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Seeing him broke my heart. For a split second, I wanted to run to him. But the memory of his betrayal, of Sky, came crashing back. No. I stayed there, shaking like a leaf. Not to mention, they were gonna kill him if I made a move.

He took in the scene, me with Mark’s arm around me, two goons stashing weapons under their jackets, a contract on the table. His face contorted with rage and heartbreak. “What’s going on?” he demanded, stepping forward. “Lexi, are you okay?”

Mark stood, blocking him. “You need to leave,” he said smoothly. “This is private legal business. Everything’s settled.”

Maverick glared, ignoring Mark’s stance. “I’m not going anywhere without an explanation.”

I inhaled shakily. “It’s… it’s fine now. I signed a deal with Marciano’s men. They’ll protect me from Ralph and the Getty clan. I don’t need you or the MC. This is better.”

One of the goons flashed his gun under the table, a silent warning for Maverick not to intervene. My stomach twisted at the cruelty of it all.

Please, don’t get yourself shot, I pleaded silently to Maverick.

I saw him notice the flash of metal. He looked at me, heartbreak etched across his face. “You can’t trust them.”

Tears welled again. “I can’t trust anyone, Maverick,” I whispered. “Not after everything I’ve seen and… learned.” My voice shook. I was talking about him, about how he let his wife into the clubhouse, endangered me.

A flicker of pain crossed his eyes. Mark gave a condescending shrug. “It’s done. She’s under Marciano’s protection now. That’s better than your half-assed nonsense, right?” He turned to me, giving me a side hug. “No more running, no more bikers. Just a stable life again. You can come back to work soon, kid.” He winked, his face too close, his tone too familiar. I felt nauseated. But I let it happen, to keep the peace.

Maverick's fists tightened, his jaw twitching. My heart pounded, seeing him on the verge of exploding.

My tears spilled freely now. The goons gathered their documents, murmuring quietly. One gave me a nod, as if to say they were done here.

For a moment, I thought Maverick might fight them all, damn the consequences. But then his shoulders sagged, and he whispered, “If you’re safe, then I guess that’s all that matters. I’ll go.”

He was leaving. He wasn’t even fighting for me. A wave of heartbreak and relief mingled. Maybe it was better this way. No more illusions.

Mark escorted him outside, the door closing behind them.

Mark returned a minute later, alone, a crease his brow. He set the briefcase on the table, glancing at me. I wiped my tears hastily, not wanting him to see me so vulnerable.

Mark exhaled, loosening his tie even more. “Well, that was awkward. I’m sorry you had to see him again.”

I swallowed. “Maverick came here to… never mind. It doesn’t matter. He has a wife, so I guess it’s over anyway.” My chest ached at the memory.

Mark studied me. “Yes, well, from what I gather, that relationship is complicated. But so is the rest of your life. You are, apparently, Alexander Getty’s daughter.”

I pursed my lips. “I… guess. I never met him. So I have no clue.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “He was very powerful, well connected. We handled some of his finances in years past. Now, Marciano’s stepping into that space. Anyway, I see the resemblance now.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “I don’t. I got no fatherly support from him. My aunt raised me, and my mother was always drifting around. He never reached out.”

He shrugged. “Yet somehow, you ended up in the best schools, working at my father’s prestigious firm. Hardly a coincidence.”

My stomach lurched. “What are you implying?”

His lips curved in a smirk. “I suspect your father funneled money your way, or at least ensured you had opportunities. Why else would we hire a nobody fresh out of law school?”

My blood boiled. “A nobody? I scored top marks, I worked my ass off.”

He lifted his hands. “Not insulting you, just pointing out that my father doesn’t hire novices without reason. Maybe he owed your father, or he nudged him. It’s all speculation. Doesn’t matter now.”

I swallowed fury, a swirl of confusion hitting me. Could my father’s blood-soaked money have paid for my tuition? Could the firm have taken me on as a favor to the mob? “I can’t deal with this right now,” I muttered, dropping into a chair, burying my face in my hands.

Mark stepped closer, voice turning smooth again. “Lexi, all I’m saying is, you’re not as random as you think. The Getty name might follow you your whole life, unless you stay under Marciano’s wing. And under my watch.”

My shoulders hunched. “Your watch?”

He flashed a confident grin. “Someone has to ensure those men keep their word. And it won’t be hard, considering I will see you at the office. Not that I haven’t noticed how beautiful you are, before, but that’s a separate matter.” He wagged his eyebrows suggestively.

A flush of disgust and unease prickled my skin. Is he hitting on me? Now? “So now that I’m important, you’re interested?”

He laughed softly. “I’ve always been interested, but you seemed aloof. Too innocent. Also, mixing business and pleasure is tricky. But these circumstances changed everything. We can get to know each other, see how we handle this… arrangement.”

I folded my arms. “I’m sure I don’t want that.”

He just shrugged, stepping back. “We’ll see, Ms. Bryan. For now, I’ll let you settle. I’ll see you at work soon. Don’t forget, the big project with Mendez & Associates is due next week.”

I scowled, offended by the abrupt shift to everyday business. “Sure. I’ll be there,” I snapped. “You can see yourself out.”

He gave a mock bow, then headed for the door, making a quiet phone call.

I just signed away my autonomy to these scumbags.

Mark paused in the doorway, glancing back. “Lexi, you may not fully grasp my world, but you belong in it more than you realize. It’s in your blood.”

My throat constricted. He left, the door clicking shut. I stood there, alone in the quiet living room, trembling. In my blood? The thought made me ill. I wanted no part of a mob life. But that’s apparently the world I was born into.

A sob tore from my chest. I collapsed onto the couch, tears streaming, mind whirling with heartbreak over Maverick’s abrupt departure. Part of me raged that he hadn’t fought harder, hadn’t thrown me over his shoulder and declared he wouldn’t let these assholes touch me. But another part whispered that I’d forced him away. I told him to back off. I told him I was done.

He listened.

Now, no one was left to help me. Nova was at work, Chigger had vanished, maybe he got spooked by the suits?

I was truly alone.

Burying my face in a cushion, I let out a muffled scream, the night’s shadows long across the floor. No one came. No one cared. This is my reality now, hush money, mafia deals, and heartbreak.

I must’ve drifted into a restless doze on the couch because the next thing I knew, I heard the front door open. Streetlights streamed in, revealing a tall figure in the threshold. My heart lurched, hoping maybe it was Maverick after all. But the shape was slender. Nova.

“Lex?” she called softly, flipping the light switch.

I blinked, straightening. My eyes felt swollen from crying. “Nova?” My voice cracked.

She set her bag down, frowning. “What happened? You look worse than before.”

I gave a hollow laugh. “Mark came by. And some mob goons. I signed a deal. Maverick showed up too.”

Nova’s eyes went round. “What?” She hurried over, kneeling by the couch. “Explain. All of it.”

So I did, haltingly, voice vibrating. I told her how Mark was apparently some big shot at the firm, with direct lines to Marciano, who might be Grinder, or at least part of that network. He’d arranged a hush money contract to keep the mob from killing me. Maverick tried to intervene, but I shut him down. Then Mark flirted, insinuating I was special because of my father’s lineage. Nova’s jaw dropped further with each sentence.

“Holy. Shit,” she breathed. “That’s insane. Lex, you basically sold your soul to the devil.”

I buried my face in my hands. “I know. But I saw no other way. They threatened to kill me, you, or Chigger, everyone I care about. Maverick, too. I couldn’t let that happen.”

Nova plopped onto the couch beside me. “Damn. This is all so messed up. But… maybe it’s safer, right? They said they’d protect you?”

A shaky exhale left my lips. “They said so. Mark claims it’s the best solution. But at what cost? I’m effectively a puppet for them, bound to never claim the Getty name or do anything they don’t like unless they want to use me.”

She let out a low whistle. “That’s heavy.” Then she hesitated. “And Maverick… how did he take it?”

A hollow ache clenched my chest. “He saw Mark holding me, realized I’d chosen this route. He left. Didn’t fight, didn’t push. He just… walked away.”

Tears threatened again, but I forced them down. “Maybe it’s for the best,” I whispered. “He has a wife. She nearly got me killed.”

“Are you sure he wants to be with her after all that?”

“He… he didn’t deny it. So, what am I clinging to, anyway?”

Nova rubbed my back. “I’m so sorry, Lex. You loved him, didn’t you?”

I swallowed. “Yeah, I did. Part of me… still does.” My voice broke. “But it’s over. He’s an outlaw and I’m… apparently a mob princess who just sold out to a rival family.” The absurdity of that statement made my head spin.

Nova gave a shaky laugh. “What a pair we are. You with your hush money from some gangster, me messing around with a biker who barely acknowledges me. We need a new approach, huh?”

I managed a watery smile. “We do. I might as well go back to my normal life, deal with the aftermath. Mark says I can return to the firm in a few days. Once the dust settles.”

She nodded, then her eyes brightened with an idea. “You know what? Why don’t we get a better place together? A proper, safe apartment in the city with security. I can help pay rent, and you’ll be closer to the firm. We can keep watch for each other.”

A wave of relief washed over me. Living alone seemed scary now. “That might be good,” I admitted. “This place is fine, but it’s out of the way, and I’d be isolated if anything happens.”

She beamed. “Exactly. We’re better off with each other than random men who break our hearts, right? We’re not damsels in distress from those romance books, waiting for some alpha male to fix everything. We’re high-powered women with futures.”

I inhaled, a spark of determination flickering. She’s right. “Let’s do it. We’ll start looking tomorrow for something downtown, near my firm.”

Nova grinned. “Yes! Finally a roommate after all these years. Remember in college, we joked about getting a swanky place with a city view?”

I recalled how I’d turned her down back then, wanting my own space because all the men she’d have over. “Yeah, I remember. This time, I won’t say no. Let’s do it.”

We exchanged a weary hug, relief mingling with sorrow. My mind still buzzed with thoughts of Maverick, his stormy eyes, the bandaged shoulder, how he told me I was his. Now he was gone. But if I was truly forging a new path, maybe I needed to bury that memory once and for all.

Nova rose, yawning. “It’s almost midnight. Let’s get some rest. Tomorrow, we’ll do serious apartment hunting. A new start.”

I nodded, standing. “A new start,” I echoed numbly.

Still, as I followed Nova to her bedroom, the weight in my chest remained. My body felt like a shell, numb after so much heartbreak. The hush money, the contract, the mob’s threats… all swirling in the background. But above it all, the ache of losing Maverick overshadowed everything.

Even if he had a wife, even if he’d put me in danger, part of me longed to see him charge in again, fight for me, prove me wrong.

But he didn’t.

And that fact tore me to pieces.

Lying awake, staring at the dark ceiling, I pressed my hands over my heart, wishing the pain would fade. Nova breathed softly beside me, half asleep.

I’m a battered soul, pinned between the underground and heartbreak. Maybe I should write a book?

The night yawned on, silent except for my soft tears. Eventually, exhaustion took me. My final thought before drifting off was a fervent wish, that the hush money was enough to keep me alive, and that maybe, in another lifetime, Maverick and I could’ve had something real.

But not this lifetime. Not anymore.