Page 53 of Mace

Despite my own fear, I fight for my sister, because I’m the only one who can.

“You’re not the only one who can make life hard, you sanctimonious prick. She is a minor, and you’re an adult. What you’re doing with her is disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself, and if you don’t leave her alone, I’ll have you arrested.”

He pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, his face an angry sneer as he peers down at me. “Careful who you’re threatening. I’m not one of those little schoolboys she’s been with before, Maylie. It would be a shame if anything was to happen to you or that little brother of yours.”

My stomach twists at the threat, and without thought, Ipull my fist back and slam it into his face. I get a brief moment of satisfaction as blood spurts from his nose, but it’s short lived as his face becomes a mask of such violent rage that I fear for my life.

“You fucking bitch,” he hisses, and for a moment, I see the true man beneath the mask he wears.

He’s a monster.

A devil in disguise.

He’s the wolf among the sheep, and every primal part of my awareness flashes danger.

He’s going to kill you.

As he goes to grab me, the door opens behind him and his mouth twists into an ugly smirk, as if he knows he’s won whatever game we’re playing.

Who the hell is this guy?

I glimpse past him to see Ivy standing in the doorway, her hands covering her mouth in shock when he turns to face her, blood careening down his top lip.

I can see how this might look bad to her, but I try to communicate my fear with my eyes. I try to tell her without words the danger I was in. She either doesn’t see it or chooses not to, and when she snaps her gaze to me, all I see is hot fury burning in them.

She’s lost to me.

I can’t win over him, and that terrifies me more than the thought of him hurting me.

This is not how I wanted this to play out, but there is no way in hell I’m standing by while her dick of a boyfriend lays hands on me.

“Are you out of your mind?” This question should be directed at Link, but it’s not. That anger is all for me.

“I could ask you the same thing,” I say, my heart sinking as Ivy rushes to him.

He brushes her off, and the sting of rejection in her eyes almost breaks me.What is this bastard doing to her?

“Are you okay?” she asks, her hand hovering as if she wants to touch him but is scared of another rebuttal.

I have to give it to him—he puts on a good show of playing the victim, holding his nose as if I’ve caused him immense pain. The blood is certainly helping that narrative.

“Your psychotic sister hit me.”

I’m psychotic?“You grabbed me and then insulted me. You’re lucky all I did was hit you.”

It’s not the right approach, and letting my anger get the better of me only stokes the fire burning in my sister’s face. “This is exactly why I moved out.”

Moved out?She’s moved out?

“Since when? All your shit is still at the flat.”

“I don’t need any of that stuff.”

Link pulls her into his side, tucking her there as if she’s a doll. “Ivy has everything she needs here, right, baby?”

For a brief second, I swear I see a hint of fear in my sister’s eyes, but it vanishes so fast before I can latch onto it.

Did I imagine it?