Casey broke into the burgeoning fight. “It’s okay, Maxie. I know your dad has had a lot of girlfriends.”
Max kept eating, his eyes staring into hers in amusement. She was tempted to stick her tongue out at him, but she didn’t want to set a bad example.
“See, she knows Dad’s a horn-dog.”
Max choked on his food, while Casey almost spilled her glass of water.
“You’re not supposed to say that!” Maxie reprimanded him before his father could.
“Why? That’s what Mom calls him.”
“Eat your dinner. I’ll have a talk with your mother when I take you home tomorrow,” Max said grimly.
Maxim looked stricken that his father and mother would get into an argument.
“How about we finish dinner so I can cut the cake?” Casey gave Max a warning glare as she cut him another slice of meatloaf and more potatoes. “Eat up.” If she was lucky, he would eat himself into a food coma.
They ate their dessert in the living room while they played video games.
She was about to take the last bite of cupcake when Max reached over, pulling her hand to his mouth.
“How come you’re the only one who got a cupcake?”
“Because I like vanilla more than chocolate.” Max took the bite from her hand, licking off the small bit of vanilla that was left on her fingers.
“Jeez, Dad. That’s gross,” Randy said, sitting down on his dad’s lap.
Max winced, shifting his son to one of his thighs.
“I’ll remind you of that in about twenty years.” Max smiled, wrestling with his son.
“It won’t be that long,” Maxton said, concentrating on the video game. “He already has a girlfriend.”
Max straightened to look down at his innocent son. “You have a girlfriend?”
“Her name is Sofia,” Randy admitted with shining eyes.
“Like father, like son.” Casey burst out laughing, almost dropping the controller.
“God, let’s hope not.”
“Dad, she’s cheating,” Maxton complained.
“Another one takes after you. Sore losers must run in the family gene pool,” Casey taunted.
“She didn’t even have the map, and she found the crown.”
“Because I’m good.” Casey sank back against the couch.
“Now the boys have to do the dinner dishes,” Maxie whooped, bringing the red faces of the boys to her. Their sister stood. “Come on, I’ll help you.” The four children went into the kitchen.
“You’re going to trust them to do the dishes?”
“Yep,” Max said, lifting her onto his lap.
“You’re not going to help them?”
“Nope.” He teased her neck with small kisses.
“You have to help them at least put the food away. It was the girls against the boys. You’re a boy, so you have to help.”
Max lifted his hips, pressing his cock against her ass. “You staying the night?”
“No, I told you I don’t like staying when your kids are here.”
“Then I’m not helping.”
“Are you trying to blackmail me?”
“Is it working?” he murmured seductively.
“A little bit,” Casey admitted, lying back against his chest.
“I’ll sneak you out before they wake up,” he promised, his hand sliding up her thigh under her dress.
Casey jumped up, walking toward the kitchen.
“Where are you going?”
“To help the kids. Have another slice or two of cake.”
“You going to stay?”
“Nope, looks like you lose twice tonight.”
Chapter 19
Casey was pacing nervously downstairs, trying to listen to any sounds from upstairs. It had been over an hour since Max had taken his children to bed.
The sound of the door slamming had her hurrying to the front door.
Max’s boots stomped down the stairs, jarring the whole house. Casey barely managed to press herself against the door, preventing him from storming out, before Max reached it.
“Move!”
“Calm down, Max.” Casey placed a hand on his chest.
He knocked her hand away. “Do not tell me to calm down. I’m going to rip that punk’s dick off and shove it down his throat.”
The graphic image had Casey going pale. Max was angry enough to do it.
“Max, you don’t have to do anything. She’s over her crush on him. He humiliated and hurt her. She doesn’t need you to make her feel worse about what happened.”
“She’s going to feel a whole lot worse when I smash that phone of hers and ground her ass.”
Casey stood mutely, letting him rant as she remained in front of the door.
“You don’t have anything to say to that?” Max snapped.
“No, I think her punishment should be discussed between you and her mother.”
“You should have called me immediately!” Max bashed his fist against the door above her head.
“Perhaps, but I wanted Maxie to tell you. Do you want her afraid of you?”
“No!”
“Then go back upstairs and show her you have everything under control.” Casey nodded to the top of the stairs where Maxie was standing, crying.
“Dammit!” he muttered, turning to go back upstairs.
Casey watched as Max apologized to Maxie for his outburst then lifted her up, giving her a hug and carrying her back into her bedroom.
Casey didn’t know whether to go or stay. Undecided, she went to the kitchen to get her purse. The lone vanilla cupcake looked pitiful all by itself, so Casey did the humane thing and ate it. She was tossing the wrapper in the trash when Max came into the kitchen.
“I thought you left.”
“I was about to, but I couldn’t resist the cupcake. Maxie okay?”
“Yes, I shouldn’t have lost my temper in front of her or you. I’m sorry.”
“To tell the truth, I was pretty upset at that boy, too. I was just relieved I was there.”
“Thank you, Casey.” Max shuddered. “It rips my guts out that she didn’t call me.”
“She was afraid and embarrassed, Max. Next time she’s in a position like that, I think she’ll call.”
“It better not be anytime soon. Maybe when she’s thirty I can deal with her boyfriends without wanting to kick their asses.”
“Just try to remember how you feel when you’re in love. Your experiences will help with theirs.”
A blank look crossed his face.
“You have been in love, haven’t you?”
“I’ve liked several women, but no, I’ve never been in love. That heart and flower stuff is for pussies.” Max snorted.
“I wonder if Ice would agree with you, or is he a pussy?”
Her question had Max’s lips tightening. “He’s no pussy.”
“I didn’t think so.” Casey folded her arms across her chest. “It’s time I went home.”
“You’re not going to stay?”
Casey almost lost it with the big man. She walked across the floor, coming to a stop in front of him.
Her finger poked him in the chest. “I fixed you dinner, listened to your kids call you a horn-dog, watched you smash your fist in the door, then had to put up with you telling me your asinine theory on love. I’m not exactly in the mood to fuck you tonight.”
He grinned unabashedly at her. “I said thank you.”
“I need to leave before I smash the rest of that chocolate cake in your face.”
He bent down, kissing her into silence. “They need to make lipstick that flavor.”
Her arms went around his shoulders. “Flavor?”
“Vanilla cupcake.” Max licked the corner of her lips.
“You would like anything dessert flavored.” Casey stepped back while she was still strong enough. “Goodnight, Max.”
“Night, Casey.” His amused voice followed her out the door.
As Casey was pulli
ng out of the driveway, she looked to the upstairs bedroom and saw Maxie standing in the framed window. She waved goodbye to her.
Casey’s throat tightened, glad that she had resisted Max’s effort to get her to stay. She was growing attached to his children, and for a man who didn’t believe in love, he had managed to capture hers. When he broke up with her, not only was it going to be hard dealing with his loss, but also the loss of the children. They had been dating a couple of months, and if Max kept to his schedule, she only had four months left, so she was already preparing herself. His wasn’t the only deadline looming, though. Monday, she would begin training her replacement at the bank.
When her relationship with Max ended, she would be leaving Queen City.
* * *
The Predators filed into the Burger Hut. Saturday night was always a busy night at the hangout for local teenagers. The large group of Predators found two empty booths, and Max slid into the one closest to the middle of the restaurant. That way, he had the best vantage point to observe the different groups.
Most of the teenagers avoided looking in their direction, although a few cocky ones stared at them in bravado, trying to hide their fear.
“Do you know which one he is?” Jackal asked, sliding in next to him.
“No.” Max shrugged then looked around the restaurant, and one young punk caught his eye. He fit the description from Maxie’s mom.
The waitress approached. “What can I get for you guys?”
The men all ordered burgers and fries.
“Bring us all chocolate shakes,” Max ordered.
Once the waitress left with their orders, his gaze traveled back to the punk who had lured his daughter from school. He was surrounded by girls his own age, with one overdeveloped brunette hanging on to his arm. He thought he was too protected, surrounded by his friends in the restaurant. The little prick was going to find out that Max didn’t care who saw him giving the beating he was going to enjoy.
The men chowed down on their food when it arrived, most of them having ordered two burgers and chili cheese fries. Max ordered each of the brothers a sundae for dessert.
“We need to come out with Max more often.” Buzzard groaned, dropping his spoon into the empty ice cream dish.
The waitress stopped at their table, placing the ticket down.
“We are here as guests tonight. Fisher’s paying.” The waitress picked the ticket up, going to the kid Max had already guessed was the one he was searching for. He went pale when the waitress handed him the ticket.
“That’s the one,” Max said grimly, getting to his feet.
Ice, Jackal, and the rest of the club followed him as he made his way across the room.
“There must be a mistake—” the boy began before Max’s hand circled his throat, lifting him easily off his feet.
“You’re fucking right. You made a big one trying to mess with my daughter.”
“Your daughter?”
“Maxie! You tried to fuck with a thirteen-year-old who happens to be under the protection of the Predators.”
“I didn’t—”
Max tightened his hand around the liar’s throat.
“You didn’t get her to sneak out of school and meet you then drive her to the mall and try to feel her up? You better not lie to me. I have the surveillance tape from the mall.” Max didn’t feel any compunction about lying to the boy dangling from his hand.
“I drove her to the mall because she asked me to. When I tried to open the door for her, she freaked out on me.”
“You just made your second mistake.” Max released his tight grip, and Fisher fell to the floor, barely managing to keep from falling on his face.
Max gave him enough time to get his balance before slamming his fist into his face. Fisher fell backward into the booth, and Max reached down to jerk him out.
“From now on, you don’t look at my daughter.” Max slammed his head down onto the table, dumping a cup full of coke on his bleeding face when he passed out. The teen was still groggy when Max picked him up again.
“If I see you near her again, I’ll fucking kill you.” Max let the boy go, shoving him toward his friends.
“The cops are coming,” Jackal warned him.
“You all get out of here. I’ll see you when you bail me out.” Max sat down in a chair and waited for the cops.
The brothers scattered like dust in the blink of an eye. They had provided back-up if he needed it, but there was no reason to spend the extra money to bail them all out of jail.
The cops called an ambulance for the punk who had thought he could destroy Max’s daughter. Cuffed and placed in the backseat of the cruiser, Max actually felt like he was in a good mood until he realized Casey was expecting him later tonight. She was going to be pissed he had gone after the boy.
He began whistling as the cop drove him to the police station.
“Why in the hell are you in a good mood? Your ass is going to be locked up for a while.” The cop looked at him in the rearview mirror.
“You ever fucked a woman when she’s mad?”
Chapter 20
Casey picked up her cell phone, muting the ringer.
“Got a minute?” Gianna asked, coming into her office.
“Yes. What can I do for you?” Casey asked, seeing her friend with an unusually serious expression on her face.
Gianna closed her office door before taking the chair in front of her desk. She raised the letter in her hand.
“I received this letter in my mailbox today. You picked me as the new vice president?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand. I didn’t apply… Lonnie has been here longer, and he wants the job.”
“You don’t want the promotion?” Casey questioned.
“Of course I do. It’s a large pay raise, and the benefits are better.”
“So, you’ll take the job?” Casey straightened the papers on her desk as she waited for her answer.
“Of course I want the freaking job! Are you crazy? Lonnie’s going to be upset, though.”
“Don’t worry about Lonnie. You deserve the promotion. You’re the most reliable worker the bank has; you remain cool when the clients get angry; and your cash drawer is always spot on. You will make a great vice president. I’ll begin your training this afternoon. In a month, you’ll know as much as I do.”
Gianna stood up, holding her hand out. “Thank you, Casey. I haven’t said anything, and I’d like to keep this personal, but the extra money will come in handy. My mom is getting older and is having a hard time working full-time. With the raise, I can help her out until she retires.”
Casey went around her desk, taking Gianna’s hand and tugging her close for a swift hug. “We’ll all benefit from you taking the job. You’re a valuable employee to the bank.”
Gianna gave her a watery smile as she paused before opening the door. “What about Lonnie? I… don’t want him to find out from the grapevine.”
“Send him in. I’ll break the news to him.”
“Thanks again, Casey.”
She went to get herself a cup of coffee. When she returned, Lonnie was sitting in the chair Gianna had vacated.
“Gianna said you wanted to see me. Have you made a decision about the new vice president?”
Lonnie had told everyone in the bank he had applied for the position when the previous vice president had quit to stay at home with her new child.
Casey closed her door, setting her coffee cup down on the desk. “Yes, I have. I offered the job to Gianna, and she accepted.”
Anger flooded his face as he stared at her in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding, right? I’ve worked my ass off for that promotion.”
“Yes you have, and it’s been a waste of time. Not only are you not becoming vice president, but you’re fired. Clean your locker out and leave the bank. Jack will escort you.” Casey motioned her head toward the security guard who stood outside her glass office.
“You can’t fire
me!”
“Why can’t I fire you?”
“You know damn well why.”
“Because you’re paid by the Predators? Because you think, since I’m seeing Max, that your job was safe after you let Jackal into the safe-deposit box area?” Casey mocked his stunned expression. “I didn’t need to do much investigating to figure out who did it, Lonnie. Only one person is constantly hanging around my office and knew where I kept that key. You were the only one with access to the vault besides me.”
“They won’t let you fire me.” Lonnie’s anger had turned to smugness.
“I’ve got news for you: the Predators don’t tell me what to do. You need to leave now, and I won’t be giving you a reference.”
“You fucking bitch, I’ll be back at work tomorrow, and I’ll get that promotion, too. You’re the one who’s going to be out on your fucking ass.”
Casey didn’t reply as she opened the door for Jack. Lonnie threw her an angry glare as he left. The other employees were shocked to watch Lonnie escorted off the property. Casey didn’t answer any of the questions directed her way from the ones wanting the gossip first. She worked through her day normally as if she hadn’t fired someone and her boyfriend wasn’t locked up behind bars.
She’d been furious at Max when she had answered her cell phone to hear a recording that the call was coming from the jailhouse. Max’s voice coming over the line explaining that he had beaten up Maxie’s teenage crush had infuriated her.
“Are you crazy? He’s a kid!”
“What if he had raped her that day? What if you hadn’t been there, and a pervert snatched her from the bus stop? Anything could have happened. He talked her into leaving school. The punk even sent her a picture of himself. He’s fucking lucky I didn’t kill him.”
“You know these conversations are recorded, don’t you?” Casey snapped at him. “How long are you going to be in jail?”
“Until this afternoon. I’m waiting for Creed, Ice’s lawyer, to post bond.”
“How bad did you hurt him?”
“Nothing that won’t heal in a week or two. I have to go, but I didn’t want you waiting up for me. See you Monday.”
He hung up before she could tell him goodbye, and he had been calling her all morning. She hadn’t answered, not because she was angry at him for beating up Fisher—she thought he deserved it—but because she knew she was going to fire Lonnie and that he was connected to the Predators. She had been afraid she would break and tell him what she was going to do, and he would try to talk her out of doing it.