Chapter 25

Desiree. I stared at the note in Maddox’s hands. It was the one the stranger had given me to meet him in the woods tonight. I was so stupid to have kept it where it would be easily found. “Who gave you this?” Maddox asked again, staring at the paper so hard that I thought it would start to burn from his gaze. “I—” I started to say but couldn’t find the right words to explain that I had been planning on eloping with a complete stranger. “This writing?” Maddox frowned before turning to me. “Who gave this to you?” he asked, his eyes searching mine for answers and I stepped back and looked away from him. Something about those green eyes made it seem like he could read deep into my soul. “Someone. I don’t know him.” I said at last and Maddox grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to stare at him in shock. “Do you remember what he looked like?” He asked and I shook my head. “No. It was dark so I couldn’t make out all his features.” “It was dark? Where were you when he gave you this?” I fro