Outrage emanated from Matt’s little sister, but there was hurt in her eyes. She really did care for the big guy, maybe even loved him. Damn. The wind went out of Matt. His sister was falling for Grunt. And there was nothing Matt could do to stop her.
Grunt took a step towards Claire, but was halted by the three men who held him. He growled at them before turning back to her. He almost looked contrite.
“Baby,” he said.
Claire pursed her lips as she glared at him. “Don’t you ‘baby’ me, Samuel Dayton. You grabbed Jena off the street and now you’re beating on my brother. I don’t know you at all, do I?” She turned her back on him, then looked over her shoulder. “Go back to America. We’re finished with each other.”
“No!” Grunt roared as Claire walked away.
Matt wiped the back of his hand over his bloody mouth as he watched the big man lose his mind. He almost dragged three huge guys in his wake to get to Claire. And the look in his eyes was sheer agony. Double damn. His mum was right. The monster loved his sister.
“I hope you’re pleased with yourself,” Jena said to Matt. “You got to hit someone. Well done, you. I’m going home. If you lot are going to act like possessive little boys fighting over their toys, then there’s no point in hanging around here. Idiots.”
She linked her arm with Abby’s and the two of them followed Claire out of the station.
“Wow,” Joe said with a grin. “Looks like you two aren’t getting any tonight.”
Matt’s fist shot out in the direction of Joe’s eye.
“What the hell?” Joe shouted as he covered the rapidly swelling eye.
Grunt ignored his friend as he quietly faced Matt. “Let’s get something clear. I’m here to stay. Claire will come around. I’m going to marry her, have a family with her and make her happy for the rest of her life. If you have a problem with that, then stay away. Either way, I don’t give a crap. Now, get these cuffs off of me. I’ve got to do some damage control with my woman.”
Matt took a deep breath. “Not until we clear a couple of things up.” Grunt growled. Matt took that as agreement. “Consider yourself on probation,” Matt said. “I don’t have a problem stepping between you and my sister. You hurt her and you’ll pay. Are we clear?”
“I won’t hurt her.”
Matt ran a hand through his hair and nodded at Lake, who produced a set of keys.
“I’m watching you,” Matt told Grunt. “One wrong move and they won’t find the body.”
“I heard you the first time, brother,” Grunt said. “You’d better get used to me. You’re about to have a Yank in the family.”
He strode out of the door and after Claire.
Matt righted his office chair and plopped down into it.
“What about the idiot in the cell?” Jason said. “You going to arrest him?”
“No.” Matt let out a sigh. “I’ll give him a warning and an escort to the airport. I want him gone. Any volunteers?”
Pete shrugged. “I could use a trip to Glasgow.”
“You’re it, then.”
Pete nodded in Joe’s direction. “What about those two?”
“Those two,” Joe said, “are staying in town for the foreseeable future. Grunt’s the only family I’ve got. Where he goes. I go.” He grinned at Lake. “Got any vacancies? I can offer you two well-trained marines.”
“You have got to be kidding me,” Matt said. “After grabbing Jena, you want Lake to hire you?”
“Come by the office. We’ll talk,” Lake said.
“Seriously?” Matt said. “You’re really considering this?”
Lake gave him a cool look. “They’re well trained. They did the right thing in a bad situation. And it looks like Grunt is sticking around. I would hire him for his right hook alone. Did you see what he did to Frank? There was a hole in the wall where Frank hit it.”
“That’s it. I’m done. Everybody out.” Matt pointed to the door.