Page 244 of Vicious Temptation

The youngest of us is also the quietest, and people have always mistaken that for hesitation. Madden doesn’t posture or raise his voice to prove he can hold his own because he’s never needed to. Even now, with two guns pointed in our direction, his weapon remains lowered, and his attention stays fixed on the men in front of us.

He may only be seventeen, but anyone who mistakes his age for weakness learns quickly that Madden is Derek Cain’s son.

As furious as I am, I know how quickly this could turn into something none of us can undo. One nervous trigger finger is all it takes, and I’m not willing to gamble with the lives of three people I love just to prove we’ve done nothing wrong. I’m the oldest one here, and that means getting everyone out of this building safely matters more than my pride.

Keeping my movements slow, I set my pistol on the counter beside me.

“This is a huge misunderstanding.” I keep my attention on Grey. “I own Sloane’s, and these are my brothers. Like I said, this has nothing to do with us.” I hate the next words before I even say them. “I’ll show you identification. We all will. Just stop pointing your guns at my family.”

I motion for the boys to put their weapons down. They hesitate, looking between me and the officers, but eventually follow my lead. Madden is the last to set his pistol on the counter.

“This is bullshit,” he mutters.

“I know.”

The second officer speaks into his radio while Grey takes another step toward us.

“Step away from your weapons.”

Fuck.

Every part of me wants to tell him exactly where he can shove that order. We’ve lowered our guns, agreed to cooperate. There’s no reason for either of them to still have theirs raised.

I step away from the counter, and the boys follow just as the front door swings open and more officers pour into the lobby.

They were waiting.

Before I can process what’s happening, someone grabs my arms and wrenches them behind my back.

“What the fuck?” Gio roars. “Let go of my sister!”

I twist toward his voice, but another cop blocks my view as handcuffs close around my wrists.

“Don’t touch her!” Matteo shouts.

“Get the fuck off me!” Madden snarls.

I catch a glimpse of him fighting against the officers restraining him before three of them force his arms behind his back.

“Stop!” I shout. “He’s seventeen. Stop fucking grabbing him!”

No one listens.

I try to turn toward Grey, but the officer behind me keeps my arms pinned. “What are you arresting us for?”

No one answers.

“Hey!” I shout. “I asked you a fucking question. What is this for?”

Still nothing.

Anger burns through me as I look from Gio to Matteo and finally Madden. We did exactly what they asked, and the second we stepped away from our guns, a team that was already waiting outside came through the door. There was never anything to de-escalate.

They just wanted us unarmed.

I stop fighting the officer behind me and glare at Grey. Whatever brought him into Sloane’s tonight, it had nothing to do with a report of gunshots.

They came here for us.