Page 45 of Maverick

Some tension left me. “Nice to meet you.” I managed a tiny smile, shaking his hand.

A tall, barrel-chested man approached next, wearing a cut that read Tank. He gave me a curt nod, as if barely tolerating my presence. A guy behind him, ironically named Tiny, was anything but easily six-five with hands like shovels. Another man, dark as night, Hammer, lingered near a dartboard, casting suspicious looks.

A woman with bright red short hair approached, who looked a bit older, wearing a low-cut black tank top that showed off ample cleavage and a patch reading Ruby. She flashed a perfect grin at me.

“Don’t mind the grunts,” Ruby said, jerking her thumb at the men. “Half of ‘em can’t string two words together around a pretty face.” She winked, and I felt a little wave of relief.

I returned a shy grin. “Thanks. I’m Lexi. Sorry to crash your clubhouse.”

She waved me off. “We get new faces all the time, just usually it’s not so tense. We got word about the danger following you.” She turned to Maverick. “You keepin’ her safe, honey?”

“As safe as I can,” he replied.

A couple of other women hung around. A petite, dark-haired girl named Charlie nodded hello, while a blonde in ripped jeans, BonBon, sized me up with what could have been nothing more than a mild curiosity. But I couldn’t be sure she wasn’t jealous that Maverick brought a woman around.

Over by the bar, another redhead with long hair, Pep, was playing darts, sending them flying with practiced precision. The place felt like an odd combination of party central and war zone, with danger thrumming under the surface.

Sarge led us to a table near the bar. “Sit,” he commanded. Maverick and I did, while half a dozen bikers circled us. My gut tightened with nerves. I had no idea what would happen next, some kind of interrogation, presumably.

“We gotta talk,” Sarge said, lighting a cigarette. “About you bringing in an outsider. You know the rules, Maverick.”

Maverick gave a brusque nod. “I do. She’s with me.” Then his arm tightened around my shoulders again. “She’s mine, my property.”

I swallowed, trying not to show how strange that word felt on my tongue.Property.But I stayed silent, trusting Maverick’s knowledge of MC protocol. I knew from my books it’s not that I wasn’t allowed to be here, it’s that if the Road Monsters didn’t see me as claimed, they might treat me like free game. The idea rattled my spine.

Sarge stared at me through the haze of smoke, then nodded slowly. “The last time you brought a woman around saying the same, a fight broke out.”

“Won’t happen again,” Maverick said through his teeth.

“Fine. She’s your woman. We respect that. But she ain’t to roam around, cause trouble. You keep her close. Understood?” Sarge stamped out the cigarette.

Maverick glanced at me, then back at Sarge. “Understood.”

Stumpy, Taz, Tank, Tiny, and Hammer lingered, offering wary nods or shrugs of agreement. Ruby caught my eye, gave me a quick wink that seemed encouraging.At least one woman here is on my side,I thought, exhaling.

“You two want a beer?” Sarge asked.

Maverick nodded. “Yeah, we could use a drink.”

Sarge waved Tiny over, who handed us a couple of cold bottles. The glass felt reassuringly solid in my hand, though I wasn’t sure how relaxed I should be.

“How ‘bout the rest of y’all get lost,” Maverick growled under his breath to the nearby men. “We need a minute.”

They didn’t like being dismissed, Hammer sneered, Taz muttered something under his breath but eventually drifted away. I suspected they’d keep a close watch, though, because I was an unknown element, an outsider and apparently the property of Maverick. Though maybe not the only one he’s brought here under that guise.

Chapter 25

We sipped our beers as slowly the group around us dissipated, returning to their previous activities of shooting pool, playing darts, or slumping on couches. Maverick gestured for me to stand, and we moved across the room so we wouldn’t be in the center of the clubhouse.

He leaned down to murmur in my ear. “You okay?”

I nodded, still scanning the crowd. “I think so. This is intense. I’m not used to being called property, though,” I admitted with a tight smile.

He brushed his knuckles gently along my jaw. “I know it’s weird. But it’s how it works here. It’s the best way to keep you safe. No one messes with another man’s old lady. Understood?”

I let out a shaky laugh. “Yeah, I get it. Like in my books. Except it’s, you know… real. And maybe less romantic than I imagined. And aren’t old ladies your wives?”

A flicker of a smirk played on his lips. “Don’t worry, princess. We’ll get to the romantic part, eventually. And yes, once you claim a woman as yours might as well be married to her.”

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