Page 90 of Mace

Nate holds up his hands. “I wasn’t gonna say anything.”

I glance at Nicky, who shifts his shoulders. “Me neither, but I really want to meet this girl properly.”

“You can. She’s still at the clubhouse.”

“Then let’s go meet her,” my best friend says, giving me a lopsided grin before he pulls on his helmet.

TWENTY-TWO

MAYLIE

I’mon edge as I wait for Mace to return. I can tell my sister is too, and I get the feeling it’s going to take a lot to undo everything Link has done to her.

“You’re going to wear a hole in the carpet,” my brother remarks as I pace the floor of the room we stayed in last night.

“I’m worried.” It takes a lot for me to admit that, to not shelter my siblings from the reality of things happening around us, but I’m too scared to hide my feelings. What if something happens to Mace?

“He’ll be okay,” my brother assures me. “Right, Ivy?”

He looks to our sister to back up his words, but Ivy is lying on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, one hand pressed against her stomach.

“This is all my fault.” Her whispered words hit me in the chest like a wrecking ball.

I cross the room, dropping onto the mattress next to her. “No, it’s not. Nothing he has done is your fault, Ivy. Iknow that’s what he’s probably made you believe, but it’s not true.” I grab her face in my hands, and her eyes swivel to look at me. “I need you to believe that. Truly believe it. Link is a dangerous man, and men like him have the ability to make their loved ones think all the bad things they do are their fault. But they’re not. You’re a victim in this, Ivy, and I don’t blame you for anything that’s happened.”

Tears streak down her cheeks, and a hollow feeling opens inside my stomach. I try to think of ways in which I can help her overcome the guilt she feels for how she reacted in a situation that was beyond her control. Most adults wouldn’t have handled things any better than she did.

In the end, I do the only thing I can. I lie down next to her and wrap my arms around her, leaning my head against her chest.

“I don’t deserve you, Maylie. I was horrid.”

“None of that matters now.”

Toby comes to lie on the other side of Ivy, resting his head on her shoulder, like we used to do when we were younger, only it was Mum in the middle, not Ivy.

“Now that we don’t have to worry about Link anymore, can we talk about Maylie dating a biker?”

My whole body stiffens. Are they going to be okay with me and Mace dating?

“He’s seriously hot,” Ivy says between sniffles. “Like otherworldly hot.”

“The bike makes him pretty cool too,” Toby adds.

“It’s still very early days, guys. Don’t get too ahead of yourselves. We’re… trying to figure things out.”

This time, it’s me staring at the ceiling, trying to imagine going back to a life without Mace at the forefront of it. Could I be smiley Maylie, the girl who delivers brownies to a strip bar?

“That man looks at you in a way that tells me he doesn’t care it’s early days,” Ivy says.

“What do you mean?” I sit up, peering down at her as my brows draw together.

Her gaze bounces to me. “Maylie, I know you’re not experienced in the dating world, but there is no way you’re this blind to what’s in front of you. The man looks at you like his world begins and ends with you.”

I blink rapidly.Is that true?“No, he doesn’t. We’ve only known each other a really short time.”

“And yet he’s just run off to solve all your problems… and they’re not even your problems.” My sister’s smile is wry as she looks at me through wet lashes. “I think it’s safe to assume he really likes you.”

“Which is a good thing,” Toby adds, “cos I really like him. You think he likes gaming?”

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