Page 87 of Fought and Freed

Skylar came down the steps looking hot as Hell, too, in khaki pants with a tight short-sleeve top.

He held out his arms. “Is this all right?”

“Yeah.” Maddy’s blush deepened. “You look good.”

“Is everyone ready?” Ryder came out of the kitchen, dressed all in black and looking hot as sin.

Maddy’s pulse quickened. She’d never seen the guys dressed up like this, and it was making her want to skip this dinner with her uncle.

Ryder chuckled and came closer, pointing to the corner of her mouth. “You got something there.”

“Shut up.” Maddy slapped his hand away, turned to walk outside, then called back, “You’re all hot, and I can drool if I want to.”

They drove in two cars, and Maddy rode with Skylar and Jace since there was more room in the Jeep.

When they pulled up outside an Italian restaurant, the parking lot was nearly empty.

Skylar frowned out the window. “You sure this is the right place?”

“Yeah, this is it.” Maddy pointed to a vehicle near the entrance. “There’s Lucca’s car.”

They climbed out and waited for Cody and Ryder to join them before walking to the front door of the restaurant, where a sign said, Closed for a Private Dinner.

“Do you think that’s us?” Maddy asked.

Cody tried the door, and it opened, so he stepped through first.

Maddy followed, then the rest of the guys.

The restaurant was empty except for a long table in the middle of the room.

Lucca stood with Torr, talking to a guy wearing jeans and a maroon shirt. He was big. Bigger than Cody.

As they made their way closer, the guy stopped talking to her brother and looked at her.

A big smile spread over his face. “Devi essere la mia bella nipotina. Sembri proprio tua madre.”

“She doesn’t speak Italian, Uncle,” Lucca mentioned.

The man tutted at him before turning back to Maddy. “I said, You must be my beautiful niece. You look just like your mother.”

“I do?” Maddy shook her head. “I’ve never seen a picture of her. I’m Madeline, but please call me Maddy.”

He took a couple of steps toward Maddy, pulling her into a hug before he stepped back. “I’ll have to find some pictures for you.”

Maddy smiled up at him. “I’d like that.”

“Come sit down.” He turned and walked to the table, saying over his shoulder, “You didn’t have to bring all these bodyguards.”

Maddy froze as her hand reached for the chair. She assumed Lucca had told him about the guys.

When she glanced over at her brother, he was staring at her uncle.

Skylar stepped up beside Maddy with his arms crossed. “We’re more than her bodyguards. We’re her boyfriends.”

“Oh, I know. My nipote told me.” Her uncle chuckled. “I was just testing you. Introduce me, nipotina, to your men.”

“This is Skylar and Cody Anderson.” Maddy gestured to the brothers. “And this is Jace Shields and Ryder Williams.”

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