Page 38

Lexi

I stared at the battered Road Monsters' clubhouse, my heart in a knot after I slipped into Chigger’s truck. Nova was already in the passenger seat, twisting around to watch me with concern. The engine idled, rumbling softly. I clutched my duffel bag tighter, nerves rattling like loose marbles in my gut.

I was done. Done with the violence, done with the heartbreak, done with the entire MC world. But leaving meant leaving him, and my heart couldn’t decide which hurt more, staying in the same building as him and his wife, or walking away to protect my sanity.

A coil of anguish tightened in my chest, remembering the night we shared, the sweetness, the absolute surrender, our sweat drenched bodies. I understood every description in the erotic romance novels, even the poorly worded, cringy ones.

It was never hard to put into words how Maverick made me feel. He made me feel truly alive for once in my life. But even with all the passion lingering, it seemed like a lifetime ago. I was sneaking out with Chigger and Nova, running from danger and heartbreak all at once.

The moment Chigger put the truck in reverse, my pulse jumped. This was it. I was leaving the only place that tethered me to Maverick’s world. Fear fluttered in my stomach, but then there was relief washing over me. I was doing the best thing.

We pulled onto a dusty road, the clubhouse fading in the side mirror. Silence thickened inside the cab. Nova tapped her foot anxiously, fiddling with the radio until static buzzed. She finally gave up, flicking it off. I hunched in the back, arms folded around myself, trying not to think of the dark haired biker who’d said he loved me but let his wife under the same roof where I was supposed to be safe.

Chigger cleared his throat. “So… we’ll head south, drive through part of Oklahoma, cut across. Should get to Nova’s place in Texas by morning if we rotate driving. I would drive the whole stretch, but we just made the trip up.” He cast a glance at me through the rearview. “You cool with that, Lexi?”

I forced a nod. “Yeah. Thank you.” My voice sounded vacant, even to my own ears. “I’ll drive the whole thing if I have to.”

Nova rotated in her seat. “You sure about this? We can find another route if you need to… I don’t know, avoid certain highways.”

I knew she was hinting at whether I needed to dodge potential dangers. The mob out to kill me. A numb chill spread through me. I would rather die than stay and see Maverick with another woman. “No, it’s fine. Let’s just go. The sooner we’re out of here, the better.”

No one argued. The truck lurched onto the highway, picking up speed. Soon, the Kansas plains stretched out, distant lights flickering. We fell into an uneasy silence, and I dozed intermittently, waking to the hum of passing vehicles, the glare of Truckstop lights, and my complicated emotions. Every time I jerked awake, the pain of betrayal stabbed me anew.

Maverick had called me his, claimed me as property, then turned around and whisked his wife, Sky, into the clubhouse saying he would protect her, even if it killed him . How could he? The memory made my chest ache so fiercely, I had to bite back tears.

By the time we reached Nova’s neighborhood in Texas, the sun had climbed halfway up a pale sky, casting everything in a hazy glow. My head pounded from too little sleep and too many tears. She parked outside a modest one-story house with a small yard, potted plants on the porch. Nova sighed wearily.

“Home sweet home,” she muttered, pushing open the passenger door.

I felt horrible that I hadn’t drove at all. With the help of energy drinks, her and Chigger drove all night. I slid out, wincing at how stiff my legs were. The air was warmer than Kansas, thick with humidity. Chigger hopped down, stretching his arms with a grimace.

“I’ll let you two settle in,” he rumbled, hauling out the bags. “I’ll be around, keepin’ an eye out for trouble. The Syndicate or any one, they won’t get close without me seeing.”

Nova unlocked the front door. The interior was familiar, cozy, with mismatched furniture, a pile of laundry on the couch. She flicked on a fan, gesturing for me to sit. “Don’t mind the mess, I wasn’t expecting company. Or a meltdown.”

I managed a tired smile, sinking into the worn cushions. This was better than the MC clubhouse, at least. The faint scent of coffee drifted as Nova resumed her typical morning routine. Meanwhile, Chigger lingered near the door, scuffing a boot on the floor.

“Hey,” I said softly. “Thank you for helping me, both of you.”

Nova gave a dismissive wave. “You’re my best friend. Of course I’d help.”

Chigger nodded. “Maverick’s… well, he’s complicated. I know you’re upset, but he’s not all bad.”

My stomach churned. “He brought his wife around, Chigger. The same woman who… apparently tried to kill me? Or at least wanted me dead. Hard to keep track anymore.”

His mouth opened, then shut, scowling. “I… yeah, I get it. Listen, I’m just sayin’, no matter what, Mav is probably furious with me for helping you leave. But I’d rather have him pissed than you leave on your own, see you get whacked by the Syndicate.”

Nova said, “I didn’t want to think of you crying yourself to sleep while he’s busy with Sky.”

Pain flared in my chest again at the mention of it. “That’s exactly what happened,” I whispered. “He made me his property in the most humiliating manner. Feeling me up in front of that tattoo artist. Then turned around and brought his wife to the same damn place. I guess he thought I’d be okay with it. I wasn’t.”

Chigger grimaced. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. If I’d known how messed up it was, I would’ve done… something. Said something to him.”

Nova cleared her throat. “You did what you could, Chigger. Now go keep watch. We’re safe inside. Lexi and I need some girl time, anyway.”

He massaged the nape of his neck. “Sure. I’ll be around. Holler if you need me.” With that, he gave a curt wave, then slipped outside, presumably to keep an eye on the street.

At least one biker is looking out for me , I thought bitterly.

Nova shut the door, locking it. She turned, shaking her head in exasperation. “Men, huh?”

A broken laugh escaped me. “Right. Men.”

“Bikers,” she said, one upping me. Then she set about rummaging in the kitchen, calling over her shoulder, “You want ice cream or wine first? I have a feeling we need both.”

I sank against the couch cushions, fatigue sapping my limbs. “Let’s do both, together, if possible. Breakfast of champions.”

Her face lit in a weary grin. “Got it.”

Within minutes, she returned with two pints of ice cream, a half-empty bottle of cheap red wine, and a couple of mismatched spoons. We settled cross-legged on the rug, using the coffee table as a surface for the glasses.

I took a spoonful of chocolate ice cream, savoring the sweetness as it melted on my tongue. It dulled the bitterness inside me by a fraction. Nova poured us each a glass of wine, swirling it with the practiced ease of someone who’d faced heartbreak many times.

“So,” she prompted gently. “Wanna really talk about it? Now that Chigger isn’t listening.”

A lump rose in my throat. “I… I guess. I just can’t wrap my head around it. Maverick claimed he loved me, we, we were intimate… He fucked me at least even if it felt like we were making love. It was like a fairytale, straight out of one of our romance books, Nova. We were at a fancy resort, like I meant something to him. Rose petals, Champaign, a real celebration. The sex, I don’t even want to think about how he made me feel… Like I was valuable, wanted. Hell, he whispered he loved me, Nova. Then he gets a text from an ex and all hell breaks loose. He shows up with another ex, still his wife, calls her a victim, tries to protect her from the mob, too. Knowing she set the dominos in motion. The deadly dominos that killed my mom and wants to kill me. I can’t… My brain is fried. My heart…”

Nova reached over, squeezing my shoulder. “I’m so sorry. That’s so messed up.” She paused, spoon in her mouth. “That must’ve been a terrible shock, seeing them together.”

Tears pricked my eyes. “It was. And the worst part is… part of me still wants him to show up, fix everything. Grovel at my feet and beg me to forgive him. But that’s not how this works. Not in the real world. He’s married, Nova. Married. Whether or not it’s real, he called her his wife right in front of me.” I took a jagged breath, recalling the anguish when I’d heard him say those words. “And I can’t handle it. I can’t handle being second best, or in constant danger. Maybe I was naive to trust him at all.”

Nova sighed, gulping down a mouthful of wine. “You’re not naive, just… you fell in love with an outlaw. I get it. Chigger’s a complicated guy, too. Sometimes we see the good in them, even if it’s buried under layers of crap.”

A hush lingered. I sniffled, hiding my face in my hands. “I wish it wasn’t so complicated.”

She patted my knee. “Same, girl. But maybe it’s for the best. You’ll heal, move on. Right?”

I nodded dully, not sure if I believed it. “And what about you? You and Chigger, you seemed… close.”

A wry smile tugged at Nova’s lips. “He’s sweet, all right. The sex is… amazeballs. Like, I can’t even describe. But it’s not serious. He’s always got women blowing up his phone, always secretive about the MC. No talk of me being his anything.” She shrugged. “I guess that’s what I want, though. Just fun, no strings.”

“Are you sure?” I asked softly, seeing the flicker of hurt in her eyes.

Her smile wobbled. “I’m not sure of anything. But I can’t keep hoping for more with a biker. He’s never said he wants more. So maybe I should just enjoy the ride, pun intended.”

We both laughed bitterly, wine warming our bellies, ice cream sweetening our sorrow. For a moment, we just ate in silence.

After we’d downed half the wine and devoured most of the ice cream, exhaustion hit us like a freight train. Nova suggested we crash in her bed for a nap. “I only have one bed, Smutty, but we can share. Unless you want the couch?”

I was too drained to argue. We laughed about the one bed trope. “Your bed is fine, Slutty. But don’t try to ravish me.” So we curled up under a worn quilt, sobbing quietly about men and heartbreak until sleep claimed us.

A few hours later, I jolted awake to the shrill ring of my phone. My head throbbed from crying and the wine. Next to me, Nova mumbled something, rolling over. I scrabbled for my phone on the nightstand.

“Hello?” I croaked.

A clear male voice came through: “Lexi? Where have you been? I tried emailing you all morning. This is Mark.”

I blinked, confusion swirling. “Mark?” Then it clicked. Mark from my law firm. My boss. Crap. “I’m sorry, I’ve… been out of town. Kinda dealing with personal stuff.”

He let out a mild laugh. “I can imagine. Heard your mother passed away, right? Are you okay? Do you need more time off?”

My chest tightened. “Yeah, um, my mom… she was actually murdered. So it’s complicated. I might need more time.”

He exhaled sharply. “Murdered? Lexi, God, I’m so sorry. Do you… do you need legal help with that?”

A hysterical laugh bubbled up. “You’re a lawyer… That’s what I wanted to ask. There’s a chance someone wants to kill me too. Should I go to the cops or… is that a bad idea?” My words spilled out, half delirious from stress.

“Whoa, slow down,” Mark said, tone shifting to professional seriousness. “There's an attempt on your life? If you suspect police corruption or something, maybe we should handle it differently. I have… connections. Let me see what I can do. Where are you right now? I can come see you.”

Alarm bells tinkled. “No, I… I’d rather not say my exact location,” I stammered. “But I’d appreciate any help. The man behind my mother’s murder is a big deal in the underground, calls himself Grinder or Getty. Hard to keep track. I’m not sure who’s who. Either way, it’s the mob, and I’m terrified.”

Mark hummed thoughtfully. “Mob involvement is a whole different game. Don’t go to the cops yet. You’re right. Some dirty cops could easily tip them off. Give me a couple hours, I’ll reach out to some folks. We might arrange a protective order or something more… clandestine. You trust me, Lexi?”

I shut my eyes, tears threatening again. Did I trust him? Maverick’s an outlaw, and that ended in heartbreak. Mark was my boss, someone from a far more civilized world, presumably. “Yes, I guess so. Please, do what you can. I’m desperate.”

He sighed softly. “All right. I’ll call you back soon. Keep your phone close. And I need your address.”

I rattled off Nova’s address, and we hung up. My stomach churned with uncertainty. Telling Mark might be a huge mistake. But I was out of options. I needed to protect myself, and maybe my normal job was the one safe link to a stable life.

I rolled over, seeing Nova stir. “What’s up?” she mumbled groggily.

I sighed, flopping onto my back. “My boss. He wants to help. He’s got connections or something. I told him everything. Maybe too much.”

Nova sat up, eyes puffy from the nap. “Everything? Lexi, that might be risky. Lawyers can have shady ties too. Especially if the mob’s involved.”

I shrugged helplessly. “I know. But I can’t keep living in fear. He’s a partner at a prestigious law firm. Mark and his father run it. I haven’t worked there long , but they hired me right out of school. They have a ton of big clients. I’m sure they can handle this better than me running to random safe houses with bikers.”

Nova chewed her lip. “I guess. Just be careful. Last thing you need is a double-cross.”