Mad Summer Love

Why Are We Here?

Summer's flailing slowed Frank down as her punches glanced off him unnoticed. The man was a tank. He howled in frustration, yanking Summer hard toward the ground, winding her slightly.

Flat on her back, he began dragging her by the hair, forcing her to grab his wrists, so he didn't tear her scalp off. She dug her nails into his skin, trying to get him to let go, crying out in pain as he continued to drag her. Thankfully, it was enough distraction to allow Madison time to flee out of reach.

Maddox rolled over and pushed himself to his feet, his lungs screaming in pain. The side of his face throbbed and he could feel his left eye swelling shut.

Summer was still being dragged by Frank and she tried to fight against him, but he was too strong. Tears poured down her face. She knew he was going to take her again.

“Maddox...,” she sobbed. Her words were not loud, but it was just enough for him to hear.

Standing, Maddox pointed the gun toward Frank. “Let her go,” he howled, firing a shot, but he missed.

His vision had blurred and doubled making it hard to aim.

Frank spun towards the sound of the shot, flinging Summer like a rag doll with him. Summer cried as he hauled her up from the floor, ignoring the blood her nails had drawn in his flesh. He wrapped a large arm around her throat using her as a human shield. Her hands flew up to his arm, clawing at it more as he turned his attention back to Maddox.

“That was stupid, Maddy. Now, we have to do this the hard way. Me and your little b***h are going to take a little ride. I'd tear her pretty head off right now, but it looks like I’m going to have use for her still.”

The sirens were nearly on top of them now.

Frank moved backward towards the door dragging Summer along by her heels. “I'd answer your phone when I call, Maddy.”

Summer watched Maddox with tear-filled eyes as she was thrown over Frank's shoulder. She hit her fists against his back and started kicking, trying to flail enough that he'd drop her.

“Let me go!” she screamed to no avail as he tossed her in the back of a car.

Maddox gave chase, but was slowed by the burning in his lungs and by the time he got to the entrance, the car was already squealing away.

“Nooooo,” Maddox screamed at the escaping vehicle.

He pointed the gun, but then let it fall, he couldn't risk hitting Summer.

Frantically, Maddox began looking around for Madison. He needed to get her and escape before the police arrived.

Madison heard her mom screaming, but she stayed hidden, just as she was told. She was completely terrified and crying to herself silently as she covered her mouth. She had managed to run out and hide behind a dumpster in the alleyway. She had no clue where either of her parents were, but she knew she needed to stay where she was and someone would come find her when it was safe.

Maddox staggered in a circle, looking for his daughter.

“Madison!!” he yelled, hopefully loud enough to be heard above the sirens.

He was frantic, he needed to get her to safety, then find Summer. This was his fault, he had put her in danger and he couldn't save her. If anything happened to her, he didn't know what he would do.

Madison heard Maddox calling for her in the distance. She quickly got to her feet and peaked out from behind the dumpster. She saw him stumbling about and calling her name.

“Madison!!”

She ran towards him, crying out loud now. “Daddy!” she called out to him as she raced into his arms.

Maddox hugged Madison tight, scooping her up and kissing her forehead.

“Thank God, you're OK. You're so brave,” he told her as he was running toward the limo they came in, trying to comfort her.

After putting Madison in the front passenger seat, he got behind the wheel. Maddox started the engine and raced the car forward, pulling into the street and around the corner just as the lights of the first police car appeared far off in the rear-view mirror.

“Put your seatbelt on, Sweetheart.”

Madison nodded at him, still terrified. She was already on it, attempting to buckle her seatbelt before they even left the lot.

“Where did Mommy go?” she asked him, tears still staining her cheeks.

Maddox didn't know what to say. He couldn't tell Madison that a crazed psycho had taken her mother hostage, she was already terrified enough.

“We're going to get her, don't worry,” he told her, glancing into the rearview, relieved the police were not pursuing.

****

Summer tried to grab the handle of the door on the other side, but Frank was in the backseat with her, dragging her roughly away from it. The man that had left to get the briefcase was driving, so Frank’s full attention was on her, but she didn’t care and clawed at the door anyway, trying to escape once more.

Frank reached for her again, this time grabbing her by her long blonde hair.

Summer yelped, the pain was almost blinding as her roots tugged at her already sensitive scalp.

He pulled her face close to his. “You and your f*****g boyfriend are more trouble than you’re worth. Once I get him to sign these papers, I am going to make him watch me hurt you a dozen different ways before you die.”

His breath smelled like cigars, the stench making Summer want to hurl as he threatened her.

“He's not going to give you what you want and he won't let you get away with this. You might as well quit while you're ahead,” she told him through gritted teeth, still unsure why she was suddenly so cocky.

Frank sneered at her. “Maddox would do anything to protect you. He will do exactly as I say.” He pulled her face closer, his lips nearly on her cheek. “You act tough and you're a pretty little thing. I am sure I can think of a few ways to take the fight out of you.”

Summer grunted in pain as he tugged her hair again, but she was livid. Her bright blue eyes glowed red. “f**k you,” she spat at him, taking a swing again.

She knew he'd probably hit her, but she wasn't going to submit to anything he wanted, no matter how he threatened her.

Frank caught Summer's arm and twisted it behind her back, quickly wrapping her other arm around her chest to hold her still, causing her to cry out.

“I told Maddox this was just business, but I am going to enjoy hurting you. Maybe you'll enjoy it a little too,” he added, licking the side of her cheek.

She strained her neck trying to escape his tongue. “Go to Hell,” she snapped.

The car bumped over the lip of a curb, then rolled to a stop. Frank pushed Summer hard toward the door. Out the window was the Altera mansion.

“We're here. Get out. Try to run and he'll shoot you in the back,” Frank said, pointing toward the driver.

Summer didn't try to resist as she got out of the car and made her way up the steps of Maddox's family’s home.

“Why are we here?” she asked him, confused. It was not the place she thought they would end up.

Frank walked behind her. “Because this is the heart of the Altera empire and this is where the crown will be passed to its next ruler. Now shut up or I will shove something in your mouth, so I don't have to hear you anymore.”

Summer bit her tongue as a snide comment came rocketing to the surface.

Frank pulled out his phone and began to dial.