Page 5 of Maverick

“Baby girl! Don’t do this to your own mother. You can pay them in other ways too. Stop being so difficult and take care of me. I did enough for your bratty ass growing up.”

“HA! You constantly left me with random brothers and club bunnies so you can stuff some more drugs up your nose. Pathetic excuse for a fucking mother.” I was pacing back and forth, completely engulfed in the conversation with my mother when I ran right into mystery biker man. “Oh shit!” I quickly hung up my phone as I distanced myself from him.

He grabbed my forearms and looked deep into my eyes. “You okay, babe?”

I ripped my arms from him and walked back to the front of the van. “I’m fine. Don’t you know how to give a girl some privacy? Shit.”

He just laughed and crossed his arms. “I got a baby sister so I know plenty about privacy. Didn’t realize you were doing anything that needed privacy in the middle of the day, smack dab in the middle of the road.” He winked as he leaned on the side of my van.

“Ugh, gross. I had some business to attend too. Anyways, what’s the verdict?”

“Shit out of luck. Looks like the transmission blew so you aren’t going anywhere.” He ran his hands through his perfect hair.

I sat down with my back against the van, knees up and my face in my hands. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. That’s like a lot of money to fix huh?”

Mystery man sat down next to me and bumped my shoulder. “It is, but lucky for you, I own a repair shop. Well, my club does, but we can help you out.”

Tears started to run down my face and Orion came up to lick them away.

“Oh shit, don’t cry! It’s okay, I promise.” He put his hand on my shoulder and slowly started to rub my arm.

I just shook my head and looked up at him. “Yeah, easy for you to say. You have a whole club behind you to help you out and I’m sure a nice fat bank account. I don’t have a pot to piss in. There’s like maybe fifty bucks in my wallet. I’m screwed.”

Mystery man looked me up and down before he blew out a heavy breath. “Here’s the deal. I’m gonna call my guy to come to get your van. You’ll come to my nephew’s birthday party with me then back to the clubhouse after. Our last cleaning lady quit so luckily for you, we have an opening. You can stay in a room there and just work to pay the van off. I gotta talk to my President, but I’m sure he’ll go for it.”

I squinted my eyes at him as I got up off the ground. “Which club are you part of and what exactly is your position with them?”

He slowly stood up, brushing his hands against his pants then stretched out his hand to me. I carefully took his hand in mine and we shook. “Name is Maverick. Vice President of The Devil’s Highwaymen. Any other burning questions?”

I shook my head as I climbed into my van to grab my backpack and a few things. “I’m Willow. That’s Orion. I know Maverick isn’t your real name, but I’ll take it...for now.”

Maverick bent down to pet Orion again as he looked up at me. “And how do you know so much about motorcycle clubs, babe?”

I threw my backpack on and grabbed Orion’s leash, shrugging my shoulders. “I know things. Ready to go?”

He just shook his head and laughed before he whipped out his phone and made a phone call. “Yo, Beckett. Bring the truck to the big oak tree near Striker’s house and let Wrench know to tow the van here back to the clubhouse. Move it, Prospect. I’m not missing my little nephew’s first birthday party. Remember, you are on thin ice, motherfucker.” He hung up the phone and put it back in his pocket.

I couldn’t help but laugh and Maverick turned to eye me. “You kiss your mother with that mouth?”

He threw back his head and laughed. “My mama would whoop my ass if she heard me talk like that, but you ain’t one to talk. About a dozen swears have come out of that pretty little mouth of yours since I’ve been here.”

I blushed then quickly recouped. “Yeah, whatever. So how long of a walk is it because I’m not getting on your bike. I know the drill about Old Lady’s and all that nonsense. Oh, and I’m not leaving Orion.”

Maverick laughed as a blue pickup truck came barreling down the road. “Do you really think the Vice President of a motorcycle club was going to walk?”

I rolled my eyes as the truck came to a stop and a young kid hopped out.

“Here you go, VP. Wrench should be here any minute so I’ll wait for him.” He slowly looked me up and down and then winked. “I certainly don’t mind waiting here with a babe like her. Name is Beckett.”

Maverick stepped in front of me and growled. “Thin. Fucking. Ice. Do you think I would need the truck if I was riding my motorcycle by myself?”

Beckett’s head hung and he scrubbed his hand over his face. “No. Sorry, Maverick.”

He walked and sat at the back of my van as I turned to look at Maverick.

I put my hand on my hip and squinted towards Maverick, “You were a little harsh, dude.”

His green eyes turned dark as he turned to me. “You don’t know shit. Let’s go.”

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