Page 8 of Mac's Vow

As if on cue, the doorbell rang. Alyssa groaned and clutched the towel tighter. “You told Jimmy.”

“He’s your brother, Alyssa,” Mac said, his voice soft as he reached up and touched a finger to her jawline. “Get dressed, I’ll go talk to him.”

“Fine, but if he starts in with one of his lectures I’m going to seriously lose it,” she warned as she dropped onto the end of the bed.

Mac picked up the cup and handed it to her. He waited for her to take a sip before saying, “I’ll kick his ass out myself if he gives you even an ounce of grief.”

Alyssa watched Mac leave the room, pulling the door shut behind him before she let the towel drop. God, he was being so sweet, so attentive and she wanted to keep him. Like a big, mean German Shepherd. He had his hackles up and his teeth bared and he was damn well ready to defend her against the big bad world. Alyssa hadn’t been sure until that moment, but yeah, she still loved him. Nothing had changed. She’d handed Mac her heart back in high school and she’d never asked for it back. It was a shame that it had taken Cameron pounding on her as if she were a freaking pinata for Mac to come back into her life. He was here now and Alyssa would make the most of it.

She glanced down at her body and sighed. The black and blue colors weren’t flattering to her skin tone. Her mind went back to earlier in the evening when Mac had undressed her. He’d carefully inspected every inch of her body, even going as far as kissing the welts on her behind. She hadn’t once felt awkward or shy being so naked and vulnerable around him either. She needed to think about that some more. Heck, anytime she’d undressed in front of Cameron, he’d pointed out her poochy stomach. Bryan, her boyfriend before Cameron, had always told her she needed to work harder on her legs. He’d hated her thick thighs. What had Mac done? He’d kissed her. He’d used his large, calloused palms to soothe her aches. He made her feel safe and cared for. Did he love her? Of course not, but there was an attraction there. She knew it in her gut. Somehow she’d need to get Mac over his hands-off-Jimmy’s-kid-sister rule.

Alyssa took another sip of the tea. It was good. He’d found her box of chamomile and he’d added honey to sweeten it. A loud shout from the other room dragged her out of her thoughts. Her brother was making his feelings about Cameron known. Great. This should be fun. She stood and put the cup back on her dresser, then pulled out the top drawer and located an oversized black t-shirt with her favorite rock band emblazoned across the front and a pair of grey, cotton shorts. Something banged against the wall and Alyssa stepped up the pace before Jimmy tore up her apartment.

Alyssa finished, then headed to the living room to face her brother’s wrath. He stood with his fists balled at his sides facing off against Mac. They were nearly the same height, both over six feet tall. They worked out together and that put them similar in build. In other words, they were two extremely large muscular men about to use her living room as a boxing ring. And round one was about to begin. “What’s going on?”

Mac’s head turned her way. His intense gaze traveled over her before he stepped forward. Jimmy quickly pushed him aside, then crossed the room and took her into his arms. He squeezed her in a tight hug and Alyssa winced as pain shot up her back.

“Goddamn it, Jimmy, you’re hurting her,” Mac shouted as he came up beside Jimmy. “Let up some.”

Jimmy eased his hold but didn’t release her. He stared down at her and cursed. “I’ll bury that asshole for this, Lissy.”

Alyssa winced at the nickname. It made her feel about twelve years old again. Which was the last thing she wanted with Mac in the room. She pushed against the solid wall of her brother’s chest. He got the hint and stepped back. “No one is burying anyone. It’s like I told Mac, Cameron is untouchable. All The Judge has to do is grease a few palms and it’ll go away. Right along with your business.”

Jimmy’s eyes narrowed and he shoved a hand through his thick black hair. He was agitated. In another minute he’d start pacing like a caged bear. Alyssa was seriously beginning to regret ever walking into Leo’s Bar. “I knew he was bad news, damn it. I should’ve—”

“Do not finish that sentence, Jimmy,” Alyssa interrupted, barely containing her own anger. “You have zero say over the men I date so don’t act like you do.”

Jimmy shook his head and his gaze hardened. “He’s not getting away with this.”

Alyssa threw her hands in the air, which caused a shaft of pain to radiate along her ribs. She barely managed to contain the accompanying curse. “What makes you think you can put a stop to him when others have failed?”

“Others didn’t have the Reece brothers,” Jimmy stated, his voice edged with steel as he took his cell phone out of his back pocket and tapped the screen.

Mac stepped between them at the mention of Brad and Cole Reece. “You’re putting them on this?”

The Reece brothers’ specialty was hacking. Alyssa and Jimmy had known them since high school. They were quiet, intense and admittedly they scared most people. Although, they’d always been kind to her. Thankfully they used their collective powers for good, rather than evil. She hated to imagine what they’d be capable of if they ever chose to switch sides.

“Yes, because you’ll be too busy protecting Lissy.”

Mac shot her a look that Alyssa couldn’t quite read, then he brought his attention back to Jimmy. “I’m better in the field. I’m no hacker, but I’m certain I can find enough evidence to bring Cameron down.”

“Also, I don’t need a babysitter,” Alyssa added, her anger getting the better of her. “In case anyone wants my freaking opinion here!”

Mac cursed. “I’m not sure this is a good idea, Jimmy.”

Jimmy lifted his attention from his phone, his gaze going to her, then Mac. Finally he said, “I get that you didn’t expect to be Lissy’s guard dog when you woke up this morning, but I don’t care. I don’t trust her with anyone else, Mac. Do you?”

A few tense minutes went by before Mac grumbled, “You don’t know what you’re doing, damn it.” He began to pace the room and it set Alyssa on edge.

“Yeah, I do,” Jimmy stated, as if he had the final say in any of this.

Alyssa was fast getting pissed. “What part of Cameron is untouchable do you not get, Jimmy?”

Her brother let out a breath and his gaze rested on her. “Cameron isn’t our objective. His father is.”

Alyssa frowned. “Huh?”

“You said it yourself, Lissy. Grady Mitchell won’t let his son go to jail. He’ll do whatever necessary to protect him. Someone like that has to have a lot of fucking skeletons.”

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