Mastered by Malone (Haven Texas Book 6) Page 4
“Knock harder next time,” was all he said in reply.
She waited for him to say something else, but he didn’t even look up. Jesus, was he the rudest man on the planet? Well, she’d met a few in her time. She’d worked for plenty of them. She could put up with his attitude for a few months until the trial.
And then she had a whole new set of things to worry about.
Finally, he looked up at her. Studied her.
“Let’s get a few things straight, shall we? Rule number one, I am in charge. My word is law.”
She nodded shakily, though he didn’t seem to require an answer from her.
“Two, you don’t go anywhere without my permission. You don’t call anyone without my permission. Do you have a phone?”
“Mike got me a burner phone.”
“I’ll take it. Credit cards?”
“No, I got rid of those when-when it first happened. Mike said it was a good idea not to have anything that could be traced back to me.”
“So he does have a brain,” he said dryly.
“Mike is a good guy. He takes care of me. He’s the only family I have. He loves me.”
“You cannot contact him without my permission,” was all he said.
She longed to ask him if he was this cold with everyone or if it was just her. But she wasn’t ready to die today.
“All right,” she agreed. She dug the phone out of her bag and handed it over. He didn’t reach for it, so she just put it on the desk.
“Hand over the handbag too,” he told her.
All right, the phone she kind of understood even though it was a burner phone so she didn’t see how it could be traced. But why would he need her handbag?
“Why do you need my handbag?”
“Because I said so.”
“Look, I really appreciate you letting me stay here and everything—”
“I’m not letting you stay here,” he interrupted her. “You are here because you need protection from some mob boss who’s trying to kill you. I’m offering that protection in return for a favor owed. You are my responsibility. We’re not friends. This isn’t some polite arrangement. You are under my protection. You are under my rule. Now, give me your bag.”
Fingers trembling with a mixture of fear and anger, she passed over the bag putting it on his desk again as he didn’t reach for it.
“Fine. You want my tampons and twenty bucks in change, it’s all yours. Gonna need the lip-gloss back though. Chapped lips, you know.”
Holy sugar balls. She needed to get away from him. Before she completely lost her mind. She wasn’t going to have to worry about an assassin and taking her out, because she wasn’t leaving this room alive.
Malone just stared at her for a long moment. Then he went through her purse. He pulled out her wallet, opened it and rifled through everything. Then he pulled out her lip gloss, inspected it. Next came the tampons. Jesus he even opened up the box and looked inside. Then he went through every inch of her bag, searching.
“What are you looking for?”
“Any bugs or trackers.”
She swallowed heavily, feeling ill. “Your brother used that gadget thing to search the car earlier, he didn’t find anything.”
He didn’t reply.
“Surely if there was a tracker or a bug, this guy who’s after me would have taken me out already.” That was a sentence she’d never thought she would say. “And when would anyone have put anything in there?”
“Will need to go through your luggage too, including what you’re wearing.”
What? Did he intend to strip her where she stood? She flushed at the thought.
“Everything I have is brand-new. Except for the clothes I was in when I . . . when I found Angel’s body.”
“Unlikely he was using those to track you, since he shot the wrong person.” There was a note of derision in his voice.
He put her stuff back into her bag. “You’re gonna need more stuff. Write a list and the boys will get it for you. Including lip gloss and tampons.”
Do not blush. Do not blush. He’s just trying to get a rise out of you.
“I can go and get it myself. I just need a vehicle to get there. And some directions.”
He pierced her with his cold gaze. “Don’t you remember the rules I just gave you five minutes ago?”
Of course she did. She wasn’t stupid. “You said I couldn’t go anywhere without your permission.”
“And I’m not giving it to you.”
She breathed in . . . then slowly out. Trying to calm the fear coursing through her. Another panic attack loomed on the horizon; she could feel it low in her gut. But it couldn’t happen. She couldn’t show weakness around this man.
“I’m a prisoner here?”
“Of course you’re not. You can leave anytime you want. But the minute you leave without my permission, my protection ends.”
She had to remind herself that he was putting his life on the line for her. She needed him. And when it as all over she didn’t have to see him again.
“Understand?”
She nodded “Understood.”
“Good. I’ll get West to show you where you’re staying. Get me that list and I will get the stuff to you in a few days.”
And, with that, she knew she was dismissed. But she wasn’t quite ready to go.
After a few moments, he let out a deep breath. “You can go.”
“I can cook,” she blurted out. “And clean.”
He stared up at her impassively. “Not why you’re here.”
“Yes, but I thought I could make myself useful while I’m here.” It would make her feel better, that was for sure. She hated the imbalance of knowing he was taking all the risk and she was giving nothing in return. Even if he was a jerk.
“Just do what I tell you and stay out of the way, that’s the most useful thing you can do. You can go now.”
Great. She was starting to think that New York might not be such a bad option. Maybe facing a mobster would be preferable to living here with Alec Malone.
3
She lasted two days.
Two days of sitting in her room, being bored out of her mind. She’d managed to find a few books to read in the smaller, second living room downstairs. In fact, she’d started to treat that like her own space once she’d figured out nobody else used it. When Alec wasn’t working out on the ranch, he holed up in his office. Often with West, his not-very-talkative brother. In fact, West took taciturn to a whole new level.
After showing her to her room when she’d first arrived, West had gone over her luggage with that little device again, then left. All without a word. At least he hadn’t pawed through her underwear. Mind you, he would have been pretty disappointed if he had. It was all plain cotton and there wasn’t much of it.
Jardin had left for New Orleans the day after she’d arrived. She’d figured if she just stayed out of everyone’s way, she’d been fine. But when she’d woken up this morning, she’d decided she couldn’t stand to live there for two more months like this. Sitting around, doing nothing just wasn’t who she was. So she’d headed into the kitchen and gotten to work. The Malone brothers all ate in the main house, even though they slept in a large bunkhouse.
They all ate in the larger living room at the front of the house. And left it in a pigsty each time. She’d spent most of this afternoon cleaning the kitchen. Those boys seemed to live on steak, sausages, and bacon. And nothing else.
She braced herself as she heard a door open. Right on time. It sounded like a runaway herd of cattle was headed towards her. If cattle could talk. And the majority of what came out of their mouths was profanity. She was blushing even before they hit the kitchen. The first brother came to a fast stop, the rest of them pushing against him as they tried to get through the door at the same time.
She resisted the urge to check that her hair was tidy or to wish she had something nicer to wear. The plain, whi
te T-shirt she wore was a bit baggy and wouldn’t have been her first choice. White didn’t really look good against her pale skin. And if she didn’t start eating better, the dark jeans she was wearing were going to slip right off. Malone had told her to make a list of what she needed, but it didn’t feel right to ask for anything.
Only she really needed to get her prescription for her anti-anxiety meds refilled. But she didn’t want Alec Malone to know how weak she was that she couldn’t cope without being medicated. Nope, not happening. She’d just figure that shit out later. Somehow.
“Well, hello there, darlin’,” the first rogue drawled at her. He looked her up then down and by the time he was finished a blush had engulfed her entire body. “I thought my brother had you locked up in your room. Now I can see why.”
“Beau, get out of the damn way,” one of the others growled. “I’m fucking hungry.”
The one at the front, Beau, didn’t answer but he did take a couple of steps forward and headed straight towards her. She backed up a step, she knew it was cowardly, but she couldn’t fight instinct.
His grin just widened. She looked behind him, to find the other brothers had entered the kitchen, all but two staring at her like she was a piece of prime beef steak.
Beau, who still had his hat on and wore dusty, ripped jeans and a faded checked shirt, leaned in close. He hadn’t shaved in a few days, and his bright, blue eyes stood out against his deeply tanned skin.
He was gorgeous. And dangerous. Her heart raced.
She was trapped. Trapped. Trapped.
She could feel the scream inside her rising. Then he reached down and grabbed her hand, raising it to kiss the back. Her breath came in sharp pants even though he did nothing more than hold her hand and smile down at her.
“Beau!” A sharp voice barked from the doorway, and she jumped.
Beau didn’t look worried. He just turned slowly, letting her see past his wide chest to where Alec stood in the doorway. He stared at his brother then his gaze moved around to the rest of them.
“Having dinner with us tonight, brother?” one of the others asked. There was a note of something in his voice she couldn’t quite decipher.
Alec’s gaze settled on her. Shit. She had nowhere left to retreat to.
“What are you doing in here?” he barked.
“Jesus, Alec, she’s allowed to eat.” One of them glared at his brother. She wished she knew all their names, but she’d only met Tanner and West. Well, and now Beau.
“I just thought . . . I was bored . . . I cooked dinner,” she said lamely.
“You cooked dinner? Hot damn.” Another one rubbed his hands together.
“I know what I’d like for dinner,” Beau said slyly, giving her a long, hungry look.
Oh, shit. She was in such trouble.
“Beau!” Alec snapped again. “Give us a minute.”
It took her a few beats to realize he was speaking to her. She nodded quickly, feeling like a complete idiot.
“I’ll just go finish setting the dining table.”
“The dining table?” Another of the brothers asked her. He scowled. “We don’t eat at the dining room table. Don’t even know why we bought that damn thing.”
“Because it came with the house, dickhead,” another brother said.
Her eyes widened. But the one who’d first spoken didn’t seem offended. He just shrugged. “Should have used it on a bonfire a long time ago.”
She had seen the dining room table earlier. It was beautiful and made out of walnut. It obviously cost a lot of money. And they wanted to use it as firewood?
Not my place. Not my home.
She looked up at Alec, wondering if he’d say anything. But he just stared at his brothers. As she slipped by him, he grabbed her arm. “I thought I told you that you weren’t to cook.”
“I can’t sit in my room for two months; I’m going to go insane. I’m sorry if my presence offends you. I’ll try to keep out of your way.”
He let her go as she tugged at her arm.
Asshole.
Damn it. He hadn’t meant it like that. He just wanted to keep her out of the way of his brothers. Plus, she wasn’t here to work as their unpaid cook. Maybe they could come to some arrangement though, if her food tasted as good as it smelled.
He ignored his rumbling gut and stepped into the kitchen, closing the door behind him. As soon as she left the room, his brothers started grabbing plates and lifting the lid on the dishes sitting on the counter.
“Want some of this?” Raid asked him around a mouthful of food. “Damn this shit is good.”
“Good?” Maddox said. “Its best fucking whatever it is I’ve ever tasted.”
“Stop,” Alec commanded in a low voice. They all stilled and looked at him. “Do you not remember me telling you all that you need to keep your hands off her?”
They all looked at each other, except for West and Jaret. Jaret had a girl in town. The only one of them that had had a steady girlfriend for longer than a few weeks. And West, well, he’d never shown an interest in any girl except Lana.
“We just figured you were saying that in front of Jardin,” Tanner said.
“If Jardin doesn’t want us touching her, he should have taken her to his brothers,” Raid said. “Don’t even think they have a dick among them that works.”
They all laughed except West and Alec. “This has nothing to do with Jardin. She’s here for our protection, not to cook and clean, and definitely not to be your fuck toy.”
Now everyone stared at him.
“You want her?” Maddox asked.
“Hey, man, if I knew she was yours, I never would have—” Beau started to say.
Alex scowled at him. “She is not mine. I’m not interested in her. She’s my responsibility while she’s here. We’ve got to keep her alive until she can testify. Keeping her alive, doesn’t mean having her in your beds. Just keep your hands off her. Got it?”
He turned and walked away before any of them could say anything. Mia was waiting anxiously outside the dining room.
“You can cook for them if you want. I’ll work out a wage for you. It will have to be cash. No paper trail.”
“No need to pay me,” she replied quietly. “You’re already doing so much. I want to do something in return.”
“You’ll get paid.” He stomped away, down towards his office, ignoring the urge to turn back—to take her in his arms and demand that she not even think about going near one of his brothers. But he forced himself to keep walking. He didn’t want to think too closely about why he cared whether Mia ended up in one of their beds. Probably because he didn’t want any more problems. He intended to carry on with his life and ignore their house guest as much as possible.
The Malone brothers were mad. Crazy. Reckless. And she was fast falling in love with them.
But they also had absolutely no manners. She still couldn’t believe they never used that dining room. They’d all rather fight over the furniture in the huge living room, so they could sit in front of the TV and shovel her food into their mouths. All the time grunting, talking over each other, and trying to snatch food from each other’s plates. By the time they were finished eating, the place was a pigsty. After a few nights of sitting through that, she’d had enough.
She been there for a week. At first, she’d jumped at just about every loud noise or blushed with each rude innuendo, but she was coming to know them better now and most of what they said and did was in good fun. They were charismatic and full of energy and life, so much so, they made her feel exhausted just being around them.
She’d managed to work out who was who. Alec, of course, was the oldest. And he never joined them to eat. Neither did West, who was the second oldest brother. Next came Jaret. He was her favorite. He wasn’t around as much because he had a girlfriend in the next town over. He was the one who always took a minute to ask her how she was doing and he often helped clean up.
Then came the twins, Maddox and Beau. They
a handful. They were identical, and at the beginning the only way she’d had of telling them apart was that Beau was missing part of a finger, but it was becoming easier as she got to know them. Maddox tended to be less of a flirt, just a tad more reserved than his twin brother. Then came Butch. She’d figured that was a nickname—it wasn’t. And he suited his name. He was the biggest of all the brothers, with wide shoulders and a booming laugh that she was certain could be heard in the next state over.
Then there was Raid. Boy, could Raid eat. She’d never met someone who loved food as much as he did. Almost as much as he enjoyed creating chaos wherever he went. The youngest was Tanner. He was just a couple of years older than she was, and quite possibly the wildest of the lot, which was saying something.
But eating with them was an exercise in self-control. She didn’t have any right to tell them that they had horrible manners and they needed to clean their shit up. That was kind of her job now. Even if she didn’t intend to take any money from Alec.
Living there was payment enough. Sure, she hadn’t been at all certain in the beginning, but the longer she stayed, the safer she felt. There was no reason for the mob hit man on her tail to look for her here. She hadn’t felt a panic attack looming since day three. She was still having nightmares, but thankfully, all of the brothers except Alec slept out in the bunkhouse. And Alec’s bedroom was down the other end of the house.
Keeping busy helped. And cooking and cleaning for these guys certainly kept her occupied. This was a huge house. She wasn’t sure why the brothers all slept out in the bunkhouse, although that was probably a good thing, since spending time with them was an exercise in self-control.
She knew they were just teasing her, of course. They didn’t really want to sleep with her. But sometimes it was hard to remember that. They were all freaking gorgeous. With varying shades of dark hair, muscular bodies, tanned skin, and that glint they got in their eyes when they were about to say something cocky was just about more than she could take.
All of them except West, Jaret, and Alec that was. Jaret was the only one with a girlfriend. West never even spoke to her. And Alec, well, he was never around. He never ate meals with them. West usually took a plate to him in his office. He was often gone before she even got up. In the beginning, she’d worried it was because of her. That he just didn’t want to be around her. But Jaret had reassured her that he never ate with them.