Brad grabbed Macy and hauled her away as Nadine prepared to launch herself at her.
“Enough!”
The suit moved to Nadine, who was clasping her sore cheek and sobbing. “We'll get what we want, and there's nothing these idiots can do about it. Now let’s leave.”
“What, no good-bye hug?” Ethan taunted his father.
“I’ll make you both pay. Your precious Lake Howling will be destroyed by the time I’m done with it.”
Brad felt something cold slither down his spine at his father’s words. He had enough money to do some serious damage to Lake Howling if he wanted to follow through with that threat.
He watched the men and Nadine leave, disappearing down a trail, and then minutes later the helicopters rose and flew away. Brad's hand was still attached to Macy's arm, and he thought that was a good thing as his head felt all over the place.
“Nice move, Mace, remind me not to piss you off,” Ethan said.
“I can't believe I did that.”
Brad saw she was genuinely shocked by her actions.
“She deserved it. I hate that man.”
“Same,” Brad answered his brother. “Seeing him just reinforced for me how much.”
“We need to move on this fast, now he's on to us. I'll go and collect the others.”
“Ethan.” Brad made himself speak.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
“Anytime.”
They watched his bird rise, both silent, still attached.
“Are you okay, Brad?”
He made himself release her, made himself move a few feet away, because what he wanted to do was haul her close and lose himself in her lovely body. She'd chase the memory of his father away. Help him with the adrenaline that still coursed through him.
“Sure. You?”
“Nadine and I were friends in school. I changed, she didn't, and I'm not proud of some of the things we got up to.”
She looked pissed off, and Brad found himself closing the distance between them again.
“Well, I think you won that round.”
She smiled up at him. “I did, didn't I?” She rotated her wrist. “Not sure how men can throw a punch and not break something. My wrist is stinging.”
He took her hand, rubbing the tender skin.
“Tell me to step away, Macy.” The urgency in his voice made her eyes widen.
“I can't.”
He lowered his head slowly, giving her plenty of time to pull back, and then she was his. Her soft lips opened and he kissed her. The emotions that had ridden him when his father was there made him take her deeper. Cupping her head, he devoured her.
Her hands crept to his neck, his to her back, and then he was running one under the leg of her shorts. Her skin was warm and sleek as his fingers moved to the edge of her panties. He swallowed her moan as he slid around to the front and touched her through the satin.
