Iconic (Adrenaline Series Book 6)

by Xavier Neal

  I nod when my phone starts to vibrate. Seeing Butcher's number, I rise to my feet, preparing to take it. “Triple D get down stairs and check her out.”

  “Yeah,” Destin agrees and snatches my spare keys from the hook.

  “Speak,” I demand, heading to my room for privacy.

  “You allergic to manners, McCoy?”

  “Dealing with the pain from being blasted in the arm with lead. Forgive me.”

  There's a brief pause before he asks, “How bad?”

  “Took a hard one a little below the shoulder.”

  The sound of Knox in my room forces me to turn around. At the sight of her, I move my head to motion for her to shut the door. When she does I put him on speaker phone.

  How's this for trust? Actions speak louder than words right?

  “Well hope it's not too fucked up. Now that Christmas is here I would hate for you to be Tiny Tim.”

  Knox looks at me puzzled.

  “You mean-”

  “Your little mess came with a benefit. One of them had a cell on 'em. Traced some information. Got you the location of your target.”

  Her jaw hits the ground and I grip the device tighter. “The Devil's been found.”

  “Yeah,” Butcher confirms. “The Devil has been found.”

  My eyes lift to Knox's. The same vindictive excitement floods them.

  You think tonight was messy? You better buckle up for what's ahead.

  Knoxie

  After vaguely discussing Madden's whereabouts and if he has a plan on how to handle The Devil now that we know where he is, we spent the rest of the night letting me play naughty French nurse, which is just like regular naughty nurse, but I pretend to vaguely speak English. Unfortunately for me, I was abruptly awoken this morning with a call from the hospital side of Grandma Maggie's retirement home.

  Flopping into the chair beside Grandma Maggie's hospital bed I stare at the doctor confused. “What the hell do you mean she's got poison in her system? How did that happen?”

  “Ma'am-”

  “Don't fucking ma'am me,” I sharply snip. “How could that happen!”

  “As I explained to you before. She woke up feeling ill early this morning and before we had time to check her vitals, she collapsed. After running several tests it seems she managed to ingest poison at some point.”

  “And you flushed it from her system?”

  “What we could,” the doctor insists gripping her chart to her chest. “There were only minute traces left. The damage it was going to do, what it did.” Her tone softens. “Because of her age, her body is going to have a hard time fighting, but it will fight it. We will do everything we can to keep her comfortable.”

  Somberly I question, “Will she wake up?”

  Instead of a direct answer she says, “Don't lose hope.”

  The useless woman exits the door and my hands immediately run through my hair.

  She's in some strange comatose state. She can breathe. She is alert. She is aware. She just can't move her body.

  Completely stunned at how this happened I turn to face my grandmother who looks so peaceful even though she's uncomfortable.

  Only Grandma Maggie could smile in pain.

  I extend my hand and fold it with hers. In a soft whisper I apologize, “I'm so sorry Grandma Maggie...”

  My cell phone vibrates from a text.

  My McCoy: Need me there with you?

  You wouldn't believe how hard it was to convince him to let me come on my own. I'm sure part of it has to do with the fact there was an attempt on his life last night, but I like to think the other part doesn't want me to have to go through it alone. He really does love me.

  Me: I'll back soon. Stop frowning.

  After placing my phone on the window sill, I pull my legs up to my chest and cradle them, my other hand never leaving hers.

  It would be one thing to lose her because of her age, it's a completely different one when she hurt because of a choice I made. Because of a family I wanted to be a part of. This....this is my fault. I just fucking know it.

  After spending the entire afternoon at her bedside, I eventually head home. The moment I enter the apartment all voices cease. On a deep sigh I shut the door behind me. “She's still alive. You can stop looking at me like that.”

  Madden approaches cautiously. “She's gonna stay alive, Knox. She's gonna be fine.”

  “How do you know that?” I bite. “You're not a fucking doctor.”

  “Because I refuse to lose another person in this family.”

  Before I can snap back Melody who is sitting in Drew's lap at the kitchen table asks, “What exactly is wrong with her?”

  Shedding my leather jacket I reply, “They say she ingested poison. That she's completely conscious but paralyzed.” My eyes cut to Madden. “I know he did this to her. He's the only one who would. I want him to pay for it.”

  His hands pulls me into him by my hips. “On my brother's graves, I swear to you, he will.”

  My head falls onto his chest and I allow him to hold me in his arms.

  This is new for us too. This I like.

  “The facility is now being watched,” Madden informs. “'Round the clock.”

  “I can't believe he got in before,” I whisper. “Bastard.”

  “You said she is completely aware but paralyzed?” Melody's question rotates us. “That's what you said, right?”

  Suspiciously I nod.

  “Madden's right then,” she confirms. “She'll be fine.”

  “Babe,” Drew says in a way that causes her to shift.

  “It's called XL. It stuns the body from movement. Wears off in about twenty four to seventy hours depending on the potency.” When my jaw slips open she rushes to say, “I used to make it. The easiest way for another person to take it without knowing is by touch.”

  “How do you not feel it's effects if you have to touch the other person?” Her boyfriend questions.

  “Gloves. A thin peel off layer of latex for protection. Brushing it onto their drinking glasses or something you know they're going to touch. There are various ways. He used to use it as a way to toy with those he was actively torturing.”

  “Playing with his food before he eats it,” Madden states.

  “That's some animal planet shit,” Destin mumbles.

  “He's always done it.”

  “But she'll be fine?” I breathlessly ask. “You're sure?”

  “Yeah. The toxin isn't the killer. It's what he does to you while you're unable to move. And if it took this long to set into her system it was a very faint version or very old. My guess is old since I destroyed everything in Eden.” Melody offers me a kind smile. “She should be awake by morning.”

  Feeling relief overwhelm my system I wrap myself tighter around Madden.

  World's least fluffy teddy bear. He's all muscles and sharp edges. Perfect for fucking, needs a little work for cuddling.

  “We have a location,” Drew starts, his own arms pulling his love into him. “Do we have a plan?”

  Madden nods. “I have a plan.”

  “Is it a good plan?” Destin prods from the seat across from his brother. “Better yet, do you plan to be alive at the end of it?”

  His body tenses against mine. With a pointed look up at him I demand, “You will be alive at the end of it or we come up with another plan.”

  A deep exhale escapes. “Fine. I have another plan.”

  “Good,” Drew says.

  “But I wanna run it by Knox first.” Suddenly he looks down at me. “Dinner. Now. We'll talk about it.”

  Before I can even agree or disagree, Destin speaks up, “What about us? What do you want us to do?”

  “I want you to get me a complete layout of his location. Not only the area around it but some sort of floor plan. I need a better idea of what we're up against on the inside.”

  Destin smiles.

  He's such a computer geek. Hacking is what he loves. I think Madden just made his night.


  “And me?” Drew questions.

  “If Knox agrees, I'm going to text you where the list of calls you need to make is.”

  “And if she says no to this plan?” Drew ponders. “Then what?”

  “Then I go back to the fucking drawing board until there is a plan that will get the job done.” Madden's cold voice growls, “Any more fucking questions?”

  Unable to resist the poking of the bear I ask, “Can I wear my leather shorts?”

  Knowing his distaste for other men staring at my ass, I stroll away backwards continuing to push. “Maybe that little push up purple corset?”

  His glare hardens until I'm smiling.

  So shoot me. Watching him squirm always makes me feel a little better.

  One hot shower, black sweater dress and leather boots outfit later, I'm sitting across from Madden at a white table clothed table, gripping a glass of red wine I've barely had a sip of with a bewildered look on my face.

  “And you're serious?”

  Madden nods.

  “Completely serious?”

  His second nod is even shorter than his first.

  “Let me ask you this.” I lean forward, moving the glass to the side. “If the situation wasn't what it is. How long do you think it would take for you to ask me?”

  “A month.”

  I scoff in disbelief, “A month?”

  “A month.”

  “Madden.”

  “Two. Tops.”

  “There's no fucking way that's true.” I deny and lean back in my chair. “No fucking way.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yeah. I call bullshit.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “Bullshit. It took you this long to come after me. There's no way in hell you mean that, so I once again am calling it. Bull. Shit.”

  Madden's stone cold face remains unmoved as he places a black velvet box on the table between us. His action ceases all of mine. Any air that was occupying my lungs makes an abrupt exit.

  He places his hands back in his lap. “Bullshit in a box then.”

  I let my eyes drift downward.

  That...This...Can't be happening.

  “Do we need an alibi? Yes. Would I ask you even if we didn't? Yes.”

  I lightly graze the top of the box. “Is there an actual ring in this box?”

  “Yes.”

  “You actually wanna marry me?”

  “Yes.”

  The unwavering strength in his tone has my head spinning. In a whisper, I question, “How long have you had this ring?”

  “Almost five months.” For a moment he glances away. When his eyes meet mine he says, “I bought it after Merrick died.”

  “Why?”

  “Why does anyone buy an engagement ring, Knox?”

  Flustered by his dickhead response, I snip, “Why then? We weren't...we weren't dating! Did you just buy it in case of an emergency? Did you buy it because you lost him and thought marrying me would fix it?”

  A hurt expression crosses his face. Instantly I regret everything I just said.

  So, basically, worse way to say yes ever.

  “Madden-”

  “I bought it in case my luck ever changed,” he answers slowly. “I bought it and used it like a beacon. The only light I could see from the eye of the shit storm hurricane that I call my life. I bought it on the smallest air of hope that maybe, just maybe some fucking day everything would fit together and you would look past the pathetic excuse of a man I am and become my wife anyway.”

  His words bring a sharp sting to my eye.

  What is that? Is that an eyelash? Blow on it!

  “Every day I wake up and wonder if today is the day I'm going to lose someone else that matters to me. Every day I wake up with a very short list of things to live for. You are at the top of that list. Whether you say yes to this plan, yes to genuinely spending the rest of your life with me, or tell me to fuck off, it will never change that fact.”

  How do I say no to that?

  Gingerly I drag the box closer and open it. Inside sits a black band that gives off the illusion of two rings twisted together. It is littered in small diamonds and at the center of it is a large round cut being held up. Thoughtlessly I whisper, “This is beautiful.”

  “I tried.”

  Unable to resist touching it I sigh, “I have to take this off when I'm working.”

  “Once it goes on, you never take it off.”

  Tempted I bite the corner of my bottom lip. “Never?”

  He slowly shakes his head. “You put that on, you say yes to me, and that's it. You're permanently mine.”

  “I've been yours permanently since you gave me half of your peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” I confess on a small giggle. “With or without a ring.”

  Madden smirks. “Then put it on.”

  Carefully removing the delicate piece of jewelry I dangle it. “You put it on me.”

  “I mean it, Knox.” He takes the object from my grip. “You wear this, there's no turning back. It's 'til death takes us.”

  “Death do us part,” I correct him.

  “No,” he denies. “We ride together. We die together. We're in everything in life from this point on, together.”

  “Everything?”

  “Everything.”

  “No more secrets? No more hiding?”

  “No. No more.”

  Feeling the intensity of the truth, I anxiously whisper, “Put the damn thing on then.”

  Madden lets out a deep breath and slips the ring on my finger. As soon as it's on our hands fold together, the unity between us not needing a judge or paperwork to seal us together.

  Holy shit. I'm....I'm about to be a married woman. You know what? It's about fucking time.

  About an hour after dinner and listening to the plan regarding The Devil one more time, we end up at a little bar closer to the outskirts of town. Saints is filled with bikers, most of them belonging to the BV MC, but is also full of older gentleman, one in particular Madden wanted to introduce me to.

  On my way back from the bathroom, I check my vibrating phone.

  Ax: Heard about your grandma. Prayers.

  I twitch a smile.

  We can be actual friends. What! We can! Madden's head might spin round, but when it comes down from orbiting, he'll learn to cope. Hey, just because I'm about to be Mrs. McCoy doesn't mean he dictates my life. However, can I just say, I'm gonna love being called that.

  Me: Thanks. If you swing by tomorrow morning before I get there, will you let me know how she is?

  Ax: Of course. Anything for you Knox.

  He meant that in a platonic way. What! He did!

  I slip my phone back into my clutch and slide onto the stool beside Madden.

  “This is the same little Knox who used to throw rocks at the trash can?” Herman points with a look of awe. “Same little 'I touched this tool so now it's mine' Knox? All grown up?”

  “And in leather high heel boots.” I pose for him to see. “Best. Genetics. Ever. Right?”

  Herman chuckles and lifts his glass, still shaking his head. “Unbelievable.”

  “She still does that whole because she touched the tool thing. It makes it hard to get shit done in the shop,” Madden says his hand sliding around my lower back to my hip.

  I wink. “Well if it makes you feel better, you're still my favorite tool.”

  Herman laughs at the two of us and wags his finger. “She's sharp too. No wonder you tied that girl down.”

  “Took some time,” he states casually as Herman flags the waitress down for another drink. His voice whispers in my ear, “And I will take some more time and tie you down as soon as we fucking get home.”

  Clutching my legs tighter together, I battle the wetness now soaking my thong.

  So inconsiderate. I have to wear these for....I don't know how much longer.

  “How is the shop?” Herman clears his throat. “Still booming?”

  “Thankfully,” Madden co
mments. I lean into his embrace. “Knox is a big help. Second best mechanic I've got.”