Page 74 of Mad Love

Ryan brushed some of my hair over my shoulder. “She’s here, too. She’s finishing the semester virtually.”

My brows shot up. “Her parents agreed to that?”

“Yes,” Court answered, his tone rough.

I shot Ryan a look and he shook his head, silently indicating that whatever was bugging Court was something he’d tell me about later.

My eyes slid shut and I leaned my head against his shoulder. I’d missed the way I could read him with a look. I opened my eyes in time to see the trees give way to a large, open space with the billionaire’s version of a log cabin in the middle. Smoke curled up from one of the chimneys and rose into the clouds hovering overhead, and it looked like a scene from a movie.

“Whose house is this?” I asked as Court pulled around one side to a four-car garage. He hit a button to open the door and then backed in the car.

“Ours,” Ryan answered, and when I shot him a stunned look, he added, “It belongs to Phoenix, technically.”

“Well,” Linc said, unbuckling, “a subsidiary of a subsidiary that’s tucked inside a seashell—”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Court stared at him across the console. “It’s a shell corporation.”

Linc blinked. “That’s what I said.”

“You said seashell, dumbass.”

Linc’s arm shot out and clipped Court’s bicep hard enough for him to grunt. My gaze bounced between them, amused and reassured by their banter.

“Fucker,” Court hissed, pulling back to hit Linc.

“Enough!” Ryan snapped. “Either of you dipshits hurts Maddie goofing off, and I’ll personally kick both your asses.”

Linc rolled his eyes and opened his door as the other SUV backed into the spot beside ours. “So fucking touchy.”

Court glanced back at me. “Sorry, Mads.”

A smile pulled at my lips. “Don’t be. I’ve missed you guys.”

“We missed you, too. Especially—”

My door ripped open and Bex appeared, her hazel eyes swimming with tears. “Oh, my God! You’re really back!” She started to reach for me, and quickly stopped herself. “Shit. Ash said you’re hurt. Can I hug you?”

“No.” Ryan’s voice cracked through the air like a whip, and I felt him tense behind me. “She’s seriously hurt, and she needs to rest.”

Instead of backing down, Bex planted her hands on her hips and scowled at him. “Really? How are your ribs, Ryan?”

Court got out of the driver’s seat and tugged Bex back. “Easy, tiger.”

I turned sharply, wincing as my back pulled. “What about your ribs?”

Ryan shot Bex an annoyed look that gentled when he faced me. “Can we talk about it inside? We have a lot to catch up on.”

“Debriefing in ten?” Royal asked as he walked by, a black duffel bag slung over his shoulder and black aviator glasses hiding his eyes.

“You’re kidding, right?” Ryan growled. “She just got here.”

Royal frowned. “So, twenty?”

“Fucker—”

Court placed a hand on his brother’s chest. “Let’s give them a few hours, bro. They need it.”

Royal grunted, and I got the impression he wasn’t pleased with the suggestion. But he turned and strode into the house as Bishop and Knight brought up the rear.

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