Page 178 of Mad As Hell

CHAPTER 46

MADDIE

“I really hate you right now,” I hissed as Ryan led me toward the dining room, where I could already hear people talking and laughing. I’d changed into a pair of jeans and a sweater, but I still really needed a shower. And the more I walked, the more I became aware of the messy situation I was currently in.

Ugh. So gross.

Ryan grinned at me, unashamed. “No, you don’t.”

No, I didn’t hate him.

But when we entered the dining room, I was annoyed and working on a plan to make him suffer later.

A long, walnut table with room for twelve dominated the space. Mr. Harris was already seated at the head. To his left were Royal, Knight, Bex, and Court. To his right sat Ash, Linc, and Bishop. Ryan pulled out the seat next to Bishop for me to slip into, and he sat at the opposite end from his grandfather.

We’d barely sat down before everyone heard small footsteps running.

Corinne burst into the room with a grin, wearing a freaking gown made for a child. Her hair had been pinned up, and she looked ready for a ball.

With an excited cry, she raced past everyone to the front of the table, where Royal waited. He pushed back and caught her in a hug, a smile completely transforming his face.

“Hey, kid,” he greeted, the affection in his voice apparent.

“I’ve missed you!” Cori squeezed her arms around his thick neck and then pulled back. “Did you see the puppies? I showed them to Ryan and Maddie, but you need to see them, too. Grandpa said I can have one, but it has to live here.”

“Did you figure out which one you’re gonna pick?” Royal asked, his dark eyes locked on her animated face.

With a chuckle, Knight got up and held out his chair for Corinne to take. “You want my seat, sweetie?”

“Thanks, Knight,” she chirped, sitting down and never taking her attention from his older brother. Shaking his head, Knight moved to the other side of the table and grabbed the empty seat between Bishop and Linc.

“Oh, I want a girl puppy,” Corinne said, completely serious. “But there’s two girls, and I don’t know which one to pick.”

Mr. Harris cleared his throat, clearly enamored with his granddaughter but also seeing the staff hovering by the connecting door to the kitchen, where they waited with trays. “Rinny, can we maybe talk about puppies after we’ve said the blessing?”

My surprise must’ve shown, because Ryan leaned in and explained, “Nana was religious and made us pray before every meal. Grandpa still does it.”

That was unexpectedly sweet and touching. I paused as everyone bowed their heads for Mr. Harris to bless the meal and the people around the table. He solemnly asked for protection for those that weren’t at the table, piquing my curiosity.

Apparently I wasn’t the only one, because as soon as he was finished, Corinne asked, “Where’s Cas?”

“Working, little bug,” Bishop answered before murmuring his thanks to one of the servers who began setting plates of salad in front of us.

Her nose wrinkled. “I’m not a bug.”

“Sure you are,” he teased. “Cute as a bug in a rug.”

She giggled. “Bugs don’t have rugs, Bishop.”

“So, let me see if I have this straight.” I pointed at Bishop. “Bishop, Knight, Royal, Castle, and Rook? Does someone have a chess fetish?”

Instead of the smile I expected, Bishop’s expression darkened. “Our father. He sees us as his own little pawns to move around the board at will.”

I tried to make a joke to lessen the sudden cloud of doom hovering around us. “I’m surprised there isn’t a King. Or, wait, is that what your dad calls himself?”

Ryan sucked in a sharp breath. Across from me, Court grimaced.

“King died.”

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