Page 62 of Maverick

Eve:Kingpin seems to believe it. Her mom is beside herself.

I cursed under my breath. I’d spent so long hating Sky for betraying me.

Me:You’re telling me she was forced?

Eve:Get here as fast as you can.

Me:I’m coming.

I wanted to throw my phone across the goddamn room.

While I was reeling, Lexi asked quietly, “So, your ex is in danger? She didn’t leave on purpose? What does that mean?”

I wobbled my head, numb. “That’s… what it sounds like. If the mob blackmailed her, she might’ve had no choice.” My voice sounded as hollow as a felt.

Lexi’s eyes flickered with hurt. “Isn’t Eve also your ex?” She emphasized the name.

“Yeah, I told her to let me know what she found out.”

Lexi blinked like she couldn’t believe I had any contact with my ex. Until the other day, I hadn’t. “Eve said,your wife. Are you still married?” she asked, her voice rising.

I hesitated, forcing myself to meet her gaze. “Legally, under our old fake IDs from Alaska, yeah. Savannah Black and Owen Black are still married. But we aren’t those people anymore.”

She chewed on her lip. Then she rose from the bed, gathering her clothes. She didn’t say a word, just disappeared into the bathroom. The door shut, and I heard the lock click, a quiet finality in the sound.

Fuck. I wanted to chase after Lexi, explain, but I couldn’t. What the hell would I even say?

I yanked on my jeans, my mind churning with guilt and confusion. I still cared about Sky, even if I tried to bury it. But Lexi… Lexi was the one I wanted, the one I loved, or damn close to it. After everything I’d been through, she was the fresh start I never believed I’d get.

Lexi exited the bathroom fully dressed, with her bag slung over her shoulder. She avoided looking at me, but I caught the shimmer of unshed tears in her eyes. I wanted to hold her, to promise this wouldn’t ruin us, but I sensed she wasn’t ready to hear it. Instead, I jammed my shit into my saddlebag, muttering curses under my breath.

“I’m taking you back to the clubhouse,” I finally said. “You’ll be safe there. I have to go to Nashville.”

She gave a stiff nod. “Okay.”

“It doesn’t change anything between us,” I tried, hating the desperation in my tone. “You’re mine, Lexi. And I’m getting to the bottom of who put a target on you.”

She dropped her eyes. “What about your wife?” she whispered.

I had no answer for that. Instead, I tightened my jaw and led the way out, checking out of the lodge in stony silence. We rode back to the Road Monsters MC compound, under storm clouds. I could feel her clinging to me, but not with the same warmth as before. It was a duty now, not an embrace of trust.

At the clubhouse, I helped her off my Harley. She kept her helmet pressed to her chest, her gaze distant. Neither of us were speaking after the long ride.

“I’ll call you,” I mumbled.

She just nodded, blinking fast. My gut twisted as I turned and revved the engine, tearing out of there before I changed my mind.

Fuck. I was messing everything up. But I had to see what the hell was going on with Sky, especially if she was behind the threat to Lexi.

The highway to Nashville blurred under my wheels, my thoughts cycling through old memories of Sky’s laughter, the miscarriage we endured, the day she vanished. And now Lexi, the woman who let me into her life, and her body, despite all the danger.

How the fuck do I fix this?

Chapter 33

I hit the city by nightfall, ignoring the pang in my chest. The lights of Broadway felt like a neon prison. I texted Eve from my burner phone, letting her know I was in town. Her reply came quick:

Eve:I’m at Bootsie’s. Out back in the alley.

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