Crazy Beautiful Love (The Martelli Brothers #1)(8)
Author: J.S. Cooper

Chapter 3

Logan

Maddie didn’t say anything as I drove her back to her house. I was glad for the silence. I ignored her and the pounding in my head and concentrated on the street signs. My heart was also pounding, but I convinced myself that was due to my fear of the police catching up with me and not due to what had just happened in the field.

“You can just drop me off at the bus stop.” Maddie’s voice was low and pained and I kept driving without saying anything. “Are you going to tell me what I did wrong?” She paused and then continued after a minute. “Or was this just a bit of fun for you?”

“What do you think?” I kept my eyes straight ahead, wanting her to feel hurt.

“So this was just a roll in the hay? Or should I say, a roll in the grass?”

“You can call it whatever you want.”

“You’re an ass**le.”

“Then don’t be so easy next time.” I regretted the words as soon as they slipped off of my tongue. I heard her gasp and I knew I had hurt her. But I didn’t want to let her know that I actually respected her for going after what she wanted. I liked that she wasn’t the type of girl to play games. Unfortunately, I knew I couldn’t tell her that.

“You were easy, too,” her voice was accusing. “But let me guess, because I’m a girl, it’s an issue. I’m a slut because I slept with you right away, but you’re a saint, right? The criminal saint.”

“I didn’t call you a slut and I never said I was a saint.” I shook my head and peeked at her. My heart trembled when I saw the confusion and hurt on her face. I felt horrible but a part of me was happy that she was hurt. She deserved it for what her father had done. I hated her because I hated her whole family. I just wished I hadn’t gotten involved with her in the first place.

“Well, in case you didn’t know, you’re not a saint. I should call the police and tell them you stole this car.”

“Yeah, you do that, wannabe cop car stealer.” I rolled my eyes, though my stomach was a bundle of nerves. What if she said that I tried to steal the cop car, then stole this car and kidnapped her or something? Girls were crazy, and I didn’t know her from Adam. I cursed under my breath as I felt my sweaty palms on the steering wheel. I had well and truly f**ked this up. And then Maddie started laughing, and I looked over at her in surprise.

She grinned at me as she wiped tears from her eyes. “I guess I’m the pot calling the kettle black, aren’t I?”

“Huh?” I frowned at her, confused at her sudden change.

“Me threatening to call the cops on you.” She shook her head. “I wonder if I should tell them about my own attempted theft before or after I rat you out?”

“I guess that’s the dilemma.” I smiled at her reluctantly. Maddie really was different from any girl I had ever met.

“Are you going to tell me why you’re taking me home?” she said softly.

I shook my head. “No.”

“I like you, Logan Martelli.” Her voice was sweet and she sighed before she continued. “You’re a sexy, wonderful mystery.”

“I’m not a mystery. You know who I am. Everyone in River Valley does.” I paused and looked at her quickly. “Though you didn’t go to school here, did you?”

“No, my parents sent me to boarding school in Boston.” She made a face. “They didn’t think that the schools in River Valley would prepare me to go to the best colleges.”

“Ironic that the mayor thinks that the schools here are crap.” I tried to hide the bitterness in my voice.

“Yeah,” Maddie’s voice was soft. “It says a lot.”

“So why did you steal a car, Miss Wright? You’ve got more than enough money to buy a ton of cop cars if you so desired.”

“I’m not going to say.” She shook her head, and I frowned at the sound of her voice. It was a mix between humor and sadness.

“Wait, so now you actually know why?” I slowed down and stopped at the red light and then looked over at her hard. “I thought you didn’t really know.”

“You’re going to think I’m crazy if I tell you.”

“Oh?” I closed my eyes briefly in worry. Had this been some sort of sting operation? Shit, my dad would go crazy if I got busted, and especially because of Maddie Wright. I could just imagine how angry he would be, and Vincent and Jared would be worried and scared.

“So I’m not going to tell you,” she continued childishly, and I squared my jaw and stared at her intently.

“What the f**k is going on, Maddie? I’m not one of your college beaus you can twirl around your little finger. You mess with me and I will make sure it’s repaid. Do you hear me? Your parents warned you about the Martelli brothers, I’m sure. And they did that for good reason. You do not know what I’m capable of.” My voice was low and harsh as I said the words I thought would scare her most. A part of me was sad that I had to play this role, especially with her. For some reason, I didn’t want Maddie to believe the rumors about my family. I didn’t want her to think I was capable of doing really bad things. But it was a bit late for that; she had met me on the night I had stolen a car. She would never believe I was a good guy inside; I didn’t even know if I was a good guy inside.

“What are you talking about, Logan?” Maddie’s eyes flashed with anger instead of the fright I had expected to see. “And the light just turned green, so you can go.”

“I’ll go when I goddamn please,” I hissed, slightly unsure of myself. She wasn’t reacting in the way I had expected.

“Logan, you’ve been watching too many John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movies.” Maddie laughed and leaned back in her seat. “Or maybe The Godfather and Goodfellas? Did you watch a movie marathon recently?”

“What are you talking about?” I blinked at her in confusion, heart thudding again.

“That little talk just now, about me not messing with you.” She laughed. “I’ve only known you a few hours, but I know you wouldn’t hurt me.”

“Are you stupid, Maddie?” I sighed as I pressed my foot on the gas. How could she trust me so easily? Didn’t she know that there were real bad men around who could do her harm? “You do not know me, no matter what you think.”

“I trust my gut instincts.” She smiled at me sweetly. “You’re not a bad guy.”