Page 72 of Maverick

“Sure, I’d love to join you,” Ellie said with a laugh as she followed me through a rear door where there were several picnic tables and large wire spools repurposed as stools. “Club whores aren’t really a threat, you know.”

“Hot women who exist solely to please these guys? Yeah, sure. No threat at all.”

“I’m serious. Look at how protective Maverick is when it comes to you and Sophie. Diesel is the same way, and so is Rocky. You think they’d want to be with a woman all of their friends have been with too?”

“Honestly, Ellie, I don’t have a lot of experience in relationships, so I don’t know.” And that’s what it came down to. “I want Maverick, but I’m not sure that I have enough experience to handle being with a man like him, and all that entails.”

“You think I was?” She tossed her head back and laughed. “Stacy, my sister, she was the wild child. She loved hard, partied hard, and lived her life exactly how she wanted. I was the opposite. And then here comes Diesel, all big and masculine and spitting nails. Everything about him terrified me, including how I started to feel about him. But it was worse being without him.”

“Thanks, Ellie. It’s just all so complicated, and with Trent running around after me.”

“Complicated? Leo is my nephew, product of a one-night stand between my sister and Diesel.”

“Oh…my.”

“Right?” She laughed and shook her head. “My point is that things are always complicated if you want them to be.”

“I don’t want them to be, they just are.” I shook my head. “But I just feel like I can’t breathe with Trent still out there.” Until I knew Trent was a part of my past, I could hardly think about my future. Could I?

“Life stops for no one, Grace. It could all be over any minute.”

I opened my mouth to tell her she was right, but my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and looked at the screen. “Oh no.”

“What is it?” Ellie jumped out of her seat and rounded the table to look over my shoulder. “Trent?”

“No. It’s from Mabel. She fell.” My heart raced thinking of the older woman in pain.

“Why didn’t she text Maverick?” Ellie asked, looking at my phone.

“Probably because she’s stubborn and always worried about bothering him.”

I sent a quick text asking why she didn’t call him, my phone chimed with her response:

Maverick didn’t answer.

I quickly tried calling Maverick, but he didn’t answer me either. I guess they were out of cell range.

“Should we call an ambulance?”

I shook my head. “It doesn’t sound too serious if she’s managing to text me back, I’ll go to check on her. Maverick’s busy with MC stuff and I don’t want him to lose his focus. Trent is dangerous and I know the guys can handle him, but I’d rather just handle this myself.”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea. Maverick said you should stay here. You and Sophie.”

“I know, but this is Mabel, his grandmother. I can’t let anything happen to her while he’s out there searching for a problem I brought into his life.” Fear took hold of me at the thought that it was more than just a spill. “I have to do this, Ellie. I’ll be right back. Promise.”

“Let me come with you. Please.”

She had the twins with her, and there was no way I was involving her in my problems. “I’m not saying that anything is going to happen, but if it does, I don’t want you to get hurt.” I pulled her into a hug. “Just tell the guys that I ran away when your head was turned, but it won’t be necessary because I’ll beat them back here. I swear. If Mabel’s in a bad way, and I didn’t do anything I’d never forgive myself.”

“I don’t like it,” she called after me.

“I know. You’ll keep an eye on Sophie?”

“Of course. Be safe!”

I would’ve laughed at her demand if I wasn’t so focused on getting to Mabel. Without a car.

“Here.” Peyton wrapped an arm around me and dropped the keys in my hand. “The black pickup. Take it. Be careful,” she whispered, and gave me a squeeze. “Get back soon.”

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