Made (Manhattan Ruthless #5) by Sadie Kincaid PDF

Made, the fifth installment in the Manhattan Ruthless series by Sadie Kincaid, follows the tumultuous life of Maddox as he navigates love, loss, and the challenges of growing up. Set against the backdrop of New York City, this novel explores themes of family, anger, and the quest for identity. As Maddox grapples with his emotions, he finds solace in a relationship that forces him to confront his past and embrace his future. Fans of contemporary romance and emotional storytelling will find this book captivating. With vivid character development and a gripping plot, Made is a must-read for those who enjoy heartfelt narratives.

Key Points

Explores Maddox’s journey through grief and self-discovery in New York City
Highlights the complexities of young love and emotional growth
Features themes of family dynamics and personal struggles
Part of the Manhattan Ruthless series, continuing the story of beloved characters

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Maddox

AGE 16, NEW YEAR’S EVE

always used to love New Year’s Eve. Watching the fireworks, enjoying

the party, running wild around the house as the excitement built. Most

of all, getting to stay up late like a grown-up and spend time with my

older brothers. My mom would kiss me on the forehead, ruffle my hair.

“You’re in such a rush to grow up, mi principito, but you’ll always be your

mama’s baby.”

It used to annoy me, at least if she did it when my brothers were around.

But now…goddamn, I wish she was here to do it one more time. New

Year’s sucks without her. Everything sucks without her. I don’t feel like a

grown-up, or a prince, or that this new year is exciting. It just fucking

sucks.

We’re all gathered here, in our family home, with my Dad. He’s sad,

like he always is these days. Sad, and a little angry. I get that. I’m angry too.

I want to kick the shit out of everyone I meet—kids at school, my teachers,

people on the street. It’s showing when I play football, too, this anger.

Making me feel stronger, pumping me up so I take more risks and cause

more damage. Emotional steroids.

Coach loves the new me. I hate him. When we finally lost my mom, it

hurt so much that something shut down inside me. Now the only time I feel

anything real is when I’m lying on the field bleeding or watching someone

else bleed. The alternative is feeling so much it’s like I’m going to explode.

Then all I can do is drink the pain away.

I stare at the glass in front of me. Dad’s precious Macallan. Premium

Scotch is wasted on me. I’d drink the dregs from a keg if it got the job done.

If it numbed this hurt.

I look around at my brothers. We’re all broken in different ways. Elijah

and Nathan are the oldest, staring out the window at the fireworks, lost in

their own world. Drake looks distracted, and Mason seems like he’s about

to implode. He’s the one closest in age to me, and I know the signs.

“Does anyone else feel like it’s weird that it’s just us?” he finally asks.

Unable to bear the silence, I guess.

“We could put the TV on. Watch the ball drop,” Elijah chips in.

God, no. She’d have hated that. Then again, she would have hated

seeing us all like this as well. She was a fierce momma bear and she would

have torn down the world to protect her cubs and the man she loved. What

the hell are we all supposed to do without her?

Drake says no to the TV idea and reminds us that she used to think the

whole ball drop thing was off by a few seconds anyway. “Remember how

she’d always insist on using Great-Grandad’s old Navy diving watch to

determine when it was midnight instead?”

I remember. The way she made us double check it, a stream of annoyed

Spanish curses pouring from her lips.

Nathan frowns. “Where the hell is that thing?”

I know where that thing is. It’s in my hand, inside my pocket. I snuck it

in there earlier. No clue why. Something solid to hold onto. Something real

to connect me to her. Tears sting the back of my eyes. I pull the watch out

and show it to them. This chunk of old metal she once touched is as close to

her as I can get these days.

I hold in the tears. Even though we’re all feeling the same. Maybe it’s

because I still feel the need to prove I’m not a baby. I’m sixteen for fuck’s

sake.

“Jesus, it feels so weird without her here,” Mason says, choking down

his Scotch. He’s up, pacing around, full of energy. “Like this house has no

fucking soul anymore. Let’s get the fuck out of here and go somewhere.”

“Like where, jerkwad?” Drake asks.

“I dunno. A club or something. A place where there’s life.”

A club. Yeah, right. Much as I love the idea of getting shitfaced, that’s

not gonna work for me. I’m not old enough, technically. While I have a fake

ID, I’m pretty sure my brothers wouldn’t actively condone me using it. But

Overview

Made (Manhattan Ruthless #5) by Sadie Kincaid

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FAQs

What emotional struggles does the protagonist face in 'Made'?

In 'Made', the protagonist grapples with profound grief and anger following the death of his mother. He feels lost and disconnected from his family, each member coping with their pain differently. The protagonist expresses his emotions through reckless behavior, particularly in football, where he feels a rush from physical pain. He also struggles with feelings of inadequacy and the desire to numb his emotional turmoil through alcohol, highlighting a deep internal conflict.

How does the protagonist's relationship with his father change after their mother's death?

After the death of their mother, the protagonist's relationship with his father becomes strained. The father, consumed by his own grief, becomes emotionally distant and harsh, often shutting down conversations about their feelings. This creates a sense of isolation for the protagonist, who feels he has lost both parents in the wake of their mother's passing. The father's advice to 'never fall in love' further alienates the protagonist, who yearns for connection and struggles to understand his father's perspective.

What significance does the old navy diving watch hold for the characters?

The old navy diving watch symbolizes the connection the protagonist and his brothers have to their deceased mother. When the protagonist reveals that he has the watch, it serves as a tangible link to her memory, representing their shared past and the love they had for her. The watch evokes feelings of nostalgia and grief, reminding them of their mother's fierce love and the traditions she upheld, such as determining the countdown to midnight on New Year's Eve.