Page 5 of Max

He crept away from the door, still holding me firmly in his arms. And yes, even with his hand over my mouth, until a soft knock came at the door.

“Skylar, honey,” Nico kept with the sickly sweet tone that sent shivers down every fiber of my being. “You need to stop with whatever is mudding your head.”

I started thrashing even harder than before. I knew that tone. I knew what came after that tone, and I was prepared to do anything to never get to experience the pain that followed.

“It’s normal. The wedding jitters that is. That’s all that it is,” the knock came again. “Open this door and stop with this nonsense. C’mon, sweetheart. Let’s get married.”

I could feel my eyes well with tears. My breaths became shallow, and the burning sensation in my throat was insufferable. I tried my best to stop the tears. I tried my best not to give in to the overwhelming fear that gripped me. As usual, my best just wasn’t enough, and one by one, the burning trail on my cheeks alerted me that the tears started to spill over.

“He’s not going to get to you,” my savior whispered in my ear. “Relax, I got you.”

Hearing those words, I stopped shaking my head, took as big of a breath as possible with my mouth still covered, and nodded with vigor.

“Skylar, open the door,” the sweetness was now gone from Nico’s voice. “Do it NOW!”

The moment we heard the roar, I was turned then shoved gently toward the open window.

“Up, go,” was all the instruction I needed.

I ran those four steps that were between me and the light spilling into the room through that square opening in the wall. One leg over, then the next and I was sitting on the windowsill.

“Open this fucking door now, Skylar!” Nico again banged on the door. “I’m done with your games.”

I could feel every bang vibrating through my body. With a final look behind me, I jumped.

I was just getting up off my knees when my hand was clasped in his much bigger one and he pulled. I was barefoot, but I didn’t care. I could hardly feel the sting of gravel in my soles. My only focus was the black car from this morning, and Max’s back that was clad in the similar black T-shirt that he gave me to put on as he walked to it and dragged me with him.

“Get in,” his order was followed by a light push at the small of my back.

I obviously wasn’t fast enough, if him picking me up and then planting me into the car was any indication. I turned my head to voice my protest, but I didn’t say anything. That was because on the lawn there stood Nico with his men. And behind them was Vinny, who flashed us a brief smile and wink before his face set in a frown.

“You have to be fucking kidding me,” I looked up and was met with a scowl that was now at Max’s face.

“What?” I breathed.

“Nico fucking Barone?”

I tilted my head, not getting what he was on about.

“Fucking hell,” he muttered before shutting the door and then casually strolling in front of the car and to his door.

I was confused by the swift mood change. As soon as Max opened the door, I leaned his way and repeated my question. Again, I didn’t get an answer. I watched in horror as Max smiled a cocky smile and flicked his two fingers from his forehead Nico’s way. He folded into the car seat, turned the key, and drove off, not looking at me once.

As he drove, I kept glancing his way, trying to make sense of the day’s happenings. That was until I actually saw Max. Sweet Mary, the man, was breathtaking. Black hair that was cut close to his head all over, but the front was hanging down almost to his eyes. Trimmed beard, it gave an illusion that he hadn’t shaved in a few days, and was surprisingly more brown than black. His arms bulged with every movement, and it made me question how much exactly had he been in check while he grabbed me from behind. Just by looking at the muscles that were bouncing with his slightest movements, I was thinking; his control was extreme. From memory, I knew he had brown eyes. Dark brown. How I knew that since I looked at them maybe twice was a mystery.

He was wearing washed-up jeans, a black T-shirt and white sneakers. I remember thinking, I haven’t seen anyone so beautiful in my life. Ever... and that included Jacob.

“Max,” I whispered tentatively.

I needed to know what just happened. How did he know where to find me? I didn’t give him Melanie’s address. In fact, I barely said a word to him as I got into her car. Why had he even come to rescue me again? And how the hell had he got hold of Jacob’s old number? When he first came to help get away from Nico, my mind was in such a whirlwind that I just did what he said. I hadn’t stopped to question anything. I was sure, somehow, Jacob sent me this strong man and I went along with it. But now, after seeing how he bid his farewell to Nico, like he managed to steal something from him, the questions started flowing in. I needed to know.

“Don’t.”

That was all he said. Seriously? Don’t? I didn’t think so.

“I need you to tell me what’s going on?”

I spoke slowly, scared I would flip some kind of switch. No one was that beautiful without some sort of flaw. He stopped at the red light, turned my way, and I lost my breath.