Page 52 of Maverick

Eve’s lips parted slightly. Possibly due to shock, possibly due to pity. Her chest rose and fell. “Well, at least you found someone you love. That’s more than I can say for your sorry ass in the past.”

I gave a grim smile. “Don’t get too sentimental.”

She leaned back, crossing her arms. “All right, let’s do it your way. I’ll see what I can find out about Kingpin’s connections, about whether he’s been in contact with Sky or the Gettys. But you gotta give me some time. He doesn’t exactly leave his phone unlocked on the kitchen counter.”

I nodded. “Time, I can do. In the meantime, I’ll be back in Kansas, watching over Lexi.”

She arched a brow. “Kansas? Is that where you stashed her?”

“Yeah. Safer than taking her anywhere near Ralph Getty. Or near Kingpin,” I added pointedly.

Eve snorted. “So, you’re trusting a bunch of savage bikers to guard her?”

I thought of Sarge, Taz, the others. They had their flaws, but I believed they’d keep her from harm if she wore my mark. “They’re less savage than the Syndicate. Less ruthless than your husband. At least we have a code they actually follow.”

“Now, that’s a sad statement. If Kingpin followed his own rules, you’d be dead.” She drummed her nails. “All right, I’ll poke around. But you keep your ass out of Nashville unless I call you, got it? If Kingpin even suspects I’m talking to you, he’ll lose hismind. And if he finds out I’m feeding you information, he’ll… I don’t even want to think about it. Not to mention what the Road Monsters might do if they think you’re double-crossing one of the Aces.”

I clenched my jaw. “I get it. Don’t worry. I won’t blow your cover.”

She studied me with an odd mixture of nostalgia and scorn. “You always were a fucking magnet for trouble, Hallow. I guess some things never change.”

I bit back a retort. She’s not wrong. Instead, I tossed a few bills on the table for her tea. “Thanks for meeting me. You can text me on my burner if you want. I’ll keep it quiet.”

She nodded, fishing out her phone, tapping quickly. “Gimme that number.”

I rattled it off. She typed it in, glancing at me. “If this messes up my marriage, I swear to God, I’ll drag you to the barn and skin you alive myself.”

A wry grin tugged at my lips. “Look at you, all badass.”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t test me. Now get out of here. Go to your girl. Let me do my part.”

I hesitated a moment, remembering the old us, the broken dreams, the baby we lost. But that was a lifetime ago. “Take care, Eve,” I said softly.

She offered a half-smile. “Yeah, you too, Hallow. Good luck.”

Without another word, I slid out of the booth, ducked my head, and strode out into the sweltering Tennessee heat. Climbing onto my Harley, I exhaled with a tremor. That could’ve gone worse. Or better. But at least I’d planted a seed. IfEve sniffed out anything about Kingpin’s involvement with the Gettys or how Sky was tied in, I’d have a better shot at protecting Lexi.

Chapter 29

I had zero reason to linger in Nashville. The second I fired up the engine, my mind was already on the road back to Kansas. Something about the idea of Lexi alone among my brothers, some of whom were cutthroats, made me uneasy, no matter how safe I believed she’d be. And maybe, deep down, I just wanted to be there in case she needed me, in case she got scared or lonely or fucking bored. I wanted to see her face again, hear that voice that trembled every time I stepped too close.

I pushed the bike to its limits, ignoring the soreness in my back. The wind whipped across my face, stinging my eyes. I only stopped for gas and bathroom breaks, munching on stale jerky for sustenance. The miles blurred, but every time I thought about turning off to rest, I remembered Lexi’s smile, the small laugh she gave when she thought something I said was funny. The faint moan that slipped out when I kissed her in that motel.Shit,I had it bad.

My phone stayed quiet the entire ride. No texts from Eve, no warnings from Sarge, no calls from Kingpin. That could be good or bad. Maybe it meant no one had discovered my meeting. Or maybe they had, and the hammer just hadn’t dropped yet.

Despite my best efforts, my mind kept drifting toSky.The mention of her name always twisted my gut. Did she really orchestrate this attempt to kill Lexi? Or was she just playing the game with Ralph Getty, not knowing or caring who got caught inthe crossfire? She always was cunning. Maybe she’d recognized that Lexi was a potential threat or a piece on the chessboard, and she needed to be removed. Or maybe it had nothing to do with her, and I was imagining connections where none existed.

But the puzzle was too big to ignore: Kingpin, Sky, Ralph Getty, the late Alexzander Getty, Dirty Diana, Lexi… They were all pieces of a puzzle I didn’t quite see yet.Fuck, I used to be a detective. Why is this so damn hard?Because emotions were tangled in it, that’s why. My mind got cloudy when my heart was involved.

It was late afternoon, the following day by the time I found myself once again on the dusty road leading to the Road Monsters’ clubhouse in Lebanon, Kansas. The heat was oppressive, shimmering waves rising from the asphalt. My engine growled in protest as I pulled into the compound, the gates manned by a couple prospects who gave me curt nods.

I parked, swung off the bike, and blew out a breath. The place looked the same, quiet, remote, half-deserted except for a handful of bikes outside. My heart pounded as I scanned for any sign of Lexi.God, please let her be all right.I’d only been gone a couple of days, but it seemed like a fucking eternity.

The door creaked as I stepped in. A few heads turned, Taz, leaning against the bar, arms folded. Hammer, messing with a pool cue. I recognized that suspicion in their eyes. They’re curious why I left and came back so fast. I ignored them, heading down the hallway toward my room. Each step quickened with anticipation.

I reached my door, turned the knob, and realized it was locked from the inside. Good. I knocked softly. “Princess, you in there?”

A second later, the lock clicked, and the door opened. She peered out, eyes wide with relief. “Maverick?”

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