Page 119 of Mace

Toby heads to school, and Mace has stuff to do for the club, which means I’m alone in the apartment. I’m just setting up my laptop to work when I get a message from Bella.

We’ve barely spoken to each other since I took over as manager, and I hate the distance between us. She is one of the few friends I have, so I can’t lie when I say my heart soars when I see her name on my screen.

The message is to the point, asking if we can meet up in half an hour.

I agree, mostly because I hate the tension at work, but also because I miss my friend.

I grab my stuff and head to the café she suggests, my stomach in knots. I don’t want to fight with her, so I hope she’s here to make up.

As I step into the café, I scan the tables and spot her sitting in the window, a cup of coffee in front of her.

She seems relieved when she sees me, as if she expected I might not show. I slip into the seat opposite her, smiling in spite of the situation. “I’m glad you messaged.”

“I’m glad you came. I wasn’t sure you would, considering how I’ve acted.” Bella licks her lips, glancing to the window as if ashamed to look at me. “I should never have behaved the way I did. I guess I was annoyed that you got that position over me, even though I don’t even want it. It just made me feel like nobody recognises me, you know?”

I’m not sure I do know, because Bella is not the kind of person you don’t recognise. She’s smart, confident, and beautiful.

“You said some hurtful things to me, I’m not going to lie about that. I know I’m not the smartest person in the room, and I’m probably the least qualified to do the job, but no one has ever given me a chance with anything.”

That shame rises in her eyes again. “I was such a bitch. I’m sorry.”

“I understand, but all you did was enforce all the negative things I believed about myself anyway. I’ve never thought I was worthy of anything, and I know I only got that job because Mace likes me”—loves me—“but I didn’t deserve the things you said to me.”

“You didn’t, and I can never make it up to you, but I’m going to try. I miss you, Maylie, and I hate that we don’ttalk to each other anymore. I’ve been so miserable, and I know it’s my own doing, but please let me try to fix things.”

I grab her hand over the table as tears brim in her eyes. “Let’s just put it behind us. I want us to be friends again. I don’t have a lot of people in my life, Bella, and I’ve been dying to talk to somebody about me and Mace.”

Her smile softens. “I’ll admit, we were wrong about him and his club. I see how good he is to you, how much he clearly cares about you. You deserve all the goodness he’s showering you with, Maylie.”

My chest feels full as I glance down at my hands threaded together on the table. “He’s so good to me.”

“You’re gonna have to tell me everything.”

I’m on a high after meeting with Bella, which is why my guard is low as I make my way into the lift that will take me up to the floor the apartment is on.

I fire off a message to Mace, telling him I met with Bella and that we sorted things out, then I add that I’ve headed home and I can’t wait to see him. I send a fifth message that just says ‘I love you’.

He replies back with ‘Get that pretty pussy of yours warmed up for me’.

My pussy throbs at that. Sometimes, when he’s not busy doing whatever it is he does for the club, he’ll nip home for an afternoon quickie before Toby gets back from school.

I unlock the apartment door and step inside, closing it behind me. I bought some black lace underwear yesterday that I’m dying to try out. Mace will love it.

Shrugging out of my jacket, I hang it on a hook by the door and slip off my boots.

I expect to find my sister lazing on the couch, but the living room is empty, and as I enter the kitchen, a huge figure darkens my path. I barely have time to react before a hand wraps around my throat and I’m shoved against the wall so hard, my spine bruises.

Link’s cold, angry eyes glare at me as he squeezes so tight, I can’t breathe. I grip his wrist, digging my nails in, trying anything to unhook him from me without any success.Fuck.Dark spots spill across my vision as the air is locked behind his fingers. I can’t breathe. I’m going to die.This is the end.

“I’ve been dying to get you alone.”

Did my sister go out? She must have or he’d have taken her.

He slams my head against the wall, and splintering pain shoots down my spine as my vision winks out.

Pain spreads through my neck and shoulders as he loosens his grip just enough for me to suck in a small amount of air.

“She’s eighteen today. You can’t keep her from me any longer. She’s legally an adult.”

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