Mastered by Malone (Haven, Texas 6)

Alec took a step towards him. All of Angelo’s men turned their guns on him and she stiffened, wishing she’d never said a

nything. “You want to watch how you talk to my woman.”

Angelo swallowed loudly. “I saw you once when you were working for Marceras. My father was good friends with Marceras. They had a business arrangement. Until Mateo took over and cut him off. Now that I’m in charge, I’m looking to recreate those ties.”

“And you didn’t think to just call him like a fucking normal person?”

“Watch your tone,” Angelo said silkily. “Or I might have to hurt her.” He moved towards her. Pulled back his leg as though to kick her.

And that was when Alec yelled out, “Go!” Then the leash was off, and Alec erupted. He grabbed Angelo, yanked him away from her as around her she heard glass breaking and thunderous yelling. But her attention wasn’t on anyone or anything but Alec. He had Angelo on the ground and was pummeling him.

Someone tried to pull him off. Someone in a sheriff’s uniform. Shit. The police were here. That meant she had to stop Alec before he killed Angelo. Too bad.

“Alec, Alec, stop! You’re going to kill him!” the sheriff yelled out.

“Alec,” she called. She forced herself to sit up, breathing through the pain. She placed one hand on her ribs. “Alec! Alec, stop!”

She rolled to her knees. Christ, why was this so hard? “Alec, I need you!” She attempted to stand. But the room spun around her. Then gentle hands grabbed hold of her, pulling her against a warm, hard chest.

Alec. His face was still a dark mask of fury, but he was under control again. And she could have wept in relief.

“Alec.” She tried to reach for him. Winced at the pain in her shoulder and back. Her ribs.

“Easy, baby girl. Let’s get you seated.” He carefully led her over to a large sofa. “It’s okay, you’re safe now.”

She glanced around her, shocked as she saw all his brothers were there. Angelo’s goons all had their hands on their head and were kneeling in the middle of the room. Raid and Butch stood over them.

Butch caught her looking, and she expected him to wink, send her a smart remark, but his face was filled with worry and fury.

Alec was running his hands over her, searching for where she was hurt. The handsome looking man in a sheriff’s uniform was kneeling over Angelo. Was that Jake? Molly’s Jake?

“We need an ambulance for him,” the sheriff said in a tight voice.

“We need an ambulance for Mia first, Jake,” Alec said. “He can wait.”

Jake didn’t protest, instead he stood and moved over to her and Alec. West moved up to cover Angelo, his gun pointed straight at the other man’s head. She swallowed heavily.

“Is she all right?” the sheriff asked.

“Of course she’s not all right,” Alec replied.

“What’s wrong with her?” Raid asked.

“Anything broken?” Beau added.

“Fuck, she’s such a little thing,” West said then he drew his foot back and kicked Angelo in the gut.

“Hey!” Jake snapped as Alec finished up his examination.

“What?” West snapped.

The sheriff looked at Alec. But he didn’t look away from Mia. “What? He deserved it.”

“Fucking ass wipe deserves a lot more,” Raid said. He walked over to Angelo and spat on him. “Nobody messes with the Malones, fuckwit, and Mia is a Malone.”

What? No, she wasn’t.

“I’m not,” she whispered.