“You do?” she whispered.
“Yeah, Maya,” he said tiredly. “I wish I could have kept you away from her when you were younger. I even asked Dad to let you move in with me. But I lived in a house with three other guys. I didn’t have much and I was working long hours. He basically laughed in my face.”
Shock flooded her. “You . . . you wanted me?”
Marlin sighed. “I knew he never told you. Bastard. Yeah, but like I said, at the time I knew it wouldn’t work. I’m ashamed that I didn’t do more to protect you from her, though. It was painful to go home with her there in Mom’s place. But I’ve realized now that no matter how painful it was for me, it was infinitely worse for you.”
Tears dripped down her face.
“Maya, are you okay?” her brother asked as Matthieu stood and walked in behind her.
He was so close she could feel the warmth from his body. “Maya?”
“I’m all right,” she said hastily. “I just never realized that you . . . that you cared about me that much.”
Marlin started to swear. “That was my fault. I’ve fucked things up with you, Maya. When I came back to Billings a few months ago, I wasn’t sure that you’d want anything to do with me. I picked up the phone several times to call you, then chickened out. I’m sorry.”
“It . . . it’s all right,” she told him. “Thanks for t-telling me that.”
“You’re sure you’re all right?” Marlin asked, glancing from her to Matthieu.
“I’ll take care of her,” Matthieu told him.
There was a beat of silence. “Is there anything I should know about the two of you?”
“Like what?” Matthieu asked calmly.
“Not sure I’ve yet earned the right to do the protective big brother thing. But you should be careful with my little sister.”
Huh? What was he talking about? What did he mean, be careful?
“Matthieu is always careful with me. He’d never hurt me,” she said.
“Maybe not physically,” her brother said. “But things can happen when two people are with each other every moment of every day.”
“Not in any way. Matthieu is the best man I know.” And she was tired of people saying bad things about him in front of her.
“Yeah? Good to know. Let’s hope that Matthieu lives up to your belief in him. I know I haven’t been around these last few years, but I’m back now. I’m here for you. I’m going to try to make up for the past. I’ve got one thing to do and then my time will be freed up. And we’ll start talking about why you live in such a terrible neighborhood.”
Maya’s temper stirred. “There’s nothing wrong with where I live.”
“There is nothing right about where you live. This isn’t happening anymore.” Marlin glanced around her small house. “We’re finding you somewhere better.”
“I’m not a kid, you know.”
“I’ll always be your big brother. It’s my prerogative to boss you around.”
“Why have you never checked in on her?” Matthieu asked.
“He’s been living in Chicago,” she said.
“But I should have kept in touch,” Marlin said. “I left this town, swearing never to come back. But it wasn’t the right thing to do. And it wasn’t right to leave you, Maya.”
“You’re back now.”
“I am.” Marlin turned his gaze back to Matthieu. “I’ve done some research into you and Ink. Even though Reeves seems to think he’s a decent guy, I’ve since discovered that he’s a member of an MC club with criminal ties.”
“Criminal ties?” she asked.
