Page 27 of Pretty Vengeful Queen

I’ve got no idea what they’re talking about but I’m beyond grateful that he’s distracted her from the fact that we’re about to be separated again. Of course, that only lasts until Maddoc takes her arm, steering her toward the four men waiting just inside the front door.

“We need to get you on the road,” he says, taking the bag Logan packed for her and tossing it to one of his men. “While you’re there, Nathan will take care of anything you need. I’m going to rotate out most of my people, but he’ll stay with you for the duration.” Maddoc tips her chin up, smiling down at her. “He’ll keep you safe, Chloe. He’s got all the skills to do it, and it’s his one and only fucking job, okay?”

“Okay,” she says a little shakily, looking over at the guy now holding her bag.

He gives her a brisk nod, so he must be Nathan, but it’s like Maddoc’s words have just reminded Chloe that this is all really happening, and that it’s happening right now.

She whirls out of his grip and flings herself at me again. “Do I really have to go?” she asks me in a tearful whisper, clinging tightly.

“Yeah,” I say, all I can get out before my throat closes up. I hate how often I’ve had to say goodbye to her lately, but hopefully this will be the last time for a long, long while.

And at least this time wedoget to say goodbye.

Chloe and I trade one more long squeeze, then she nods and straightens her shoulders. “Love you, sis.”

“I love you too.”

She turns to my men, keeping a hold of my hand. “Thanks for getting Riley back. Please keep… keeping her safe.”

No one laughs at the awkward phrasing, or comments on the thick tears we can all hear in her voice. Instead, all three men nod solemnly, vowing that they will, and then my sister is gone.

I stare after them until the Escalade disappears from view, then close the door and turn back to my men. Except Logan and Dante have already left the room, and it’s just Maddoc.

I stare at him, too much space between us. “Are you sure this Nathan guy is loyal?”

“I’d trust him with my life.”

“You just trusted him with my sister’s life.”

His lips quirk up, the mask of leadership falling away and warm sympathy taking its place. “The way she matters to you?” he says softly, moving toward me. “Same thing.”

Oh.

Oh.

This whole fucking day has been almost more than I can handle. The beating Austin gave me starts to make itself known, and a ton of confusing emotions swell up inside me as Maddoc stalks closer and closer.

“Thank you for sending her somewhere safe,” I say, not sure how to handle everything else. I’m not sure if I want to jump him right now, ask him to hurt me enough that I forget all the ways Austin did, or beg him to just hold me.

I suspect what I really need is some fucked-up mashup of all of the above.

I definitelywantsomething.

“I wish I could have sent you somewhere safe,” Maddoc grumbles when he finally reaches me, the heat in his eyes at odds with the gentle way he cups my jaw, callused fingers holding onto me like I’m something precious, as delicate as the butterfly he’s taken to calling me.

He knows I’m not.

He knows I’m strong.

And that just makes the moment all the sweeter.

“I can call them back,” he murmurs, staring down at me. “You can still go to the safe house.”

“That ship has sailed.” I feel a little breathless as our gazes lock. “Didn’t we already establish that I’m too stubborn to leave your fine ass?”

He smirks, his eyes dropping to my lips. “Yeah,” he says huskily. “I’m pretty sure we did.”

“And you like it.”

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