Page 5 of Maverick

“Not a problem,” she said, moving around behind him.

“What did you want with the woman?”

“Just a conversation,” said the man.

“Didn’t look that way to us,” said Brax. He looked at the woman huddled behind Mav. “Do you know them?”

“No. Yes. Not really. I saw them earlier today hanging around outside my apartment. I don’t know who they are.”

“Who are you, fellas?” asked Brax. Neither said a word, and then Brax stepped forward. “I asked nicely. I won’t ask nicely again. Who are you?”

Tires screeched around the corner and a black SUV started toward them, jumping the curb, half on the sidewalk. Someone was firing directly at them. Mav flattened the woman beneath him while the others ducked for cover. When they sped away, all four noticed that there was no plate on the SUV.

“Holy cow,” said the woman, standing. “Thank you, guys. Seriously. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” said Mav. “What did they want?”

“I don’t know,” she said unconvincingly. “I’m just up the street. Thank you again.” She started to walk away, and the men all looked at one another and laughed. Mav took two giant steps and gripped her arm.

“I don’t think so.”

CHAPTER THREE

“God! Now you guys too!” she yelled, trying to break free.

“Stop moving. You’re hurting yourself,” said Mav. “We’re going to walk you home, and you’re going to tell us who those men were.”

“I’m not telling you anything!”

“You are, or we’ll call the cops,” said Brax.

“Why do you care? You rescued me, and I appreciate it. But you don’t need to babysit me.”

“I think we do,” said Mav. “Those guys were willing to take on four Navy SEALs, and they knew exactly what we were.”

“SEALs,” she whispered. “Damn.”

“Yep. Damn,” smirked Patrick. “Let’s go, fire engine.”

“Don’t call me that. My name is Katelyn. Don’t call me Kate or Katie or Kat. It’sKatelyn. I hate when people try to shorten my name or give me a nickname. It’s one of the few damn things I actually own,” she said, walking toward her apartment.

“Alright, Katelyn. I’m Maverick, but youcancall me Mav. That’s Paxton; youcancall him Pax. His twin is Braxton; youcancall him Brax. And that’s Patrick, but everyone calls him Saint.”

She stopped, turning to stare at them. The wholecanemphasis made her steam, but when he said to call the quiet one Saint, she halted in her tracks.

“Saint? Like Saint Patrick? The whole patron saint of Ireland guy?” she frowned.

“Geez, I never thought of that,” smiled Patrick. “No. That’s not why, but we’ll save that story for another day. Just call me Saint.”

“Saint?” she said, shaking her head. “Fine. Pax, Brax, Mav, and Saint.”

“And Katelyn,” they all said in unison. She couldn’t help but give a small smirk to the handsome foursome.

She stopped in front of a building, staring at the door. They all followed her eyes, and then Pax stepped forward, gripping his service weapon.

“Is the door usually open like that?” asked Mav.

“N-never,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s just me and one other tenant, but we’re obsessed with security. The two apartments upstairs are empty, or at least I thought they were.”

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