29. Ryan

Leaving a naked, wet Maddox in the shower by himself was a lesson in restraint I never wanted to learn. But I could tell everything that'd happened weighed on him. He liked to pretend that his dad doing that interview last night was no big deal, but I knew better.

I also knew he needed space to deal with everything he was going through. But I wouldn't go far. In fact, the kitchen was about as far as I wanted to be away from him right now. I may not be as good of a cook as Quinn or even my mom, but I could handle bacon, eggs, and toast just fine.

Rummaging through the fridge, I pulled out everything I'd need and got to work. Just as I was pushing the button to start the coffee maker, a loud banging on the front door made me jump. Gripping my chest with my hand, trying to get the sudden frantic beating of my heart under control, I strode to the front door, lifting up onto my toes to look out the peephole.

A man stood on the porch, but he was turned away from me, and I couldn't see his face. From the back, he didn't look like anyone I recognized. Warily, I pulled the door open, just enough to catch his attention and speak through.

He whirled around, a mostly blank expression on his face as if he couldn't be bothered to care who I was. "Ms. Everleigh?" he asked.

"No, but you've got the right house," I confirmed.

He looked off into the distance for a second before shrugging and handing me a sealed manilla envelope. Goddamn yellow envelopes from hell, always popping up to screw up my life. I took it gingerly as if it were a bomb about to explode. For all I knew, it might be.

"Have a nice day," he said mildly before walking off back toward his car.

I closed the door behind me, wondering if I should open the envelope or leave it for Maddox. I know it's meant for him, and yet he was already going through so much. I didn't want to hand this over to him, whatever it was. At least not without solutions.

With my mind made up, I tore into the seal, pulling out glossy photo paper and flipping it over. My eyes fell to the picture of a woman standing next to a guy who looked to be in his early twenties. He didn't look familiar to me, but one look at her and I knew what this was.

"Monica," I whispered, my gaze dropping to the yellow sticky note attached to the front.

For $5 million, they'll stay your little secret.

All that followed was a series of nine digits, an account number I assumed. After last night, it wasn't hard to figure out who sent this picture. It was clear that Yates had figured out Maddox's weakness and had no issue exploiting it.

I had no intention of hiding this from Maddox, but I didn't want to tell him about it until I dealt with it myself. And I had no qualms handling it. I'd taken self-defense and martial arts training since I was a teenager. I regularly kicked ass in my jiu-jitsu classes, and Yates was soft. A lot softer than me.

Sure, he spent time in the gym. But that was different. My knuckles had been hardened over the years from boxing, from smashing my fists into a heavy bag over and over and over again. I'd broken more noses than I could count. The thought of making Yates feel the kind of pain he was inflicting on the man I loved made me almost gleeful.

He was going to pay, and it was going to be at my hands.

I shoved the picture back into the envelope as I heard Maddox coming down the hallway, his footfalls soft as his bare feet hit the wood floor. Plastering a smile on my face and forcing the plans I was making in my brain to the side, I sidled up to him and wrapped my arms around his waist, burying my face in his chest. "Ready for breakfast?" I mumbled against his taut muscles, the ones he hadn't bothered to cover up with a shirt.

I was pretty sure I could stare at his mouth-watering body all day, all year even, and never get sick of the view. I reluctantly stepped out of his arms and went to dish him up a plateful of food. Carrying it out to the couch, he followed as I sank down into one of the super soft and cushy seats, passing him the plate I carried over for him as soon as he sat down beside me.

After he took a couple of bites, I asked, "What are you up to today?"

"I have a call with Harrison in about twenty minutes. My morning after that is open for whatever he needs me to do after last night. And this afternoon I've got a video meeting with the guys to go over where we're at with the new album. How about you?"

I sipped my coffee carefully, lingering longer than normal to be sure I thought out my answer. I didn't want to lie to him, but I wasn't ready to tell him everything either. Not yet. Not until it was fixed. "I'll check in with Quinn and see if he needs any help, then I thought I'd get in a workout. Maybe boxing," I mused, picturing all the possibilities and ways my fists and feet, knees and elbows could connect with the soft, fleshy places on Yates's body.

Maddox side-eyed me a little suspiciously. "You box?"

Letting out a small breath of relief, I nod. "I do. Among other things."

"Since when?" he asked around a mouthful of food.

"Since college. I started self-defense before that, but I wanted to be a cop, remember? I needed to be at least as strong as the guys I was going up against for a spot. So I started learning how to most effectively defend myself. Around here, there aren't any places to take classes anymore, but I still spar with Quinn all the time."

"That's hot," he noted, letting his eyes wander down my body with newfound appreciation. "You'll have to show me sometime, naked, of course."

"Of course," I agreed, rolling my eyes but laughing to let him know I'd be down to give that a try, even if I seriously doubted he'd ever relinquish enough control in the bedroom to let it happen.

Finishing my breakfast quickly, I left him on the couch and slipped back to the bedroom, taking his phone and scrolling to find the contact I was looking for. Entering the number in my phone, I set his back on the nightstand and slid into my shoes.

I hurried out to the living room, dropped a quick but heated kiss on Maddox's enticing lips, and practically ran out the back door, envelope hidden inside my purse. I couldn't risk him seeing it before I talked to Connor.

I waited until I'd safely snuck past the lingering crowd of photographers at the front of the house before I pulled out my phone and dialed the one person I needed to talk to before I took any action against Yates.

"What?" his barking voice was impatient, but I didn't intend to mess around.

"I need your help," I divulged, slightly breathless from my run across the space between Maddox's house and my own.

"Ryan?" Something ruffled in the background on Connor's end of the line, muffling his voice slightly.

"Yep, that's me. Do you think we could meet somewhere? Maybe On Tap in half an hour?"

"Sure, see you there," he agreed easily, ending the call. Maybe I should've asked him not to tell Maddox, but I just had to hope he wouldn't for now. I didn't want to ask him to hide anything. It wasn't fair to Maddox, and I didn't want to risk his trust in me that way. If he found out, it wasn't the end of the world.

I crept into the house, avoiding every floorboard that squeaked along the way. Living in the house I grew up in had its advantages. I finally made it into my room, glad I hadn't run into Quinn. If he had any idea what I was about to do, he'd have been all up in my business, trying to stop me or convince me to take him along. But I couldn't risk him, either.

Changing my clothes quickly into some black yoga pants and a black tank top, I tied my shoes and swiped my keys off the dresser. I cracked open my bedroom door, listening for any sign of anyone in the house, but all was quiet. I crept back out the way I came, softly closing the screen door behind me. I felt terrible that Quinn was stuck doing the ranch work on his own again today, but with any luck, he wouldn't be doing any of that much longer.

I never dared to hope that he'd get the chance to pursue his passions, but now it almost felt within reach, as if my fingertips were just brushing along the future we were meant to have. And it was all thanks to Maddox.

That was why I was doing what I was right now. I wanted to carry my own weight, to show him that he didn't have to be my savior, that I could shoulder the burden at his side. Opening my car door, I tossed my purse on the seat, checking and then double-checking that the envelope was still nestled safely inside.

The short drive to On Tap went quickly, and I found myself in the nearly-empty bar at almost lunchtime with only the bartender and a lone patron at the far end of the counter. I was early, so I nodded once at the bartender and took the booth furthest in the back to wait for Connor.

I scrolled through my phone while I waited, but thankfully he was early, too. The bell above the door chimed as he pulled it open forcefully, striding inside and pulling off his sunglasses as he scanned the empty room. When our eyes met, he offered me a little wave before making his way over and sinking down into the booth across from where I sat.

"I've gotta say I was surprised to get your call," he started, lifting his hand to signal the bartender.

"Yeah, well, I was surprised to get this," I countered, sliding the envelope across the table. He picked it up, his eyebrows shooting up before narrowing as he studied the picture first, then the note attached.

"What the actual fuck does he think he's going to accomplish with this?" Connor questioned, shoving the picture back into the envelope.

"I don't know. But I plan to do something about it." I picked up the menu the bartender dropped off. I wasn't hungry, but I was fidgety and wanted something to do with my hands.

"And what's that?" Connor studied me from across the table, his expression unreadable. I got the feeling my answer was about to determine whether or not he brought Maddox into this.

"I intercepted that delivery this morning meant for Maddox. I assume you heard what his dad did last night?"

Connor nodded, so I continued. "When I saw this, I couldn't let him see it. Not yet. I want to know for sure that Yates sent it. And then I want to pay him a visit where I kick him in the balls so hard, he'll never have to worry about another hooker suing him for his worthless DNA."

He chuckled, an appraising glint in his eye before finally pulling out his phone and making a short call to Sebastian, asking him to find out what he could. There had to be a record of him hiring a PI or photographer or someone to snap that photo.

"Do you know who the guy in the picture is?" I asked Connor, pulling the picture back out and pointing at his face, noting the tattoos running up his neck and down both arms.

He shifted his gaze away from me, dropping it down to the picture. "I do."

"And are you going to tell me?"

He sighed heavily. "That's Griffin, Maddox's half brother. That's all I'm going to say. If you want to know the rest, ask your boyfriend."

"I'll do that."

I ordered an ice tea as we sat and waited for Sebastian to get back to us. "So, what's your plan here? Go rushing in there by yourself, and what exactly?" Connor asked, his tone conversational, but the look in his eyes anything but. His look dared me to admit I planned on facing down my sort of ex on my own. The same guy who apparently had the balls to think he could go toe-to-toe with and blackmail one of the biggest celebrities on the planet.

I figured his overconfidence would be his downfall. I just had to be patient. Patient but not silent. I wasn't about to sit here and let him cause as much chaos as he wanted before we took action. I figured I could at least make him hurt a little.

Connor's phone vibrated across the table, and he picked it up, pressing it to his ear. His eyes shot over to me, and we stared at each other as he listened. When he hung up after a hurried thanks , I waited with bated breath for the verdict.

"It was him, alright. Hired a PI, used his damn credit card like a moron," he confirmed. "So, what do you want to do?"

My whole body stiffened as I fumed, a storm tearing through my veins, the need to make him pay clawing at my insides, demanding to be unleashed. "I want to pay the jackass a visit," I declared, rising out of my seat and pulling out my wallet to throw some money onto the table. "Coming?"

After stopping by Connor's hotel room and making another quick stop to have Sebastian figure out where Yates was right now, we packed a small bag with a few necessities like first aid supplies, water bottles, and ice packs. We drove to the dive bar my ex apparently liked to frequent.

When we pulled into the half-empty gravel parking lot, I understood why. This was more than likely the place he went to pick up the working girls he couldn't keep his diseased dick out of. My stomach rolled at the thought I'd actually considered for the briefest of seconds, giving him a real chance.

Gross.

Connor parked the black SUV we'd driven, and he turned to me as I reached for the door handle. "Wait." The commanding tone in his voice made me pause. "How do you want to do this?"

"I'm going to walk right up to that jerk and convince him to follow me outside. Then I'm going to kick the shit out of him for everything he's doing," I rattled off, adrenaline flooding my system.

"And what do you want to accomplish by doing this? Maddox already threatened him, and it didn't make him stop. In fact, that fucker only started coming after him harder," Connor pointed out, grabbing the bag we brought out of the back seat and rifling through it.

"Accomplish? I want to make myself feel better, and I want to make Yates feel pain. I don't think anyone has ever actually kicked his ass before, and I want to be the first." I lowered the visor, flipping open the mirror and checking my reflection. If I was going to convince him to follow me outside, I might have to use my looks to do it, and if I looked like shit, it wouldn't work.

Connor chuckled, setting the bag in the back seat after he pulled out the dreaded manilla envelope. The sun had just sunk below the horizon, and the first stars were starting to wink into existence. I unceremoniously flung my door open, stepping into the warm evening air.

I lifted my chin, straightened my spine, and walked confidently through the parking lot, the gravel crunching under the heels of my shoes. Connor followed right behind me, but he didn't try to take over. I got the feeling he wanted to see how I handled myself, what I was going to do next. We didn't know each other very well yet, but I liked the guy, and I respected that he was willing to let me take the lead.

A lot of guys like him, ex-military, muscle-bound tough guys, looked at women as lesser beings with smaller brains or too many emotions to be taken seriously. Connor didn't seem to be like that, and my opinion of him went up a couple more notches at how he handled today.

We stepped into the bar, the hot and stuffy air immediately making my hair stick to the back of my neck. It must've been a hundred and twenty degrees in here, the air conditioner long out of commission. The smell of sweat and alcohol hung heavy in the air, and I had the sudden urge to get the hell out of here just so I could fill my lungs with fresh, clean oxygen.

"He's over there," Connor's gruff voice sounded near my ear, his hand casually pointing to the middle of the bar where Yates sat with his back to us. He had a glass in his hand, his suit jacket wrinkled and askew as if he'd been there for hours.

Connor stepped back, slipping into the crowd near the door, and I stepped forward, deeper into this craptastic place. Finally, I slid onto the stool beside Yates, and he didn't even bother looking up before he started hitting on me. "Hey, sexy-"

"Save it for someone who cares," I snapped, waiting until his eyes finally made their way up to my face. When it registered who I was, his gaze narrowed slightly. Surprisingly, he was fully sober despite looking like he'd made himself a permanent home on the barstool he occupied.

"You," he spluttered, hate shining out of his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

I placed the envelope on the table but snatched it away when he tried to grab it. "I think we need to talk. Outside," I ordered, slipping off the stool and making my way toward the door. When he didn't immediately follow, I turned back. "Now."

Rolling his eyes, he downed the last of his drink and stood, slamming into my shoulder as he tried to bypass me on the way to the door. He also knocked into almost every table on the way to the door, sloshing people's drinks and being the general asshole that he was. It was like that's what he was made to do. He didn't even have to try.

Stepping outside the door, the air felt crisp and fresh as it brushed across my skin, and I inhaled deeply. I stepped around the side of the building, noting that Yates was following me, mumbling about how much I'd wronged him. I noticed Connor had slipped behind Yates when he stepped out of the bar.

When we turned the corner to the side of the building, I took a quick look around before spinning back to face Yates. There was a field behind the bar, and it looked like no one had ventured to this side of the building in years. The gravel was overgrown by green weeds, and as I discreetly scanned the building itself, I didn't spot any security cameras.

Perfect.

"I see you got my note," Yates taunted, a cocky grin crossing his face as he stood, leaning against the brick wall of the bar. "Come to pay up?"

"You could say that," I began, prowling closer to him step by step.

"We could have a little fun first." His eyes filled with lust, and my stomach lurched.

"I wouldn't touch your disease-riddled dick if my life depended on it." I moved until our chests were almost touching but not quite. The smell of liquor wafted off of him, permeating the air all around me and making my eyes water.

"You fucking bitch," he seethed, and I held up my hand right in his face.

"I'm tired of you thinking you can hurt anyone you want without consequences. And there will be consequences," I threatened.

"Oh yeah?" he smirked. "What the fuck is a weak little cunt like you going to do about it?"

That was all it took, and I snapped. My fingers curled into a fist, and I jabbed, striking him right in the throat. His eyes bulged, and his hands flew up to his neck. Spittle gathered at the corners of his lips as he gasped and wheezed.

He managed to catch his breath quickly, though, reaching out and fisting his hand in my hair. He yanked until my eyes watered. The burning pain on my scalp was intense but not as harsh as the pain that exploded behind my eye as his fist connected with my face.

If he thought that'd be enough to get me to back down, he had a surprise coming his way because I wasn't done yet.

Oh, no.

I heard a whispered, "Holy shit," out of Connor, but I couldn't pay attention to what he was doing right now. I was laser-focused on Yates and unloading on him for all the pain he caused. I reached up and gripped his shoulders, digging my nails in through his stupid suit jacket and bringing my knee up until it connected with his balls. He dropped to the ground, and when he did, I jumped on him, smashing my fist into his face a couple of times, hearing the crack of his nose, watching blood splatter the broken concrete sidewalk underneath him.

He finally got his arms up in front of his bloody face, so I took the opportunity to stand and deliver a couple of swift kicks to the ribs before I straightened to my full height, towering over him. I looked down at the pathetic excuse for a man that lay crumpled and ruined at my feet, and a surge of pride and peace washed over me. I didn't think anyone could call me weak again.

He groaned, spitting a mouthful of blood out before cracking open his eyes, the left one already starting to swell. "I'm going to call the fucking cops."

"Do it," I dared. "And I'll show them how you blackmailed Maddox."

"Fuck," he moaned, curling up even tighter on the ground.

"That's what I thought." I finally glanced up at Connor, who was putting his phone away with an approving grin on his face. "Last warning, Yates. Stay the hell away from my family and my boyfriend."

I stepped over his body, moving back toward the parking lot with Connor at my side. My knuckles ached, and I glanced down at them. They were already swelling, bruises forming, and little cuts dotting the skin. But I couldn't feel anything except the adrenaline and elation at what I'd done. I was strong enough to protect myself and those I loved most, and that was a feeling I never wanted to forget.

"You're going to have to tell him," Connor brought up as we were pulling up to Maddox's house. He glanced down at where I held an ice pack over my swollen knuckles. I winced, pulling it off and looking down at the damage. Even in the cover of darkness, I could tell they were pretty banged up.

Worth it.

"I planned on telling him anyway, as soon as it was done. I never wanted to hide it from him." I grabbed my bag off the floor, checking to be sure the envelope was inside. After the talk I was about to have, I hoped I'd never see another damn manilla envelope as long as I lived.

"Hey. Thanks for going with me today. And thanks for letting me tell Maddox myself," I added.

"Anytime." Connor's lips lifted in a small smile, and I let myself out of his SUV. I'd need to get my car back from the hotel later, but I'd have Maddox drive me if he wasn't too mad, and Quinn take me if he was. Time would tell which of them would be more pissed off.

Stepping up onto the porch, I knocked lightly, hoping that with the light off out here, the few paparazzi who were left camped out at the end of the drive wouldn't be able to see me well enough to get a picture. Maddox swung the door open and pulled me inside, shutting it behind me and pressing me up against it. "And where the fuck have you been? Quinn and I have been going out of our minds looking for you," he exploded, breathing heavy.

His eyes were studying me, running over every inch, no doubt checking for injuries. When he was satisfied, he crashed his lips down on mine, pouring every bit of fear, anger, and frustration he'd been feeling into the kiss. He pulled away, resting his forehead on mine until he pulled back, grabbing my hand and bringing it up to his face.

He inspected my bruised knuckles, a crease forming on his forehead between his eyebrows. "What the fuck is this?"

"This is what happens when someone screws with the people I love," I answered vaguely, pushing off from the door. "Come sit down with me, and I'll explain."

He followed me to the couch, not letting go of my hand, but he did stop to pick up the bag I dropped at my feet when he'd pulled me inside. It was like he didn't want to let me out of his sight, and I felt bad that I'd scared him. Unfortunately, things with Yates had taken longer than I expected.

He sat first, pulling me down onto his lap and wrapping his arms around my waist. "Talk," he demanded.

"Let me have my bag." I reached out for it, and he slid the handle into my hand. I pulled out the envelope and handed it to him. "Open it."

He eyed me warily before he pulled out the picture, his gaze instantly growing murderous like I knew it would. "What the everloving fuck is this?"

"Um. Your mom?" I answered as if it should be obvious.

He scowled at me. "You know what I meant."

"I know." I ran my hand through his hair.

"So?"

"When you were in the shower this morning, that came. A guy rang the doorbell and delivered it to me."

"And you opened it?" he asked, his voice on edge.

I nodded. "And I'm not sorry I did. You feel like you have to handle all of this on your own, but you don't. I'm strong enough to stand by your side and help. I'm not some helpless girl anymore, Maddox."

He deflated a little. "I know you're not. I love your strength. I love how you challenge me, how you're my equal. But you shouldn't have to deal with this alone, either."

"I wasn't alone. I took Connor. We verified Yates sent that before I decided to get a little payback. I know it wasn't much, but I needed to do it," I explained.

"Do what exactly?" He watched me carefully, but his grip tightened around my waist, and I leaned against him, suddenly exhausted from this entire day and wanting nothing more than for him to carry me to bed.

"Beat the hell out of Yates," I blurted like it was no big deal.

His eyebrows shot up, and a slow smile stretched across his face. "You beat him up?"

I nodded. "Kneed him in the balls, too."

"That's my girl," Maddox laughed. "I think you deserve a reward." He stood, carrying me with him, the picture of his mother and brother fluttering to the floor, already forgotten.

"You're not mad?"

"I'm only mad I didn't get to witness you being such a badass. I bet it was sexy as hell." He kicked the bedroom door open and threw me down onto the bed. I squealed as I bounced in the air before he crawled over me. "And now I'm going to show you exactly how much I worship the ground you walk on."