Melancholy

“Howard’s in prison, but the fucker still has a solid club. He’s pissed, and he’s going to make me pay by hurtin’ her.”

Mack grunts. “You sure they knew Tan was in that car with you?”

My heart stutters.

“The shot came through her side, Mack,” Maddox mutters.

“Fuck. As I suspected.”

My stomach turns. I feel a little ill.

“Gotta be revenge?”

“You sent her into his club, and fucked his plan. It’s absolutely revenge,” Mack grinds out.

“I gotta figure out how to keep her safe. Right now, I’m not sure how I’m gonna do that.”

“Bring her to my new house. It’s unknown, because most people don’t know about me,” Mack suggests.

No. No way.

“It’s not a bad idea,” Maddox says, though his voice sounds grumbly and not entirely convinced. “They’ll be watchin’ the club and this place. You’ve only just leased a joint – it’ll work.”

“I’ve yet to move in—I have the keys, no furniture, but I can make that happen. We’ll make sure I’m not bein’ followed at any time, and we’ll get her over there and keep low.”

“You know I’m not overjoyed with the idea of you bein’ alone with her, Mack,” Maddox grunts.

I hear a snort. “Not goin’ to do anything, boss man. Wouldn’t wanna piss on your shoes.”

Maddox laughs. “No, you better fuckin’ not. Right, it’s done, then.”

I push off and continue down the stairs. Both men turn when a creak fills the room. Maddox lets his gaze travel over me instantly, checking if I’m well. Mack simply smirks at me, as if he knows. My cheeks heat as I hurry past them towards the kitchen.

“You hear that, babe?” Maddox calls out.

“Yes.”

“You goin’ to fight me on it?”

I hesitate, but say, “That depends.”

He makes a displeased sound in his throat. “It ain’t negotiable. I was only hopin’ you wouldn’t fight because it makes it easier for both of us.”

I pour a coffee and turn to him. “Can Alec still visit?”

He looks as if I’ve just slapped him. His face turns hard as stone in seconds, his mouth tight, his eyes flashing with rage and pain. I didn’t mean that to sound so cold, but Alec is in the picture, even if Maddox and I did spend a night kissing. I can’t just forget about him.

“Is Alec the pretty boy from the other night?” Mack asks.

I’m almost certain I can hear Maddox’s jaw grinding with rage. Jesus. I look away; I can’t stand to see that expression for a moment longer. I don’t understand why he’s so angry. Yes, we kissed, but in the end he’s going to find a piece of club pussy soon, and fuck the shit out of it. I don’t see why I can’t have what he has.

“He’s not a pretty boy,” I snap.

Mack laughs. “He is a pretty boy, but if you’re seein’ him and he’s a good man, then I’ve got no problem with him comin’ around.”

Maddox shoots Mack a scathing look that has even me flinching. “She ain’t riskin’ bringin’ that piece of shit around when she’s in danger.”

“Maddox,” I protest. “I’m not going to stop seeing him because I’m in danger. I’ll be careful, sure, but I’m not going to stop.”

Maddox turns back towards me and stalks over. The moment he reaches me his hand lashes out and curls around my shoulder. He pulls me in close, bringing his mouth down to my ear. “Did I have my tongue in your mouth last night?” he growls.

I swallow. “That doesn’t matter . . . it doesn’t because . . .”

“Because why?” he snarls, his breath hot against my skin.

“You fuck other women all the time, Maddox. I kissed you, it was amazing, but you and I . . . we’re not exactly . . . we’ll never . . .”

“Don’t fuckin’ bother. Do what you want.”

He shoves me back and turns to Mack. “Take her now.”

“Maddox,” I say, my voice shaky.

He doesn’t look at me; he just walks with slow purpose towards the back door. “I’m goin’ for a ride. Don’t be here when I get back.”

My heart thumps in rapid bursts as I listen to him go. God dammit, I need to stop shoving my foot in my mouth so often. I turn to Mack, and he’s studying me. He lifts a hand and runs it over the two days’ growth on his chin, his brown eyes traveling over my face.

“You fuckin’ Maddox, chante?”

“What?” I gasp. “No.”

“What about this other man?”

“No.”

“Then what the fuck is goin’ on?”

I sigh. “I . . . ah . . . we . . . shit.”

“That wasn’t a coherent sentence. You wanna try again?”

“We kissed.”

His brows shoot up. “He’s got his knickers in a twist over a fuckin’ kiss?”

“He slept in my bed last night.”

“He’s slept in your bed plenty of times.”

“Yeah, but . . . it was different, Chief. We . . . there was something there.”

He crosses his big arms. “You care about him?”

My stomach twists. “I don’t know, and that’s the honest truth. I’m confused.”