Madison's breath caught. One look at Sam's red-rimmed eyes and the strained way he held himself sent a dull ache through her chest.

How much pain had she caused him for him to believe she had done this just to humiliate him?

"Sam," Madison said, reaching for his hand.

He brushed her aside and turned away, as if he couldn't stand to look at her again. "You can hate me. That's fine. But that loser doesn't deserve you. I won't let you be with him."

Madison managed a wry smile. Even now, Sam was still looking out for her. She fought back her tears, then threw herself into his arms.

"Maddie…"

Sam went rigid. She was soft in his arms, and her chin was tilted up. Her eyes were red-rimmed and wet, her gaze raw with hurt.

"Sam, if I'm going to do this, I want it with you and no one else."

His breath hitched.

Madison looped her arms around his neck and leaned into him. He met her eyes, an

Madison felt her heart lurch. When she saw Sam's back, distant and alone, a bitter burn rose in her throat.

She rushed after him and pulled him into a tight hug. "Sam… you've got it wrong."

Sam froze.

He started to pull away, but when he saw her arms around him, his grip loosened. He sounded defeated as he said, "Stop lying to me."

Madison's eyes burned. Sam's words hit so hard that pressure surged under her ribs, knocking the air out of her.

He caught the tear at the corner of her eye and went still. Pain flashed in his eyes.

"Let go," Sam said.

"Not happening!" Madison said through gritted teeth.

In her last life, she'd watched Sam die in front of her. This time, she refused to let him go, no matter what.

She tightened her arms around Sam's waist, her throat closing up. "I finally understand what kind of person Johnny really is. I won't do anything stupid to hurt you again.

"

Sam's head throbbed when he remembered that Madison already knew Johnny had bought those aphrodisiacs. She wouldn't let him touch her, yet she was ready to fool around with Johnny.

How could she do that?

Madison looked confused, as if she couldn't understand why Sam was angry. "What did I do?"

Right after she spoke, a soft moan drifted from the pool.

Sam's chest tightened until it hurt. He couldn't hold it in anymore. "Madison Quinn!"

Madison glanced at the group in the pool, who were already going at it, and smirked. "Sam, I'm done talking. I'll take some pictures later so you can enjoy the show."

She hung up without hesitation. To make sure nothing interrupted the recording, she blocked his number.

Everyone went wild. They were all over one another, kissing and groping. A few couldn't hold back and took it further right there.

Madison grabbed her bodyguard's phone and called the police. "Hello. I'd like to report trespassers. There are people in my home doing obscene things."

Before she finished, Johnny broke away from the women and lunged at her. She barely had time to react before he grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Maddie, I want..."

He went straight for a kiss.

"Get off me!" she shouted.

Madison fought with everything she had, but the drugs had driven Johnny past reason.

Right then, a shadow flashed past. A few seconds later, the weight on Madison was gone.

She turned and saw Johnny pinned to the floor, taking punches. She fixed on the figure's back as he pummeled Johnny, and when she realized who it was, awe replaced her fear.

She wouldn't pretend otherwise. Sam charging in like a hero was genuinely cool!

Madison stared, a little dazed. It took her a second to realize Johnny wasn't moving.

"Stop!" she called, rushing to grab Sam's arm.

But he was too strong. He threw her to the floor.

If Sam kept this up, Johnny would die. A scumbag like that wasn't worth risking Sam over.

Madison latched onto Sam's arm and cried out, "Sam, stop!"

Sam jolted as he came back to his senses, his eyes bloodshot. He turned to her. When he saw how anxious she was, his expression fell.

Did she care about Johnny that much?

Madison was shaken. It pulled her back to her previous life, to the time Johnny tricked Sam into rescuing her. Sam had looked the same then, ready to kill. She couldn't meet his eyes.

Sam dropped into a crouch, seized Johnny by the jaw, and tipped his head up. He spoke slowly, one word at a time. "Stay away from Madison, or you'll regret it. Try me."

He let go abruptly, grabbed Madison's arm, and marched out, decisive and furious. His stride was so long and fast that she was almost dragged along.

Madison stumbled, nearly falling. "Sam, slow down."

Sam furrowed his brow and eased his pace so Madison could keep up.

As he slowed, she found her footing. She glanced back and saw Johnny's face streaked with blood. He lay on the floor, motionless like a corpse. She couldn't help but smirk.

That served him right!

"Feeling sorry for him?" Sam asked, his voice low and firm.

Madison turned back right away. Her chest tightened when she met his stormy gaze.

She moved a little closer, trying to appease him. "Not at all. I'm worried about your hand. Does it hurt?"

She reached for his hand to see if he was hurt, but he pulled away. Her fingers curled, and she drew her hand back awkwardly.

She saw how grim he looked and asked, "Are you mad? I'm sorry. I didn't think it would go this far. I was wrong. Please don't be mad, okay?"

Sam drew a breath at her apology. Anger surged inside him. He shook off her arm and faced her. "Was this the show you wanted me to see? If I hadn't come today, were you going to end up in his bed?"

Madison's breath caught. One look at Sam's red-rimmed eyes and the strained way he held himself sent a dull ache through her chest.

How much pain had she caused him for him to believe she had done this just to humiliate him?

"Sam," Madison said, reaching for his hand.

He brushed her aside and turned away, as if he couldn't stand to look at her again. "You can hate me. That's fine. But that loser doesn't deserve you. I won't let you be with him."

Madison managed a wry smile. Even now, Sam was still looking out for her. She fought back her tears, then threw herself into his arms.

"Maddie…"

Sam went rigid. She was soft in his arms, and her chin was tilted up. Her eyes were red-rimmed and wet, her gaze raw with hurt.

"Sam, if I'm going to do this, I want it with you and no one else."

His breath hitched.

Madison looped her arms around his neck and leaned into him. He met her eyes, and before he realized it, his hands settled at her waist.

A moment later, Sam snapped back. "Madison

Chapter 8 Her Real Intentions