Page 121 of Mace

Mace, on the other hand, is cool like ice as he strides around the table to stand in front of a writhing and moaning Link.

He fires off another shot, and the back of Link’s head seems to explode, spraying stuff all over the cabinets behind him.

I squeeze my eyes shut, but that image is burned into my brain forever.

All I hear is my heavy breaths in my ears as I try to calm my hammering pulse.

“Maylie?”

My eyes pop open as Mace fills my darkening vision. His hands cup my face, anguish lining every part of him.

“Fuck, darlin’, I’m so sorry.” He helps me off the floor, and my legs buckle, forcing him to hold me up. I can barely see straight, and I can’t look at the mess of Link behind us. “Just take a second, okay. Get your bearings.”

A grunt erupts from my mouth as the movement sends a sharp pain through my side.Link tried to kill me.Trembles turn into full body shakes.

“Baby? Talk to me. You’re scaring me.”

I unglue my tongue from the roof of my mouth. “Is he… is he dead?”

Of course, he’s fucking dead. There’s blood all over the kitchen. His head exploded. I close my eyes, trying to escape the image left behind, but there’s no escaping this.

“Yeah.” He winces as a myriad of emotions cut across his face. “I never wanted you to see that side of me?—”

I don’t let him finish, grabbing the edge of his kutte with my uninjured hand and pulling him into me as I let out a sob. “He nearly killed me.” I suck in air as his arms wrap around me, cocooning me in his warmth. I feel his relief as he holds me tight to him. “I thought he was going to rape me right there on the kitchen table. It’s a good thing you’re a horny fucker. If you hadn’t come… come home…”

Mace swipes the tears that escapes down my cheeks. “He shouldn’t have even got this close. I’m so fucking sorry.”

“You saved me, and that’s all I care about. I need to find Ivy. He came looking for her, but she wasn’t here.”

“She’s probably out with friends.”

I know he’s right, but I still need to hear from her. I let go of his kutte, stepping out of his arms, still cradling my hand to my chest.

“Fuck.” He sounds angry, though I know it’s not directed at me when he takes my wrist very gently, turning it so he can look at the damage.

It hurts… I’m not going to deny that. There is a throbbing pain spreading through my fingers and up my arm. Mace goes to the freezer, pulling out a packet of ice and wrapping it in a towel before handing it to me. “Go and wait in the living room. I’ll have my brother find Ivy and check that Toby is still in school and safe.”

I don’t know how he thinks of everything, because mymind is whirling like a storm. He kisses my head, and I close my eyes, trying to calm myself.

“Living room, baby.”

I stumble across the hallway into the living room and sink onto the edge of the couch, holding the ice pack against my throbbing wrist.

I can’t seem to stop shaking, and my gut churns savagely with nausea.

I don’t know how long passes before Nicky and Diesel, another brother from the club, turn up. I hear their voices talking, but I can’t understand a word.

Unable to stay awake, I lie down and let my eyes drift until I feel the sofa depress.

My eyes fly open, only relaxing when I see it’s Mace.

“Is he gone?” I ask.

“Yeah. You okay?” I shake my head. I don’t see the point in lying. He closes his eyes, pain rippling across his face. “I’m sorry, baby.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“I didn’t think he’d be an issue. I should’ve known better.”

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