Page 68 of King of Ruin

But I can’t do it. I won’t be the person who hurts Maddie.

I turn toward Maddie because she’s trying to tug her hand out of mine. But that only makes Mason rumble.

Glancing over my shoulder, I note that his gaze is fixed on my back.

Glancing down I see the scratches Maddie has slashed across my skin. Mason doesn’t assume the decisions are being made with my heart but with my cock, by the way he’s glaring at the marks.

It’s not wrong.

But it’s more than just the sex, and I know it. It’s the way I’m protective of her. The way I run to her every time she calls.

It’s the amount of time I spend on my knees because the sound of her cumming is the best sound in the entire world.

I turn back to Mason, standing in front of Maddie. My glare should say it all.Play nice.

I love my brother. I’d die for him. Kill for him. But hurting Maddie is a bridge I won’t cross. And he’s going to have to respect it. This is new territory for us. Mason is my idol. My father figure. But I’m a man and this is my woman.

I suddenly understand my brother Leo a great deal better. He’s been fighting Mason to gain some basic rules of respect for a long time.

But I’m not sure Mason is getting the memo.

He rises, his face black. “As I told Roman, this is a ridiculous amount of money for the size parcel we are discussing.”

“Oh,” Maddie whispers behind me. “I didn’t realize. I’m sorry.” Her hand comes to my back, her palm flattening out as her fingertips dig into my skin.

My arms cross over my chest. Mason is not an easy man. And all of his softness is reserved for his wife.

But he’s going to have to include Maddie on his very short list of people he treats with care. Or we’re going to have real problems.

“Don’t be sorry, sweetheart. The deal should be beneficial to both parties. That’s how deals work,” I stare at Mason, daring him to argue.

“It’s our job to pay her back taxes now?”

“Oh,” Maddie catches her breath. “Roman told you.”

Mason lifts a brow. He knows that I learned about the back taxes long before Maddie told me.

I bare my teeth, telling him without words to shut the fuck up. I’m going to have to come clean with Maddie. I know it.

But I don’t need Mason starting a trail of bread crumbs that I can’t control. My hands drop to my sides, my fists clenching. “I’m going to get a shirt.”

“Good idea,” Mason fires back, all spit and vitriol in his tone. “Pretend like you have a job and it’s a Tuesday at eleven in the morning. Oh wait. You don’t need to pretend. You do have a job and it is Tuesday at eleven.”

“Fucker,” I say back. Maddie’s hand is still on my back, her breath warm on my skin. I reach behind me and grab her hand, pulling her into the bedroom with me.

“Miss Reid can stay,” Mason says as we leave.

I feel Maddie’s hand shake in mine. Fuck that.

Mason is a shark in business. I don’t blame her for being concerned. I pull Maddie into the bedroom, knowing there is no way I’m leaving her alone with Mason. Letting go of her hand, I close the door, and cross to the dresser to grab a T-shirt, socks, and sneakers. “I need to have a word with my brother.”

I barely contain my anger as I say the words.

“Of course,” she answers, her arms wrapped around herself. “Should I go in the bathroom so you have some privacy?”

My shoulders drop. Maddie is one of the most honest and considerate people I know. “No, love. I’ll walk Mason out.”

“And the papers?”

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