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“We should get going. I really want to make that pie,” Gracie says, shuffling out of my arms and giving the old woman a hug goodbye.
“Thanks again, your invitation will be in the mail,” Gracie calls out of the window as we drive away.
“I can’t wait,” Mrs. Deferman shouts back, waving us off.
“I think you enjoyed that.” Gracie turns her head to me and lets out the most irresistible giggle. She must have forgotten how mad she is at me. I reach under the seat and pull out the briefcase, dumping it on her lap.
“All for the cause, darlin’,” I tell her.
“You were impressed. Admit it… come on,” she goads me playfully.
“Alright, yeah I was impressed,” I give in and smirk back at her.
“Guess you can go back to hating me now.” Her smile fades and her tone turns sad. And I have to force myself to look away from her, the girl makes me fuckin’ hurt.
We arrive back at the club just after dark. Of course, along the way I took a sneaky look inside the briefcase. Like Mom’s, it contains a badge and information about the special task force. But we really hit the jackpot with the laptop. If Maddy is as good as everyone says she is, we could really be on to something.
I let out a long yawn as we step up onto Maddy’s porch.
“You're tired,” Brax tells me, stepping up behind me.
“Acting is exhausting work.” I smile back. I’m far too tired to be mad at him right now.
“Hey guys,” Maddy opens the door enthusiastically. Brax called her from the truck to tell her we had a laptop, “I believe you have something for me?” she holds out her hands.
“Here’s everything,” I hand over the briefcase. “I really hope you find something.” I smile back at her.
“That’s my cue to get out of here.” Jessie kisses her cheek as he passes her through the door. “I’m headin' down the club, you comin’, Brax?”
“Be down in a minute,” Brax answers, patting Jessie on his back.
“I made up the spare cabin. It’s next door to Grimm’s so it’ll be quiet,” Maddy tells me, about to hand over a key.
“Tha—”
“She’s staying with me,” Brax cuts me off, and when I look at Maddy, she looks every bit as shocked as I am. And if Brax notices it too, he chooses to ignore it, turning around and marching on to the porch next door and letting himself and Duke inside.
“Someone did that exact same thing to me once,” Maddy laughs.
“And…” I bite my lip.
“Well, I’m still here,” she shrugs her shoulders.
“Outta choice or ‘cause you have to be?” I ask, knowing now that she isn’t safe outside the compound because of the Bastards.
“This place is my home, no matter what goes on out there,” she tells me proudly. “Brax is tough to crack, they all are, But I’ll bet that just like Jessie, he’d be worth it.”
“He doesn’t see me the way Jessie sees you,” I tell her. Thinking back to being at Mrs. Deferman’s, and how much I’d enjoyed Brax touching me so affectionately. It was all fake. For the cause, like he said.
“We’ll see.” Maddy smiles. “I’ll give you an update on what I find in the morning,” she promises, before heading back inside.
Nervously, I make my way next door. Part of me wondering if I should go back and get that key to the spare cabin, but the other part of me is relieved that Brax demanded I stay with him. The same pathetic part of me that’s an absolute sucker for his bad attitude and sultry face.
I let myself into his cabin, finding Brax sitting at the table, slowly turning a bottle of scotch in his hands. He doesn’t look up at me, just keeps his focus on the bottle.
“Brax, I—”
“You can sleep in there, I’ll take the couch,” he interrupts, before I can suggest that I take the other cabin.
