Page 28

I stepped inside, the smell of fried food and sugary pies hitting me. A waitress in a Dolly Parton T-shirt greeted me with a forced smile. The place was mostly empty. Good. My eyes scanned the booths until I spotted her. Eve. Blonde hair sprayed stiff and way past her shoulders, manicured nails tapping anxiously on the tabletop. She still had that angelic face I once fell for, but now she looked… a bit older, more tired. Parenting two kids with Kingpin would do that, I guess.

She locked eyes with me and tensed. For a split second, her eyes flicked to my cut. Then she forced a smile, trying to appear casual. I stalked over, slid into the booth across from her. Fuck this was awkward as hell.

“Eve,” I greeted, keeping my voice low.

She folded her arms. “I told you I’d come, but this better not take long. Kingpin would tan my hide if he knew I was meeting you, Hallow. ”

I flinched at the old name but forced a smirk. “It’s Maverick now.”

She snorted delicately. “I know what it is. I just don’t care to use it. I know that’s what you used to call your you know what.”

A deep bellied laugh escaped me. Shit, she was right. I didn’t think I told anyone that but must’ve let it slip to Eve at some point.

“So, forgive me, Hallow. It’s not who you were when I knew you.” Her southern drawl thickened, a sign she was stressed. “Now hurry up. I ain’t got all day.”

I sat back, taking her in. She was still beautiful in that sweet, southern-belle way, big brown eyes, soft features, the kind of woman men line up to protect. But where once she’d made my heart twist into knots, now I felt a distant affection, maybe a spark of bitterness. She’s nothing like Lexi, I realized again. Lexi was strong in a different way.

“Glad you could make it, Eve,” I said finally. “I need to know if Kingpin’s fucking me over. That’s the short version.”

She raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. “Fucking you over how?” She sipped from a frosty glass of sweet tea, refusing to meet my gaze for a second. Then she set the glass down, tinkling ice. “He wouldn’t tell me even if he was. Why do you think I can help?”

“Because you’ve got eyes and ears,” I replied, cutting to the chase. “He can’t hide everything from you. Hell, I used to hide shit from you, but you always found out.” I softened my tone.

She took a sharp breath, color rising to her cheeks. “Are you trying to butter me up, Hallow ? ‘Cause that dog won’t hunt. I ain’t the same naive girl you once knew.”

I shrugged. “Maybe not. But I trust you more than I trust Kingpin.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Trust me? That’s rich coming from you.”

I kept my temper in check. Focus. “Look, a lot’s changed. I’m not the same either. But I need to know if Kingpin’s spoken to Sky behind my back, or if he’s dealing with Ralph Getty, or if he’s feeding intel to the fucking mob. Because I have a woman, someone I’m trying to protect, and Kingpin’s tied up in the strings somehow. Or he might be.”

Eve’s lips parted in surprise. “Another woman, Hallow?” She shook her head. “You’ve got a type, I guess, picking up strays in trouble. That’s how you ended up with me once upon a time.” She tapped her nails on the tabletop. “So, who is she? What does my ol’ man have to do with her?”

I leaned forward. “Her name’s Lexi. She’s… I’m guarding her, or was. Dirty Diana’s daughter.”

“Lord almighty,” Eve gasped, her accent thickening. “Dirty Diana? She’s the one who up and died at that rally Kingpin was at, right? I heard rumors she was found in a tent. So that’s real?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be real?”

She studied her nails. “I wasn’t there. My husband can be a bit dramatic. He likes to exaggerate sometimes.”

“Yeah, it’s real. She’s dead. I was there. And her daughter’s in danger now, someone’s trying to kill her. Word is it’s connected to the Getty family. Possibly because Lexi’s father might’ve been Alexzander Getty, Ralph’s Uncle.” I exhaled heavily, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. “And apparently, Sky is involved with Ralph.”

Eve’s expression flickered with something like pity. “You always did have a knack for love triangles and messed-up relationships, Hallow. But… yeah, I know about Sky and that mob boss. Kingpin’s got no shortage of talk about it after what happened before. He’s real sore about that betrayal.” She paused. “So, you’re worried Kingpin’s playing you, or maybe working with them to get rid of the daughter?”

“Or using me as a pawn for some bigger plan.” I spat the words.

“But why?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time. I also wonder if Sky’s pulling strings behind the scenes. Maybe she’s got Kingpin’s ear. Maybe she’s whispering in it. I don’t know. Everything’s so tangled.”

Eve sighed, looking away. “Why aren’t you meeting with him directly? Why me?”

I snorted. “Because I don’t know if I can trust him. Plus, if he’s in bed with the mob, the second I show my face, they’ll know. I can’t risk that. And I sure as shit can’t risk bringing Lexi near them.”

“Well, I can tell you he’s not in bed with the mob, Hallow. That’s ridiculous. As for Sky reaching out to him, using him to get to you…” Her shoulders slumped. She fiddled with the sweet tea again, the ice clinking. “You do realize if Kingpin finds out I met with you, he’d be fit to be tied. He hates any mention of you. Our entire marriage is built on not talking about the past.”

I forced a chuckle. “You sure about that? Because you used to talk about me all the time, from what I heard.” I let the insinuation hang, but she just glared.

“Shut it,” she hissed, scanning the diner to make sure no one overheard. “I only slip up occasionally. And I’m paying for it every time. So keep your voice down, or I’ll walk out.”

I lifted my hands in surrender. “Fine, sorry.”

She sipped her tea, regaining composure. “All right, so what exactly do you want from me, Hallow?”

“ Maverick, ” I corrected. But she just rolled her eyes. “I need you to do some digging. See if Kingpin has any arrangement with Ralph Getty. Or if Sky’s been talking to him about me or about Lexi. I also want to know if anyone in Texas might be connected to this. Any mention of Grinder working for the Getty’s or being related to them. I need the truth before Lexi ends up dead.”

Eve studied me for a long moment. The overhead lights glinted off her blonde hair. She’s changed, I realized. Gone was the starry-eyed girl who once talked about our future kids and a house in the suburbs. But she didn’t looked hardened, worn down by life with Kingpin like I’d hoped. I knew Eve had what she wanted in Nashville, a budding singing career. Hell, even on the road, I didn’t miss the news of her going on tour with Kingpin’s famous brother. Eve had the life I never wanted to give her. And she looked satisfied. “Are you asking me to commit espionage on my own husband?” she said finally, voice wavering with sarcasm.

“Yes,” I said bluntly. “Or something close to it.”

She released a humorless laugh. “Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit. You sure know how to put a woman in a tight spot.” She shook her head, exhaling. “But I guess I owe you something, after everything.”

My chest tightened. “Eve, you don’t owe me a damn thing. You left me for Kingpin, remember? We both fucked up. I’m not here to relive that. I just know you’re the only person who might tell me the truth.”

Her gaze flicked up, surprise etched in her expression. “You’re real serious about this girl, aren’t you?”

“Lexi,” I said her name, tasting it like a prayer. “I might be. If she survives.” The words felt like gravel in my throat. “I think… I think I can love her.”

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 his mind. 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. If Eve 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.