Page 3

The rally was like landing on a different planet. The venue was a massive stretch of desert land filled with motorcycles, rows upon rows of gleaming chrome under the blistering sun. Music boomed from makeshift stages, competing with the roar of engines. Tents lined the dirt pathways, selling everything from beer to bongs to leather gear. There were stands advertising tattoos, piercings, even mud wrestling. The smell of dust, exhaust, and weed hung in the stifling air.

We parked the car on the edge of the madness and stepped out, both of us instantly hit by a wave of intense heat. It felt like we were walking into a real-life version of those MC romance books, but infinitely rougher, grittier.

“This is like Burning Man for bikers,” Nova shouted over the noise, eyes wide. “Look at those bikes!”

“Yeah, don’t point,” I agreed, experiencing a slight dizziness. “Or maybe Burning Man for criminals.” I’d studied enough cases to know the lawlessness that went down at these events. But that was all the more reason to find my mother. “I’m not even sure where to start looking for my mom.”

We began weaving through the crowds. I gawked at the carnival-like atmosphere, complete with freaks and even some bikers with their faces painted like evil clowns. People were wearing bandanas and leather vests with patches from clubs I didn’t recognize because they were real. But to my delight, several guys were shirtless, showing off heavily inked muscular torsos that were as yummy as the models in Texas.

As for the women, we discovered we were overdressed as they paraded around in thong bikinis or nothing at all, holding beer cans or hooking their arms around the men. Not to mention, riding their shoulders, in nothing at all. I felt like I was trespassing on some hedonistic playground.

Nova nudged me. “Smutty, don’t freak out, but that group of bikers is staring at us.” She gestured subtly with her chin to a knot of rough-looking men near a tent that boasted Ice-Cold Tequila Shots.

Sure enough, they were eyeing us like fresh meat. One of them, a lanky guy with a shaved head, flicked his gaze up and down my body. I fought the urge to shrink back.

“Hey there, jailbait,” the shaved-headed guy said, stepping forward with a grin that showed off tobacco-stained teeth. “Want to ride this hog?” The biker grabbed his crotch.

My mouth went dry.

Nova, apparently bolder, spoke up. “We’re over eighteen, shithead.”

“Just looking for someone,” I said, as if it would erase her insult.

“We can help you find what you need,” another man leered, his eyes roaming over Nova’s legs.

“Thanks, but we’re good.” I tried to keep my voice steady and firm.

The skinhead barked a laugh. “No need to be shy. Stick around. We’ll show you a good time.”

Nova grabbed my hand, and we attempted to move along. But the men closed in, weaving around us, offering drinks and asking all kinds of intrusive questions.

“Are you a real blonde?” they asked Nova. “Does the carpet match the drapes?”

My discomfort skyrocketed. I tried to be polite, but they weren’t taking the hint.

One of them with a thick braided beard nudged the other before he got too close to me.

I stiffened. “Don’t touch me.”

Somehow, we kept walking. “Let’s grab some water. I’m about to pass out.”

We found a vendor selling bottled water and took a moment to chug it. Another biker gang rolled by, checking us out like we were a side of beef.

One of them, a tall mountain of a man with a scraggly mustache and stained shirt, smirked at me. “Look at the fresh faces. You looking for a man, sweetheart?”

Nova stepped forward, ever the bold one. “We’re not taking applications.”

“Feisty. I like it. The feisty ones are fun to break.”

Then his gaze latched onto me. His eyes raked over my curves, lingering on the exposed skin at my waist. I tried to keep my cool, but something about his stare made my skin crawl. “We’re busy,” I said curtly, turning away.

“Bet she’s real smooth under that leather. Nowadays, these young thangs always shave their snatch bald.”

Turning, I crossed my arms. Fuming, I was feeling brave, brave enough to fuck with him. “Really? I guess you don’t know the new trends. Full bush is back.”

Nova joined in the fun. “Yeah, full bush with accessories, just like how we do our Crocs.”

“You ladies think that’ll make my dick limp? Now, sugar puss , I’ve got to see that full bush.” The big guy reached out and gripped my vest, yanking me to him. In a motion so swift that my brain could barely register it, he yanked it down, causing my bra and breast to slip and pop out completely before the whole crowd.

I gasped, terror flashing through me. “Hey!”

Before I knew it, a blur of motion cut between us, and a large fist collided with mustache-guy’s jaw. He reeled back, stumbling into the dirt. I clutched my vest closed, eyes flying to our savior.

If mustache had been a mountain, this biker was Mount Everest. He was tall, broad shouldered, with dark hair that curled at the nape of his neck. A neatly trimmed beard framed a handsome and strong jaw, but his face looked like he’d recently been in a fight. His arms were roped with muscle, tattoos covering his forearms, one of a sad woman’s face, the other depicting a set of black wings. His leather vest read Road Monsters MC , and the nametag over his chest said Maverick .

“Back the fuck off,” Maverick growled at the men, his deep voice rumbling through me like thunder. “You don’t put your hands on a woman who doesn’t want it.”

The mustache guy spat dirt out of his mouth, then glared at Maverick. “Who the hell are you to…”

He didn’t finish because Maverick just lunged forward, hooking him in the gut with a punch that made the man collapse to his knees. The others muttered curses but backed away, not willing to tangle with this biker.

“Take your shit elsewhere or I’ll break your goddamn jaw,” he barked.

I fiddled with my vest, trying to get it straight as my heart pounded out of my chest. Nova stepped beside me, eyes wide, breathing hard. Maverick glanced at us. When his gaze locked on mine, a flicker of concern, it seemed, crossed his gorgeous eyes.

“You all right?” he asked, his tone a touch gentler, but still carrying an edge.

I nodded, my cheeks burning so hot I thought I might catch fire. “Yeah. Thanks. I was handling it.”

He raised a sexy eyebrow, unconvinced. “Sure you were, princess,” he said dryly, but he offered a nod of respect all the same. Then he stepped closer, as if to shield me from prying eyes, as I was still trying to fix myself. He said nothing for a moment, just studied me, my hands digging in the vest to pull up the cup of my bra. His eyes flicked over my curves, but not in a leering way. More like he was assessing whether I was genuinely okay.

Finally, he extended a hand. “Name’s Maverick.”

Done righting myself, I took it, noticing how large and warm his hand was. I opened my mouth, but Lexi spoke. “She’s Smutty, and I’m Slutty.”

I gave her a look of death.

“What? Maverick’s not his real name,” she argued.

“Smutty?” he asked, a smirk on his handsome face. “With a full bush?”

Fuck, he heard that. Cringing inside, I died from embarrassment. That was so not true. I was as bald below as any twenty-five year old. Nevertheless, I was too mortified to even address it.

“Lexi,” I murmured, pushing my glasses up. “This is my friend, Nova. Or at least she was.”

He bowed at Nova, then turned back to me. “What’re you doing here? You’re obviously not from this crowd.”

Before I could answer, a familiar voice slurred out behind him. “There you are, big boy!”

I craned my neck to look around the big hunk of a biker, only to see my mother. Dirty Diana , in the flesh, stumbling toward us with a half-empty bottle of liquor in one hand. My stomach sank at the sight of her. She looked way older than her fifty-five years, her skin weathered from too much sun and too many late nights, dark hair sticking up in all directions. She wore a denim vest that showed off her skinny arms and a skirt that left little to the imagination, as in her belly. I’d never seen another woman with a beer gut.

But the biggest blow was seeing her wrap a wrinkly arm around Maverick’s bicep like she owned him. “Hey, baby,” she purred, pressing herself to his side. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”

Maverick didn’t reject her. He simply gave her a small, tight smile. And I stood there, with a twisting stomach.

Was this the man my mom was…with?

He seemed about my age, possibly thirty, undoubtedly younger than mid-thirties. The difference in their ages and the sight of her pawing at him made my cheeks flame in frustration.

Nova, clueless to my inner turmoil, leaned over and whispered, “Is that your mom?”

I swallowed. “Yes.”

Mom’s eyes swung to me. She blinked as if trying to focus. “Lexi, baby, you made it!” She broke into a grin, releasing Maverick to sway in my direction. She flung her arms around my neck, nearly toppling me with her liquor-laced breath. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re here. I was telling Maverick all about you. My sweet, smart daughter, who’s a lawyer now!”

I forced a smile, embarrassed and worried all at once. “Yeah, Mom, I’m here. You said you needed my help.”

She bowed, then tossed back another swig from the bottle in her hand, ignoring the crowd around us. “Yes, yes,” she muttered. “Some asshole’s threatening me, claiming I…well…that’s not important right now.”

“Uh, it is important,” I insisted, but she waved me off. “Mom, are you drunk right now?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended as my childhood came rushing back to me.

She shrugged, blinking rapidly. “It’s a party, ain’t it?” Then she cackled, planting a sloppy kiss on Maverick’s cheek. “Look at this hunk-a-dunk,” she slurred. “He’s been real sweet, taking care of me.”

I wanted to melt into the ground. Nova sent me a wide-eyed glance that said, Holy shit, your mom is hooking up with that .

Meanwhile, Maverick’s expression was unreadable. He wasn’t trying to get away.

“I see you’ve found a…friend,” I said slowly, unable to hide my disapproval.

Mom rolled her eyes. “Oh, don’t start. I’m a grown woman, Lexi. I can sleep with whoever I want. You kids today are missing out. We burned our bras, so you didn’t have to keep your legs glued shut. You’re the one who’s here to help me. Not to judge me.” She wobbled on her feet again.

Maverick stabilized her, looking stoic as ever.

Was he sleeping with my mom?

Maverick stepped in, hooking a thumb in his belt. “Diana’s told me a little about it, but not enough to figure out who’s behind the threats. She’s…not real specific.”

I frowned at him, unsure how to handle the protective note in his voice. Was he genuinely looking out for my mom, or was he using her for something else? My gaze caught on the patch on his vest that read Maverick again, remembering the raw moment he’d saved me a second ago. A swirl of confused gratitude and distaste for his closeness to my mother curled inside me.

Nova cleared her throat. “Perhaps we can all find somewhere quieter to talk?”

“Yeah,” my mom piped up with a giggle. “Let’s get more drinks first.”

She was sloshed. It was mortifying. People nearby were starting to stare. Maverick raked a hand through his hair, looking vaguely uncomfortable. “We can move over to the bar tent,” he suggested. “Less dust, at least.”

We ended up at a makeshift bar under a large canopy tent. Dozens of folks milled around, music burning my ears, bartenders pouring shots. Fans whirred overhead but did little against the California desert heat. With our drinks in hand, we all found a rickety wooden table near the corner, and Mom slid into a seat between Nova and Maverick, effectively leaving me to perch on the edge of the bench opposite them.

“So,” I tried again, leaning in to speak over the noise, “who’s threatening you, Mom? And what exactly are they threatening you with?”

She glanced away, eyes darting around. “Just…someone who doesn’t like that I know certain…information.”

I let out an exasperated breath. “Can you be more vague?”

Maverick gave a half-smile, closing in to whisper something to me. “Your mom’s known around here as Dirty Diana. She’s, uh…gathered a lot of intel on different clubs, different men, all that. Some of them might not want their secrets out in the open.”

“Secrets,” I repeated, eyeing my mother warily. I’d always known she had a reputation, but hearing it laid out was something else.

She lifted both shoulders, not meeting my eyes. “I’ve had to…survive, Lexi. You do what you gotta do. But anyway, this man who’s threatening me says he’ll sue me for defamation if I ever breathe a word about him or his…connections.”

Nova exchanged a confused look with me. I cleared my throat, summoning my newly minted legal knowledge. “If it’s defamation, that means you’d have to be making false statements. Are you? Or do you have evidence to back up these alleged secrets?”

Mom pursed her lips. “I… Well, let’s just say I’ve got some stuff locked away. And he might not want it out in the open.”

I groaned. Typical. She was being so cryptic I couldn’t do my job. “Mom, I can’t help if you won’t give me details.”

“Later,” she insisted, patting my arm. “Tonight’s for fun. This rally only happens once a year, baby. Relax. You look so tense. You need to get drunk and get laid.”

Her idea of fun apparently included another round of tequila shots that Maverick ordered. I noticed he paid for all of them out of a fat wallet full of cash, then casually pulled a flask out of his pocket to top off his own glass. Nova seemed more than happy to join in.

“Cheers to new friends,” she announced, clinking her shot glass against Chigger’s, some cornfed biker who materialized from nowhere.

He matched Maverick's height but carried his burly build on a thinner frame. With his sandy blond hair in a ponytail complete with blond patchy beard, he was Nova’s type. At least his eyes sparkled with easy humor. Maverick introduced him as another Road Monster. Chigger wore a cocky grin and had a playful gleam in his eye as he scooted closer to Nova. They were already hitting it off.

I sighed, forced into another shot by my mother’s insistent beam. The liquor burned going down, but the warm rush in my veins dulled the edges of my anxiety.

For a while, the conversation shifted to random small talk as Chigger and Nova got to know one another. The rest of us were merely audience members to this meet cute . My mother got more and more wasted, clinging to Maverick, giggling, and then she was telling embarrassing stories about me as a kid.

“I once caught Lexi kissing the pages of a book. She was eleven. No… no… I mean she was really kissing it. So much so she broke her glasses. Can you believe it?”

I wanted to sink through the floor. But I adjusted my glasses feeling the same way I did back then. Utterly invisible. Maverick seemed distant, though he occasionally offered polite nods or half-smiles when Nova or I tried to include him. Something about him felt…wounded, under all that tough exterior, but I couldn’t be sure.

Eventually, Mom decided she needed to dance. She dragged Nova and Chigger along, leaving me and Maverick to wander to the bar. An awkward silence stretched between us as he ordered us another shot.

I sipped my tequila because my throat was burning. “Thanks again for stepping in earlier,” I said quietly, recalling how he’d punched that creep who exposed me. My cheeks warmed at the memory of my vest being yanked down.

Had he seen my nip slip?

He shrugged, like it was nothing, rolling his broad shoulders. “No big deal. I don’t tolerate that shit. But I do expect a peek at that full bush you’re sporting.”

I opened my mouth to deny the bush, but he quickly backtracked.

“I’m joking.”

As I tried to figure out what he was joking about, believing I had a full bush or wanting to see it, my eyes wandered to the tattoos on his forearms. I noticed a stylized letter “E” near the black wings, partially obscured by new ink. He purposely shifted, and I quickly looked away, not wanting to stare or to pry.

“You’re new here,” he said. “Never seen you around.”

I let out a short laugh. “I’m not a biker groupie, if that’s what you’re asking.”

He gave a faint, almost amused snort. “Figured that much. Since your mom said you’re a lawyer. You carry yourself like it. This isn’t your scene.”

I raised a brow at his perceptiveness. “I am a lawyer,” I answered, ignoring the impulse to brag about recently passing the bar and landing my dream job. Something told me that in this crowd, brand-new or not, it wouldn’t make much difference. “Mom called me for help, or I would never be here. What about you? You didn’t get that black eye from rescuing me, earlier.”

“I’m a fighter, in the ring and out.” He gingerly touched his scarred lip. “Recently went a couple rounds with a grizzly.”

“A bear?” I asked.

“No. An asshole.” He leaned closer, a scent of leather, sweat, and something musky tickling my nose. “Your mom’s a handful,” he murmured, voice low enough to be drowned out by the nearby chatter. “She’s been stirring up a hornet’s nest for a while.”

“Why are you with her, then?” I asked, unable to keep the edge out of my voice. “She’s… She’s quite a bit older than you.”

A flicker of something passed through his eyes, but he simply gave a careless nod. “She’s a grown woman. We have…business.”

Heat rose to my cheeks again. Some jealousy, which made no sense, and protective anger for my mom. “Right. Well, do me a favor and don’t hurt her. She’s all I’ve got.”

He inclined his head, his expression unreadable. “I won’t.”

Mom called to us, and soon, the group of us swayed in the crowd near a small makeshift stage, the music throbbing. My mother was drunkenly dancing, her arms around Maverick’s neck, pressing her body to his. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the sight. Jealousy and revulsion warred in my stomach. He was far too young for her, and from the quick, dismissive glances he kept sending me, I wondered if he was just humoring her.

Nova and Chigger were laughing in a corner, leaning in close. I felt like the odd one out, clutching my empty shot glass, watching my mother flirt outrageously with a man who, less than an hour ago, knocked out someone for pulling down my top. It was all too bizarre. But maybe he would’ve done that for anyone. I wasn’t special.

After a while, my mother staggered, nearly falling, and I rushed to catch her. “Mom, you need to slow down,” I scolded, though I couldn’t hide the worry in my tone. “You’ve had too many shots.”

She just giggled, an obnoxious, drunken sound. “You’re such a good girl, Lexi. Too good for this world.” She patted my cheek.

Nova stumbled over, hooking a finger at me. “We should probably get your mom to her tent, yeah?” She looked tipsy too, her lipstick slightly smeared from sucking face with Chigger.

Maverick agreed, sliding an arm under mom’s shoulders. “Come on, Dirty D. Let’s get you lying down.”

We half-carried, half-dragged my mother through the crowd toward the labyrinth of tents pitched in the far corner of the rally grounds. It was a messy sprawl, some tents were big and fancy, others were battered and old. Then there were the RVs and campers farther out. The smell of weed thickened as we passed groups of partiers around fire pits. And I was getting a contact buzz.

We finally found my mom’s tent, which was a small, battered thing with pink ribbons on the entrance flap. She stumbled inside, nearly face-planting on the sleeping bag. She was out cold within seconds, barely responding when I tried to ask if she’d be okay.

“Are you staying with her?” I asked Maverick, noticing that he was lingering by the tent flap.

He raked a hand through his dark hair. “She’s hammered. But I got somewhere to be, so I can’t babysit right now. You two should stay with her.”

I scowled. “What’s that supposed to mean? You’re with her, right? Or…something?”

His eyebrows rose. “Diana does her own thing. Don’t worry about it.”

That stung a little, though I wasn’t sure why. Part of me wished for his denial of a romantic relationship with my mother. I hoped he wasn’t that sort of man. The sort of man to use her. But he didn’t say otherwise, and I didn’t want to pry any more.

“So, you’re just gonna leave her here?” I demanded.

He stared at me, unflinching. “She’s got you, doesn’t she? And your friend?” He jerked his chin toward Nova, who was leaning against Chigger, completely distracted.

I crossed my arms, torn between relief and annoyance. If he had crawled into the tent with her, I would’ve lost it. “Fine,” I said. But I wasn’t staying here all night. I had a room in town. “But I prefer an actual bed.”

Maverick’s lips twitched in a ghost of a smile. “You might find out you like it out here, princess. A real bed can get overrated.”

I bristled at the teasing note in his voice. “I’m not a princess.”

“Whatever you say. You do you, lawyer girl.” Then, without another glance, he turned and walked off into the darkness, broad shoulders disappearing among the other tents and drunk bikers.

I let out my breath, flustered. Part of me wanted to chase after him, demand to know more about him, about my mom, about this weird arrangement. Another part of me was grateful to see him go, because he unsettled me in a way I didn’t want to examine too closely.

My mother moaned for water, so Nova grabbed a bottle from the cooler, and we helped her drink a bit before she passed out entirely. Apparently, wherever Maverick went, Chigger followed because he was gone as well.

We exchanged a glance.

“What a shitshow,” Nova whispered, brushing hair back from Mom’s face.

I sighed, mind swirling. “I can’t believe she’s messing around with that guy. He can’t be much older than us. And he’s… God, I don’t even know. I’m not sure I trust him.”

Nova carelessly lifted her shoulder, her expression half-dazed from all the tequila. “He did save you from that creep. He might not be so bad.”

“He’s banging my mom,” I said, clearly agitated.

“Possibly he is, but not tonight. Let’s get your mom settled and then we can head back to our room. I can’t sleep on the ground tonight. I’ll break my neck.”

Nodding, I tucked a blanket around my unconscious mother. She snored softly, reeking of tequila. “All right. I’ll see her tomorrow. She can fill me in on who’s threatening her, and maybe we can figure out how to handle it.”

We left the rally, weaving past bikers who whistled at us or offered more drinks. My nerves were on edge, but Nova was valiantly ignoring them, hustling me toward the safety of the car.