Trials and Tiaras (Untouchable #7) - Heather Long Page 0,71

when we decided to walk out, we could? Even better.

The drive took almost thirty minutes, and I managed to not bob my knee as the tension inside the car dragged taut. Every time I glanced at the pair opposite us, Maddy glared and Eddie looked troubled.

Our destination surprised me.

Standish.

I hadn’t been back here since Valentine’s Day, despite the fact I still technically had an internship.

Bryan had texted a couple of times. I couldn’t even begin to explain the twisted path this had all taken. I’d ended up just telling him there’d been a change in plans and left it at that. Mollie had reached out too, but she seemed to be pretty busy, so our texts had been hit or miss.

The limo slowed as it pulled into the circular plaza of the building. The parking garage was on the other side, and I rarely came in this way. Made sense that the Standishes would. When the driver came around to open the door, I had to resist the urge to bolt. Archie didn’t let go of my hand as he slid over and out, taking me with him.

As soon as we were outside in the icy air, I sucked in a deep breath. I didn’t realize how much the interior smelled like Maddy’s perfume until I was free of it. At Archie’s searching look, I summoned a smile. “I’m okay,” I told him.

He nodded, flicking a look behind me. “C’mon, they know where we’re going.” We moved inside together and across the marble floored lobby. Archie didn’t even glance at the security as they nodded to him, and we bypassed the elevators I’d normally used and went straight to the executive. By the time I turned around inside it, the doors were already sliding shut, leaving bad meatloaf on the far side of the lobby to catch up with us.

Blowing out a breath, Archie rolled his head from side to side.

“Are you okay?”

He lifted our joined hands and pressed a kiss to the back of mine. “I’m fine, babe. Just needed to get my temper leashed. I really fucking hate how she looks at you.”

“She’s trying to intimidate me. She doesn’t want me to argue with her.” The technique had worked for years, but no matter how pissed she looked right now, I didn’t care. The elevator opened to a familiar floor, and I glanced at Archie. “Here?”

“Trust me?”

“Always.”

He guided me out onto the level that housed his father’s office as well as his grandfather’s, and I thought Archie mentioned he had his own. Did this mean Grandpa Ted would be here? Oh, that would be an explosion. There were no secretaries, not even the really sweet lady Archie had directed me toward.

Once inside the conference room, he pulled out a chair for me. Belatedly, I realized he had my backpack, which he also sat down next to the chair out of sight. I hadn’t even realized he had it when I walked over to join them. I’d been too focused on making sure he wasn’t alone in facing them.

“Really,” Maddy snapped as the door opened. I thought she was talking to us, but nope, she had her head turned. “Eddie, this is patently stupid, and you can’t expect me to keep putting up with this crap.”

“You’re part of this crap, as you put it,” Mr. Standish answered. “Stop being such a bitch about it.”

I swore I forgot how to breathe. In any other world, I was pretty sure Maddy would have torn the face off of someone who called her a bitch. But in Eddie’s case, she just made the most indignant snarling sound before she turned and our gazes locked.

Oh. Yeah.

“Speaking of little bitches.”

Archie tensed as Eddie glanced at the ceiling.

“I’m not the one he called a bitch, Maddy. Maybe you should check yourself before you hurl any more stones.” My voice didn’t waver for a second. Go me. Her eyes went positively glacial, but I refused to flinch. Archie hadn’t taken a seat. Instead, he stood next to me.

“You might want to control your girlfriend, Edward,” Archie warned. “There’s already one judge that wants to throw the book at her for child neglect. I don’t doubt assault charges could be arranged.”

“Maddy,” Mr. Standish said in a tone damn near as harsh as hers. “This isn’t helping anything.”

“Of course it isn’t,” Maddy argued, swinging around to face him. “You already sided with her against me when you sent that letter to the court. Not that it scored you