“Go sit in the living room, Madison,” she said, wiping her eyes.
Maddie immediately thought she was in trouble because her mama never called her that. She looked at her confused.
“NOW!” she shouted, causing Maddie to jump a little.
“Mama, what’s wrong with Daddy?”
“Go Madison,” she screamed loudly, tears kept coming out of her eyes. “Just go,” she cried softly as she turned away from her daughter, running her fingers through John’s hair.
Maddie stared at her for a long time and then started walking out to the living room, hearing her mama on the phone. As she made her way to the couch, she glanced in the kitchen and saw that the water for the ravioli was boiling all over the place. She started to cry again.
Madison was breathing hard as the memories floated through her mind, as clear as if they had just happened. She felt Andrew’s gentle touch on her face and let out a loud breath.
“When I went into the room, my dad was lying on the bed, not moving. I thought he was asleep and tried to wake him but he didn’t budge. That’s when I...” She paused and her face strained in agony. “I saw a needle lying next to him so I picked it up and brought it to my mom. She freaked out, she was screaming and I started crying. I wasn’t sure what was going on.” She opened her eyes and looked at Andrew, tears freely falling down her cheeks. “I didn't know he was dead, that he had overdosed.”
Andrew nodded and understood immediately why she had reacted the way she had earlier this week when she felt his old track marks. He pulled her into his arms, cradling her while she cried. She had been so young, just as he had been when bad things happened to him. If she could tell him this information about herself then he felt he could tell her... something. He owed her that.
“I’m so sorry, Madison,” Andrew said as he brought her lips to his for a loving kiss.
Madison watched him as he cradled her face; she kissed his palm, closing her eyes once again. “I really miss him,” Madison said, looking into his thoughtful and caring eyes.
Andrew smiled and ran his fingers along her face reassuringly. He wanted her to continue, to get it all out.
“My mom changed after that. She became angry and bitter, my grans tried to talk sense into her but it just alienated her from my mom even more. My mom is a cold-hearted bitch now. The reason I am here instead of her is because she refused to come and help her own mother. What kind of daughter would do that?” Madison said, wiping under her eyes.
“She probably just gave up. It happens,” Andrew said softly, knowing it happens a lot more than not.
“Yeah, I guess so. Anyway...” Madison said wiping her eyes again, “Three years later we moved to New York and we’ve never once talked about it.”
Andrew nodded and looked down, sighing. He contemplated if this was the right time and quickly assessed that it would never be the 'right' time. He brought his fingers to the hem of his shirt and started lifting it up but Madison stopped him before he could get passed his stomach.
“Helios, baby, as much as I want to see you naked I think we should wait until we are in my room. I don’t want to break Grans rules the first night.”
He offered her a small smile and then turned around, pulling his shirt over his head.
“Touch my back, Madison. I know you have felt my scars,” he said, looking over his shoulder.
Madison was hesitant but she brought her fingers to his shoulders, slowing tracing along the scars that were perfectly covered by his tattoo. From a distance you couldn’t see them but they were certainly there. Andrew held completely still as her fingers moved down his back and to his side.
“Helios, who did this to you?”
“I did,” Andrew replied and heard her gasp.
He turned around and slipped his shirt back on.
“When I was six, my father was reported by the school. A social worker came to visit me and my parents and basically gave them a warning because it was a first report, told them to go to parenting classes. They withdrew me from school and we left the next day. Both of my parents used pretty heavily, mostly stimulants of some sort.”
Andrew ran his hand through his hair. This was a lot harder than he thought it would be.
“The more my father used, the more paranoid he became. We never had a real home as they spent any money we collected on drugs. We moved from one drug house to the next, sometimes staying in sleazy motels, sometimes sleeping in the car. I was lucky if I actually got food to eat on a daily basis.”
He had often wondered while he was in prison how he had survived as long as he did on the streets but, in a way, his parents had taught him how to endure. They taught him how to do without a bed or proper clothes, how to go with little to no food and how to take advantage of people. When he first arrived in Los Angeles he really thought he could make it on his own, but the harsh reality was that he couldn’t, and the more he lived the more he wanted to die. He looked away from her.
“My parent’s used me to help pull scams on people. My father would always say that no one could resist my pitiful face so we would con people out of money and then move. I am almost ashamed to admit this but I always liked when we scored some cash because my dad would be so happy and he would take me out to eat and I could order whatever I wanted. I don’t know. It felt like we were normal.”
Madison took his hand in hers, running her thumbs in small circles. She could tell how difficult this was for him. He was looking away from her and when he finally turned her way his face was riddled with despair and anguish.
“My father, in his fucked up crazy thinking, decided that as long as he didn’t hit me that it was okay,” Andrew said, eyeing her, hoping she would get what he was trying to say without him actually saying it.
“He made you hit yourself?” Madison asked, clearly pained by this revelation.
“Yes. He would make me get a switch and then make me, umm, you know.” He sighed and mimicked the motion of reaching his hand over his shoulder and acting like he was snapping something. “If I didn’t do it to his liking he would do it and if he did it I would generally bleed. I tried my best to do everything he wanted but he was crazy so it didn’t matter what I did because it was never going to be right. I think he liked torturing me,” he said looking down again.
“What about your mom? She let him do that to you?”
“My mom was usually passed out and when she would see the marks she would defend him. She told me I should do what I’m told.”
“My God, baby, that’s horrible. Where is your father now?”
“He killed a local drug dealer and got 25 years in the Michigan state penitentiary.”
“What about your mom?”
“She’s dead,” Andrew said firmly and tried to decide if he should tell her more. “She, uh, she killed herself in the mental hospital.”
“Ah, shit, I’m so sorry, baby,” Madison said, bringing her hand to his face and making him look at her.
“It was a long time ago,” he said solemnly and she could see that his eyes were starting to tear up.
“Is that what your nightmare was about?”
“Did I have a nightmare last night?” Andrew asked with sadness, now he understood why she looked tired this morning.
“Yeah, it was really kind of scary. I had a hard time calming you down.”
He closed his eyes. “Usually when I have nightmares they progress until I wake myself up screaming. I usually can’t breathe and my heart’s racing and I am drenched in sweat. It feels like I am having some sort of a heart attack,” he said, finally opening his eyes.
“You were like that last night.”
He nodded. “They are usually about my parents. I’m sorry I scared you.”
“Oh, baby, don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault.”
He nodded but looked down again, not making eye contact with her. Madison crawled back on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. She had a difficult time trying to fathom someone hurting him
or, worse yet, making him hurt himself. She couldn’t understand the depravity of some parents. She sensed there was more to his story but wasn’t sure if either of them could handle it right now. What she did know was that she wanted to hold him and make him see that the world could be good and filled with love.
Andrew had told Madison more than he had ever told anyone else. She didn’t seem upset, but he felt odd. It was as if he had betrayed his parents and himself by telling someone. He considered talking about his mom but decided against it. He wasn’t prepared to go there as that part of his life seemed more traumatic than his father’s craziness. Andrew felt overwhelmed and suddenly exhausted, like he could sleep for days. He stood up, carrying Madison in his arms as if he were about to walk her over a threshold. She never moved and made no wise remark, there was no giggle or anything jovial. Madison just rested her head in the crook of his neck as he carried her into the bedroom and laid her down.
Madison looked up at him and then sat up, slowly undressing herself as he did the same. He was desperate for her, to connect with her, but at that moment the only thought he had was that he wanted to hold her, to feel her body close to his and feel her love radiate into him. He slipped in behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist tightly.
“I love you, Madison,” he whispered against her neck.
“I will always love you, Andrew,” Madison replied as his grip around her tightened.
19 JUST HANGIN’
Madison awoke before the alarm with Andrew wrapped around her. She was now used to this position as it seemed to be Andrew’s favorite. She didn’t mind though. She felt protected with his arms wrapped around her tightly. The rule that Madison’s grandmother had made for them was that Andrew had to be gone by the time she woke up in the morning because she didn’t want to see him in her home so early and be reminded of what they were doing but, more importantly, she didn’t want her neighbors to see him leaving and making it obvious that he was spending the night. So, in reality, their routine hadn’t changed very much since Sunday except that now Andrew could come over earlier. It had already been a great three nights.
“Don’t ever leave me,” he mumbled against her shoulder.
"Do you think it is wise to attach so quickly to him? Don't you plan on going back to New York in a few months?"
Madison heard her grandmother’s words echo in her head but shook it off. She would deal with that later. She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him softly on the lips, jaw, and neck. He immediately pulled her closer, wanting to connect with her. He moved his hand between them and soon they were making love. Andrew loved waking up with her next to him but, more than that, he loved the idea that he could make love to her in the morning. As their love making escalated, her alarm started going off, informing them that their time was up. Madison moved her hand to hit the off button, not wanting it to get any louder while Andrew kissed her, drowning out their cries of passion. He picked up his pace until they had each been satiated and then slowly pulled away from her, out of breath.
“I better go.” He grinned as he ran his finger along her lips which always seemed to form the perfect pout whenever he said that.
“What time will you be back?” Madison asked, sitting up.
“Well, Jay wants to meet at his house at 11:00 and I need to see Jamal at 10:30. Do you want come along with me?” She arched her brows in defiance which caused him to chuckle a bit. “Okay,” he said as he pecked her lips once more. “I'll be here by 10:15.”
Madison nodded and then they both looked towards the door when they heard movement in the hallway and then the bathroom door closing. He turned to her and sighed and then kissed her softly on the forehead. Andrew jumped out of the bed and grabbed his clothes, tossing his boxers at her before he started to pull on his jeans. He heard her giggle and knew that she was slipping them on. He realized that pretty soon he would need to buy some new ones since he kept giving his to Madison. Not that he minded, of course. She looked exquisite in them.
“I’ll be back, baby,” he said, leaning in to kiss her. He then kissed the tip of her nose. “You smell like sex, missy.”
“So do you, you sexy beast,” she said, slipping her hand in his unbuttoned jeans.
“Stop before you get me in trouble,” he said with little to no force.
She tugged on his hair and ran her fingers along his skin. “Once again, your fault. Coming over here with those buttons undone with that sexy hair showing and…mmmm, well.”
She stopped as her fingers began touching him. His eyes rolled back and he groaned before finally stepping away from her, hearing her giggle in response.
“You’re wrong, Ms. Ellis. Just wrong, teasing a man like that.” He stopped at the door and smiled at her. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Now go before I have my wicked way with you again,” she said with a sexy smirk on her smug face.
She snickered as he walked out of her bedroom. She couldn’t be happier than she was right now. She recognized that she would need to address the New York issue at some point, but for now she was on leave and, as far as she was concerned, she could stay that way forever. She grinned as she pulled her pajama bottoms over Andrew’s boxer briefs that she was also wearing. She finished getting dressed and threw her hair into a messy bun before heading out to the kitchen to prepare her grandmother’s breakfast.
Two Hours later…
Andrew was excited. Not only had he had mind blowing sex that morning but he was going to get to work on a motorcycle today as well. Jayden had a couple of Yamaha WR 250’s that needed some tweaking, oil changes, etc. that he had asked Andrew to help him with. Andrew was actually hoping that maybe he and Jayden would also be able to take them out after they were done but he would need to see how things went. He took one more drag off his cigarette and dropped the butt on the ground, stomping it out with his boot. His aunt and uncle weren’t at the house so he quickly made his way to his motorcycle and headed over to Madison’s. As he pulled up, she opened the door immediately. He watched as she hollered into the house and was at the bike, slipping behind him, in record time. Andrew chuckled at the absurdity of it all.
“What’s so funny, Helios?” she asked as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
“I feel like I’m having my adolescence now. You know, picking up my girl on my motorcycle, going to hang out at a friend’s house. You and Callie can do each other’s hair while Jay and I have manly talks,” he said, laughing riotously.
“Well, that certainly wasn’t my adolescence but sure, Helios, we can do that if you like, as long as we get to have sex afterwards,” Madison said, moving her hand over him.
He brought his hand over hers and squeezed before moving it back to his waist. He heard her sigh as she locked her fingers together. He loved that she always wanted to touch him and, although it was probably against his better judgment, he generally let her. He couldn’t imagine denying her anything she wanted. He grinned and then started his bike again. He pulled out of her driveway and within minutes they were at his probation officers building.
“I’m going to run to the bookstore over there,” Madison said as they got off of his bike. Andrew looked across the street hesitantly. “Oh, stop it, Helios. How much trouble can I get into in Bakersfield?”
He lowered his sunglasses and eyed her, thinking about all the trouble that had already occurred in Bakersfield and its surrounding areas.
“Helios, go see your scary P.O. I want to go check out the magazines while you’re in there.” She flipped her hair and placed her hand on her hip. “Like, how can Callie and I try out new do’s if we don’t have inspiration.” She flipped her hair to the other side in an exaggerated fashion. Andrew tried not to smile but he did. “Hah, I saw that smile.” She giggled and kissed him lightly. “I’ll be right back.”
He watched as she walked across the street. When she got to the door of the book store, she turned and blew him a kiss. He grinned and shook his head as she e
ntered the store. Madison laughed as she strode into the bookstore. It was a nice, quaint store that she liked immediately. She moseyed over to the magazine section and immediately picked up this month’s Glamour magazine. She set it in her little basket that she had picked up near the entrance and grabbed the latest issue of Cosmo, flipping through it before tossing it and the recent Elle into her basket as well. As she picked up Allure, she saw two hands next to hers and felt a body move close to her. A body she knew was not Andrew.
“Maybe if I’m rough with you,” Jimmy sneered as he pushed her hair away from her neck, “then you would want me too. Isn’t that what you like, Madison?”
“Fuck you!” Madison replied fiercely.
He laughed and brought his mouth close to her ear. “I can tell you like to be taken. I know that’s why you’re with Harrison, a convicted rapist. Well...” He pulled her earlobe in his mouth and then whispered, “I can take as well.”
Madison’s stomach turned and just as she was about to kick him he was gone. Madison grabbed a hold of the magazine stand, trying to steady her breathing. She turned and noticed that there was no one around her; no one had seen their exchange. She sat on the ground and brought her knees up, resting her head there and wrapping her hands in her hair.
“Think, Ellis, THINK!” She breathed in deeply and jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Are you alright, dear?” An elderly woman asked as Madison looked up at her.
“Ummm, yes, I’m fine,” Madison said, standing up.
She ran her fingers through her hair and picked up her basket, bringing it to the cashier. Once she paid for her purchases she quickly made her way across the street and sat on Andrew’s motorcycle. She was truly torn. What could she really say? Jimmy had not actually done anything and if she mentioned it to anyone he would deny it and it would look as if she was just saying that to get even with Jimmy for pressing charges against Andrew. And speaking of Andrew, how would he react if she told him? Madison didn’t want to keep secrets from him yet she didn’t want him to do something that might get him in further trouble with Jimmy.
Helios Awakened (The Helios Chronicles #1) Page 18