Page 62 of Wretched Heart
“Let him think what he likes,” I reply, not rising to the bait.
I’d made it clear to Maddie that sex wasn’t going to change our plans. She deserves to enjoy her liberation, and she wouldn’t get that with me. I’d only want to possess her. I do want to possess her. I rub my jaw, willing it to unlock. When I’m forced to let Maddie go, it won’t be so her brother can ensnare her again. I don’t know how I’ll manage to keep my temper in check the next time I see Hugo.
“As long as we can close the deal on the mill, and convince Hugo to meet with Killian, he won’t be a problem for much longer,” I promise. “So stop worrying.”
“You’re still worried about my brother?” Maddie asks from the doorway.
“No, I’m not worried about him,” I say as I shut my laptop. “And you shouldn’t be either. I’ll take care of everything.”
Maddie’s wearing yoga pants and a hoodie, her face clean of makeup, and her hair falling over her shoulders ingolden waves. She doesn’t look ravaged, or ruined, but her lips are kiss-bitten and her face glows. Even if my brothers hadn’t heard us, they’d know, and they’re not going to let this pass without comment.
“You’re looking good, Maddie,’ Reid says with a cheesy grin.
Maddie rests her shoulder against the door. “I always feel relaxed after a good workout,” she replies. I keep forgetting she can handle these two motherfuckers.
I stand up to go to her, and as soon as my back is turned, Mace croons, “You did so well, little bird.”
It’s like the bastard had his ear to the door. I spin on my heels. “If you’ve planted something in her room, Mace, I swear…”
Reid barks a laugh, while Mace doesn’t even blink. “I was talking about how she handled herself in the board meeting,” he says.
I lean over him. “I mean it, Mace. You clear her room.”
“Hunter, it was just a guess,” Reid calls over. “Mace said you’d come out with shit like that. Looks like he was right.”
“You two need to grow up,” I mutter as I stalk towards the door. “I don’t need this right now.”
I take Maddie’s hand, ushering her back out of the room, but she resists. “Hey, Mace. Are you regretting turning me down yet? Is that why you need to record my every moan?”
He glares at her. “I didn’t put anything in your room, Maddie. There’s nothing in there that interests me.”
“You say the sweetest things, but if you’re hungry for something…” Maddie leaves a long pause. “Connie’s about to serve food.”
By the time we’re seated at the kitchen table sharing one of Connie’s casseroles, we’re all on our best behavior. Connie doesn’t like to join us at mealtimes, but she remains nearby. If there’s even a hint of attitude, she isn’t afraid to scold us, so there are no more sly comments from Mace and Reid as we go through what happened today at the mill.
“I don’t think we’ve heard the last from Morgan. He’ll be looking for a payoff,” I tell my brothers.
“Or he might just set out for revenge,” adds Maddie. “He’s petty enough, and he has the ability to cause all kinds of financial disruption if he sets his mind to it.”
“He can’t do much if he can’t access his files,” Mace says. “I’ve already locked him out of the mill’s internal systems.”
Maddie tears at a chunk of bread, and uses it to scoop up the casserole and shovel it into her mouth. Sex has made her ravenous, and I’m getting addicted to watching her eat.
“We still need to revoke his authority so he can’t act as our representative,” she says, her mouth still full. “But I’ve already compiled a list of external agencies and customers we need to contact.”
“Good thinking,” I say.
“His main priority is to stop us stealing Hugo’s legacy,” Mace says. “That’s what he told Hugo after the board meeting.”
Maddie sucks her finger clean. “How do you know that?” She rolls her eyes when she works it out for herself. “What else did you overhear them say? What are you worried about Mace?” she asks, referring to the conversation she’d walked in on earlier.
Mace defers to me to answer.
“I told you, I’m not worried, Maddie.”
“But Mace is,” she insists, still pushing for an answer from my brother. “What is it?”
When Mace looks about to say something, I cut in. “I don’t want you concerning yourself with something that isn’t going to happen,” I insist. “I’ve got it covered.”
