Page 19 of Maverick

The brunette’s eyes flew to Diana, then to me, confusion etched on her face. Her friend looked equally dumbfounded.

“Mom?” the girl said, voice tight. “What are you… Who is…?”

Dirty Diana giggled drunkenly, leaning on me. “This is Maverick. He’s been takin’ real good care of your mama.” She patted my chest like she owned me. “Isn’t he fine?”

My face flamed for reasons I couldn’t quite name. That was the last introduction I wanted right then. “Hey, so you’re her daughter,” I said, trying not to sound like a complete dumbass.

She crossed her arms over her chest, eyes narrowing under her glasses. “Yeah. I just got here. She called me for help. Didn’t realize she was…preoccupied.” She shot me a look that screamed, she did not approve of whatever she thought was going on.

I bit back a sigh. Although I wished to clarify the misunderstanding, I was on a mission. I couldn’t blow my cover.

Diana cackled, apparently missing the tension. “He’s shy,” she teased, throwing me a saucy wink. “But oh, you should see him in action.” She gave me a not-so-subtle up-and-down.

Lexi looked appalled. Her friend, that tall blonde, rolled her eyes. The moment was awkward as fuck. I cleared my throat.

“Lexi, baby, you made it!” Diana wrapped her arms around her daughter. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re here. I was telling Maverick all about you. My sweet, smart daughter, who’s a lawyer now!”

My mind was everywhere at once learning the fact that Diana did in fact have a daughter, and she must’ve taken my advice and told her of the danger. Her daughter was panicked,asking her a million questions, and Diana wasn’t being too forthcoming. Since she was shitfaced.

I leaned into Lexi to let her know what I knew. “Diana’s told me a little about it, but not enough to figure out who’s behind the threats. She’s…not real specific.”

Lexi frowned. So, Diana told her someone was threatening to kill them.

Her friend cleared her throat. “Perhaps we can all find somewhere quieter to talk?”

Diana wanted more drinks and after everything, I figured getting her sloshed was our best bet when it came to milking the truth out of her.

“We can move over to the bar tent,” I suggested. “Less dust, at least.”

Lexi continued to pepper her mom with questions, but Diana didn’t want to talk here. I had another excuse to get close as I whispered in her ear, “Your mom’s known around here as Dirty Diana. She’s, uh…gathered a lot of intel on different clubs, different men, all that. Some of them might not want their secrets out in the open.”

“Secrets,” Lexi practically shouted.

Diana creaked out, “I’ve had to…survive, Lexi. You do what you gotta do. But anyway, this man who’s threatening me says he’ll sue me for defamation if I ever breathe a word about him or his…connections.”

As Lexi and her mother argued, I spotted Chigger and flagged him down. I introduced him around, pretending he was just another Road Monster, not a man who could’ve been my brother-in-law. I never knew him before the Road Monsters, soI tried not to think of him that way. He was my brother, and that was it. Him and Nova made eyes at each other almost immediately. Knowing Lexi and I were a dead end, I ignored her. I needed info from her mother. I couldn’t make any moves on the daughter.

So, we drank, and I listened. Diana wasn’t giving up anything. I danced with her, did all I could to loosen her up. But soon, the old woman was too plastered and hadn’t even told her daughter anything useful. I let her wander off to the dance floor with Chigger and Nova as Lexi and I stayed behind at the bar.

“Thanks again for stepping in earlier,” Lexi said, surprising me. She’d had quite a lot to drink.

I recalled that perfect titty. “No big deal. I don’t tolerate that shit. But I do expect a peek at that full bush you’re sporting.”

The girl looked like I about killed her, turning beet red.

“I’m joking.”

Her eyes drifted over my arms, over my tattoos. The ones I’d gotten in haste for lovers long gone. I moved my arm out of her view.

“You’re new here,” I said, trying to take her mind off my ink. “Never seen you around.”

Her laugh was music to my ears. “I’m not a biker groupie, if that’s what you’re asking.”

No shit. “Figured that much. Since your mom said you’re a lawyer. You carry yourself like it. This isn’t your scene.”

“I am a lawyer. Mom called me for help, or I would never be here. What about you? You didn’t get that black eye from rescuing me earlier.”

“I’m a fighter, in the ring and out.” I probably looked like ground beef. “Recently went a couple rounds with a grizzly.”

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