Page 86 of Mace

Nate grins. “You did! You got fucking laid. Who’s the lucky girl?”

“None of your business, that’s who.”

My brother grins like all his Christmases have come at once. “You must really like her. I’ve never seen you fucking happy a day in your life.”

“I’ve been happy loads of times.”Prick.

Nate snorts. “Tell that to your face. Smiling ain’t something that happens to other people, Mace.”

I roll my eyes at him, reverting back to my teenage self. I don’t know how he brings out this side of me, but sometimes I forget we’re grown fucking men. “I don’t kiss and tell. Were you brawling?” I circle back to the earlier conversation.

“Funny enough, I was also fighting about a girl.”

I’d say I’m surprised, but my brother has a penchant for attracting trouble, especially when it comes to women. “Let me guess, was she married?”

“No… well, not anymore.” His nose wrinkles. “Her shitty ex-husband decided to come to the bar where I was drinking and attempted to drag her out against her will. So, I did the only thing I could—I fuckin’ punched his lights out.”

Nicky pats his shoulder. “What a knight in shiningarmour you are. Where would the women of Birmingham be without Riot to keep them safe?”

My brother gives him a shit-eating grin. “It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it.”

“You know this girl or just someone you met?” I ask.

“This prick was twice her fuckin’ size, and she had enough bruises for me to suspect he been hurting her for a while, so now, we can stop talking about me and get back to who put that smile on my brother’s face.”

Considering I need their help, I realise I’m going to have to come clean. Even if I didn’t, they’re the most important people in my life, and I want them to know about the person who has quickly joined their ranks.

“Her name is Maylie.”

Nicky’s brows climb up his head. “The little bartender from Temptation?”

“You’re dating a stripper?”

I glare at my brother. “The clue was in the word bartender, fucker. She’s not a stripper, but she is in trouble.”

I explain everything Maylie told me about the guy her sister is dating, and when I’m finished, my best friend and brother exchange a glance.

“I have some contacts who might be able to find out who this Link guy is,” Nicky says when I’m finished talking.

I shake my head. “Ivy can get him to the flat. I can take it from there. What I do need help with is scaring the fuck out of this guy. I don’t want him coming near them again.”

Nate leans back on the bench, his fingers pressing against his cheek. “You know me, bro. I’m always up for a fight.”

“This cunt hurt my woman.”

Nate’s mouth twitches into a grin. “Your woman? Fuck, you’re in deep with this girl.” I am, and I don’t even try to deny it. “You really like her?”

“Enough to put my fist through this guy’s teeth for daring to lay a hand on her,” I confirm.

Nicky gets to his feet. “Let’s go avenge your woman,” he says.

I head back to the bedrooms, knocking lightly on the door to the room Toby and Ivy slept in. After a moment, it’s pulled open to reveal a sleepy-looking Toby. He steps back to let me in, and Maylie is in the bed with Ivy, cuddled against her. Her eyes soften the moment they lock onto mine, and every urge in my body wants to claim her mouth.

“Hey,” she says to me.

“Hey, darlin’.” Fuck, she’s perfection. If her siblings weren’t here, I’d have my face between her legs already. But this is important. I need to make things safe for Maylie, so my eyes shift to Ivy. “I need your boyfriend’s details.”

She sits up, pulling free of Maylie’s hold, her face pale. “Why? Are you planning on confronting him? He’ll hurt you, Mace. He’s not a good man.”

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