Page 36

Maverick

I was awakened abruptly. My body still ached from my scuffle with my brother, Dogma, the other night. I groaned, sitting up on the small cot in the room I’d taken over after Lexi kicked me out. Fuck , my head pounded. I’d spent the night replaying our fight, drinking myself to death, cursing myself for being such a mess.

Finding out Sky still loved me didn’t do anything to erase my love for Lexi. As I fought with Lexi all day, I avoided talking more with Sky. I didn’t know how I was going to handle that situation. I didn’t want to break Sky’s heart, but I wouldn’t abandon Lexi for her, either. In my heart, my old memories with Sky battled my fresh times with Lexi, and Lexi won every time. But guilt gnawed at me. I didn’t love Sky like I loved Lexi, not anymore. It wasn’t her fault, but it was the truth.

The sound that woke me grew louder. Shouting and boots pounding on concrete became clearer. I heard Sarge’s voice bellowing in the hallway. “Mobsters! Fuckers at the damn gate! Everyone, arms up!”

Grinder. The name shot through my mind like a bullet. He was the bastard who’d killed Diana for Getty. Now, apparently, he’d tracked Lexi to the Kansas clubhouse. I grabbed my gun from the nightstand, shoving aside the blanket, ignoring the sharp protest in my ribs. Fear lanced me. Lexi. If Grinder’s men were here for her, that meant they wanted her dead for being Alexander Getty’s heir.

As I stepped into the corridor, chaos erupted. The clubhouse was crawling with men wearing slacks, obviously not our typical biker rivals. Several of them brandished handguns, exchanging gunfire with Road Monsters with hunting rifles who were ducking behind pool tables or door frames. My survival skills kicked in full force.

I spotted Sarge crouched behind the bar, shouting directions at Taz and Tank. Shots rang out, wood splintered. “They’re looking for the Getty girl!” Sarge hollered. “Where is she?”

I bolted into the main lounge, returning fire at two mobsters creeping in from the windows. Bullets whizzed overhead. Shit, this was a warzone.

In the midst of the smoke and shouting, I spotted a figure in the corner. Sky. My blood ran cold. She looked far too calm, standing amid the carnage. Our eyes met, and a twisted smile curled her lips. What the hell?

Suddenly, two goons advanced on me, so I dropped behind a sofa, firing at them. One went down, the other retreated, cursing. Gunpowder stung my nostrils. I risked a glance back at Sky. She was backing away from the chaos, heading for the side exit. What’s she doing?

I dashed after her, weaving through overturned furniture. Bikers were hollering, some wounded. The mobsters kept pressing in from the doors, and I had to retreat. However, they seemed confused, likely expecting fewer opponents.

Where’s Lexi? Fear gnawed at me. She had to be in her room. I reached the corridor leading to her quarters, only to find it empty. We’d argued, and she’d locked me out, but now the door was open. Strange. Maybe she’s out front? I went to find out.

Suddenly, Sky stepped into my path, flanked by two armed men. My heart slammed. She wasn’t cowering or begging for help. Instead, she looked triumphant.

“Sky, what the fuck?” I snarled, raising my gun. The two men aimed theirs back, so it was a standoff.

Her lips twisted. “I led my men right here,” she said coldly.

Her men?

“Ralph wanted Diana dead once he found out she’d been extorting his uncle for two decades. But I told him the real threat is her daughter, Lexi. She’s Alexander Getty’s legitimate child, the only one who could threaten our son’s inheritance. Sorry, but she has to die.”

Rage exploded in my chest. She used me. “Kingpin was right. You played us?” My voice trembled with fury. “You let me believe you were blackmailed, that you needed rescuing.”

She shrugged, eyes hard. “I was blackmailed… once. But it’s different now. I made a choice. And I realized I can have more power at Ralph’s side if Lexi is out of the picture for good. You made it too easy, bringing me here.”

I ground my teeth. “You bitch,” I spat. “You threatened Diana and started the rumors about her secrets, just to get Kingpin’s attention. Why?”

She laughed. “I didn’t do a damn thing to alert him or you. Diana got scared and started throwing Kingpin’s name around, threatening to tell his secrets, hoping he’d save her. She put her trust in the wrong man.”

“Now you’re after Lexi?”

“And you’re protecting her? You’re as much as a fool as Kingpin.”

“She’s done nothing to you. She doesn’t want your man or your shit life.”

Sky laughed bitterly. “She exists. She ’s blood , Maverick. That’s enough. We’ll find her eventually and eliminate her.”

Eliminate? I was struck by how cruel Sky’d become. My mind whirled. If Lexi was still inside, the mob would shoot her on sight. “Where is she?” I growled, trying to maintain composure. “Sky, if you’ve touched her…”

A bullet ricocheted off the wall near my head. One of Sky’s men fired a warning shot. “Enough talk,” he hissed. “Kill him, Boss?”

Sky hesitated. A ghost of old sentiment flickered in her eyes. “No,” she said softly. “I owe him at least a mercy. Let’s go.” She jerked her head, and the two men flanked her as they retreated down the hall. Another wave of goons covered their escape, exchanging gunfire with Taz and Sarge.

I snarled, popping off two shots at the men who were covering her. One bullet grazed a mobster’s arm, making him stagger. Before I could line up a fatal shot, a different thug fired, clipping my shoulder. Pain seared through me, knocking me back. I cursed, pressing a hand to the bleeding wound. Fuck. Not again.

By the time I steadied my gun, Sky and her entourage had disappeared through the side exit. A wave of fury and betrayal surged. I should chase them… kill her for what she’s done. But my vision blurred from the pain. The corridor raged with gunfire as more Road Monsters closed in.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the mob’s assault fizzled. They must have realized Lexi wasn’t here, that this was a dead end. The survivors retreated, leaving half the clubhouse in ruins. I collapsed against the wall, breathing hard. Taz rushed over, calling for help. My shoulder burned, blood trickling down my arm.

“Shit, Mav, you good?” Taz growled, crouching beside me.

I nodded weakly. “Just a graze.” My mind spun with the terrifying revelation that Sky had orchestrated everything. “Where’s Lexi?” I croaked, heart pounding. “Is she safe?”

Taz frowned. “She left. I saw her sneaking out with Nova and Chigger earlier. She’s not here. You lucked out, brother.”

Relief and sorrow flooded me. So she was gone, not caught in the crossfire. Thank God. But also… She’s gone. She left me, didn’t even say goodbye. Maybe she’d blocked my number, too, which explained why she wasn’t answering.

I stumbled to my feet, pressing my palm to the wound. Sarge was yelling for men to gather the injured. A few bodies lay on the floor. Getty’s who hadn’t made it out alive. One of them jerked, but there was no saving him, his brains half out. I put a bullet in him as mercy, thinking about how Sky spared me.

The next time we met, I wouldn’t repay the favor.

I pulled out my phone, ignoring the pain in my shoulder as Taz tried to patch me with a rough bandage. Dialing Lexi’s number. Call ended. It didn’t even go to voicemail, just a dead line. She blocked me. My lungs tightened.

I dialed Kingpin next, hands trembling with anger and heartbreak. He picked up on the third ring. “What?”

“Sky fucked us,” I spat. “She led Getty’s goons right to Lexi’s location. Good thing Lexi already left, but half our guys are injured. Sky got away with the mob. She’s not blackmailed. She’s working with them.”

Kingpin cursed, “Fucking wacko, bitch. I suspected she might be lying, but not to this extent.”

I inhaled sharply. “Now I gotta find Lexi and fix this shit. Sky’s on the loose, and she’s gunning for Lex. You better watch your back, Kingpin. Sky might come for you and Eve, too.”

He grunted. “If she tries, she’ll find a bullet waiting. As for Diana’s secrets on me, they probably died with her. No use shaking down the daughter any longer.”

“You expect me to leave her for dead?”

“I never said that. You think I want Ralph Getty to win? You do what you need to do. Getty’s true heir. Maybe she’ll come in handy in the future.”

“Fuck you, Kingpin. I won’t let you use Lexi in your twisted game.”

“Not even if it keeps her breathing? Keep me posted.” He hung up abruptly.

I shut my eyes, letting Taz finish taping a makeshift bandage to my shoulder. My mind swam with guilt. Lexi had been right. I should’ve listened to her. I was a fool to trust Sky. I sank onto a broken chair, blood dripping down my torn sleeve. I might’ve just unleashed more hell on Lexi.

Shoving aside the agony, I stood. “Taz, get Pep to patch me up better. I gotta go find her.”

He lifted a brow. “You’re insane. You need rest.”

I glared. “I’m not letting Lexi face this alone. The mafia is after her, and Sky’s out there, after her. She has no clue how deep the threat runs.”

He sighed, muttering curses, but complied. Ten minutes later, I left the clubhouse with a fresh bandage, my gun loaded, and my bike roaring. My shoulder screamed in protest, but I ignored it. Lexi had to be with Nova somewhere in Texas. That’s where I’d start searching. I wouldn’t rest until I found her, no matter how many states I had to cross. Because, by God, if she hated me forever or never forgave me, I still needed to keep her alive.

Hold on, princess, I thought, tears threatening to blur my vision. I’m coming.