Page 32 of August 20

The front door shut. Maverick had gone back outside.

She grabbed the hamburger she'd taken out of the freezer earlier and tried to lessen the tension in her shoulders. It was the first time she'd been more than fifteen feet away from Skye all summer.

Feeling guilty for needing the reprieve, she shaped three burgers instead of two. It wouldn't kill her to make Maverick a burger, too.

Chapter Eighteen

Fuck.

Maverick slipped his cell into his vest pocket and looked into the dining room where Brooke braided Skye's hair. His time was up.

The club needed him, and he couldn't leave Brooke and Skye here alone.

The last time he left the house and called Brett to watch over them, Brooke had flipped out on him for bringing a stranger around Skye.

He had no time to waste. Jagger needed him an hour ago.

He approached Brooke. She glanced at him and continued to braid his daughter's hair. When he remained beside her, she stopped and focused on him.

"You're going to the clubhouse." He cleared his throat. "It's safe."

Brooke frowned. "No."

He nodded. There was no use arguing because he had to go. As a member of Havlin, he'd sworn his life to the patch.

"If you have to go..." She pointed. "Go."

He thought they were past fighting over every little thing he asked of her. Over the last week, they'd even eaten meals together.

"I want to go with you, Maverick." Skye slid off the chair.

Brooke held on to her braid, stopping her. "Sit."

She glared at him for making her go against Skye's wishes. This time, there was no helping it. Havlin needed him. He was the only one willing to do the job.

He stayed by the table until Brooke finished his daughter's hair, and then he took Skye's hand and led her to the door.

"Are you serious?" muttered Brooke.

He turned around, showing her that he wasn't going to budge. He was taking his daughter.

The change in her was instant. He could barely see her eyes because she looked away. She'd thrown up her shield and refused to let him be alone with his daughter. He knew that she would. That's how he planned on getting her in the car.

She hurried around him and led Skye to the back seat of the Honda. He could tell by the energy in her body and the way she looked out the car window that her mind was working overtime.

She was trying to figure out how to get away from him.

At the clubhouse, that wouldn't be a problem. There'd be others there to watch over her while he went about his job.

"How long until we get there?" asked Skye.

"I don't know." Brooke sat in the middle of the backseat to be close to his daughter. "Just make sure you stay by me."

"Why?"

"Please, Skye. For once, don't question me," she whispered.

He caught her gaze in the rearview mirror, and her mouth thinned to a straight line. She would wish she'd stayed home and had Brett or others watching over her. It was calmer at the house. The clubhouse could get crazy, depending on how many members were hanging out.

---