Page 52 of Taken By the Biker Daddies

“Men?” Wade’s eyebrows furrowed. “Is he the head of some mercenary unit?”

“No. He’s the son of Robert Roarke, CEO of Roarke Industries. But I think some of his bodyguards are hired mercenaries.”

“Roarke Industries also deals in weapons,” Wade said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they did business with mercenaries.”

“And this Clyde has been looking for you?” Jake asked. “He wants you dead?”

I gave another nod. “He must have found out where I am.”

“And who you’re with,” Wade pointed out.

Precisely. Clyde somehow found out that I was with Black Storm, which was why he tore up Billie’s place. It was just his way of sending me a message.

“Wow.” Max shook his head. “You just fucked us all up, didn’t you?”

I said nothing. His words stung, but they were the truth. This was all my fault.

Max stormed out of the room, his heavy footsteps going up the stairs.

“Max!” Jake called after him.

He was about to go after Max, but I grabbed his arm.

“I’ll go talk to him,” I said.

I owed him that much at least.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Wade said. “Max is in no mood to listen right now.”

I looked at Wade. “Still, I have to try.”

If he was going to shout at me and curse, so be it. I deserved his anger just as he deserved an apology.

I followed Max to the living room. As soon as he saw me, he shook his head.

“I don’t wanna talk, Lauren,” he immediately told me, turning away.

A painful lump rose in my throat, but I swallowed. “I just want to apologize. I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

He turned back around. “You didn’t think lying to me would hurt me?”

“I didn’t even know who you were. You were the one who told me that I was your girlfriend.”

His eyebrows bunched up. “So now everything’s my fault?”

“No. I’m not blaming you for anything. In fact, I want to thank you for everything. I was happy to be your girlfriend, even if it wasn’t real, even if it was just for a short while.”

“Yes, you were happy to use me, weren’t you?”

“I -”

“You used me.” Max pointed a finger at me. “I was a fool to trust you, to think you were different from all the other people I know, all the women I’ve met. And you know what the worst part is?” He gripped the top of his head and groaned. “You made me fall in love with you.”

My eyebrows arched.Max is in love with me?

He glared at me, then left. This time, I didn’t go after him. I was still reeling from his confession, not knowing what to do with it. I was happy to know he loved me, yes, but that also made me feel even more guilty for hurting him.

What had I done?

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