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“They’re not good people. They’re criminals. I ran away from that life. From them. I don’t want to be like them.”
“Fuck,” Maxim muttered. “If this is your way of saying you want to step away from me because we’re like them—”
“What? No. No.” She sat up and shook her head, looking right at him. “It’s not. Really. If one of my brothers got injured, my dad and my other brother wouldn’t care unless it impacted them. Oh, they might go searching for revenge, but only because it meant they got to be violent. They love being violent.”
“They hurt you?” he growled.
“Mostly with their words. But sometimes . . . yeah. I tried to stay quiet and hidden. If they didn’t notice me, then they couldn’t go off at me. But there were times I’d do something that would draw their attention. I didn’t have anywhere to hide.” She looked around at them all. “I’m not going to tie myself to that again.”
“And you won’t be,” Maxim said. “Malone men take care of their women. They put them up on pedestals. Protect them. And they don’t let shit touch them. Ever.”
“Yeah, I’ve got that. Loud and clear.” She cupped his face with her hand. “I know you’re not like them. The way you talk about your sister . . . I know you’re not. I wouldn’t love you if you were.”
Relief filled his face and that floored her. That he cared so much.
For her.
“But Malone men need to understand that their women aren’t helpless and that they might want to help. Especially if they’ve been working for a criminal without knowing it. Maybe helping that criminal without knowing it. And especially if that person they work for sent men to beat up their man.”
“Still not happening.”
“I’ll be perfectly safe,” she argued. “I could even tell Gretchen, his daughter, that we hooked up, but that you broke things off or that it was only sex. I could make it sound like I hate you. That would cover my butt if someone has seen me with you, right?”
All three men were shaking their heads.
“Think about it. I’ll lay the groundwork. I could call her tonight. Tell her that I slept with you, that I thought you were the one, but you blew me off. Then I’ll ask her if she thinks her dad will give me tomorrow off because I’m a mess. That will mean my feet will have time to heal, so I’m not limping when I go back. Then I can have a sneak around. See what I can learn.” She thought that was a great plan.
“Nice thought. Not happening.” Maxim gave her a stubborn look.
Grr. He was so irritating.
“You’ll call in the morning, and tell them you’re not coming in ever again,” Maxim dictated.
“I’m not just quitting. I have bills to pay.”
“No, you don’t, because I’m covering you.”
Oh, she so didn’t think so.
Regent cleared his throat and stood. “I think it’s time for us to go. I need to go find a new doctor. As soon as possible.” Regent eyed him. “Rest. Both of you. It’s close to dinnertime. I’ll have Gerald bring up some food soon.”
“Appreciate it,” Maxim told them.
She gave them both a small smile. Then she waited until they were gone to turn to look at Maxim.
She took in his tired face. He looked done in. Pale, with dark marks under his eyes.
“You need to sleep.” And he didn’t need to be arguing with her.
“I need to take care of you.”
“You always take care of me.” Leaning in, she kissed him lightly. “Always. Now, let me take care of you.” She attempted to move from the bed, but he grabbed her thigh.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“I was going to let you sleep.”
“I’ll sleep better with you next to me.”
“Okay, honey. Then I guess I’m sleeping next to you.” She snuggled in next to him.
“You aren’t doing this, baby,” he murmured.
Yeah. They’d see.
It took less than five minutes for him to fall asleep. It took her another ten minutes to slowly and carefully get herself out of his hold. She moved to the bathroom first because she really had to pee.
Adult diapers.
Ha! The guy was insane.
After she had taken care of business, she grabbed her phone, chewing her lip.
Did she want to do this? It wouldn’t be right to lie to Gretchen, would it?
But had Gretchen been lying to her this whole time? Deceiving her?
Gretchen wasn’t always that nice. And there were times she got the feeling that she was using her. Like all the times she asked her to help with work that Gretchen should be doing herself, not Aston. Work she’d often had to stay late to complete.
So yeah, maybe Gretchen wasn’t that nice.
Letting out a deep breath, she sent her a text.
Aston: Hey, I have to take tomorrow off. I’m not feeling great.
