Page 67 of Their Princess

“Oh, sorry again. I’m Maddie. Property of the enforcer. Cook.” She beamed, as if that were something to be proud of, and turned around to show me the patch that said as much on her riding vest.

I didn’t have a reply, and after a few moments of awkward silence, the muffled voices from the main room resumed talking.

“Alright,” I said. She wasn’t anything like my friend group. Much older and she’d been through stuff. I could see that much in her eyes, so I didn’t want to be mean or press her too hard. Instead, I motioned to the huge box. “Can you help me with this?”

We lifted the box onto the bed, and I struck the side to loosen the tape, then ripped it back.

“What’d you order?” Maddie asked.

I gave her a sly smile. “You’ll see.”

Then, I ripped into the first bag.

Maddie gasped and covered her mouth with her hands.

“What do you think?”

“It’s pink.” Maddie reached out a tentative hand, her amber eyes sparkling. “And studdy.”

I didn’t know how this woman found my room or why Cook would’ve sent her. Or... in what world it was acceptable to barge into someone’s private room. Nonna always said coming to America was the biggest shock she ever experienced, and changing her point of view to better fit in just about killed her.

This wasn’t on the same level, but that sparkle in Maddie’s eyes, the fascination over a simple but pretty thing, absolutely reminded me of Catalina.

Chapter Fifteen

GRAFF

I checkedthe latches on my hardshell saddlebags again—stable and tight. The leather cut pulled across my back as I buttoned it up for the ride. Pulling on my second fingerless glove, I tightened the strap until the blood flow ceased to my fingers. My skin between the tattoo lines turned pale, knuckles bulging, and I held it for a few seconds, hearing the holler of voices behind me cut through my tunes.

The earbuds weren’t securely situated in my ears, but tucked under my bandana so I could still hear Miracle of Sound crooning away. I released the hold on my glove strap, but the feeling didn’t immediately flood back into my fingers. Pinpricks brushed my skin, and I flexed my hand, trying to get flow back.

“I know,” Beans argued with Teller, “but, like, the OGMad MaxandThe Road Warriorwere better than the spin off.”

“What world are you living in?Fury Roadis waaaay better.” Teller snorted. “You’re getting nostalgic.”

“Nah man, money talks. Relative to its budget, the original and the second in the franchise had the best return on investment. Imagine if they were given the same production budget asFury Road.”

“Just like a goddamn accountant.” Teller straddled his ride, looking around and counting bikes gathered for the trip up to our property up at Red Rock Canyon. “Where’s Sas?”

I shrugged, watching the door for the Veep to emerge.

Beans, however, wouldn’t let the movie topic go. “It’s a factual perspective.”

“It’s shitty justification. Where’s the feeling? Emotion?”

Our club’s treasurer appeared absolutely nonplussed. “I’m using data to back up my argument. You should try it sometime.”

Teller blew out a breath. “I can’t help that you have bad taste.”

I straddled my motorcycle, fired it up, and glided it alongside their bikes. Their bickering halted, probably because they didn’t want the brothers knowing they were arguing about something so nerdy. Beans and the Warden had an excuse. They were numbers and computer people, but the rest of us didn’t have that excuse. Teller included. But he was the one who really got charged up about the quality of movies, video games, really anything that involved a good story.

No judgement on my part, though. Art was art, and Beans couldn’t see past his digits to get the different viewpoint.

I jutted my chin at him. “How do you stand that noose while riding?”

Beans’s hand drifted up to his neck. “Always prepared to make a good appearance. It’s important in my line of work.”

My eyes drifted down his button-down shirt to his clean, black, hole-less jeans. Yeah. Nerd with a capital N.

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