Page 74 of Mad Love

I pace. Jam my fingers inside the pockets of my trousers. Emilia rises from the chair and sets her hand on my shoulder.

“I hacked into your great-uncle’s e-mails as well as his financial accounts. He’s been communicating with Jeff Tenant about your life. Are you familiar with that name?”

“No.” I shake off her hold. My uncle isn’t guilty of anything except oversharing.

“A quarter of a million dollars was deposited into your great-uncle’s bank account the day after your grandfather’s death.”

“So? That’s a drop in the bucket for Arthur.”

“Another quarter million was deposited yesterday, Blaise.”

“What are you accusing him of, may I ask?”

“Nothing yet. We thought you should be aware.”

“I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about that prick,” Cillian interjects. “Go back to what you said earlier, sweetheart. What do you mean he’ll kill you if you contact the authorities?”

I tell them what happened that morning. Of how Rylan found the note taped to my third-floor window and the bag of clothes found beneath my window.

“Why wouldn’t your grandfather put cameras on that side of the house?” Six asks in disbelief.

I give them Rylan’s explanation.

“Can you get us a list of the men who helped set up the security system?”

“Yes.” I address Emilia. “My men and Maddox’s are also working to find him. Would you like me to get you in touch with them? I don’t want you to duplicate their work.”

Six rises from his chair and slings his arm around his wife’s waist. “We work alone, Blaise. Less of a chance of egos getting in the way.”

Emilia rolls her eyes. “His is so big, there’s no room for anyone else’s.”

“Not true, babe. You wear the pants in our family.”

Her eyes light up. “Make sure you remember that, big guy.” She tips her head back and bats her long lashes at him.

His eyes darken with desire. His gaze hangs on her mouth. Oh my. I resist the urge to fan my heated face. Those two have it bad for one another.

“If you love birds will quit acting like hormonal teenagers for a second, how about we deal with this secret shit Blaise is speaking of. Do we tell the world?”

“My advice is to wait until everything blows over, Cillian,” Emilia responds. “Then the decision has to be Blaise’s. Is she a Lexington or is she a McCabe?”

“Neither. I’m a Stassi.”

Huge grin on Cillian’s face.

“That’s my girl. Claiming what’s hers. Now you go out there and bring him to heel.”

“Bring him to heel?”

He stands and walks over to me.

“The guys sent me this. Does she look familiar?”

The video is of Maddox with his old flame, Kristine. They’re inside a diner. He says something. She laughs and glances down at their clasped hands on top of the table. Pieces of her hair fall forward. Maddox reaches up and tucks the strands behind her ear. I don’t miss his fingers grazing the curve of her ear.

First he spends the night with Evie. Now, he’s spending time with his ex.

This morning, I woke up to a text message from Hale and none from Maddox. Maddox didn’t go home after a night of clubbing with Evie. He checked into the same hotel Evie is staying at. She lives and works in New York. Did he fly her over on his private jet for a quickie?

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