PUSH: Ultra Alpha MMA Badboy Mafia Romance (Southside Brotherhood Book 2) by Dani Wyatt Read Free Book Online Page B

it can drive us to do things we never imagined.” Mac settled back into his chair his hand still warm on hers. “When he looks at you, that’s what I see. A boy stunned by the new world you’ve opened up for him and he has no idea which way to turn.”
    “Maybe. All I know is love is for fairy tales with dragons and wizards and happy endings. Not for us. Not for me.” She raised her hand to push back a renegade curl from the center of her forehead. “I’ve never seen anyone get their happy ending in this life; it’s all smoke and mirrors and pain and disappointment. Better to just keep your expectations low and your guard up.”
    Mac squeezed her hand.
    “Oh, now you’re being dramatic. Cut the shit; you can be happy. You’ll find your way. I see it in you. Anyone can change; maybe Colin will change.” Mac screwed up his face with that last part.
    “There is nothing about that man that will change. He’s as entrenched in his ways as the Presidents’ faces at Mount Rushmore. It would take a nuclear charge to shake his resolve. He’s a sociopath. This family and their ideas about marriage are from the sixteenth century.”
    “Look, he’s still a man. Try not to spit in his face every chance you get. Try a different approach because the one you’ve been using—a hammer to the face and that snappy tongue of yours—isn’t the way to a man’s heart.”
    That asshat has no heart.
    Lilly knew if Mac understood the depth of Colin’s cruelty, he would never be guiding her down this path.
    “Fine, can we talk about something else?”
    “Fine. You have time for a game?”
    Lilly glanced at the clock. It was 4:40 pm and Colin left this morning for Boston. The driver would certainly be reporting back as to her whereabouts every minute, but Mac seemed to be on the approved list of places she could go.
    “Sure. How many moves before checkmate?” she asked.
    The bet was no longer who would win or lose, but on how many moves it would take before she cornered him.
    “Ten, if you can control that mean streak and take pity on your grandfather.”
    Lilly stood up to grab the chess set from the game cabinet across the room as the young worker cleared their early dinner plates.
    The great room filled with soft music and the sound of light chatter from the residents in the dining area.
    A blanket of sadness covered her as she looked across the jewel toned, textured fabrics of the sofas and chairs to see a couple sitting next to each other, holding hands. The man’s cane settled next to his leg as the woman leaned onto his shoulder, and he gently kissed the top of her head.
    He loves her. I can see it, even now. They have to be eighty or ninety and they’re still in love. What is it about this family? It’s never about love. It’s always commerce. Loyalty, sacrifice for the greater good. I’d rather live in a shack and scrape for every meal and have what they have than live in a castle with what waits for me.
    “Ready?” Lilly looked down to see Mac smiling and tapping his diamond pinky ring on the tabletop.
    “Sure. Too bad we can’t handicap you and tie half of that brain behind your back.”
    “How about I close one eye and use my mouth instead of my hands? That make you feel better?”
    “I’ll still lose, but I’d like to see that.”
    “Just go, your move.”
     
     

 
     
    Chapter Eight
     
    Jesus fucking Christ, I feel like I’ve been in solitary for a year.
    Flynn struggled to choke down the eggs and bacon Eloise brought him for breakfast. The last two days were rivers of sweat and chills, dreams and reality all mixing into a kind of surreal stew.
    “Can I get you anything else?” Eloise’s stoic countenance told him she was here doing a job and could give less than half a shit if he really needed anything.
    “I’m good.”
    Without a word, the slight, serious young woman headed out the door and across the courtyard back to the main house.
    Fuck me. At least I can draw a fucking breath