Page 15 of Panther’s Magpie (Mountain River MC #1)

CHAPTER

FOURTEEN

MAGGIE

W ith my arms around his waist, I tip my head back. The sunshine gives me a little warmth, while the wind leaves me with a slight chill. It’s the perfect balance. I love being on the back of a bike.

It’s kind of crazy to think that I never would have experienced this if it weren’t for him.

When Panther came into the clubhouse earlier, he asked if I wanted to go for a ride and go look for Aspen.

I got dressed in the borrowed leathers and put the helmet on without saying a word.

It was only when he turned the opposite direction of the Dirty Hangar that I realized the truth.

He just wanted to ride. Panther needed to clear his head, and he didn’t want to do it alone. He wanted me to go with him.

Me.

He was seeking comfort with me.

All too soon, he starts to slow down. I look around and realize that we are back in town. I don’t know how long we’ve been riding, but I’m not ready for it to be over. When he stops at the little diner, though, I realize just how hungry I am.

He shuts off his bike and helps me off.

“How was it?” he asks gruffly.

“Perfect as always,” I say, making him smile.

We take off our helmets and head inside.

“Hey guys, feel free to find a seat,” a girl I’ve never seen before says.

“Thanks, Michelle.”

With his hand on my lower back, we walk to a booth in the back. He sits facing the door and looks out the window.

“Not going to look at the menu?” I tease.

He shakes his head but smiles. “I like what I like. Are you going to order the salad and fries again?”

It pleases me to no end that he remembers my order.

I tuck my head down and smile. “Maybe. Who knows, I might order something different.”

When Michelle comes by, he orders his burger and fries, and I order my salad with fries. Only this time, I add a chocolate milkshake to go with it.

“Damn girl, look at you doing something different,” he teases, making me laugh.

“Hey, a girl can never be too predictable. Sometimes we have to keep you on your toes,” I quip.

“Do you need anything while we are in town?” he asks, changing the subject.

I shake my head. “No, I’m good. Thank you for letting me have stuff delivered to the clubhouse, though.”

If it weren’t for next-day delivery, I would have been in trouble a long time ago. No way in hell did I bring enough stuff to last this long.

“No problem. Just let the guy at the gate know when you are expecting something.”

“Easy enough.”

“Panther,” a woman says.

He groans under his breath. “Incoming. I’m sorry for whatever’s about to happen.”

I look over my shoulder and freeze. It’s the same beautiful woman who glared at me at the charity ride.

His ex.

“I’ve missed you, baby,” she coos.

She tries to touch his arm, but he bats her hand away.

“Ava, I thought I made it clear that I didn’t want to see you,” he says coolly.

“Baby, we both know you say things you don’t mean.”

As I study them next to each other, I start to feel sick. She’s gorgeous and clearly his type. Together, they just look…right.

Once again, I start to feel inadequate.

No wonder he isn’t interested in me. Not when his exes look like her.

“Excuse me,” I murmur as I slide out of the booth.

Panther reaches out and grabs my hand. “Magpie.”

“Aww, how cute, he gave you a little nickname.” Ava laughs, making me feel small. Like I’m a joke.

I blink back the tears that build in my eyes. “It’s fine. I’m just going to the restroom. Finish this.”

“Take your time. We’ll be a while,” Ava purrs.

Once safely in the bathroom, I take a deep breath and try to center myself. I know I shouldn’t let her get under my skin, but sometimes I can’t help it. I guess this is what happens when you’ve never been someone’s first choice.

Ava flashes through my mind, and something nags at me. Something about her is familiar, and I don’t know why.

Did Aspen and I go to school with her? We aren’t that far in age, if not the same.

It doesn’t matter.

Panther is hers, not mine. I don’t stand a chance with him. My crush is getting out of control.

God, Aspen would tease me like crazy if she knew that her brother was consuming my thoughts.

For the first time in my life, I feel jealous, and that’s not like me.

I hate it.

I hate feeling like I have some sort of claim over him when I don’t.

This needs to stop. I need to bury these feelings.

Shaking my head, I wash my hands and head back to Panther. I expect to find Ava in my seat, only she’s nowhere to be seen.

“Our food came out quickly. I’m surprised you didn’t start eating yet,” I say as I sit down across from him.

“I was waiting for you.”

“That’s sweet, but unnecessary.”

We eat in silence, and for the first time, it’s an awkward one. I’m tense, waiting for Ava to reappear, and Panther looks like he has something on his mind.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

“I’m fine. If you wanted to leave with her, you could. I’m sure one of the guys wouldn’t mind coming to pick me up.”

“Maggie,” he starts.

I cut him off. “I’m serious. You two have history and clearly aren’t over. I wouldn’t blame you for going off with her. You guys have things to figure out.”

“It’s not…”

I shake my head and stand back up. “I really don’t want to talk about this anymore. I’m just going to call one of the guys. I’ll see you later.”

Before he can say anything else, I rush out the door.

Running. Just like I always do.

PANTHER

Tossing cash onto the table, I chase after Maggie.

“Is everything okay, Panther?” Michelle asks.

“Everything is fine. Just have somewhere to be. I’ll see you later,” I lie.

Pissed doesn’t even begin to cover how I’m feeling right now. I’m mad at Maggie for not giving me a minute to explain this shit, and I’m fucking furious with Ava for inserting herself where she’s not wanted.

“Maggie, slow down,” I say harshly as I step outside.

“Find your girlfriend, Calloway ,” she says over her shoulder.

This little brat. I should turn her over my knee and spank her ass until it’s red. I don’t like the way she is spitting out my name like an insult now. I want her to call me Calloway, but not like this.

I catch up to her and put my hand on her shoulder, making her stop. She turns to face me but steps back. Her stepping away from me is like a knife to the chest.

“Will you just give me a goddamn minute? She’s not my girlfriend. Never has been, never will be.”

Maggie scoffs as she crosses her arms over her chest.

“Oh, really? Are you sure about that?” she asks.

“Yes.” I don’t hesitate.

“Okay then, explain it to me like I’m five,” she says sarcastically.

I look up at the sky and take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.

How the fuck did everything get so twisted today? Everything was perfect until it wasn’t.

I never should have fucking stopped for food. If I hadn’t, Ava wouldn’t have had the chance to fuck with either of our heads. She wouldn’t have gotten under Maggie’s skin.

“Spit it out, Calloway. I don’t have all day,” she sasses.

I open my mouth to explain that Ava was just a fuck buddy who wanted more. I want to tell her that I made it fucking crystal clear to Ava that nothing will ever happen again between us when my phone rings.

Maggie’s eyes drop to my pocket. “Are you going to answer it?”

Should I? Yes. Will I? No.

“No, I’m kind of in the middle of something right now.”

My phone stops and then starts up again.

“Sounds important,” she says.

“You’re important. This is important.”

“Calloway, don’t be fucking stupid. It could be Aspen.” She huffs, but some of the anger leaves her.

She’s right.

“Goddammit. Give me one second. Don’t fucking move.” I pull my phone out of my pocket.

“Yes, sir,” she mutters, making my dick twitch.

“Yeah?” I snap as I answer.

“Stay the fuck away from my sister,” the voice on the other end of the line hisses, making me pause.

“Who is this?”

I know who it is, but I still have to ask.

Maggie frowns and takes a step forward.

“Don’t play dumb with me, Panther. Stay the fuck away from my sister. I’m doing everything I can to keep yours safe, but if you fuck with mine, I make no promises.”

She’s alive. Aspen is a-fucking-live. Thank Christ.

I run my hand through my hair and sigh. The relief hits me like a freight train.

“Where the fuck is she, Asher? I need something,” I beg.

Without thinking about it, I reach out and pull Maggie into my arms. She wraps hers around my waist and rests her head on my chest, right over my heart.

“Look, man, shit’s complicated. They keep moving her because they know you haven’t stopped looking for her. I only get to see her every few days, and I only get a heads-up at the last minute.”

“I need more. She’s my sister, I can’t just stop.”

“I know, man, I get it, trust me. I’m trying to figure out the pattern to their movements so I can try to get her out. Right now, though, they are unpredictable. I need more time.”

“How much time? How much longer can she hold on?”

“Your sister is a fighter, Panther. You raised her well. Just know that I’m doing everything I can. When I know more, I’ll reach out. Until then, stop fucking digging into me and leave my sister alone.” He hangs up before I can say anything else.

My phone drops to my side. I hoped that going to his sister would make him come out of the woods. I just wish he would have given me a little more.

“She’s alive,” Maggie says softly with tears in her eyes.

I pull her tightly into me. “She’s alive.”

She rests her forehead on my chest and takes a shuddering breath. “I didn’t know how badly I needed to hear that.”

“Yeah, but we aren’t any closer to bringing her home.”

“Hey.” Maggie touches my face and waits to speak until I look down at her. “Asher is trying to help. You need to trust him.”

“I don’t know him.”

“Yeah, but I do. Kind of. Sort of. I won’t lie, it feels really good to know that my judge of character isn’t that off base,” she says with a small smile.

“Eat it up while you can.”

When she steps back, I instantly miss her warmth. “Come on, we need to head back to the clubhouse.”

“Maggie.”

She shakes her head. “No, we can talk about what happened later, or better yet, never. We need to update the guys. They need to know about that call. Maybe Meek will be able to trace where it came from.”

Logically, I know she’s right, and I hate it. I don’t want to let this go. I want to hash out the shit about Ava now so nothing else is between us. I fucking need to explain that she’s the only one I have my eyes on, but I don’t.

I push all that shit down because she’s right. I need to talk to the guys.

“You’re right.”

Her eyes sparkle. “Can you repeat that again, maybe while I record it? I don’t hear those two words together often enough.”

I roll my eyes and fight back a smile. “Come on, let’s get back.”

Shocking me, she reaches out and threads her fingers through mine.

I don’t know if she’s trying to comfort herself or me, but I’ll take it.