Maddie moved toward the bathroom, giving him no choice but to click on each camera as she walked through her apartment.
It was a nice place.
He’d been sure to drop a hint to Beatrice to wait for a suitable candidate to put in their apartment. Everything had fallen into place way too fucking neatly.
He was so angry.
She stripped out of her clothes, and seeing her body made his dick hard. She was supposed to be in his bed.
Part of him wanted her to be pregnant so he had an excuse to be in her life, but so far, that hadn’t happened. He hadn’t been careful when it came to the condoms, so her not being pregnant was just sheer fucking luck.
There was a knock at his door, and he had no choice but to stop looking at his woman. The ache inside his gut would never go. Not until she was safely back in his arms.
“Come in,” he said.
Grant entered his office.
Since he’d gotten rid of Maddie, Grant had stuck around. His brother knew the truth though. He knew Bull wanted Maddie more than anything else in the world.
“How are you doing?” Grant asked.
“Have you got any information for me?”
“The land was owned by a shell company. I’ve got to find someone willing to do a little more digging. My guy was spooked.”
“Too spooked for a paycheck?” Bull asked.
“I don’t think it’s going to take a genius to realize it’s owned by the Vito Crew. Julio’s associates, that we know of, their names kept being dropped into the conversation. My guy got scared. People who dig tend to dig their own grave, and he told me he very much liked his life.”
Bull nodded. “Okay, so we know without real proof that the land was sold to Julio, but I want to know who owned it originally.”
“That’s proving to be a little more difficult. The main sale is very private. This didn’t even go up on the market for sale, Bull.”
“That seems odd. A good piece of prime land. People don’t just let that slide. They go in for the kill.”
“Exactly. I’m looking into it.”
“I want you to investigate the owner of the gym,” he said.
“Bull?”
“Don’t start with me. She’s going to the fucking gym. And I’ve seen her with that asshole too many times to count.”
“What will you do if she dates someone else?”
Bull picked up the nearest thing to him, which happened to be a stapler, and launched it across the room.
“I wasn’t expecting that reaction,” Grant said.
“Look, I know you want to be part of this. I know you’ve got the skills I need, but William’s brother has no body. He doesn’t get to bury his brother. Piece by piece of Craig is being sent to him in the mail. I know we’ve had our differences, but I can’t let anything happen to you.”
“Then why don’t you expel me from the club?” Grant asked.
“What?”
“I know you care about Maddie, and you’re not going to want her going with anyone else. I’m your only chance of that happening. Kick me out of the club. I can hang out with Maddie.”
Bull shook his head. “No. That wouldn’t work.”
“Why not?”
“You were never friends with Maddie, and all of a sudden you’re hanging out with my ex? It wouldn’t work.”
“Unless it looks like I’m trying to win her over.”
Bull’s hand clenched into a fist.
“Calm the fuck down, okay? I don’t have any feelings for Maddie. None, but I saw the way she looked at you, and how you looked at her. I get it. You’re fucking besotted with her.”
“I’m in love with her, Grant. This isn’t some stupid school crush.”
Grant held his hands up. “I get it, but don’t you want someone you can trust? Just because you’ve kicked her to the curb for those who care to look doesn’t mean someone isn’t looking at her at all times. I swear to protect her and you. For the club, for us. I can do the digging in my own time.”
Bull looked at his brother. “How?”
His brother shrugged. “I don’t fucking know.”
“The club can’t know about it,” Bull said.
“Why not?”
“They’d treat you differently. You know this.”
“Fuck, you’re right. So it would just be me and you knowing that I’m a full-fledged club brother, and that I’m out there to protect your woman.”
Bull didn’t like it. This was risky, and he said as much to Grant.
“We’ve got nothing to lose. You need someone to keep an eye on Maddie, and to be able to keep on looking without anyone checking me out. Just don’t get killed.”
Bull ran a finger across his lip. He didn’t like Maddie being alone. He certainly didn’t trust the guy at the gym. The thought of his brother being anywhere near her didn’t even fill him with confidence.
“You’re only there to keep an eye on her. Nothing else.”