Page 69 of Maverick

Chigger was at the wheel, and he gave me a nod. “Let’s go, girl. Don’t need any drama.”

Nova got out and hugged me tight, eyes filled with sympathy. I felt a pang of guilt at bailing on the MC, but I reminded myself, I owed them nothing. Maverick made it clear where his priorities lay.

We snuck out, slipping past the dozing prospect at the gate. My heart pounded, expecting Maverick to appear, to fight for me. He never did.So that’s that.

I climbed into the back seat, letting the truck rumble off into the darkness. Each mile away from the clubhouse felt like a weight lifting, but also a crack forming in my heart. By the time we crossed into the next state, tears silently streamed down my cheeks.

“I’m so sorry, Lex,” Nova murmured as she turned and placed a comforting hand on my arm. “It’ll be okay. You’ll crash at my place until you figure out your next step. Maybe go back to work, normal life.”

“Yeah,” I whispered. “Normal life.”

But deep down, I wondered if any normalcy could erase the memory of Maverick’s kisses, his rough hands on my skin.You’ll be okay,I told myself.He’s got his wife. You have your pride.

It had to be enough.

Chapter 36

Maverick

I was awakened abruptly. My body still ached from my scuffle with my brother, Dogma, the other night. I groaned, sitting up on the small cot in the room I’d taken over after Lexi kicked me out.Fuck, my head pounded. I’d spent the night replaying our fight, drinking myself to death, cursing myself for being such a mess.

Finding out Sky still loved me didn’t do anything to erase my love for Lexi. As I fought with Lexi all day, I avoided talking more with Sky. I didn’t know how I was going to handle that situation. I didn’t want to break Sky’s heart, but I wouldn’t abandon Lexi for her, either. In my heart, my old memories with Sky battled my fresh times with Lexi, and Lexi won every time. But guilt gnawed at me. I didn’t love Sky like I loved Lexi, not anymore. It wasn’t her fault, but it was the truth.

The sound that woke me grew louder. Shouting and boots pounding on concrete became clearer. I heard Sarge’s voice bellowing in the hallway. “Mobsters! Fuckers at the damn gate! Everyone, arms up!”

Grinder. The name shot through my mind like a bullet. He was the bastard who’d killed Diana for Getty. Now, apparently, he’d tracked Lexi to the Kansas clubhouse. I grabbed my gun from the nightstand, shoving aside the blanket, ignoringthe sharp protest in my ribs. Fear lanced me. Lexi. If Grinder’s men were here for her, that meant they wanted her dead for being Alexander Getty’s heir.

As I stepped into the corridor, chaos erupted. The clubhouse was crawling with men wearing slacks, obviously not our typical biker rivals. Several of them brandished handguns, exchanging gunfire with Road Monsters with hunting rifles who were ducking behind pool tables or door frames. My survival skills kicked in full force.

I spotted Sarge crouched behind the bar, shouting directions at Taz and Tank. Shots rang out, wood splintered. “They’re looking for the Getty girl!” Sarge hollered. “Where is she?”

I bolted into the main lounge, returning fire at two mobsters creeping in from the windows. Bullets whizzed overhead. Shit, this was a warzone.

In the midst of the smoke and shouting, I spotted a figure in the corner. Sky. My blood ran cold. She looked far too calm, standing amid the carnage. Our eyes met, and a twisted smile curled her lips. What the hell?

Suddenly, two goons advanced on me, so I dropped behind a sofa, firing at them. One went down, the other retreated, cursing. Gunpowder stung my nostrils. I risked a glance back at Sky. She was backing away from the chaos, heading for the side exit. What’s she doing?

I dashed after her, weaving through overturned furniture. Bikers were hollering, some wounded. The mobsters kept pressing in from the doors, and I had to retreat. However, they seemed confused, likely expecting fewer opponents.

Where’s Lexi? Fear gnawed at me. She had to be in her room. I reached the corridor leading to her quarters, only to find it empty. We’d argued, and she’d locked me out, but now the door was open. Strange. Maybe she’s out front? I went to find out.

Suddenly, Sky stepped into my path, flanked by two armed men. My heart slammed. She wasn’t cowering or begging for help. Instead, she looked triumphant.

“Sky, what the fuck?” I snarled, raising my gun. The two men aimed theirs back, so it was a standoff.

Her lips twisted. “I led my men right here,” she said coldly.

Her men?

“Ralph wanted Diana dead once he found out she’d been extorting his uncle for two decades. But I told him the real threat is her daughter, Lexi. She’s Alexander Getty’s legitimate child, the only one who could threaten our son’s inheritance. Sorry, but she has to die.”

Rage exploded in my chest. She used me. “Kingpin was right. You played us?” My voice trembled with fury. “You let me believe you were blackmailed, that you needed rescuing.”

She shrugged, eyes hard. “Iwasblackmailed… once. But it’s different now. I made a choice. And I realized I can have more power at Ralph’s side if Lexi is out of the picture for good. You made it too easy, bringing me here.”

I ground my teeth. “You bitch,” I spat. “You threatened Diana and started the rumors about her secrets, just to get Kingpin’s attention. Why?”

She laughed. “I didn’t do a damn thing to alert him or you. Diana got scared and started throwing Kingpin’s name around, threatening to tell his secrets, hoping he’d save her. She put her trust in the wrong man.”

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