Colters舗 Promise by Maya Banks Read Free Book Online Page B

allthe sweat and the sticky sensation. But she didn’t want to delay even a moment in going to get Lauren.
    It amused Max that she insisted the pilot remain on standby. They wouldn’t be more than a few hours—over her dead body were they going to remain in a city with the asshole loose who’d beaten Lauren.
    Even sick, grumpy, having a sore throat, and feeling like complete crap, she was a woman on a mission.
    Max whisked her into a waiting car and directed the driver to take them to the apartment where he’d relocated Lauren.
    “And you’re sure she’s okay?” Callie asked anxiously as she watched traffic drive through melting puddles of snow.
    Max put his hand over hers. “Relax,
dolcezza
. I get hourly reports from the men I hired to guard her. She goes nowhere without their protection. No one gets into her apartment without their knowledge and consent. She’s safe.”
    She blew out her breath. Yes, if Max had hired someone to protect his sister, he would have hired only the best. Still, she’d feel much better when Lauren was back home with them in the midst of Callie’s loving family.
    At times like this, a girl needed family above all else. Callie was going to make sure Lauren had it.
    Thirty minutes later, they pulled up to an apartment building.
    “I don’t suppose I can convince you to remain in the car where it’s warm and dry while I go collect Lauren,” Max said.
    Callie shook her head emphatically and Max chuckled.
    “I didn’t think so. Well, come on then. Let’s hurry. I want you back home where I can take better care of you.”
    Max got out and helped Callie onto the sidewalk before tucking her firmly under his arm. They hurried toward the building, where Max scanned a security card to gain access.
    As they headed toward the elevator, Max pulled out his cell phone, punched in a number, and then put the phone to his ear.
    “This is Wilder. I’m coming up with my wife.”
    Max ushered her onto the elevator, suddenly all business. He was tense and his face was set in stone. Already he was preparing for battle. A battle he didn’t intend to lose. Callie put her hand on his arm and gently squeezed.
    His expression softened and he pulled her closer to him. He brushed a kiss across the top of her head, then squeezed her back.
    The elevator opened and they stepped into the hall. When they rounded the corner, they were met by two very broad-shouldered, intimidating men. Callie instinctively stepped closer to Max.
    These weren’t the polished, suave, security detail–type men in suits she’d expected. They were rough around the edges. Looked mean as hell. Were as big as damn mountains. But the upside? Callie couldn’t imagine anyone in their right mind fucking with these two. That included Lauren’s loser of an ex-boyfriend.
    “How is she?” Max asked in clipped tones.
    One of the men scowled. “Hasn’t left her apartment since she arrived.”
    Max swore under his breath. “Has she been eating?”
    The second man nodded. “We’ve made sure of it. She’s not too happy with us—or you—at the moment.”
    Max grimaced, then turned to Callie. “Callie, this is Liam Prescott and Noah Sullivan, the two men I hired to oversee Lauren’s safety.” He glanced back at the two men. “This is my wife, Callie.”
    “Ma’am,” Liam said as he dipped his head respectfully.
    Callie swallowed and continued to stare at the two boulders. Yes, boulders. It was the only word to describe them. They were hard as stone and had muscles in places Callie had never imagined muscles to be.
    “She probably hasn’t left her apartment because she’s scared to death of them,” she whispered to Max.
    Liam chuckled. “No ma’am, she’s not afraid of us. She’s pissed. There’s a difference. I’d rather have her pissed off than in danger though.”
    Noah shrugged like it didn’t matter to him one way or another.
    Callie cleared her throat. “Well, um, we’ve come to take her home with us. I mean,