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“ I ’m sorry, ma’am. You’re not on the list of visitors so I can’t let you in to see Mr. Stonehurst.”

Frustration bit at her and she just wanted to cry. This place looked nice enough, and she was certain that they were great at their jobs, but Uncle Willy didn’t belong here.

“But he’s my uncle and my employer. He got hurt because he was upset I was kidnapped and he doesn’t even know I’m all right. Please let me see him.”

“I’m sorry.” Sympathy filled the older woman’s eyes.

“My name is Doctor Jameson St. Bede.” Jameson stepped forward. “I was his physician when he was first admitted in Escana. I’m sure it’s on the records there. And I have some identification. Perhaps I could see him as a visiting physician.”

The woman bit her lip, looking torn. “Look, I can’t let you in, but I can go see Mr. Stonehurst and see how he’s doing. Perhaps give him a message.”

Maggie quickly grabbed a piece of paper and wrote him a note with her phone number. “Is he all right?”

“He hasn’t been here long and has been tired and sore from his head injury, but I heard he’s much more lucid today. Though he’s not thrilled about where he is. He should be getting an assessment soon. After that, they’ll make a decision about whether he needs to stay here or not.”

“And if they decide he needs to be here?” Ian asked. “Does he have to stay?”

“Then it’s up to his next of kin or whoever has power of attorney to decide what to do for him.”

Great. Which must be her mother.

“Thank you.” She knew the woman could get into trouble for telling her that.

“You’ll need to leave now. Sorry.”

They stepped out of the building and Ian drew her against him, holding her tight. “I’m sorry, Little Misfit.”

“Hopefully, he calls me soon.” She sighed and leaned into Ian’s chest. “I need to go see Indie.”

Maggie stepped out of the hospital room, looking exhausted and run-down. They’d let her go in alone for some girl time. Ian was calling his brothers while Jameson went in search of a good cuppa.

Jack took her into his arms. “You know what we need?”

“What?” she asked.

“Some fun. We could go find an arcade. Or I know of this huge indoor play area for Littles.”

“I’d really like that. But . . . ”

Jack pushed her hair back from her face as she saw Jameson and Ian coming toward them. “What’s wrong, baby girl?”

“I just . . . I don’t know what to do. Uncle Willy is in that place and I can’t see him. Indie is closing off from me. She does it to protect herself, but I just want to help her.”

Ian grew closer and rubbed his hand up and down her back. “What can we do? Indie can come home with us.”

“If that’s what you want,” Jack said. “If not, we will move here to be with you. Just say the word.”

She glanced at Jameson.

“We will do whatever you need,” Jameson told her. “All we want is for you to be happy.”

She sniffled. “Thank you. You guys are the best.”

Jack hauled her up into his arms.

“Jack! What are you doing?” she said as he started walking down the corridor.

“Looking for a supply closet. You need a time-out.”

“We can’t do that here! Someone could walk in on us.”

“Jameson and Ian will guard the door, won’t you guys?”

They nodded and he found a room, taking her inside. It was dark and small.

“Why does this feel okay yet I freak out in lifts? And in . . . boots of cars.” Her breath started to come in sharp pants.

“Motherfuckers,” Jack muttered as he rocked her. “This was supposed to make you feel better. We’ll leave.”

“No . . . give me a moment. I can . . . I have this.” She buried her face into his chest and took some long, slow breaths.

Eventually, everything faded away and she looked up at him. “So . . . ever made out in a supply closet?”

“Baby girl, I thought you’d never ask.”

Ian looked up at the big steel building in confusion. It was in an industrial area and there wasn’t much more around. “What is this place?”

“This is Club Slade. Named for the owner. Who is also Indie’s step-brother,” Maggie explained. She’d come out of the supply closet with Jack looking far less stressed and with red, swollen lips.

“What?” Ian paused and looked down at her. “Her brother? Why the fuck isn’t she living with him? How come he didn’t deal with her apartment?”

“Because he believed the bullshit lies that Billy spun,” Maggie told him. “Slade thinks that she betrayed him when Billy used plans stolen from the planning and construction firm that he co-owns with his friends to get a bid they wanted.”

Fury filled Ian.

“Holy. Fuck.” Jack turned to look at her.

“They used to be close. We would come to this club all the time. Before Billy. Then, after him, she moved to Birmingham and she started cutting ties with me. I went up one day and I could see the bruises. I begged her to leave him, but she wouldn’t. Not until she accidentally became pregnant. She tried to go to Slade for help. He and his friends are wealthy and powerful. But Billy had already gotten to him and turned him against Indie and me. I wondered why Slade had stopped answering my messages. Why he let her pull away. She didn’t even know that he was upset with her. Indie thought she was protecting Slade by putting distance between them, when Billy had poisoned his mind against her.”

“Oh, I’m going to tell that motherfucker a few truths.” Jack cracked his knuckles.

“No, I am. He always comes into the club early. About this time.” Maggie glanced at her watch. “Let’s go.” She hit the doorbell.

It was a long wait until the intercom buzzed on. “What are you doing here, Maggie?”

“I’m here to talk to you.”

“We have nothing to discuss. And who are those men with you?” the man replied in a low voice.

Ian tucked his girl under his arm. He didn’t like the threatening note in the other man’s voice.

“They’re my men. And I’m here to discuss Indie.”

“Indie is dead to me.”

“Wow, what a great guy,” Jack said sarcastically. “Takes an abusive asshole’s word over his own sister. Well done.”

“Indie is in the hospital. I thought you might want to hear why. I guess not.” She turned away. Ian moved with her. But they paused as they heard the sound of the door unlocking.

“Fancy bastard can unlock a door from afar,” Jack said as he pushed his way in. She and Ian went next. Jameson brought up the rear. “Ooh-la-la. Color me impressed. This place is fancy.”

“Jack, are you all right?” Maggie asked.

“Sure am. I’m just in the mood to kill.”

“I’ll have to ask that no one spills blood while they’re here,” a dark voice replied.

Maggie looked over to see Quaid Ashworth watching them. A shiver ran through her. Quaid was one of Slade’s best friends and his partner in several businesses. And he was a Dom.

He was slightly terrifying. Okay, very terrifying.

She’d never played with him. He was too intense for her.

Yeah . . . and what do you call Jameson?

“Quaid,” she said quietly.

“Maggie, I hope you have a good reason for being here. You know that Indie is a sore spot for him.”

“I also know that he abandoned his sister when she needed him the most.”

Quaid reared back. “Is that so? You better come with me.”

Ian still held her against his chest as Jack followed Quaid first.

“So, how do you get to be an owner of a kink club?” Jack asked. “Do you have to be a total sexual deviant or is it just a cash flow thing? Because I have the deviant part down.”

Good Lord.

They walked into a large office with a leather sofa against one wall and a big wooden desk straight ahead. Slade was sitting behind the desk, and Rock Holden stood to his left. She didn’t know if that was a nickname, but if it was, it suited him well. The man was built like a linebacker and showed minimal reaction to anything.

To Slade’s right was Spencer Hensley. Spencer was actually the nicest of them all. Or that’s how he came across. Indie had always warned her that looks could be deceiving.

“Maggie, I let you in,” Slade said. “I’d appreciate it if you could be brief so we could get on with our day.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. This prick. “So you don’t care at all that Indie is in hospital?”

There was a tick by his eye. Oh, he cared.

“She never stole those plans, Slade. When would she have had a chance?”

“There was camera footage of her going into our apartment. And she had the code and keys.”

“Right, because footage can’t be faked,” she scoffed. “You know what? Indie was right to tell me not to come. You’re not going to believe what I have to tell you.”

Quaid made a scoffing noise. “You’re not going to leave without telling us.”

She met his gaze before Ian stepped between them. “You’ll watch your tone with my girl.”

“So the tabloids were right when they said you’d hooked up with two men. Or is it three?” Slade asked.

“It’s three. And you’re not one to judge. Indie told me that your friends like to share.”

Slade narrowed his gaze at her.

“She’s in the hospital because Billy found the apartment I’d rented for us. I thought I had hidden her well, but it turns out . . . I didn’t.”

“It wasn’t your fault, precious girl,” Jameson told her. He stepped forward to place his hand on her shoulder. “You did the best you could. Her brother should have been helping her.”

Slade glared at Jameson. Then at her. “What do you mean she’s in hospital because Billy found her?”

“He beat her up. And not for the first time.”

Slade grew pale.

“She went to your apartment that day to tell you. Billy followed her, but he had the footage doctored to remove him. He took her home and beat her. Warned her away from going near you again. Oh, and he stole your precious plans at the same time.”

“He what?” Rock said in a low roar that shocked her. He stepped forward and Jack stepped back in front of her. “Tell me.”

She breathed in slowly, trying to calm herself.

“My girlfriend has recently been kidnapped,” Jack said. “She was terrorised, hurt. Then she gets home only to find her best friend beaten and in the hospital. So you will refrain from yelling at her or I will end you, understand me?”

“Like to see you try,” Quaid replied.

“That’s it. We’re leaving,” Ian barked.

“No,” Rock said. “Tell us about Indie.”

She pushed at Jack, but he didn’t move and she had to peer around him.

“He beat her. Wrecked our apartment. She has nothing now. I’ve been saving so she . . . so she can take time off after the baby is born. But now we’ll either have to use that to get a new apartment or move to Escana.”

“Baby?” Slade’s voice was raw. His face was filled with pain and it made her soften.

“Yeah. Baby. She’s pregnant.”

“Bloody hell!” He stood, running his fingers through his hair. “He beat her while she’s pregnant with his kid?”

“Yes.”

“I think it’s time we left, Little girl,” Ian said, taking hold of her hand as Slade let out a pain-filled yell.

“I’ll let you out.” Quaid led the way, stopping at the door as they walked out. “Is she . . . is she okay?”

“No,” she said in a tight voice. “She’s really not.”

They stepped outside and she took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself.

“Come on, Little girl. Let’s go.” Ian pulled her up into his arms.

“Could we go to the hotel, watch a film and forget today happened?” she asked.

“Anything you want, precious girl,” Jameson told her.

“Just let me know if you want me to mess up their lives. I can make them all miserable,” Jack told her.

“Let’s just see what their next move is first. If they’re still being wankers, then you can make them miserable.”

“Goody.” Jack grinned.