.”

Will quirked his brows at me before turning to Maddie. “He must really be wanting you bad if he’s willing to take up for you.” He then gave me a wink. “I wouldn’t waste my time, ace. Her legs are locked together at the knees like a good little girl!”

“You bastard! Don’t you dare say anything shitty like that about my Maddie!” My anger momentarily faltered as I realized my slip-up. I’d called Maddie mine. Was she mine?

My thoughts were interrupted by Maddie’s cries. Her sobbing pierced through to my soul. With clenched fists, I stepped forward. “Look, she asked you nicely to leave, and now I’m telling you. Get out!”

“Fuck you!”

Maddie gasped and stepped in front of me. Tears streamed down her cheek, and she was trembling all over. “Please don’t do this, Will? Why do you have to be this person? You’re breaking Mom and Dad’s heart!” she cried.

Will’s eyes flashed angrily. “What do you know of anything? I see you. You’re just a cardboard cutout—Mom and Dad’s beautiful little princess.” He snorted. “You make me sick.”

As the tears streamed down her cheeks, Maddie’s fists clenched at her side. “Get out!” she shrieked.

I took a step towards him. “You heard her. Get out, man. Right now before I call the cops.”

Will’s dark eyes gleamed. “Why don’t you make me?”

Before I knew what was happening, he’d lunged forward at me. I ducked. Then I popped back up, pummeling him once in the chin and then in the ribcage. He moaned and fell over.

“Now get out,” I growled.

When I turned to check on Maddie, Will lunged at my legs, knocking me to the floor. On the way down, I busted my lip on the edge of the table. We started kicking and scuffling on the kitchen floor.

The next sound I heard was the unmistakable click of a gun. Will and I both gazed up to see Maddie standing over us with pistol. “Get out, Will,” she commanded.

He shook his head before pulling himself to his feet. “Bitch,” he mumbled and then he stalked out the back door, slamming it behind him.

Maddie dropped the gun on the table. “Noah, are you all right?”

I wiped the blood off my lip. “I’m fine.”

“No you’re not, you’re bleeding!”

“It’s okay, Maddie. I’ve had busted lips before.”

“Wait, I’ll get you some ice.”

“Frozen peas or vegetables work better.”

She nodded and ran to the freezer.

I was finally coming out of my stupor. “Um, since when do you know how to use a gun?”

“Daddy made me and my mom take a gun class when we were living in Memphis. I was just fourteen at the time, but I was one of the best shots around.”

I pulled myself into a sitting position. It was certainly turning into an interesting night.

Maddie came back over to me. With shaky hands, she thrust out a bag of black-eyed peas. “Will this do?”

“Maddie?” Josh’s drowsy voice questioned from the doorway.

I exchanged a horrified glance with her before she replied, “Uh yeah?” She quickly stepped in front of Josh so he couldn’t see me on the floor.

Grinding his eyes with his fists, he said, “I thought I heard voices and fighting.”

With a nervous laugh, she went to his side. “I think you must’ve been dreaming. You better get upstairs and get into bed. You don’t want Mom and Dad to catch you still up.”

“Okay,” he replied.

I didn’t breathe, let alone speak, until I heard the patter of his feet on the ceiling above me. “That was close.”

Maddie rubbed her face with her hands. “Yes, it was.” Glancing over her shoulder at me, she grimaced. “You need cleaning up.”

She hurried over to the sink and then came back with a wet rag. “Here, let me.” Tenderly, she wiped the blood off my lip and cleaned the cut.

“I had no idea Will was that bad,” I said. At her surprised look, I replied, “I mean, I know you told me he had been in and out of rehab, but I just didn’t expect…”