Redemption (Broken Hounds MC Book 3) Read online

  Jeremy shuddered and made a face, pushing himself off the bike.

  “This is my sister we’re talking about, Jace. Don’t say something like that, please.” He glanced towards the door, the shadow of one of the enforcers just inside. “I’ll talk to her, if you like.”

  But Jace shook his head. If Maddie wouldn’t listen to him, chances were she wouldn’t listen to her brother.

  “No, I’ll handle it. This is my doing.” He swallowed. “But…”

  “But what?”

  Jace realized what he was doing and scowled, turning away. This felt like one of those confession moments he was forced to watch in soap operas whenever he was chatting up a woman.

  “I shouldn’t say this, Jeremy. Not to you.”

  “Tough, you started it. You’ll now finish.” Jeremy folded his arms. “What’s going on?”

  Here it came. The one thing Jace didn’t think he would ever say. It all came out in a rush.

  “I’m in love with your sister. I fell for her months ago. That’s more frightening than I care to admit.” He snorted. “More than admitting my feelings to another guy.”

  Jeremy raised his eyebrows.

  “You’ve never been in love before?”

  “No, never. I make sure I don’t fall for anyone and I don’t hang around enough for anyone to fall for me.”

  “Apart from that woman who keeps calling you up?” Jeremy’s eyes narrowed. “She managed to get our clubhouse number and keeps calling us. Know anything about that?”

  Kelsey. Jace hadn’t thought about her for a long time.

  “Kelsey’s one of those women who thought she could change me. She’s not stable.”

  “I figured that much out.”

  “I’ve blocked her number, which is why she keeps calling you.” Jace rubbed at his eyes. “If you know a good lawyer, I can send a cease and desist. I made a mistake sleeping with her and I have no intention of going back.”

  “I’ll talk to my friend about it. He should be able to do it pro bono for you.” Jeremy was still frowning. “And it’s a good thing she’s not part of your life. Because if she goes near Maddie she’s going to get into trouble. It’s just a question of who will harm the woman first. Me or Maddie.”

  “Or me,” Jace added. He kicked at the wall. Even after being in the bracing air for half an hour, he was still riled up. “I’ve gone against my principles and fallen for someone. And now I wish I hadn’t. Because it’s leaving a mess around me and I don’t do mess.”

  “Well, you do now,” Jeremy said firmly. “And you do with Maddie.” He tapped Jace’s shoulder a little harder than he should have. “Don’t forget, if you leave, you won’t be able to hide from me.”

  Jace knew he wasn’t issuing an empty threat. Jeremy meant every word. The man was very protective of his sister and would do anything to make sure she wasn’t hurt. Jace understood that and would put himself in the same position himself if he’d had a little sister. Jeremy would hunt him down and either force him to pay child support or kill him for refusing to.

  Neither was very promising. Jace preferred to stay where he was and make sure the baby knew what he looked like. Even so, he narrowed his eyes at Jeremy in a challenge.

  “I’ve done it for ten years. I think I can handle it a little longer.”

  “Not with me coming after you.” Jeremy gave him a pointed look and walked towards the clubhouse. “You’ve got a duty now, Jace, whether you like it or not.” He stopped in the doorway and glared at Jace. “Deal with it or I’ll deal with you.”

  Jace didn’t doubt that. While he wasn’t scared of Jeremy, the thought of being cut off from Maddie and their child terrified him.

  However, dealing with a powder keg was still preferable to dealing with Maddie and her hormones going all over the place.

  Chapter Six

  Maddie wanted to go out. She had been stuck inside for two days now since the hospital. Jeremy had ordered her to stay put, that she wasn’t to go anywhere at all. The news that she had been bleeding scared her brother and he didn’t want her going anywhere.

  Maddie understood that he was scared for her, but she could take care of herself. It had been very scary for her. However, Maddie wasn’t about to be treated like kid gloves.

  Much like Jace was doing. After the last time they had sex, he had moved his things into another room, not even looking at her when he moved. Maddie had been very surprised; she hadn’t been expecting that at all. What was going on? Jace had told her he was giving her some space, so he didn’t hurt her whilst they slept, but Maddie was sure it was because he didn’t want to be anywhere near her. He was just trying to be nice about letting her down.

  That hurt. A lot. The first night Maddie had lain in bed, unable to sleep. She wanted Jace beside her and knowing he was next door had been painful. She just wanted him back. She needed him back.

  The second night, Maddie had managed to sneak into Jace’s room and get into bed. Jace was still awake and saw her coming in. But he didn’t say anything. Instead he let her join him with a kiss to the forehead, holding her close until she fell asleep. They didn’t make love, but that closeness felt more intimate than anything Maddie had experienced with Jace. She had practically clung to him, hoping that it wouldn’t end.

  But it had to end and, when she woke the next morning, Jace had gone. Maddie knew he had to work but she didn’t like it. She just wanted Jace with her. However, Jeremy would be unhappy that she was monopolizing the time of someone who worked for him. Maddie didn’t want to deal with Jeremy’s annoyance.

  Going back to her room for a shower and a change of clothes, Maddie made her way downstairs. It was quiet – at that time of day, everyone was working or sleeping in – but Beth was there, talking to Jimmy behind the bar. Maddie had texted her some time before, asking to meet for lunch. She knew Beth had work, so to see her now, when she was meant to be at the surgery, was a surprise.

  Beth saw her and flashed her a huge grin, sauntering towards her in a stunning green pant suit.

  “Hey, gorgeous.”

  “Hey.” Maddie accepted the hug willingly. “I’m really glad to see you.”

  “Same here.” Beth drew back and tweaked Maddie’s nose. “You’re looking tired. I bet you’re not sleeping.”

  “A little difficult when I keep running to the bathroom.”

  The nausea was subsiding a little but not much. Maddie was tempted to set up camp in the bathroom so all she would have to do was roll over and puke into the toilet bowl. But it wasn’t very comfortable to sleep in.

  “Maddie?”

  Maddie looked around. Schuman was coming from the back office, frowning at her.

  “What are you doing down here? I thought you were res…” Then he saw Beth and stopped, his cheeks going red. “Oh, hey, Beth.”

  “Hey, Dave,” Beth purred, giving him a wink as she strolled over and kissed his cheek. “You’re looking yummy as always.”

  Maddie bit back a smile as Schuman blushed even more. He had had a crush on Beth for as long as Maddie could remember and, from what she could tell, it was mutual. Beth was just better at playing it off as a simple flirtation. She wondered if Beth and Schuman realized their feelings for each other.

  “Right back at you,” Schuman mumbled. Then he turned back to Maddie. “I’ve just spoken to Jeremy, Mad. He told me to tell you that you can’t go back to your condo just yet.”

  “What?” Maddie started. “Why? We only said a week. And it’s been quiet.”

  “We don’t know what’s going on and that attack on your life was serious enough for him to want to keep you closer.” Schuman sighed. “I know it’s not what you wanted to hear but Jeremy wants to know you’re safe until we’ve dealt with things.”

  Maddie knew what that meant. Lots of negotiations. Jeremy did a lot of that. He was a diplomat, through-and-through. Sometimes that was incredibly frustrating.

  “So, I have to stay here?” Maddie glanced at Beth with a scowl. “Great
!”

  Beth laughed. Schuman sighed.

  “I know. I’ll make a run over to the condo for you later, if you like. I’ll pick up some more clothes. Let me know if there’s anything you need.”

  “Thanks.”

  Schuman nodded and then gave Beth one last glance before almost running into the back. Maddie bit back a laugh at the big man’s speed and gently tugged at Beth’s arm. They were alone now, Jimmy having disappeared himself. Now was the perfect time.

  “Come with me? We’ve only got this chance.”

  Beth didn’t argue and followed Maddie out.

  Chapter Seven

  “Are you sure we should be doing this?” Beth asked. She was looking nervously over her shoulder.

  Maddie rolled her eyes as she cut into her steak.

  “I wanted to get out of there. I’ve been boarded up in that place for two days and I needed to get out.”

  It was bliss coming out into the fresh air. Maddie had made Beth drive her back to her condo, so Maddie could pick up her car. Then they had gone to a restaurant neither of them had been to before, to change it up a little. While Maddie wanted to live life as normal, she wasn’t stupid. If someone was watching her, they would stake out their regular restaurant.

  And she was very hungry and in need of a steak.

  Even though she readily ordered food and had helped Maddie out, Beth did not look happy.

  “Jeremy isn’t going to like this at all.”

  “I don’t care,” Maddie said around a mouthful of steak. “I need some fresh air.”

  Beth sighed and sipped at her water.

  “I take it you and Jace are fighting. Again.”

  “What do you mean ‘again’?”

  “Come on, you two light each other up, but at times you can be like a tinder box and a match. It’s no wonder you two always bring out the worst in each other.”

  Maddie had never seen it that way before. She thought about the previous night when Jace had held her. That was now beginning to look like a temporary truce. And no apology had been given by either party.

  Not that Maddie knew what she was apologizing about.

  “He’s not there for me, Beth.” Maddie took a big swig of her water. “How am I supposed to trust him if he’s not around?”

  “What was he supposed to do the other day?” Beth shot back. “Magically stop you from bleeding by being in the room? By simply touching you? It’s something that will happen whether he’s there or not.” She shook her head. “You’re stressing yourself too much and putting too much onto Jace. That’s not fair.”

  Maddie stared. She hadn’t expected this from her best friend.

  “Since when have you been on his side?”

  “He genuinely cares for you, Maddie. Hell, I think he even loves you. But you’re pushing him away.”

  Maddie felt like someone had slapped her. Jace loved her? She didn’t think that was possible. Jace may have been attracted to her and may have some feelings of affection – he wasn’t the type of person to go into a relationship without putting his emotions out there – but he didn’t love her. He couldn’t.

  Could he?

  “He doesn’t love me.”

  Beth stared at her. Then she sat back, looking at her friend over the rim of her glass.

  “You’re basing your relationship with him on what you had with Drake. Jace is not Drake.”

  “I know that.”

  “But you’re acting as if Jace is going to do the same thing. From what you’ve said, Jace has apologized for his behavior towards you. He’s shown remorse. Drake has never done that in all the time that you’ve known him.”

  Maddie scowled. She didn’t want to think about Drake. The man was insufferable and had seeped into every pore he could. Maddie didn’t want that again or the guilt that came with stupidly crawling back to him.

  “I’m not comparing Jace to Drake,” she snapped.

  “I think you are.” Beth shook her head. “You’re not willing to trust because Drake broke that. Now, when Jace comes along and you’ve got a glimpse of what you could have, you’re scaring yourself and running away.”

  “I’m not!”

  That stung. Maddie didn’t like hearing the cold, hard truth, something she gave out to everyone else. Getting advice from other people was not something she enjoyed, not even from her best and closest friend.

  It stung the most because Beth was right. She was comparing Jace to Drake. She was comparing the new Jace to the old Jace and it was stopping her from opening up again. Maddie was scared, scared of being let down again.

  Maybe she was grasping at straws.

  From the look on Beth’s face, she thought the same thing. Before Maddie could say anything more, Beth was standing, picking up her purse.

  “You know what? You sit there and think about it.” She fished out some notes and tossed them onto the table. “Because until you get it into your thick head that Jace isn’t like your other relationships, I’m not going to be around. I don’t talk to walls.”

  “What?” Maddie began to panic as Beth walked away. Getting some bills out of her bag and leaving them with her half-eaten meal, Maddie managed to stand and run after her friend. “Beth…”

  She charged through the front door and almost collided with Beth as she stood on the sidewalk. Maddie grabbed her arm.

  “Beth, look…”

  Then she realized that Beth wasn’t paying her any attention. She was staring at Maddie’s car, parked on the curb. Maddie turned, expecting someone to have chucked paint all over it. What she saw made her jaw drop.

  “What the fuck?”

  Her car had smashed windows, the tires were slashed, and the paintwork was scratched from trunk to hood. Several insulting words were carved into the side.

  They were in a busy street. How nobody had seen this Maddie had no idea. The fact it had been done and no one had noticed was frightening.

  If that was the emotion they were aiming to get, they got it. Maddie was frightened. Beth grabbed her arm.

  “I think we need to get you back to the clubhouse.” She tugged her towards Beth’s car. “Now.”

  Maddie wasn’t about to argue with that.

  Chapter Eight

  Jace had had a long day. He had driven all the way up to Phoenix on an errand and was exhausted. All he wanted to do now was have a shower, maybe a drink in the bar with Schuman and play a bit of pool before falling into bed.

  If he got Maddie into bed with him, even better.

  But that seemed to fade as soon as he walked into the clubhouse and saw Schuman sitting at the bar, scowling into his beer. If Schuman was scowling, something was wrong. Jace went up to him and nudged his friend.

  “Why the long face?”

  Schuman growled.

  “You’re in trouble, Jace.”

  “Story of my life,” Jace yawned. The exhaustion was starting to hit him now he knew that it was only up a few stairs to his room. “What’s wrong?”

  “Do you not answer your cell phone anymore?”

  “Eh?”

  It was then Jace realized he hadn’t heard his phone go off in a while. It had been doing that earlier with a series of orders coming in the shape of texts from Jeremy. But, now that he thought about it, it had been silent for a good portion of the afternoon.

  Fishing out his cell, Jace glanced at the screen and realized he couldn’t take it off sleep.

  “Shit, it’s out of charge. I thought I’d charged it up.”

  Then his mind began to go into a panic. Had Maddie had another miscarriage? Had she been attacked? Had she died?

  Jace tried to stop himself from panicking, but it wasn’t easy.

  “What happened?”

  “Maddie’s car was vandalized. She and Beth found it all scratched up to high heaven.” Schuman rubbed his eyes. “The car’s in the shop now. There’s no way they can salvage the original paintwork. Maddie’s very shaken up.”

  Maddie’s car had been trashed? J
ace was confused. How did Maddie know about her car? Last he knew, it was at her condo and Maddie…

  She wouldn’t have, would she?

  “How did she know about it?”