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33

Maddox

As soon as Blaise falls asleep, I rally the troops. Thank fuck Blaise has great friends. Collins comes over right away and keeps an eye on Blaise while Granger and I pile into my Jeep. My McLaren is too conspicuous.

After we leave the rest of her men keeping guard over the lobby and the front door of my penthouse just in case this Hale dude gets a clue that my wife is no longer waiting for him in Cillian’s guesthouse—that bastard—I head for the Venus in record time.

I shimmy the Jeep between two sedans a few blocks from the nightclub. The place is hopping and all available curbside parking within a mile radius is taken. Dammit, I should’ve played it smart and have one of Blaise’s men drop me and Granger off. Too late now.

We beat feet to the nightclub.

I’m dressed for a fight in my ratty jeans and dress shirt from my days of wining and dining women I didn’t give two fucks for, not minding at all if I get a shit ton of Hale’s blood on the damn thing. It’ll give me a reason to burn the shirt.

“You doing okay there, man?” I glance sideways at Granger. He’s keeping up with my sprint.

“With the shit way you drive, I’m not fine. Did you have to drive like a shithead? What if we got into an accident and died? You think Blaise will appreciate that?”

“Not at all. You’re right. Sorry, bro.” I sock him in the arm mid-sprint. “I’m sure Gia will rip me a new asshole if anything happened to you.”

“Wait, she cares?”

“Nah. I was just seeing if you did.” I stop and catch my breath. Granger does too. This is my opportunity to give it to him straight.

“There’ll be no dating my sister, understood?”

“Why’s that? Am I not good enough?” He clenches his jaw. Balls his hand.

“You’re not. My sister deserves a guy that will treat her like a queen. You”—I point my finger at him—“see her as a challenge. She is anything but. Gia needs patience and understanding but also a firm hand to let her know what she can and can’t get away with.”

“You don’t believe I can give her that?”

“Even if you could, you won’t withstand her testing of you long enough to break through the armor she’s placed around her heart.”

“I’ll try.”

“There’ll be no trying. I’m warning you now. Stay the hell away from her.”

“Or else what?”

“Or else I cut off your fucking dick.”

He smirks. “Duly noted. Now lets give a motherfucker a much deserved beating for putting our girl through pain and terror she shouldn’t have endured.”

“Here. Here.” I smack him across the shoulder.

He shoves me. I push back. We keep going on like this until we’re at the back door. We got news from Cillian that Hale is working the back exit.

He’s sending his men over for backup.

Backup?

Who the fuck needs backup?

Hale?

“Hey, Hale.” I saunter up to the prick with my hands balled at my sides. “Remember me? Blaise’s husband?”

He stares a hole in my face with his steely gaze.