Ruin Me (Savage Bosses)

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

K ent

I led Madison to the elevator. Though a sense of relief stayed with me, the disappointment I’d glimpsed in her eyes when I mentioned my house was a boulder-sized weight on my shoulders.

Instead of clicking the button to go to the second penthouse, I selected the garage. She turned questioning eyes on me, but I didn’t have the words needed to explain my actions. I let her wonder in silence if I was taking her to a hotel, but doing so felt too impersonal after what we’d experienced.

We traveled in silence to my house, but when Madison stood at the threshold, she paused.

“Why?” she asked.

I looked at the home I’d shared with Oyinlola, the place Ife still found comfort in. There were so many bittersweet moments under this roof that I forced myself to face whenever Ife visited. But one thing had changed. The pain I avoided was no longer a raging menace, and it was thanks to Madison. Suddenly, the words that escaped me crystallized.

“I can’t expect you to explore these feelings we have for each other if I can’t show you I’m ready to move on from Lola. And I want the chance to rewrite our history in this house and give you something positive to remove the sting from what I did the last time you were here.”

“You’ve been agonizing over this before I made my request, haven’t you?”

I shrugged, not proud of my behavior but wanting with everything inside me to overcome my shortcomings and gain something more with Madison.

She stepped through the house. Not much had changed over the years. A cleaning service came in every week to maintain the space, but all the furniture and photos were in their usual spots. As Madison trailed her fingers over wooden surfaces and photo collages, I watched from inside the door.

My instincts were right. Seeing her here didn’t cause a violent revolt inside me.

“About what happened in your office…”

My body stiffened at her words. I hadn’t planned the punishment I doled out, neither could I say how I felt about it. Despite restraining the power of my blows, I’d done something out of character, and Madison had every right to call the police on me.

“I didn’t know how much I needed that kind of release. If ever things build up for me like that again, would you… I can’t believe I’m asking for this.” She shook her head while avoiding eye contact with me.

“You want me to punish you in the event you act up?”

“I guess that’s what I’m saying.”

I strode to her and took her shoulders in my hands until she found the courage to look at me. “I’ll try to give you what you need, but only if you promise to tell me to stop when you’ve had enough. The damage I could have done today… I don’t want to think about how bad it could have been. That’s another reason I need the day with you.” I pulled her toward the couch and lay our bodies on the soft cushions.

Madison willingly came into my arms and I breathed my first free breath in days as her body sank into mine. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

I kissed the hair on top of her head, reveling in the soft curls. “Thank you for giving me a second chance.”

For hours we didn’t move except to talk. I satisfied my curiosity about her meteoric rise as the owner of such a successful crisis management company. In listening to her impassioned speech about her company and employees, Hayden Mills’ question popped into my head. Now that I wanted to be ready for her, I couldn’t imagine her leaving in a month.

“You’ve come a long way at a young age. Do you have plans to expand your operation?”

“I hadn’t thought about it. People come to me, but I’ve had a few clients recently that have required extensive travel. Having satellite offices in strategic cities might be my next option.”

Her vague response left an emptiness inside me, but now wasn’t the time to rush into anything. We had to get to know each other, though I was certain I would only grow to admire Madison more than I did.

When her stomach grumbled, I ordered food, as the house hadn’t been stocked in months. Even as we ate, I couldn’t stomach too much distance between us and sat beside her, our legs pressed against each other.

As we packed away the containers, my phone rang. Omar’s name on the screen prompted me to respond. Although I was taking the day off, I didn’t have the luxury to ignore Omar’s calls. He knew to disturb me for emergencies only when I played hooky.

“Kent?” he asked before I said a word. His frantic voice and the sirens in the background put me on alert.

Madison paused. A concerning frown pulled at her lips.

I motioned her over. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Elsie. God!” The typically even-tempered Omar had disappeared. His distraught response alarmed me.

“What happened to Elsie?” I put the call on speakerphone.

Madison gripped my arm and sat down heavily beside me.

“Someone attacked her. We’re on the way to Douglas General in an ambulance right now, but I think you should meet us there.”

Voices calling out dosages and statuses sounded in the background as EMTs worked on Elsie.

“Madison and I’ll be there soon. Did you call the police?”

“Not yet.” Omar’s shuddered breath shook me.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.” Madison pulled out her phone to place the call.

“Omar, hang in there.”

The ride to the hospital was fraught with worry and tension. Although I tried not to think about it, I wondered if the person murdering my past dates was at fault. The police had heard nothing new and had found no new bodies. Was Elsie a victim of the person targeting me?

We pulled into the parking area and rushed to the emergency room. Omar spotted us before we spotted him. He appeared aged and haggard compared to when I saw him yesterday.

“She’s still in surgery but should be in intensive care soon. They won’t tell me much else because I’m not family,” he said.

“Tell us what happened. I’ll need to contact Elsie’s parents, her agency, her?—”

“Madison, take a breath.” I glanced around the crowded waiting room. “Let’s find a quiet place to talk.”

“The cafeteria’s pretty empty. Follow me.” Omar sped through the halls until we reached the dining area.

From the sparsely populated tables, we’d missed the lunch rush. After choosing a table away from everyone else, Omar spoke.

“Elsie and I were supposed to go on a lunch date. She told me to pick her up in her building’s garage. When I pulled up, I saw a man standing over someone on the ground. All I could see were her crumpled legs.”

“Did you get a good look at him?” I asked.

Omar shook his head. “I wish. I don’t even know if I did the right thing by not going after him, but Elsie wasn’t responding. There was so much blood around her head and she wasn’t conscious.” He slammed his fist against the table.

Madison cupped his hand. “Listen, we have to believe she’ll pull through.”

Omar sobbed. “Even if she does, she may never be the same. The asshole cut her face!”

Madison and I shared a glance, knowing what damage to Elsie’s face could do to her career.

“There’s no use staying here since we won’t hear when she’ll be up for visitors.”

Omar silently agreed, and we headed toward the ICU’s waiting room. When we entered, Detectives Glass and Salinas were arguing with a nurse to let them in to see Elsie. Glass noticed me first.

“Mr. Luxe, may I ask what brings you here?”

“I’m acquainted with Elsie and am concerned about her condition.”

“How’d you hear about the attack?” Salinas came up behind me, suspicion in his voice. “The 911 call came from a Madison Montgomery.”

“That’s me. We were together when Omar called to tell us what happened.” Madison maneuvered between me and the detective, as if shielding me from his ill intent.

“Looks like you have an alibi for when the attack took place,” Glass said. “While we wait for the patient to wake up, I’d like to speak to this Omar person you mentioned.”

“I’m right here.” Omar stood to face the officers. “I don’t know much, but I’ll tell you what I saw.”

“Don’t you work for Mr. Luxe?” Salinas asked. The implication that he considered Omar’s connection with me, a suspect in previous murders, was clear in his tone.

“I do.”

“Why were you at the scene of the attack?”

Omar relayed the same information he’d told Madison and me earlier, though under more grilling and a heavy air of suspicion. While Omar answered the same set of questions, albeit phrased differently, a doctor entered the waiting room looking for Omar.

Detective Glass pushed Omar aside to say, “Is the patient awake?”

“Yes, but she can only see one person at a time.” The doctor turned to the detectives. “I respect your profession, but that rule also applies to you. One of you has to stay out here.”

The police officers whispered to each other before Glass nodded and left the room. Meanwhile, Omar engaged the doctor with questions.

Salinas and I stared each other down until Madison pulled at my arm. “Now’s not the time for pissing off the cops. I think something about the attack must have a connection with the other cases they’ve linked to you.”

I turned away from the aggravating officer to give Madison my attention. “I think so, too. Otherwise, the police wouldn’t have sent homicide detectives to investigate.”

“But what I don’t understand is the cut on Elsie’s face. None of the other victims were marked that way, and it feels personal. Like something a disgruntled ex-boyfriend would do.”

We walked over to a secluded area to share our thoughts.

“Although Elsie is famous and I’m sure we share some social circles, I doubt I’ve had dealings with an ex of hers. Or that he would take issue with the other women I’ve dated.”

“Maybe he read the news and tried to mimic the other crimes?” Madison bit her lip as she pondered. “If you’re involved, the only people who knew about you and Elsie were attendees at the Children’s Hospital fundraiser. I’ll get a list and cross reference the people there with people you have in common.”

I folded my arms, imagining the daunting task. “That sounds like a lot to take on.”

“You’re right, but I have a team to help. And the sooner we clear you, the sooner your company will recover from the negative press.”

Omar joined us, his face less worn after hearing Elsie would pull through. Madison and I shared our impressions, which caused him to frown.

“I hate to break it to you, but Elsie hasn’t had a boyfriend since high school. All the men linked to her were arrangements like the one she has with Kent. I doubt a guy that far back is coming around now, especially from where she grew up. He’s probably working his family’s farm and has no idea what Elsie’s done with her life.”

At that moment, Glass barged into the room and made his way toward Omar. Salinas rushed to join his partner.

“Omar, are you certain the person you saw was a man?” Glass demanded.

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“Did you notice any women in the area? Maybe before you entered the garage?”

Omar frowned as he concentrated, but shook his head. “No, I wasn’t paying close attention.”

“Why are you asking about a woman?” Madison asked.

“Because before she was hit in the head, Elsie heard a woman’s voice say, ‘Kent belongs to me, bitch.’”

“So, how does the man factor in all this?” I looked at everyone but could find no answers in their responding stares.