Maddie and Wyn Read Online Free PDF Page B

endless stretch of seconds Devlin dug his fingers into the furrows on his forehead, but then looked up and blurted, “I don’t like this. Doing this makes me feel as if I’m going over Maddie’s head, like she’s a child or something. You’re asking me to make a decision for her.”
    Frowning, parts of his head silently screaming that what he was doing was wrong, Wyn admitted, “It’s ugly, I know.” The dominant warrior in him added, “But you’re gonna do it. I’m asking you to.”
    “No, you’re telling me to,” Devlin countered, rancor slipping into his tone. “You’re essentially blackmailing me with threats of exposing Garrick if I don’t.”
    “Hey,” Wyn snapped, suddenly not the slightest bit conflicted anymore. “I’m calling in a favor. One you issued freely. I did not demand anything for my help, you gave it.”
    “I know.” Streaks of lightning flashed in the storm of Devlin’s gaze, the color and temperament so closely matched to Maddie’s only moments ago. “But I also added the stipulation that only as long as it wasn’t physically or emotionally damaging to the person, would I help.”
    Like a poked bear, Wyn went up high and wide on his hind legs. “You think I want to damage Maddie somehow?” He closed in on Devlin, going chest-to-chest with the man. “Think long and hard about the next words that are gonna come out of your mouth, or else I can’t promise we’ll still be friends.”
    His finger right up in Wyn’s face, Devlin bumped back just as hard. “I know something went down between you two. I don’t know what, but I know it was something. Maddie has never said. Not even hinted. But I have eyes. I know you became friends, and then suddenly you weren’t. And I know when your friendship ended you looked hunted and haunted, and Maddie looked like she was just a pile of broken glass and defiant teary eyes.” Devlin wavered and his voice cracked. “I can’t be responsible for putting new pain in my sister’s eyes.”
    “Would you rather live with looking at her grave through your own teary eyes?” His chest tightening with just the possibility of those words becoming reality, Wyn moved in for the kill, his need to protect greater than his ability to sweet talk or finesse. “Because what happens if Maddie surprises this person one day or night, whoever it is? What if this person, not even intending to, freaks out and attacks Maddie in order to get away? What then? Are you still gonna feel good about not helping me right now?”
    Visibly shaken, Devlin said, “I could move in with her. Garrick and I could. Aidan and Ethan could as well. We could trade off.”
    A jagged chuckle came out of Wyn. “You really think Maddie’s gonna respond any better to that than to me?”
    With a sheepish shrug, Devlin laughed softly too. “Not even a little bit.”
    “Agreed. So we’re back to square one.” The magnitude of the situation slammed into Wyn all at once. Maddie’s safety was on the line, and his tone went raspy. “Me.”
    “Look me in the eyes.” Once again, Devlin moved in and assessed Wyn with a scrutinizing proximity. “Tell me you are doing this because you are legitimately concerned something is going on in this house, and that you are not using this as an opportunity to invade Maddie’s life for selfish reasons and rehash whatever happened between you four years ago.”
    A growl rolled all the way through Wyn. He grabbed a fistful of Devlin’s T-shirt and hauled him up on his toes. “Ask me that again,” he uttered in a lethal tone. “I dare you.”
    Without flinching, Devlin pried Wyn’s fingers off his shirt. “Okay. Back off. Your motives are pure. I believe you.” He patted down the crinkles in his clothing. “Now let me go talk to her, and I’ll get back to you.”
    Devlin was already walking away, so Wyn addressed his back. “I’m coming back with a packed bag tonight, no matter what.”
    Devlin raised his middle finger, but responded,