Road to Peace (16 page)

Maisie

M
ONDAY MORNING, HATCH arrived with breakfast and his nephew, Devon. Introductions were made and I thought Poppy’s head might explode. My confident (with kids her own age), chatty, beautiful young daughter suddenly went all giggly and tongue tied around the boy. Granted, he looked like Zac Ephron’s younger brother, but still, Poppy wasn’t typically the boy-crazy type. My stomach churned. This was her growing up even faster. Gah!

“Cade’s on a job,” Hatch explained as he made me a cup of coffee and cheesed me up a bagel. “So, I’ll drop Poppy at school, take Dev to his appointment, then to school, and grab lunch. Does that work?”

“Yes, that’s fine, love,” I said, and sat at my kitchen island. “But I could have figured something else out for Poppy this morning. You don’t need to stretch yourself so thin.”

Hatch stood in front of me and kissed me gently. “It’s all good, Sunshine.”

“I have something for you.”

“Yeah?” His face showed excitement.

“Nothing fun, I’m afraid. Just practical.”

“Practical’s good.”

I nodded toward the small desk by the window. “There’s a spare set of keys and I got you a code to the garage, so that you have your own entry. You can park in my space until I get a new car and then you can park in my guest space. You also don’t have to check in at the front desk anymore.”

“You sure about this?”

I smiled. “Very sure. I trust you.”

He stroked my cheek and nodded. “Okay, baby.”

“Okay.”

He grinned, leaning down to kiss me again. “Now, eat your breakfast. I’ll text you when I drop Dev off… decide what you want for lunch.”

“Thanks, darling.”

“Like that, Maisie.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Connor.”

He kissed me once more, then gathered up the kids and headed out. I finished my breakfast and took pain meds before settling in for a quiet morning of catching up on a few business emails.

An hour into my uneventful work time, my doorbell rang. Since the doorman hadn’t called up, I assumed Hatch had forgotten he had a key and pulled open the door. Ryan stood in the doorway, looking haggard. He had bags under his eyes and a few days’ stubble over his cheeks.

I pulled him in for a hug, holding him tight. “How are you?”

“Not good.”

“How’s Alison?”

“She’s really bad, Maisie. Doctors aren’t hopeful. I’ll give you the full rundown on what they’ve said, but can we go somewhere? Grab a coffee, maybe? I feel like I’m running on fumes.”

My heart went out to him, but his request made me a little sick to my stomach. “Honey, I’m sorry, but Hatch is going to freak out if I go somewhere with you, and he really doesn’t want you here with me alone.”

His eyes narrowed with hurt. “Alone with me? Maisie, you’ve been alone with me a million times and I’ve never—”

“Neither did Alison,” I pointed out.

His jaw snapped shut. He rubbed the back of his neck. “I get it. I thought after all we’ve been through… after how much we helped you after you lost Niall... ” He stepped back into the hall, shaking his head. “You know what, never mind.”

I felt like crap. He was right. He and Alison had done so much for me, and it wasn’t like Ryan had a drinking problem. After everything he’d learned over the past couple of days, he had to be devastated. And I couldn’t even offer him a shoulder to cry on. “Ryan, wait. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine, Maisie. I’ll call you in a few days.”

He took off and I watched him leave, replaying the conversation in my head and wondering how I could have handled it differently. Ryan was my friend, too, and I should be there for him. But I felt so betrayed and leery after Alison’s attack, I knew Hatch was right and I couldn’t trust either of them.

Ryan disappeared around the corner and I closed the door and secured the deadbolts. It took several tries because I was shaking so bad, and my left hand kept slipping off the locks. My phone buzzed on the coffee table, but I didn’t get to it in time. Picking it up, I saw a missed call from Hatch, but I needed a minute to calm down, so I waited to call him back. Unfortunately, he called again… this time I ignored it. We played the game again, and I answered figuring he wasn’t going to stop.

“What’s wrong?” he growled.

“Ryan was here.”

“Don’t move.”

He hung up and I dropped my phone on the sofa. I was still shaking, but I couldn’t seem to make myself move from my spot on the area rug. The locks turned and Hatch walked inside and pulled me gently into his arms. “Tell me everything.”

I filled him in and he nodded, but didn’t say anything as he walked me to Niall’s chair, guiding me into it. I pulled my knees up to my chin and sighed. “He’s hurting, love.”

“I don’t give one fuck, Maisie.” Hatch shook his head. “He doesn’t come here guilt tripping you like that. You didn’t do anything wrong. His wife tried to kill you! How does he expect you to react?”

“I hear you, but it wasn’t Ryan who tried to kill me,” I countered. “They were there for me when I needed them. I feel like I should be doing something for them.”

Hatch scowled. “I know you think you know Ryan, Maisie, but I’ve seen men do a lot of stupid shit for their women. This one has a badge and you don’t know what he’s capable of.”

“Hatch—”

“Stop fuckin’ minimizin’ this!” he bellowed.

“Stop yelling at me!” I returned.

He dragged his hands down his face and studied me for a few tense seconds. “I’m gonna make some calls, Sunshine. You need anything?”

“I’m due for some meds,” I said, my tone clipped.

“I’ll grab ’em.” Hatch pulled his phone out of his pocket as he headed to the kitchen, putting the phone to his ear. “Jax, Hatch. Ryan Lundy showed up at Maisie’s place. Shut him the fuck down, man, or the Dogs will. I don’t give a flyin’ fuck why, just take care of it. This is your courtesy call. You won’t get another one.” He sighed. “Yeah. ’Bye.” Hatch brought me water and a dose of pills which I readily took. “What do you want for lunch?”

“Whatever.”

He gripped each arm of the chair and leaned down. “Baby.”

“What?”

“Look at me.”

I met his eyes and all my anger left me. I could see his hurt and fear, and knew he was worried. “When I heard you scream and saw the psychopath…,” he shook his head, “… then, I couldn’t get to you fast enough—”

“I know, love. I’m sorry.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and let him lift me out of the chair.

Hatch buried his face in my neck. “I get that you have history with these people, but I don’t, and I’ll be damned if I’m gonna let one of them fuckin’ hurt you again, you hear me?”

“Okay, love. I can give you that for a little while.”

He kissed me and I couldn’t help but whimper with need. God, I felt like I was drowning and he was my breath. He’d been sleeping on the sofa because of my injuries, and well, let’s be honest; we weren’t quite at the sleeping together stage of our relationship, especially because of Poppy. He could have slept in the spare bedroom, but Hatch said he wanted to be between me and the front door.

He broke the frantic kiss and settle his lips gently on my forehead. “If I’m not with you, one of my guys is.”

“No.”

“Not up for discussion.”

“Connor, I really like my privacy. I’m the classic definition of an introvert,” I argued. “I don’t like people I don’t know in my space. I’m weird like that.”

“Cricket, then.” He cocked his head. “She knows how to check a fuckin’ peephole before openin’ a door.”

“I thought you’d forgotten I gave you keys,” I defended, tugging gently on his beard.

He raised an eyebrow.

“
Fine
. I can handle Cricket,” I conceded, dropping my hand. “Does this mean you’re okay with me offering her a job?”

“You think she’s a right fit?”

“If her résumé came across my desk randomly, I would put it in the ‘yes’ pile.”

“Then, yeah, let’s see how it works.”

“Oh, can we, gentle, wise, and benevolent one?” I replied, cheekily.

“Can’t wait to kiss the sass right off that mouth, Sunshine.”

“Something to look forward to.”

He closed his eyes briefly and whispered, “Fuck me.”

“Mmm, something else to look forward to.”

“Holy shit, Maisie.”

“I can’t believe I just said that,” I whispered, my face heating.

“Me neither, baby.” He kissed me. “I like it, even if it makes me crazy. But know that it’s gonna happen soon and when it does, it’s gonna be good.”

I shivered. “Promise?”

“Yeah, baby, I promise.”

“I can’t wait.”

And I meant it. I really
couldn’t
wait.

Hatch put his phone to his ear again and walked back to the kitchen as I sat back down in the chair. “Flea, need someone on my woman’s kid’s school. You on mornings, Buzz on afternoons. Yeah. Need you to meet her first, yeah?”

“Hatch,” I called.

“Yeah, good, okay. Talk to you soon.” He hung up and faced me. “Yeah, babe.”

“My twelve-year-old’s not getting in a car with a man alone, unless it’s you, and there’s no way in hell she’s getting on the back of a bike with any man, ever, so this idea you have of—”

“Maisie, hush.” He raised his hand, cutting me off.

“Well, you’ve got a bloody cheek!”

Hatch chuckled. “Babe, simmer down. I just want one of my guys on her while she’s headin’ inside and when she’s headin’ out. I want them to meet her so she knows who’s watchin’ her and havin’ men outside her school doesn’t freak her out. Once you start takin’ her again, they’ll be watchin’ you too.”

“Oh.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You good?”

“I’m not sure yet.”

He grinned. “How about I get some food in ya and you can decide then?”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. “That’d be good.”

“Someone’s hangry.”

“You should probably feed me, then.”

He leaned down and gripped the arms of my chair, getting close enough to kiss me gently. “Want you both safe, Sunshine. You’re mine, which means, you’ve got the protection of my brothers… blood and patch. It’s time you start meetin’ them so you know who you can trust. They’ll have your back.”

“I never expected that I’d be in a situation where I might need someone to have my back.”

“I’m pickin’ up on that, baby.” He gave me a gentle smile. “Got your back on that as well.”

The house phone rang and I sighed. I kind of wanted more kissing time, but since it was probably the lobby, I figured I should answer it. “Maisie Mann.”

“Mrs. Mann, I have a Beckett Wickham here. He seems quite agitated.”

I frowned. “Ah, that’s my brother. You can let him up, Tom. Thank you.” I hung up and pushed myself out of the chair.

Hatch slid an arm around my waist. “What are you doin’?”

“My brother appears to have flown all the way here from London unannounced. Apparently, someone’s told him what happened and I’d like to be standing when he lowers the hammer.”

“You really think he’s gonna fuckin’ lower the hammer?”

“I was hurt a week ago, love, and I didn’t ring to tell him.”

“Babe,” he admonished. “Why not?”

“Because then he’d tell Mum and Dad… he’s probably already told Kenna, and they’d all come, and I’m in too much pain to deal with them. Mum and Dad are in their seventies, Hatch. Them seeing me bruised up like this would be too much for them. I was planning on ringing this week. I just needed a minute. My family can be overwhelming. They’re lovely, don’t get me wrong, but they’re a lot to take in sometimes. They weren’t happy Niall took me away and it doesn’t matter how old I get, they remind me constantly of the heartbreak I’ve caused.”

Hatch kissed my temple. “Okay, baby. I’ll stick around, but you really gotta eat.”

“I can stand on my own.”

“Not takin’ that chance, Maisie. You just took Oxy.”

“I won’t feel it if I pass out, then,” I retorted.

“Sit down,” he ordered. “I’ll deal with your brother. What’s his name?”

“Beckett,” I said, as I lowered myself back into the chair.

“Of course it is,” Hatch grumbled, and headed out of the room and toward the door just as the bell sounded.

“Hey, Beckett, come on in,” Hatch said.

I held my breath a little as I listened in. I wished I could see my brother’s face.

“Who the hell are you?” Beckett demanded, his voice extra British. I could imagine his chin going up and him straightening to his six-foot-two height. My brother might be as straight-laced as they came, but he was handsome and an imposing figure when he wanted to me.

“I’m Maisie’s man, Hatch.”

“Excuse me?”

“Maisie’s in the other room. You wanna come in? Maybe set your bag inside?”

Bloody hell, Beckett brought a bag. That meant he planned on staying with me and Poppy. Shit.

“Where’s my sister?”

“Like I said, she’s in the other room,” Hatch repeated.

I smiled. Hatch was being extraordinarily patient with Beckett, but I wondered how long that would last. I should call out. I really should, but honestly, the evil part of me was enjoying this. It served Beckett right for showing up unannounced to “handle” his big sister.

“Yes, I heard you,” Beckett continued. “What I don’t understand is why you’re here answering the door, not her.”

“She just took some meds, so I told her to stay off her feet.”

“Margaret Gretchen Wickham Mann!” Beckett bellowed.

Bloody hell! He’s using my full name, this isn’t good.

“Oh, stop your belly aching, Becks,” I snapped. “You know where ‘the other room’ is, just come in already!”

A minute or so later, my brother stalked into the room, his face softening when he saw me. My irritation left my body as he rushed to my side and hugged me gently. “Why didn’t you ring me, sausage?”

“It’s only been a week, Becks. Everything happened so fast and we’ve been dealing with so much, I didn’t want to drag you into the drama.” I frowned. “Please tell me you didn’t tell Mum and Dad.”

“No, I didn’t tell Mum and Dad, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to,” he warned.

“Kenna?”

“I told Kenna. She said you suck and as soon as she sees you, she’s going to give you a hiding the likes of which you’ve never seen. Now, fill me in.”