Chapter 80: Noah

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my shaking hands as I looked down at the photos of Madison. They covered the floor like a twisted carpet of paper and ink. 

The pictures showed Madison at the park, drinking coffee and laughing with friends. But it wasn’t the candid snapshots that made my heart race—it was the angry red smears across her smiling face.

My jaw clenched. I felt a heat rising in my chest, a silent scream of anger that someone would invade our lives like this. I wanted to shout, to break something, but I knew that wouldn’t help Madison. She was standing there, her eyes wide with fear, her body trembling.

I put the food on the side table. Without a word, I scooped her up and sat down on the couch, placing her on my lap. 

“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered fiercely, my fingers brushing through her hair. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” She clung to me, gripping my shirt as if holding on for dear life.