"Maddox."
My jaw dropped. "Wait…you don't mean Maddox McGuiness? You two are friends? Seriously?" I gave him a quick sideways glance. "How come I didn't know that?"
"It's not something we advertise."
"But he's…" I didn't finish, because the last thing I wanted was to insult Ryder's friend.
But Ryder caught my meaning anyway, and his voice cooled several degrees. "He's not what people think."
I only prayed he was right.But I didn't say it, because it seemed kind of rude when I had never even met the guy. And besides, I wouldn't like Ryder insultingmyfriends. So instead, I filed the information away for later and made a different point entirely. "But Griff was still cheated, right? How is that okay?"
Ryder shrugged. "Sometimes, the ends justify the means."
"But what doesthatmean?"
"It means, I would've done worse to break Griff out of his funk."
I wasn't sure how I felt about that. Sure, part of me warmed at the thought of Ryder looking out for his friend. But theotherpart? The more ethical part?Thatpart wanted to argue.
As if reading my mind, Ryder said, "Trust me, I didn't do it lightly."
Did I trust him?Probably. So I asked the obvious question. "So, whoisGriff, anyway? I mean…other than your friend?"
Ryder hesitated. "Why do you ask?"
"Other than curiosity? I guess I'm a little concerned. I mean, if he and Maisie ever get close…"
"Don't worry. He's a solid guy."
"But whoishe?" I pressed. "The way it sounds, he's told Maisie nearly nothing, so I guess I'm wondering…does he have something to hide?"
For some reason, this made Ryder laugh. "You could say that."
I didn't see the humor. "And that'sfunny?"
"Yeah, but he's no serial killer."
It wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement. "Oh, so he's killed onlyoneperson?"
Ryder gave me a funny look. "What?"
"Well…serial implies a bunch of people, so technically, he could've murdered only one, and your statement would've been accurate."
He laughed. "Okay. Zero murders. You happy?"
In spite of everything, Iwashappy. I'd been sexed silly and pleasantly distracted. But for Maisie's sake, I refused to let it go. "Sure, but I'm still curious. You can't give mesomehint?"
"I can," he said. "But only if it stays between us."
"But why? Because of Maisie?"
"Yup. It won't bemewho steals his thunder."
"Yeah, well…me neither." I gave a playful hip bump. "So, maybeyoushould trustme."
So he did, telling me all about Griff and his background after I pinkie-swore that Maisie would hear none of it from me. I meant it, too, and not only because a promise was a promise.
Just like Ryder didn't want to steal Griff's thunder, I had no intention of ruining Maisie's fun of learning about Griff on her own.
