Page 92 of Wickedly Played

“What, sweetness?”

I curl into a ball on his lap. I soak up his warmth as I’m suddenly shivering. The events of the day are crashing down on me. “I just want my life back.”

He murmurs into my hair. “Your life will never be the same. I hope you know that.”

I nodded against his pec.

“It is your choice,” Franky states.

“This is bull shit,” my father exclaims.

Franky holds out his phone to press a button. “My offer expires in two minutes. In two minutes, McGuires will no longer be a name. You will just be a distant memory. People will talk about you like they would an old relative.”

Max’s hold on me is tight. “I will make it all go away, sweetness. I promise.”

Joey is quiet off to the side. I can see he’s low on the pecking order. What does that make Max?

Armando and his buddy stand up with their hands reaching into their pants. I can tell they are ready for whatever is about to come. Lorcan’s men do the same with their own hands. I flinch out of instinct as I wait for the inevitable.

Lorcan McGuire never backs down without a fight.

“One more minute,” Franky warns.

“Fine! You win. Ceasefire,” my dad says.

Max stands up with me in his arms. “Don’t come near my woman again. If I see you near her, I’ll kill you. Do you understand me?”

I look over his shoulder to see my father’s beet-red face. He sputters for a second before nodding. In the end, he never cared enough about me to fight for me. I was never anything more than a bargaining chip. This proves my worth even more.

“Lorcan.” I clear my throat. “My name is no longer Serena McGuire. I am Serena Jermaine. You only have one daughter, and her name is Amanda. Leave me alone.”

“Serena,” he begins.

“Put me down,” I wiggle.

Max sets me on my feet, and I walk over to Lorcan with my finger raised. My chin is raised in the air, and Detroit’s most powerful men surround me. I know they could wipe me out in a matter of seconds, but I have to say what I have to say.

“My whole life, I did what you wanted. You have caused me nothing but pain. I’m sorry, I was born as a McGuire. I will never wish that upon anyone. I’m sorry you didn’t have a son. You will never know the amount of pain you have given me,” I seethe.

I turn back to Max. He throws his arm around me to lead me away. His fingers dance on my arm as I hear footsteps trail behind us. I don’t bother to look behind me. What Max’s men do to Lorcan is whatever they want to do to him.

All I know is… Max is in the mafia. A rival to my father. He had a vendetta against my father. Somehow got involved with me. I somehow fell for him. His ex died. My ex was killed in front of me.

And now everything is turned upside down again, all because of the mafia.

I am back where I never wanted to be.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

MAX

Serena is bundled in my arms in the back of the SUV, wrapped in a blanket. Her body is shaking from the silent sobs wracking through her body, but there is nothing I can do to stop them. I can’t stop the pain from coming over her. I can’t take away the hurt my brother caused her.

I can’t go back and stop my brother from killing my ex.

I wish I could kill him again. This time, I would have made it hurt worse.

Holding her tighter to me, Franky asks where I want to go. “Where do you want to go, baby?”