Page 47 of Alec’s Dream

“How much does Doug owe Josh?” he asked.

“Twenty-K,” Jonny answered.

“Fuck,” Alec snarled. “And the motherfucker thought since Doug had bailed, he’d come and take his payment out on Macy.”

It wasn’t a question, Alec knew that was what had happened. Macy was unprotected, vulnerable, and Josh Malone knew it. What Josh failed to realize was Doug Spencer didn’t give the first fuck about his ex-wife or his children. Therefore the beatdown Josh had meted out wouldn’t bring Doug running back to save his family. If anything, it would send the pussy further underground.

“Where’s Josh now?” Alec asked barely containing his rage.

“Got deputies and State Troopers out looking.” Jonny paused and gave Alec an appraising onceover. “You gonna hold your shit together or do I need to have Nixon lock you down?”

As if Nixon could lock him down.

“You try that, we’re gonna have problems.”

“You go ballistic and rip this town apart looking for Malone you’re gonna have problems. And those problems might be ones I can’t dig you out of. Something else for you to keep in mind, you care for Macy the way I think you do, you don’t want her seeing a side of you she can’t unsee. She lived with an abusive—”

“Come again?” Alec growled, his temper at an all-time high. “You comparing me to that motherfucker?”

“Christ, brother, cool your tits and listen.” Jonny stepped closer. “She lived with a man who lost his shit regularly and when he did, it spilled out and coated them all. I know her, Alec. I also know you. I know you will not hesitate to dole out the wrath of God in protection of those you care about. But you need to think about if Macy can live with that.”

“She knows I would never hurt her.”

“Does she?” Jonny held up his hand, stopping Alec’s retort. “All I’m saying is, if you want a shot at Macy, you need to concentrate on her and leave Josh to me.”

“I can do both,” Alec argued.

“Maybe. Or maybe you should let me handle the manhunt and you worry about figuring out a way to get close to Macy. And while you’re doing that, you can keep her and my niece and nephew safe.”

“She’s gonna fight me, Jonny.”

“Yep.”

“Saturday she asked me to back off. The way she asked, what she said, made me think I was doing the right thing letting her go.”

“Then I’ll get someone to sit on her house.” Jonny’s disappointment in Alec couldn’t be missed.

“What I’m telling you is, she’s not gonna be happy I’m pushing my way in. Which I’m gonna do, but it’s gonna take time. As much as I want to demand she pack a bag and come move in with me until this is over, I can’t. I have to think about Caleb and Aurora. Jocelyn, too. There are five of us involved—three of whom need to be handled with care. Rory is already freaking out about her mom getting hurt. Caleb is at an age where he understands what his father has said and done to his mother, and I’d gather he’s got some anger over it. I can’t come in making demands. It would scare Rory more and would strip Caleb of even more control.”

“What do you need from me?” Jonny asked nodding his agreement.

“I need someone sitting outside her house. I can take some shifts, but with Joss, I can’t be out there twenty-four-seven. The guys will all fill in where they can, too. But mostly, I need you to let me make the plays I think are right, even if Macy’s throwing a shit fit. She’s gonna throw down, Jonny. She may seem like a pushover to some the way she took Doug’s shit for so many years but under all that kindness is attitude and fierceness. She’s gonna lock me out and you know it.”

“She’s worth it, you know.”

“I think she is. I think that once I claw through all the walls she’s built and she learns she can trust me, all her beauty will shine bright. But Jonny, your brother did her dirty. And I’m not saying that to be a dick. I’m saying it so you’ll know that straight out she told me she was scared of me. Afraid she’d fall and I wouldn’t catch her. She knows the town thinks she’s a fool. She knows her kids have been affected by Doug’s bullshit and she is in mama bear mode. No one is getting close to her and those kids.”

“Just keep pushing, Alec. You’re right—when you get to the heart of her, all that beauty will not only shine, it will be blinding. Macy Hartley is bold and headstrong, so damn pretty I never understood how Doug caught her eye. When you find her again, you’re golden.”

“That woman may not be in there anymore,” Alec warned.

“She is. Every now and again I catch a glimpse. Heal her, brother.”

Alec stood in front of his friend and hoped to God he had it in him to do just that.

Heal—not fix. Macy wasn’t a mirror that needed to be glued back together.

Macy came back in the room. Rory clung to her mom like a monkey wearing pajamas. Alec would’ve enjoyed taking in the sight had he not been so pissed Josh Malone had hurt her.