Thorns of the Heart

Madison's POV

I stood at the other end of the street, watching the light from the club spill through its windows and the muffled sounds coming from inside the building. I didn't want to be here. My mind calculated a thousand other things I'd rather be doing as I rocked from one foot to the other, and one of them was being curled up in bed, crying.

My life was currently a mess and even though everyone acted like it wasn't my fault, I couldn't help but blame myself. Maybe if I hadn't been away for too long, I would have noticed that the business was struggling, and maybe my father wouldn't have had to bear the burdens by himself till his last breath. Regardless of how many times I tried to forget about it, I couldn't get rid of the self-loathing and guilt that plagued my heart.

"I really do not want to be here, Sophie," I mumbled tiredly, turning away from the light, but her firm grip kept me from moving further.

"I understand, Maddy, but for how long are you going to be miserable?" she countered with worry flashing across her deep green eyes.

"I don't know, maybe for as long as it takes for the pain to go away," I choked on the tears forming in my throat.

It was difficult to explain how I was feeling to anyone, because no matter how much they pretended to understand, they never truly did. My father was everything to me, and I left him to chase after a stupid love affair that ended as a disaster. The anger on his face when I walked out of his office after our argument would permanently be imprinted on my mind and even worse that I never got the chance to apologise before he died.

"He'll only break your heart, Madison, trust me…"

His last words echoed in my mind, and he was right about that because Phil was the biggest jerk ever.

"Maddy, it has been three whole months already and I think you've punished yourself enough. Maybe it's time to let go, I don't think Dad blames you for anything,"

This time it was my brother speaking as he wrapped his arms around my shoulders and pulled me in for a hug.

I wrapped my hands around him and wept across his chest even though I was three years older than him. Andy had always been one of my biggest motivators and it was slightly relieving to know that he was still here.

"I miss him so much, Andy," I whispered softly, sniffling and trying to stop the tears from flowing.

"We all do," he consoled, stroking my hair fondly until I was calm again before letting me go.

Sophie reached for my hand almost immediately with a mischievous grin spread across her face.

"Now that we've gotten the tears out of the way, let's go party," she squealed excitedly, pulling me towards the entrance.

I turned to my brother silently praying he would come to my rescue but he just smiled and followed closely on our trail. I couldn't blame him though, Sophie was his high school heartthrob and he couldn't ever say no to her. As we entered into the dimly lit club, I concluded to myself that maybe I do need a little distraction for tonight.

Making my way to one of the bar stools, I ordered myself a glass of martini as Andy and Sophie disappeared almost immediately. So much for wanting me to have fun. Sophie worked the night shift at the Rebel Wolves club. While she served, Andy stood at the other end, acting like a protector. This was the kind of love story I envisioned for myself; a love where I finally felt secure, but I guess this kind of love was not reserved for people like me. At least not anymore, I am too broken for any kind of love.

As the music blared through the speakers, my phone chimed with a text and I stared at the screen for a few seconds unsure of what to do.

You can't stop me, Maddy. I have every power to crush you completely, so stand down now before it's too late.

 I had received five threatening texts from my uncle today, and a small part of me was slowly beginning to waver. However, if there was one thing I knew for sure was that my father would never have backed down without a fight. Even though I didn't know how, Leonard Byers wasn't going to win this time.

"I've never seen anyone looking this miserable at a club," a husky voice interrupted my thoughts.

I whipped my head to the direction of the voice and was swept away by those eyes from the far end of the bar stool. It was hard to say if they were green or brown from the dim light in the bar, but I knew they made me feel slightly breathless.

“It is very rude to sneak up on people," I scowled, sipping my drink.

"It isn't called sneaking up if we're seated at a bar and I was just stating the obvious. No offence but you look like shit," he replied, this time moving to the stool beside me and I could clearly make out the outline of his face now.

His towering 6'3ft stature was complimented by broad shoulders and perfectly chiseled jaw . It was impossible to miss those beautiful hazel eyes with flecks of gold in them that made him even more mysterious. He was no doubt charming, but I wasn't one to be swayed by charms.

"Family issues?" he asked casually, throwing me off balance.

"It's none of your business, so excuse me," I answered, rising from my seat with my drink in hand.

"Are you always this rude or it's just to me," he called out with a stupid smirk on his face that only infuriated me.

"I could ask you the same question, jerk?" I barked in annoyance, hating myself for pouring my anger on him when he didn't exactly do anything wrong, and hating him for not minding his damn business.

He didn't respond, instead, ran his eyes trailed down the length of my dress carefully with a naughty smile playing on his lips. I nervously ran my hand over my glittery black dress and for the first time was grateful that Sophie had made me wear this.

"You are beautiful and fiesty at the same time, It makes me curious," he whispered calmly.

"I see that you're the flirty one, but I am uninterested in horny men looking for a little entertainment so please excuse me," I answered through tight lips, but his hands stopped me from making further movement.

"I don't know why you're this uptight, but I need you to unwind a little. Just for tonight, pretend like life isn't so complicated," he muttered calmly and surprisingly his words cracked my defenses.

He was right. Tonight was supposed to be fun and I was ruining it because my mind wouldn't stop reminding me of the many things happening. Maybe just for tonight, I should pretend like I am that Madison who didn't have to deal with her uncle's looming threat, or the family's dying business. For tonight, I would be the Madison who was young and reckless; I definitely missed that girl.

"Why aren't you on the dance floor?" I asked weakly, settling into my seat in defeat as he ordered a shot of whiskey for me.

"I don't come to the club to dance. I prefer sitting back and looking out for beautiful side attractions, like you," he responded with a mischievous grin on his face.

“It's going to take more than being a flirt to sway me,” I teased, indulging him a little.

Leaning closer to me, I could feel his breath tickling my neck as he whispered in my ears." I can be so much more, depending on who is asking,”

His naughty grin shifted into a bright smile when my eyes grew wide in shock, and that was when I first noticed it. His eyes weren’t the only beautiful thing about his face. The slight dimple that spread on his left cheek when he smiled was fascinating, and even if the signs in my head were screaming red, I kept pushing further.

“What are you now?” I asked, sipping into my whiskey for courage.

He leaned closer and stared at me for a few minutes without saying a word. It was impossible to read the expression on his face.

“I’m just a young man looking to have fun with a beautiful woman, and I'm staring at one right now”

“Wanna know a secret?” he added, pulling in closer so that I could feel his breath on my neck.

“Yeah,” I answered, swallowing the lump in my throat.

"You're literally the most mysterious girl I've met in the club all week and I don't know how you're doing it, but you've caught my attention,"

Something in me stirred, and it was a good thing the club was dimly lit. That way, he couldn’t see the blush that rose up my cheeks. I had no idea what I was doing but for the first time, every other thought was banished from my mind and all I that mattered was being here with this stranger I had barely known for five minutes.

"Maybe you should try unfolding this mystery then," I whispered in response, surprised at how bold I was suddenly feeling. This was one of the most reckless things I've done in a while and would probably be the last time ever.

I had absolutely nothing to lose and no one said I had to ever see him again.

His grin grew wider as he downed his last shot of whisky from his glass. He reached for my hand and led me towards the exit with my heart drumming wildly in my chest, but my legs followed regardless. My eyes were fixed brown hair and black suit as I drowned further in the well of whatever desires or curiosity I was feeling at the moment.

“The club has a secured VIP room. It's not too late to turn back now, stranger,” he whispered as he led me up a steep stairway.

I turned back, hearing the music become more faint with every step we took and the rational part of me wanted to listen to the warning signs in my head.

“Run, Maddy, run and don't look back,” a voice screamed in my head.