Page 26 of Kade

Stripes turned my way.

I was about to speak when one of the elitist dicks burst out, “That fucking dick touched her.” He nodded to the guy on the ground and then indicated Maddy. “He cupped her pussy—”

He stopped abruptly, and everyone’s eyes came to me and Logan.

It took a second to realize what was happening. We sounded like animals, my rage transformed into sound. The old discipline slipped back down. I was going to murder the kid.

“Whothe fuckis that kid?” I began stalking him.

Then Maddy was in front of me, stopping me.

I blinked, coming back to myself. She wasn’t the only one who had moved between us. Stripes was blocking me. Nate and Matteo had moved closer.

“Okay. Here’s what we’re going to do,” Stripes clipped out, his jaw clenched. “I don’t give a shit what happened, not really. The girl looks like she’ll survive. But the girl’s big, bad father and uncle are here, and it looks like her honor has been defended so it’s a fucking moot point now. If any more justice is to be handed out, do it away from here. We got a family nurse coming in, along with our charter president, so if you all don’t want to deal with him, a bigger and badder asshole than me, I’d suggest youget the fuckout of here.” No one moved. He barked, “Now!”

Two of the bikers snapped their fingers to the Roussou guys, who went to pick up their friend. They carried him out, following the bikers to another building off to the side.

The two punks took off. One gave Maddy a look as he went, but I didn’t let myself decipher it. If I had, I couldn’t promise I wouldn’t go after him, rules and bikers be damned. They’d brought her here. They’d exposed her to this world.

Fuck.

“What do you want?” Logan’s voice was icy and lethal. His question wasn’t for me.

Stripes moved toward us. He ignored my brother, his eyes on Maddy. “Are you okay?”

She drew in a deep breath before she nodded. “I’m fine.” Her words were hoarse.

“You don’t sound it.”

She drew in another breath, stopping her body from shaking and stepped away from me. “I’m fine. Really.” Her eyes moved over his shoulder, trained on where Channing and Max were approaching.

Stripes and Channing shared a look before he moved his attention to Max.

“Stop fucking looking at my kid, Ryerson,” Channing snapped.

The hint of a grin showed on Stripes’s face before he coughed, clearing it away. He lifted his chin toward Max. “With the beatdown I heard you delivered to that kid, I’d say you could pick up a match any day in my ring—”

“Like fuck.” Channing stepped forward.

Stripes flicked a cool look at Channing as he said, ignoring him and speaking to Max, “But I know your aunt. I’ve got a hunch I’d wake up one morning with a knife in my gut. Tell Miss Bren that her nephew and all his friends are banned from this establishment. And she’s welcome. No need to call.”

Max looked deflated.

“What?” Maddy whispered.

Stripes wasn’t done. “But if you find yourself back here and somehow slip through security, let us know if you need anything. You got me?” His head lowered, waiting for his response.

Max gulped before bobbing his head up and down. He didn’t look torn up about being banned. He seemed relieved. He looked over at Maddy and pushed away from his dad, clearing his throat. “Can we go?”

“Max—” Maddy started to go to him.

“Now.” Max turned his back on her.

He’d been speaking to his dad.

Maddy gasped, rocked by his rejection.

I reached back for her, not understanding the details, only knowing she was hurt by that action. But this was Max. It was Max and Maddy. The dynamic between them was solid. Max was the good kid. Maddy led him into trouble, and Max usually had to clean it up. I wondered again what else had happened to precipitate all of this.

---