Page 56 of King of Ruin

“My sister has a cat. Not like this one. Her cat is nice.”

Maddie chuckles. “He doesn’t mean it, Thomasina.”

My brows lift. We all know he means it. Thomasina is too busy to care though.

“Let me leave you with some lunch and then I’ll make a supply run.” Jack opens the fridge and starts pulling out food. Is he making us all lunch? I know that Jack had a soft spot for Charlotte, Mason’s wife, but I’ve never seen him fix food for anyone. He clearly really likes Maddie.

I look at her profile, her lips curved into a gentle smile.

And I know the truth. Maddie would do anything for me. As if she’s heard my thoughts, she turns to me. “I spoke with Lucia this morning. She has to leave her apartment for a bit. Cockroaches, I think.”

“Does she need to stay here? We could put her in the unit below ours.”

The smile she gives me could light all of Vegas for a night. “Maybe not downstairs. I don’t think Lucia needs to hear us…” She flushes, and I rumble out a low note, wanting nothing more than to hear Maddie while I make her cum.

She clears her throat. “Since the Vendettis are in jail, I told her she could use my place.”

“All right,” I answer, feeling dissatisfied. I think I wanted to help Lucia for Maddie. I don’t even trust Lucia. Not fully.

My attitude is a marked change, I feel the shift. I can only hope I’m not making a big mistake. Should I allow myself to fall back into these patterns after all this time?

But her hand tightens in mine. “It doesn’t mean I have to stay here. I’ve got an extra bedroom…”

I look back at her, her mouth creased in lines of worry. My concerns disappear. Softly, I kiss her lips. “You are staying here for a while yet. We’re going to tuck those Italians in a tight noose before you leave my protection.”

I watch her features soften again. God, I fucking love that.

“Didn’t you say you needed to move the tunnel project forward to make that happen?”

“Maybe.” Why don’t I just ask?Maddie, can I put a vent on your property?But I know the answer. As much as I bitch about not wanting to take care of a woman, I don’t want Maddie taking care of me. It’s my job to protect her, provide for her. Not the other way around.

“I can’t sell the house. But I could probably sell or lease you some of the yard. I just need space for my animals.”

My gut twists into knots. Just like that, she’s offering me what I need. Just like she did that first night.

No reservation.

No one has more heart than Maddie. No one is as generous.

Just like she’s letting Lucia use her place. Just like she’s helping Thomasina.You can make yourself big or make the world better.

Maddie has chosen the latter.

“Maddie.” Her name comes out like a plea, and full of the pain and indecision I feel in this moment. I was about to fucking take her house right out from under her and here she is, just giving this massive gift to me.

I hate myself.

I love her.

I feel the truth of it settle deep in my gut. She’s far better than I would ever deserve. But that doesn’t mean that I’m not going to try and claim her for myself.

“Maddie, moving the tunnel forward is our best chance at getting Luke and Kate back.” I can only hope that Luke is still alive out there. On the run and being his scrappy self.

“Really?” The smile she gives me nearly splits her face. “That alone makes it worth it. I could use the money…”

She hesitates then and I take her hand back in mine kissing the back of it. “What do you need money for?”

She clears her throat, looking away. “Before I realized how bad my grandma was, she got way behind on her taxes. I owe the city like thirty thousand dollars in back payments. Do you think that’s an amount that might be workable?”

---