Page 170 of Mad As Hell

“Grandpa,” Ryan greeted.

Mr. Harris turned, his weathered face instantly brightening as Ryan went over and hugged him.

“My boy,” he wheezed, patting Ryan’s back. He looked at the guys behind me. “All my boys.”

“Hey, Grandpa.” Ash went over and hugged him, followed by Linc and then Court.

Bex lingered at my side.

“Maddie.” Mr. Harris turned his attention to me. “How are you?”

This was the first time I’d seen Ryan’s grandfather since the engagement party. Thankfully he’d left before Dean’s shitshow surprise and my very public downfall, but he had to have heard about it.

And yet, there wasn’t any judgment in his gaze.

“Hi, Mr. Harris,” I returned.

“And Rebecca Whittier.” His assessing gaze roved over her. “It’s been a long time, sweet girl. How are you?”

“Well, thank you,” she answered, the picture of politeness. “And you, sir?”

He scoffed and laughed a bit. “So formal. Please don’t feel the need to observe social etiquette in my home. I want you all to be comfortable.”

Ryan flashed me a smile. “I already told Grandpa that you both know about Phoenix.”

“Which makes both of you family in my eyes,” Mr. Harris concluded. “If my boys trust you, then so do I. But first, I’d like to speak with Maddie, alone.”

Ryan’s brow furrowed as his gaze cut to me. “Grandpa—”

Mr. Harris held up a hand. “It wasn’t a request, Ryan. I believe Ms. Flounders prepared some snacks for you all in the kitchen.”

Ryan still looked at me and relented only when I nodded.

If his grandfather wanted to yell at me in private about making his grandson look like an idiot in front of the world, I could take it.

“Fine,” he muttered. “Let’s go, guys.”

Bex touched my shoulder as she followed the others out of the room.

“Would you mind closing the doors, my dear?” Mr. Harris requested, folding his hands in his lap.

I turned and closed the heavy wooden doors that shut off this room from the rest of the house. When I faced him again, apprehension swirled in my gut.

This man meant the world to Ryan. He meant something to all of the men in my life I actually gave a shit about. He might be the person who could help us stop Gary, Beckett and the others.

But right now, he was studying me in a shrewd way that missed nothing. His age and the sickness slowly stealing his body away hadn’t dulled the sharpness of his mind. As he watched me, I couldn’t figure out exactly what he was thinking.

Finally, the corners of his mouth tipped up. “I’m afraid the afternoon chill is getting to these old bones. Would you hand me that blanket?”

I retrieved the one he motioned to at the end of one of the couches. The soft fabric felt heavenly against my palms, and I shook it out as I approached to drape it over his front instead of just handing it to him to sort out.

That must have been the right call, because his smile warmed considerably as I tucked it around his legs. After a second I stepped back, but I wasn’t entirely sure what to do next.

He gave me the answer by simply saying, “Sit down, Madison. I think we need to talk about a few things.”

CHAPTER 44

MADDIE

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