Maxie

"Maxie. Thanks for coming."

"Erm... sure, I guess."

Maxie folded his arms.

Shelly hadn't told him why she wanted to meet—just said it was important. It had better be important. He didn't like surprises, and he liked having his time wasted even less. Standing there in the deserted college library, staring at her across the empty tables, he felt like this was exactly that.

"So what's this about?"

"Take a seat." She motioned to the vacant chair opposite her. "Come on. It won't take long."

"Very well." He huffed, sinking into the chair.

"I wanted to ask you something important. About Archie."

"What about Archie?" Maxie snapped. His nostrils flared, his face burning pink.

Shelly didn't flinch. Her expression remained unreadable. "He's my kid brother, and I want to know your intentions."

"My intentions?" He scoffed. "Whatever they may be, they're none of your concern. What I choose to do with your brother is between him and me."

"See, that's not strictly true, is it, Maxie?" Shelly leaned forward. "He's been hurt before. Badly. By someone who said they loved him. So whenever he starts seeing someone new, I do my homework. Make sure he's safe. I'm sure someone as careful as you would understand." Her eyes never left his face. "So I'll ask again—what are your intentions with my brother?"

"To be blunt?" Maxie's smile was razor-thin. "I plan to take him to dinner, and then, if the mood strikes us, have sex in the back of my car." He watched Shelly shift in her seat. "It's a Honda Civic. But you'd know that if you'd really done your homework."

"Cute." Her glare could have frozen water. "Real cute. But I don't like that answer. Not one bit."

Maxie huffed again, removing his glasses to polish them on his blazer, though his eyes never left hers. "Well then, it's a good thing I'm dating your brother and not you." He slipped his glasses back on. "And it's rather presumptuous of you to think he hasn't told me what happened. I know about Cassidy. What that bastard put him through." A sigh escaped him. "Believe it or not, I care deeply about your brother. And I don't appreciate you giving me the third degree like some criminal."

He stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "We're done here."

"No." Shelly's tone was steel. "We're not. Not until I'm satisfied."

"Then you'll be waiting a long time." He turned toward the door.

"If you care for Archie as much as you claim—if you really know about Cassidy and everything else—then you'll hear me out."

Maxie stopped. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. He closed his eyes, drew a deep breath, and then turned back. "Five minutes."

"Most gracious of you."

"Just ask your damn questions."

Shelly leaned back, studying him. "I know you're new here. That you haven't known Archie long. Before Cassidy, my brother was different—bubbly, carefree, trusting to the point of dangerous naivety. What that monster did to him..." She paused, her jaw tightening. "No one should experience that. And watching someone so full of life retreat into himself was heartbreaking."

Her voice dropped to barely above a whisper. "I swore I'd never let anyone hurt him again. Not if I could help it. So here's my question, and I want the truth: Is my brother safe with you? Because if he's not, I promise you—on everything I hold sacred—they'll never find what's left of you."

The threat hung in the air.

Maxie was quiet for a long moment, then surprised her with a small, genuine smile. "You know, you remind me of my sisters. Both fiercely loyal, protective, with sharp teeth when they need them." He held up a hand as Shelly opened her mouth. "That's not an insult. I can't imagine what I'd do if anything happened to them—or what they'd do if someone hurt me."

He met her eyes directly. "So let me promise you, from one sibling to another: my feelings for your brother come from nothing but love and respect. I adore Archie. And I would never deliberately hurt him."

Shelly studied his face, searching for any hint of deception.

"On your honour as a sibling?"

"On my honour as a sibling."

She nodded slowly. "All right then. But understand—I'll be watching."

"I wouldn't expect anything less."