“You’re my kind of kid.” Madison’s breezy demeanor has Sage instantly relaxing.
I cross the room and wrap my arms around Sage. “I’m sorry, bud.” Hugging him now is so much different than when he waslittle, but when his body sags into mine, it feels the same—it’s my job to protect him.
He’s always been able to make me feel ten feet tall, and I’m pissed my family could put him through this shit.
“It’s not your fault, Uncle Brax. I’m fine. Well, being handcuffed and having my face pressed into the gravel while someone took photos of me wasn’t great, but I’m fine now.”
Rage makes my skin burn. I glance down when Madison places a hand on my forearm and find that my fists are clenched so hard, I’m trembling.
My family clocks her movements too. Sage lifts his brows but appears happy. Grey…well, Grey doesn’t trust anyone.
“Maybe we should talk about this another time.” Grey not-so-subtly nods toward Madison, and I try not to get too angry with him. He doesn’t know what I’m feeling. I’m not even sure I fully understand it yet.
“It’s okay,” I say. “Ace trusted her and Pops.” Madison turns her pale-blue gaze my way. “And I trust them too.”
Grey grumbles something unintelligible and goes back to pacing.
“It’s okay. Maybe you should talk with your family alone.”
I take her hand in mine, momentarily struck by how tiny and fragile hers is in my palm. “Madison, we’re filling your inn. You should be aware of what’s going on.”
She shrugs free and runs her fingers around the light-brown hair elastic she always has on her wrist as tension fills the room.
“I’m Sage,” my nephew repeats, stepping forward, taking up much more space than normal, and holds out a hand to Madison. “Don’t worry about Uncle Grey, he’s still learning how to express himself without being a total douchebag.”
Leave it to this kid to break the tension. God, I love him.
Madison laughs nervously while she gazes between him and Grey, but Sage and I burst out laughing.
“The kid doesn’t lie.” I barely get the words out through my snorting fit of laughter.
“I’m not a douchebag,” Grey mumbles. His hands are stiffly in his pockets, and he’s so rigid you’d think he’s made of stone. It makes us laugh even harder.
Sage crosses the room to pat his shoulder. “Not to anyone in this room, but out there?” He points in the general direction of the front door. “You are a single-man douche brigade of epic proportions.”
Grey swats his hand away. Sage treats him as though he’s the child sometimes just to mess with him, and I’ll admit, it usually loosens him up.
“I’m cautious and protective.” Grey isn’t exactly glaring at Madison, but he’s definitely not giving off any warm-and-fuzzy vibes either.
“Greyson? Or Grey? I don’t know what to call you. Braxton says both. But if it puts your mind at ease, I’m not here to hurt anyone, or Braxton wouldn’t have brought you here. And.” She twists her fingers together so tightly I’m afraid she’ll break one. “I’ve been hurt, ruined actually, by people who were supposed to love me, so I understand being cautious, and I promise that you’re in a safe space.”
Her face twists with a wicked gleam. “Just be careful of Pops. Before you know it, he’ll have talked you into climbing up onto a roof to assess damage you have no clue about.”
Grey’s gaze darts between me and Madison before his ever-present scowl finally relaxes. “He got you on the roof?”
I nod, unable to hide my grin.
“Whoa, Uncle Brax. That’s…”
“Stupid,” Grey fills in.
“My grandfather has a giant heart, but he’s trouble. Harmless, mostly, but trouble always.”
“He created a blob in the oven when we were trying to make breakfast, and I almost had to buy a new one because I was an accomplice.”
“Shut up.” Sage chuckles. It’s good to see after the forty-eight hours he’s had.
“You wouldn’t believe the shit that old man has gotten me involved in since I’ve been here.”
