20. Hunter #2
His closed expression gives no hint of emotion, which isn’t unusual for my brother.
He’s the master of self-control, but I’ve learned the hard way that the icier he is, the closer he is to erupting.
I’d like to think I’m my brother’s equal, but my heart rate has skyrocketed. I’ve been dreading this moment.
As I get up from my seat, Mace and Reid do too. I put a hand on Maddie’s shoulder so she knows to stay where she is.
It’s Connie who greets our brother with a hug rather than the tight nod I’d given him. “Asher Griffin, you should have warned us. Are you hungry?”
My big brother’s voice softens a fraction when he says, “I’m fine for now, Connie. Rory sends his love and some of Scotland’s finest shortbread, best with a cup of tea, apparently.” He hands over a gift bag. “Why don’t you go and have an early night. I promise, we’ll clean up after ourselves.”
Connie pulls back to scrutinize his features. “Fine, I’ll make myself scarce. But you have an early night too.” She presses a hand to his cheek, rubbing his beard. “You look like you haven’t slept for days.”
“I’ve had a lot to keep me awake,” he says, his voice growing cold again as Connie moves away and he looks to me.
I don’t break our gaze as I lean in to whisper in Maddie’s ear. “Let me do the talking,” I say before kissing her cheek.
I’m safe for now because Ash isn’t going to do or say anything in front of Connie, or anyone else for that matter.
He’ll wait until we’re alone before he goes nuclear.
I tell myself he can berate me all he wants.
It isn’t going to change my marital status.
Whether Ash likes it or not, Maddie is my responsibility until I say otherwise. And I’m not going to move on that.
“Right then,” Ash says, when Connie’s left. “Do you want to do the introductions, Hunter?”
“Sure, why not?” I say. I impress myself with how casual I sound. “Maddie, this is my brother, Ash. Ash, this is my wife , Maddie.”
I can see the vein in Ash’s temple throbbing. I’m sure Maddie can see it too, but that doesn’t stop her from slipping from my grasp so she can stand. “I’ve heard so much about you, Ash,” she says, hurrying towards him before I have a chance to pull her back.
Ash doesn’t know he’s about to be Maddisoned , and reluctantly extends an arm to shake her hand.
Maddie tuts. “I think we can do better than that,” she says, going in for a hug.
Ash is physically the strongest brother, but he doesn’t stand a chance against Maddie. When she wraps him in a hug, his brow furrows. It’s the only sign that she’s having some effect on him, although he’s never going to admit it.
Maddie tips back her head and stares up into his face. “Connie’s right, you do look tired. Come on,” she says, tugging his sleeve. “Sit down and I’ll get an extra plate. The casserole should still be nice and hot. Do you want something to drink?”
“I’m not hungry, but a very large whiskey would be good right now,” he says stiffly. Maybe it’s the jet lag, but he takes the chair Maddie directs him towards before she goes to fetch his drink.
“Ash has the bottle with the red label,” Reid offers helpfully.
“It has his name on it in case anyone gets any ideas about drinking it,” Mace adds.
Maddie takes the bottle from one of the cabinets. “So, I can’t take a quick swig?”
Ash’s eyes dart in her direction as my other brothers shout in unison, “No!”
There’s a half smile playing on her lips. Not a good sign. “Fine, I get it.” She gives Ash a look when she adds, “It’s important to you all that you respect each other’s things.”
I keep my expression stoic, but Mace and Reid don’t attempt to hide their amusement as we return to our seats.
Ash glowers at them, and although that would normally shut them down, this is new territory.
Maddie has changed the entire landscape of our family, and while Ash continues to silently fume, the confrontation he had planned is clearly falling apart.
“Is someone going to tell me what happened to my wedding invitation?” he says.
Maddie hands Ash his whiskey. “Ah, that was my fault. It’s a long story, but I suspect you know most of it. ”
“Do I?” he asks before taking his first swig.
“I take it you were involved in the plan to stop Barrett taking over my paper mill?”
“It was my plan,” Ash says gruffly.
As Maddie returns to her seat, she avoids my eye so she can claim not to see me silently urging her to shut the fuck up.
“Ah, so it was you who decided to wait until my wedding day to stop Barrett from marrying me. Was it also your idea to let the entire chapel listen to my fiancé cheating on me so my public humiliation would be complete? I must admit, I’m surprised you thought I’d even consider selling the paper mill to you after pulling that stunt. ”
I wince, and Ash sees me. Maybe he’s expecting me to take control of my wife, but I think I’ll keep quiet a little longer.
“It’s OK, I forgive you,” Maddie adds quickly. “My engagement to Barrett was indecently hasty, and I can’t blame you for not doing sufficient research into my family and their archaic view of women. I was brought up to be seen and not heard.”
“She’s making up for lost time now,” Mace says, his face straight.
“You know, I was terrified of Hunter at first,” Maddie continues. “I just wanted to run away.”
“After slapping him across the face,” Reid adds. “You should have heard the sound it made in the chapel.”
Maddie shakes her hand as if she can still feel the sting. “And then I ran into Mace, and he was even scarier.”
“She elbowed him in the stomach.” It’s Reid again.
“I was fighting back,” Maddie explains. “But as scared as I was of the situation I found myself in, I was more afraid of being handed back to my brother – I presume you know why?” Ash nods.
“So when Hunter explained how he wanted to buy the mill, I responded with a counter proposal. I didn’t really give him any other choice. ”
“He could have fucking walked away.”
Maddie tilts her head. “Would you have told Mace or Reid to walk away if it had been one of them I’d propositioned? Because, for added context, we did go through the pros and cons of me marrying each of them.”
“I didn’t know that,” Reid says.
“You would have been my second choice,” Maddie assures him. “Mace was too scared of me.”
“In your dreams,” he mutters.
Maddie simply winks and waits for Mace’s cheeks to redden before returning her attention to Ash. “I appreciate there’s an element of risk, but we had a prenup drawn up, and I have no intention of repaying Hunter’s kindness by claiming anything that isn’t rightfully mine.”
“And I’m supposed to take your word for that?” asks Ash.
“No,” Maddie says quickly. “The agreement was between Hunter and I. And he trusts me.”
Ash’s gaze flicks to me. “After knowing her for a week?”
“Yes,” I say.
Ash drains his glass. “But you didn’t trust me, did you, brother?”
“I just saved you the trouble of trying to talk me out of it,” I reply.
“We shouldn’t have gone after Barrett the way we did.
We were poorly prepared, and we didn’t stop to consider the collateral damage.
We didn’t just humiliate Maddie, we put her safety at risk.
I’ve seen firsthand what her brother can do. ”
“Me too,” Mace says. “And we did intend on telling you, Ash. It was the day we had to cut short the video call. Maddie was in town and her brother tracked her down. If we hadn’t got there in time, he would have left her for dead – if she was lucky.
I was brought up better than to turn my back on someone being abused like that. ”
“Me too,” Reid says.
“Jesus, was everyone in on this except me? Did Jake know?” Ash sounds tired, and unexpectedly resigned to what I’ve done. I’m starting to think Maddie might have performed a small miracle. She’s kept the conversation civil and Ash is coming around to our point of view.
“Only us,” I assure him. “And I take full responsibility for my actions. As of today, we have control of the paper mill. Maddie’s replaced Hugo as chair so we can start turning things around. It’s why we do this.” I need to remind him of the bigger picture.
Ash blinks. “You put Maddison in charge?”
Shit. I forgot I hadn’t told him about that either.
“I thought the codicil gave you a seat on the board? She shouldn’t be a part of this,” Ash continues.
“ She owns half of the company,” Maddie points out, barbs cutting through the honey in her soft tone. “But my marriage to your brother has meant we work as a partnership. And we’re pretty good at it.”
“He gave you something he shouldn’t have.”
“You mean my voice?” she asks. “You really should have met my father. I’m beginning to think you might have had a lot in common.”
“Don’t presume to know me, Maddison.”
She leans forward, meeting his glare. “And don’t presume to know me, Asher .”
He shakes his head as if she’s just confirmed whatever suspicions he’s holding. “I can see you have your own agenda,” he says coldly. “Don’t expect me to be so willing to trust you. As of now, everything changes. ”
I can only see Maddie’s profile, but I see her blanch. “What does that mean?”
When I hear the fear in her voice, I rise to my feet. “It means my brother and I are going to carry on this discussion in private,” I say, shooting Ash a warning glare.
Maddie twists in her seat. “But this is about me! And I’m done with letting other people dictate my future.”
I take Maddie’s hand and coax her to her feet. Ignoring the eyes on us, I say, “Do you trust me?”
“Yes.”
“Then go to your room and pack your things,” I tell her. I’m tempted to leave a pause, if only to fuck with Ash, but I can’t do that to Maddie. I can see her pulse fluttering in her neck as she takes a steadying breath. I lean in close. “You’re my wife, and from now on, you share my bed.”