Rival (Fall Away #2)(75)
Author: Penelope Douglas

I closed my eyes, starting to feel my feet melt into the floor.

“Fallon, nothing ever happened!” someone said. “I never touched her. She kissed me . . .”

I hated turning corners. Closed doors.

I could still hear them talking, but I had no idea what they were saying. My feet were gone. My legs up to my knees had faded away, and I couldn’t feel anything when I tried to tense my muscles.

Your life doesn’t interest me, Fallon.

You know what I used to call you? Pussy-on-the-Premises.

I sucked in quick breaths, but they left me slowly as if my body might not have the strength to take in air again. In quick. Out slow. In quick. Out slow.

How could he do this? How could she?

You’re just a slut like your mother. Madoc’s words hadn’t cut before, because I knew they weren’t true. Why did I feel pain from them now?

Did you really think he loved you? He used you!

I squeezed my eyes closed even tighter and swallowed. Swallow it down. Swallow it down.

I heard my name. Madoc. He was saying my name.

“Fallon! Look at me!”

Open your eyes! What do you see?

My eyes snapped open, and I saw Madoc standing in front of me. His eyes were watery, and he was squeezing my shoulders.

Who are you? My father’s smooth, Irish voice washed over me. Who are you?

I tightened my fists again and again, blinking as Madoc kissed my forehead.

I don’t try to kill your demons. I run with them.

That’s what makes Madoc a good kid, Fallon. He picks up the pieces.

I felt his hands on my face, his thumbs stroking circles on my cheeks.

He picks up the pieces.

Make that threat again. I will put you through a wall to get to her.

Finish up, Father. She needs to be kissed.

Madoc.

My heart swelled. He was mine. He was always mine.

Madoc. My Madoc.

I looked into his eyes, seeing the love, the worry, the fear . . .

And I held him in my gaze, filling my lungs with air.

“Nothing that happens on the surface of the sea can alter the calm of its depths.”

“Fallon, please,” Madoc begged. “Listen to me.”

“No,” I finally uttered, dropping my hands and tilting my chin up. “Stop talking,” I said firmly.

I walked around him and slowly—very slowly—approached my mother with my hands folded in front of me.

I kept my expression flat and my tone low as I dove into her space, sucking the oxygen up around her. “Lawyer up,” I threatened. “Madoc and I want the house, and it is very lonely in your corner, Mother.” Leaning into her face, I barely unclenched my teeth. “Stand against me. And. You. Will. Lose.”

I spun around before she even had time to react and sauntered out of the bathroom, grabbing Madoc’s hand on the way.

“Fallon, let me explain. Nothing ever happened. She came onto me, and I—”

I halted in the hallway and turned to face him. “I don’t even want to hear it. I don’t need any reassurances where you’re concerned.”

Taking his face in my hands, I took his lips that captivated my entire body the moment they touched. Madoc had me body and soul, and no one could stop us. Least of all my beast of a mother.

I certainly didn’t give her the reaming she deserved, but it wouldn’t have done anyone any good. I would’ve wasted my breath. The only things that woman respected were money and power, and I just threatened her with both.

Any more of my attention, and it would be at my cost.

Never. Again. Madoc and I have a life to live.

“I love you,” I whispered into his lips.

He let his forehead fall to mine as he sighed. “Thank God. You had me scared.”

I heard someone clear his throat, and I twisted my head, only to have my heart jump into my throat.

“Dad!” I gasped and pulled free of Madoc to nearly knock my father over with a hug.

“Hey, little girl,” he said, grunting from the impact.

“Are you okay?” I asked, pulling back to get a good look at him.

His light brown hair was slicked back, and his face—usually clean shaven—was scruffy as hell with his usual patches of gray showing. He was wearing a black Armani suit, favoring the necktie like Jared and Madoc instead of the bowties everyone else wore.

“Fine.” He nodded, rubbing my arms. “Sorry that I worried you.”

I wanted to ask him questions, but I knew this wasn’t the time or place, and he generally didn’t tell me much, anyway. He trusted me, but I think he thought it was better that his daughter not know about his seedy business, as if I didn’t pick up things on my own anyway.

“Sir, I’m Madoc.” My husband reached his hand out. “In case you don’t remember.”

They had only met once, that I know of. But my father would definitely remember him. Especially after everything that had happened.

He hesitated only a moment and then took Madoc’s hand. “I remember. And I know everything.” His look was a warning. “This is the wrong place to talk about this, and there are things I want to say to both of you, but for now, I’ll just say this.” He narrowed his eyes on Madoc. “You are aware of the burden of this marriage, right?”

Madoc grinned down at me. “Fallon’s not a burden, sir.”

“I’m not talking about Fallon,” my dad shot out. “I’m talking about me. You do not want me as a pissed-off father-in-law. It would be safer for you if my child stays happy. Got it?”

Wow. Awkward.

“She’ll be happy,” Madoc asserted, looking my father in the eye.

I smiled at both of them. “I’m already happy.”

I could tell it was hard for my father. He’d barely had me growing up, always contending with my mother and his risky business. Neither let him be the dad he wanted to be, but those were his choices, and I wasn’t going to feel sorry for him. I loved him. But I chose Madoc. And I would choose Madoc forever.

“Congratulations.” My father kissed me on the cheek. “But please tell me you were married by a priest.”

Madoc snorted, and I told my father all about it as we walked to the table.

By the time we got there, we saw that everyone else was seated. Jared and Tate together, an empty seat for Jax next to Jared, then Katherine and Jason, followed by three empty seats for Madoc, my mother and me.

But there’s no way in hell she was sitting at this table, so I sat my father down, and Madoc and I took the two remaining seats.

I made introductions for my father to Tate, Jared, and Katherine. But Jason didn’t wait for me when it was his turn.