Page 90 of The Maxwell Brothers
Lexi flashed me a heartfelt smile. "That's right. Be my hero. You're so damn sexy when you do that."
"Hold on to that thought," I said before following Tyler and Reese.
We walked outside the restaurant, heading to the parking lot. Since Travis rented the whole space, there were only a few cars there.
Malcolm stepped out of a Mercedes. There was another guy in the car, but he stayed inside. Malcolm looked from me to Tyler, clearly not pleased to see us. Well, tough luck. I was not fucking happy to see him either.
"I asked to speak to you alone," he told Reese. "Without these two or anyone else."
Reese stood ramrod straight. “I don’t have to listen to your demands. Not anymore, Malcolm."
"When the fuck did I get anything I wanted? It was always you, you, you."
"Yes, of course. It's my fault you cheated on me. Everything is my fault," Reese said. And for the first time, she sounded beaten, like she didn't want to continue this fight with him anymore. That wasn't a problem, because I could finish for her. This schmuck didn't know who he was messing with. I could donothing about his cheating, but I sure as hell wouldn't let him talk down to Reese or take over Gran's building.
"Whatever you have to say, I suggest you do it quickly," I said coldly. "Our lawyers are in contact. All information is being passed between them. There is no need for personal meetings."
"That's why I didn't want to meet with you," he spat. "I wanted to talk to her."
"Why?" Reese said. "You thought you could intimidate me into reaching an agreement?"
Malcolm looked again from me to Tyler, who was completely silent. That wasn't a good sign.
"You listen to me. You don't want to do this. Your precious Maxwell name isn't as intact as you think. I need the building. My job in the Halsey Group depends on that fucking spa being built.”
"Guess what?" Reese said. "You're not getting anything. Gran is like my mom, and she's the best person I know. That building is the first one she bought with Grandpa, and it means a lot to her. You won't take over the upper levels and upset her."
"I'm so tired of this family and your sentimental crap. It's business, and I want it. And none of your cousins or your bitch of a sister or you will stand in the way of what I want."
Tyler stepped right in front of him. "Go away, or I swear to God?—”
"Swear to God what, pretty boy?” Malcolm sneered. “You're going to get your hands dirty? Your reputation? What exactly are you worth without it? Nothing. That's right."
"Guys, don't get into trouble on my behalf," Reese said, sounding distressed.
I stepped forward, intending to stop whatever this was before it escalated. Malcolm's only weapon was provoking us, but it was too late. Because one second later, he pushed Tyler back, punching him in the stomach.
The next minutes were a blur. Tyler threw a punch square in Malcolm's jaw, and then Malcolm hit back with a vengeance, throwing himself at Tyler. They both dropped to the ground, and they didn't stop. They rolled right into the ditch between the gate and the parking lot, which looked to be newly dug, knee deep, and really wide.
Reese shrieked.
"Stop it!" I yelled, jumping in the ditch with them. I pulled Malcolm off Tyler, throwing him far away before extending a hand to my brother. He had a bloody nose and shook his head, refusing my help. I turned to Malcolm, pointing at him.
"Stop right the fuck there, or I start where my brother left off."
"Leave, Malcolm," Reese said, standing straight up. "You're not going to get what you want."
He snorted. "The fuck I won't. I bet if I tried to get back in your good graces, you would have accepted me."
Reese closed her eyes, drawing a deep breath. “You’re such a piece of shit.”
I wanted to punch that moron, but I had to be mindful of Tyler or he'd jump back into the fight.
The guy in Malcolm’s car was holding his phone up.Fucking hell, is he filming everything?
"What's going on?" came a familiar voice from the gate. Declan was jogging toward us, exasperated as he took in the scene, from Tyler's bloody lip to Malcolm's red face.
"Leave now, or I'm going to file a complaint," Declan said.
