Page 110 of Mad Love

“Well, if it ever gets to be too much, say the word,” Chase offered with a small smile.

Curious, I leaned a hip on the counter. “Meaning?”

“Meaning whatever you want it to mean.” He met my gaze, something that I couldn’t quite figure out glimmering in his green eyes. “If you, or Rebecca, want to leave, you have options. My family is more than equipped to help you escape your father and see that he’s brought to justice.”

“I think we’ve got it handled. But thank you,” I added as an afterthought.

He nodded. “Just know the option is always there, should you need it. I had my family’s jet moved to a nearby airport just in case.”

“Aren’t you worried about Gary knowing you aren’t dead?”

He frowned and leaned against the opposite counter. “I’m certain he already knows. But the only reason he tried to kill me was so I couldn’t help you, which I did.”

“You did.” I smiled. “Did I say thank you?”

“No thanks are ever needed, Madison,” he assured me with a grin.

“Well, thanks all the same,” I replied, straightening. “I’m gonna go check on Bex. You’ve got this, right?” I waved a hand at the ovens and boxes.

“So, I just put the boxes in and let them cook,” Chase surmised, glancing from the boxes to the oven as it preheated.

My jaw dropped. “No, dumbass. You have to take the pizzas out—” I stopped when he started laughing. “You’re a jerk and probably going to kill us all in one meal.”

“Apologies,” he said, still chuckling as he tweaked my nose, “but you were simply too adorable in your horror.”

I gave him a playful push, and he caught my wrists in his hands. I tried to twist away with another giggle.

“Thought you were checking on Bex.” Ryan’s sharp voice cut into my laughter.

This time when I pulled back, Chase let me go. I smiled at Ryan, blatantly ignoring the hard look in his eyes as he watched us from the other side of the counter. “I had to teach Chase how to work the ovens, and he almost burned the water for his pantry soup.”

Chase snickered at my back. “It would’ve been delicious.”

Ryan’s eyes narrowed. “I bet. Chase is all about helping out, isn’t he?”

Uneasiness swirled in my stomach. “Ryan, we were just joking around.”

“I’m sure,” he said. “I mean, I’m sure you were, but I’m not so sure about Chase.”

“Meaning what, mate?” Chase asked.

“Meaning I see the way you look at my wife,” Ryan ground out, glaring at him.

“Ryan!” I gasped, gaping at him.

Chase smirked. “Funny, because I’m fairly certain she’s not your wife anymore. Not your fiancée, either.”

Ryan started to round the counter and I intervened, blocking him. “Ry, stop. Come on. He didn’t mean it like that.”

“I think he did,” Ryan seethed, still looking behind me.

“Maybe I did,” Chase admitted, causing me to spin around. He cocked a brow at me. “I meant what I said, Maddie. You have options. And they’re not all tied to men who will order you around.”

My jaw dropped as I whirled to stare at Chase. “That’s not what’s happening here.”

Chase met my eyes. “Trust me. I’m well aware of what’s not happening here.” With that cryptic statement, he turned and walked out of the room.

“What just happened?” I murmured, stunned.

---