Page 173 of Mad As Hell

“Maddie!” Ryan waved me over, an easygoing smile on his face that only increased when I walked toward him. He was seated at the end of the row of barstools with Ash to his right and someone I didn’t know standing to his left.

Three new sets of eyes locked on me, watching with interest as I moved to Ryan’s side and he hooked an arm around my waist to pull me between his legs.

“Guys, this is Maddie,” he introduced, kissing the side of my neck as he wrapped both arms around my waist and pulled my back to his front. “Mads, that’s Knight—” the guy whose name I’d already guessed, sitting beside Bex “—Bishop—” the guy across from me chugging an energy drink “—and Royal.” He motioned to the guy directly at my left.

Royal narrowed his eyes at me. “Nice to meet you.” The cool tone of his voice said otherwise.

All of Court’s brothers resembled him in some way, so Jasper Woods must have some strong genes. They were huge, and I couldn’t spot an ounce of fat on their bodies.

Weapons.

They looked like human weapons with varying shades of dark hair and eyes, except Royal’s, which were an icy shade of gray that seemed way too intense.

“Ignore his cranky old ass,” Knight chimed in, bracing heavily tattooed forearms on the edge of the island and leaning over to face me with a grin that showcased two insanely deep dimples. He shook his longish dark hair out of his eyes. “Royal’s face would break if he smiled.”

“How about I break my foot off in your ass instead?” Royal growled, the ominous threat sending shivers down my spine. He glared at his brother, and I caught a flash of shiny white skin that disappeared under the collar of his shirt. The scar went almost to his jaw. His gaze snapped back to me with a scowl. “Problem, princess?”

I bristled. “Only if you keep looking at me like that.”

Bishop laughed, tipping his head back. His dark hair was buzzed short, the look having made him seem like a threatening giant until he’d laughed. That sound was rich and throaty. “Fuck, I like her, Cain.”

Royal muttered something and turned away to go to one of the steel doors. He yanked it open and grabbed a bottle of beer from the top shelf before sauntering back over and planting himself in the same spot. He twisted off the cap, but before he could take a drink, I snagged the bottle and lifted it to my lips.

“Oh, shit,” Bishop hissed, pressing his fist to his mouth as he barely held back a chuckle.

I set the drink down in front of Royal with a saccharine grin. “Thanks for the drink, buddy.”

Ryan’s body shook with laughter behind me, but Royal let out a noise that sounded like a pissed-off bear. He stalked back to the fridge, grabbed another beer, and this time opened it and chugged half of it on his way back.

“Chill, big brother,” Knight commented, shaking his head. He glanced at me. “Seriously, Maddie, ignore his surly ass. He’s a bitch unless he’s on a mission and can boss us around.”

Royal tipped the drink to his full lips again. “Maybe I wouldn’t have to boss your asses around if you followed basic directions the first fucking time.” He leveled a stare at Bishop.

Instead of crawling under the table and hiding from the anger in Royal’s expression—the way most normal humans would have—Bishop smirked and flipped him off.

Royal grabbed his bottle and looked at Ash. “Let me know what you find out, okay? I’m going upstairs.”

“Don’t be late for dinner,” Ryan ordered. “Cori’s expecting to see you.”

Shockingly, Royal’s face softened, and the tiniest of smiles hitched up one corner of his mouth enough for me to see he had at least one dimple, like his brother. “I’ll be there. I’ve missed the little squirt.”

“Actually, resting up a bit before dinner sounds good. I could use a shower,” Bex agreed, hiding a yawn behind her hands.

“Need help?” Linc offered, sitting between her and Ash.

“Maybe,” she agreed, then turned to Knight. “Can you give me a hand?”

As if not sensing that his life was in danger from his half-brother, who was openly glaring at him, Knight held out a hand and helped Bex off the stool. “I live to serve you, m’lady.”

Bex giggled, and I swore Court’s face turned purple from the rage he was barely holding in.

Bishop clapped a hand on Court’s shoulder as they left the room, and Court waited until they were gone before ripping away from his brother and stabbing a shaking finger at Linc. “I swear to Christ…”

Linc held up his hands innocently. “Dude, it was a joke.”

“Knight won’t do anything,” Bishop said evenly, the voice of reason. “They’re both trying to get under your skin. Calm down.”

“Fuck off,” Court snarled. He turned and stalked out the back door, slamming it hard enough to shake the walls.

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