Page 36 of Rule Breaker

His comment was interrupted by my phone ringing.Unknown number. Who’d be calling me? Maybe it was something to do with school?

“I have to take this,” I replied and turned my back on Kayden.

I tappedacceptand brought the phone to my ear. “Hello.”

“Is this Maddox Grange?”

The echo of my former last name gave me instant chills.

“It’s Maddox Rocher,” I bit out. “Who are you and why are you calling me?”

“My name is Wallace McKenzie. I represent Corey Grange’s estate. I’m reaching out with an update and?—”

I tappedendand cut off any further words. Jesus Christ. The mention of my father’s name had my stomach roiling. The snack I’d eaten after practice was about to make its way back up. I ran to find a bathroom, and I made it just in time. Heaving, I puked into the toilet, and blinked away the tears that threatened.

No. Fuck him.

A loud knock on the door startled me.

“Mad? Are you okay?”

Fucking Kayden.

“Go away!” I shouted. “Leave me alone.”

My stomach flipped again, but this time, thankfully, I didn’t throw up. Once I was sure I wasn’t going to heave again, I washed up and headed back into the hallway. Of course, Kayden was standing there waiting. At first glance, with his arms crossed over his chest, he looked like a guy you’d want to avoid. But he wasn’t. And I fucking knew that this goddamn teddy bear was gonna follow me home. I knew it.

“What happened?” he asked me.

“Don’t you ever take a hint and leave people alone?”

“No. Are you all right?”

His golden eyes pinned me in place.

“I don’t know,” I muttered. “That call was about someone I never want to think about.”

“That bad?”

“I ran off and puked my guts out. Yes, that bad,” I snapped.

“Tell me.”

Jesus Christ. “No.”

Fuck the elevator. I needed to walk. I headed for the stairs, Kayden following. When I made it outside the building, I took a deep breath of clean, cold air. It was okay.

I’m here in Vermont. I’m safe. He’s gone and I’m safe.

“Mad,” Kayden whispered as he stood beside me.

Fuck this.

“The call was from an attorney, okay? One who represents my father,” I admitted as I leaned up against the brick facade of the building. “His estate.”

“Oh,” Kayden paused, biting his lower lip. “What happened?”

I shook my head. “Trust me, you really don’t want to know.”