Page 29

I had zero reason to linger in Nashville. The second I fired up the engine, my mind was already on the road back to Kansas. Something about the idea of Lexi alone among my brothers, some of whom were cutthroats, made me uneasy, no matter how safe I believed she’d be. And maybe, deep down, I just wanted to be there in case she needed me, in case she got scared or lonely or fucking bored. I wanted to see her face again, hear that voice that trembled every time I stepped too close.

I pushed the bike to its limits, ignoring the soreness in my back. The wind whipped across my face, stinging my eyes. I only stopped for gas and bathroom breaks, munching on stale jerky for sustenance. The miles blurred, but every time I thought about turning off to rest, I remembered Lexi’s smile, the small laugh she gave when she thought something I said was funny. The faint moan that slipped out when I kissed her in that motel. Shit, I had it bad.

My phone stayed quiet the entire ride. No texts from Eve, no warnings from Sarge, no calls from Kingpin. That could be good or bad. Maybe it meant no one had discovered my meeting. Or maybe they had, and the hammer just hadn’t dropped yet.

Despite my best efforts, my mind kept drifting to Sky. The mention of her name always twisted my gut. Did she really orchestrate this attempt to kill Lexi? Or was she just playing the game with Ralph Getty, not knowing or caring who got caught in the crossfire? She always was cunning. Maybe she’d recognized that Lexi was a potential threat or a piece on the chessboard, and she needed to be removed. Or maybe it had nothing to do with her, and I was imagining connections where none existed.

But the puzzle was too big to ignore: Kingpin, Sky, Ralph Getty, the late Alexzander Getty, Dirty Diana, Lexi… They were all pieces of a puzzle I didn’t quite see yet. Fuck, I used to be a detective. Why is this so damn hard? Because emotions were tangled in it, that’s why. My mind got cloudy when my heart was involved.

It was late afternoon, the following day by the time I found myself once again on the dusty road leading to the Road Monsters’ clubhouse in Lebanon, Kansas. The heat was oppressive, shimmering waves rising from the asphalt. My engine growled in protest as I pulled into the compound, the gates manned by a couple prospects who gave me curt nods.

I parked, swung off the bike, and blew out a breath. The place looked the same, quiet, remote, half-deserted except for a handful of bikes outside. My heart pounded as I scanned for any sign of Lexi. God, please let her be all right. I’d only been gone a couple of days, but it seemed like a fucking eternity.

The door creaked as I stepped in. A few heads turned, Taz, leaning against the bar, arms folded. Hammer, messing with a pool cue. I recognized that suspicion in their eyes. They’re curious why I left and came back so fast. I ignored them, heading down the hallway toward my room. Each step quickened with anticipation.

I reached my door, turned the knob, and realized it was locked from the inside. Good. I knocked softly. “Princess, you in there?”

A second later, the lock clicked, and the door opened. She peered out, eyes wide with relief. “Maverick?”

I exhaled, tension draining. “Yeah, it’s me, princess.”

She threw the door wide, stepping aside so I could enter. I stepped in, shutting it behind me, and found myself staring at her. She wore a simple tank top and jeans. Looked like Ruby gave her some clothes. Her hair was a bit messy, and her face was flushed. Damn, she looked so good. I longed to yank her into my arms, but I held back a second, scanning for any sign of injury. She looked tired, but intact.

“You came back,” she whispered.

“Of course I did.” I emitted a trembling chuckle. “I said I would. I’m not a total piece of shit, you know.”

She swallowed, eyes glistening like she was about to cry. Then, all at once, she launched herself at me, arms around my neck. I caught her, pressing her tight against me, inhaling the faint scent of shampoo. She was so small, so vulnerable, yet so fucking strong in her own way.

“What happened?” she asked, muffled against my chest. “Did you find out who wants me dead?”

I clenched my jaw, burying my nose in her hair. “I got leads. It’s complicated. But I’m working on it. You’re safe here for now, right?”

She nodded, pulling back to look at me. “Yes. No one bothered me. Though Taz asked if I wanted to hang out in the rec room, and Ruby tried to talk to me. Everyone’s curious. But I stayed in your room, mostly. I was… I was scared.”

Guilt stabbed me. “Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lock you in a cage.”

She swayed her head. “No, I just… I feel safer here than wandering around with them. Some of them have that hungry look in their eyes.” She gave a nervous laugh. “But your brand is working. None of them will touch me.”

My gaze dropped to her stomach, remembering the fresh tattoo. “How’s it healing?”

She lifted the edge of her tank top, showing me the small bandage. “It’s sore, but it’s okay. Taz said I was doing fine with the aftercare.”

A surge of pride and possessiveness flared in my chest. She fucking marked herself for me. I reached out, skimming my knuckles over the bandage. “Thank you,” I murmured.

Her cheeks colored. “You already thanked me, in a way, with that last kiss before you left.”

I let out a dark chuckle. “Princess, that was just a preview.” I slid my hand around her waist, pulling her curvy body flush against me. Her eyes fluttered shut, lips parting as I leaned in. I kissed her deeply, letting days of pent-up tension and longing flood through me. She responded with a soft moan, her hands gripping my shoulders.

For a minute, we just stood there, losing ourselves in the taste of each other. My dick ached for her as it solidified. My hands went to rest on her shapely ass. I looked down at her cleavage. Shit, I could stay like this forever. But eventually, I forced myself to ease back, resting my forehead against hers.

“How about we talk first, yeah?” I said softly, though I wanted to rip her clothes off right then.

She blushed, nodding. “Yeah, sorry.”

I pressed a finger to her lips. “No apologies, princess. I’ve been craving that since I left.”

She bit her lip, eyes shining. “Then let’s talk quickly so we can do more.”

A grin tugged at my mouth. “Damn, you’re dangerous.” I steered her over to the bed, where we sat, side by side. I still didn’t let go of her hand. “So, I went to Nashville. Met up with someone. See, before I left, I found out. Well, it’s not confirmed, but it looks like Grinder’s working for someone. And your father might’ve been Alexzander Getty. That means you might be.”

“A Getty,” she finished, voice hollow.

“Yeah, word is that’s how your mom survived, off Alex’s dirty money.”

“Well, she did call herself Dirty Diana. And it was more than the fact she loved Michael Jackson. She always had a way. She made sure things got paid for.”

“Alex was a mob boss in Nashville. His nephew Ralph offed him and his son to take power. So, we figure he could want you dead, too.”

“So, does that mean he wants me dead because… I'm some sort of threat to his empire?”

“Could be.” I rubbed my face, frustration boiling. “Ralph’s an egomaniac. If you’re a rightful heir or something, he might see you as a problem. Or maybe he’s just cleaning up the family’s dirty secrets. We don’t know yet.”

She swallowed hard. “And my mother never told me any of this. She just let me live, thinking my dad was some random biker. She even said it a few times, that he was a biker. But it’s a mobster. Great.” Her voice cracked with anger and sadness.

I squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry, Lexi. I wish I had better news. The good part is, now I know who to go after. Ralph Getty, possibly in cahoots with Sky.”

“Your ex? She’s with the guy who wants me dead, right? That’s a big coincidence.”

“Yeah, I don’t believe in coincidences.”

Lexi shrugged. “Well, I do. Circumstantial evidence means little.”

“But I was asked by Kingpin to talk to Diana and find out what she knows about him. I’m not sure how Kingpin ties into this. He might be dealing with them, or maybe he’s trying to sabotage them and using me. Hard to say. It’s a big fucking mess.”

She frowned. “Kingpin is your old… friend? Enemy?”

“Both,” I admitted. “He runs the Royal Bastards MC in Nashville, but he also has his claws elsewhere. He’s the reason I ended up in the Road Monsters in the first place. And we have a nasty history involving my first fiancée, Eve.” I paused, my throat tightening. “Anyway, I got someone on the inside who might feed me info soon.”

She searched my face. “So now what? We just wait?”

I leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. “We keep you here, keep you safe. Meanwhile, I’ll wait for word. The second I know who’s pulling the trigger, I’ll put an end to it. One way or another.”

Her gaze flicked over my mouth, then up to my eyes. “I hate being helpless.”

“I know. And I’m sorry.” I ran a thumb over her bottom lip, my chest aching with the need to comfort her. “Believe me, I want to fix this more than anything. I can’t stand the idea of you living in fear.”

She sighed, leaning into my touch. “You’re too good to me, Maverick.”

I shook my head, a wry laugh escaping. “Not really. I’m a mean outlaw who doesn’t give a shit about anything except saving your ass. And claiming you,” I added, voice turning husky.

Her cheeks warmed, but she didn’t look away. “Are you going to keep me locked up in this room until then?”

I smirked. “Not locked up, but… yeah, maybe. I don’t trust half these assholes not to say something stupid. The Road Monsters abide by the property patch, but some might get ideas. Tread carefully.”

She nodded, chewing her lip. “Fine. But you better visit often, or I’ll go crazy.”

I laughed, the sound surprising even me. “Oh, I’ll visit. Don’t you worry.”

After that, I took a moment to shower off the road grime in the tiny adjoining bathroom. The hot water beat down on my muscles, each drop reminding me of the countless miles I’d traveled in the past forty-eight hours. And yet, I felt… renewed. Like the future held some sliver of hope, all because Lexi was in it. Christ, I’m turning into a fucking romantic. But maybe that was okay.

When I emerged, wearing only my jeans, I found Lexi rummaging through a bag of takeout she must’ve gotten from the clubhouse kitchen. The smell of fried chicken wafted through the air. My stomach growled.

She looked up, eyes skating over my bare chest. A faint flush crept over her face, but she forced a playful smile. “Hungry?”

“Starving,” I said, my voice rough. But my hunger was for more than just food. The way she stood there, half-smiling, made me want to drag her onto the bed. Focus, asshole. She’s not ready, and you’re both exhausted from stress.

She handed me a paper plate loaded with chicken, mashed potatoes, and some sort of gravy. “Eat before it gets cold,” she advised, taking a bite of her own portion.

I settled on the edge of the bed, devouring the meal in grateful silence. She ate too, though she looked lost in thought, occasionally glancing at me as if to ensure I wasn’t about to vanish again. After we finished, she yawned, the tension easing from her shoulders.

“You look beat,” I said, setting my plate aside.

She shrugged. “I haven’t been sleeping great. Worrying about you… about everything.”

A pang of guilt speared me. “Then let’s get some rest.” I hesitated, unsure how to phrase my next question. We’ve got one bed, I thought. Usually, I’d just assume she’d share it with me. But given the seriousness of the situation, I wanted to be sure. “Do you, uh, want me to sleep next to you? Or do you need space?”

Her eyes flicked to the bed, then to me. A small, trembling smile touched her lips. “Stay. Please.”

My heart thumped. “All right, princess.”

We crawled onto the bed, me in my jeans, her in her tank and shorts. The overhead light switched off. The darkness pressed around us, but the faint glow of a single lamp in the corner kept it from being pitch black. She nestled in close, her back against my chest, letting me wrap an arm around her waist. My fingers brushed over the bandage on her stomach, reminding me of the fresh ink beneath. My mark, I thought, a savage satisfaction stirring deep inside. She’s mine, for better or worse.

She whispered, “Thank you for coming back.”

I buried my nose in her hair. “I’ll always come back. I promise.”

And in that moment, I felt redeemed, like some part of my soul that had been stained by all the betrayals, Eve, Sky, Kingpin, the miscarriages, the broken illusions, was finally washing clean. If I can save Lexi, if I can keep her alive, maybe I can start over. Maybe the open highway didn’t have to be my only home. Maybe I could build something real, something lasting.

But the threats still loomed. Ralph Getty, Kingpin’s possible treachery, the murky role Sky played in all this. I needed to wrap up these loose ends before they strangled me. For once, I didn’t want to run. I wanted to fight. Fight for Lexi, for a shot at a life that wasn’t overshadowed by ghosts.

As her breathing evened out, signaling she’d fallen asleep in my arms, I watched the shadows dancing on the ceiling. My mind churned with possibilities. Eve said she’d do some digging, so I’d wait for her call. Then I’d decide if I needed to crush the Music City Syndicate or just slice off a piece of it. One way or another, I’ll keep Lexi safe.

I pressed a gentle kiss to her temple. If she can survive this, maybe we can both find peace. Maybe I can be the man she deserves, the man I thought I’d never be again. A grin tugged at the corner of my mouth, a warm sense of purpose settling in my chest. Damn straight. Let them come. Let them try. I won’t let her down.

With that final thought, I let the exhaustion pull me under, my arm tight around the woman who’d unexpectedly reawakened my heart.