Chapter 22
Delaney
It’s Thanksgiving and instead of spending it with my mom and Peter, I just clocked in for my shift at the diner.
Things have been tense with Joey. I haven’t asked him to elaborate about what he said and at this point, I’m not sure I want to know.
I wouldn’t put it past him to lie just to get a rise out of me.
I haven’t heard from Maddox, and I don’t have his number. I could ask Draven, but I’m not interested in the fall out from that.
If he wanted to see me, he could have figured it out. It sucks knowing he could drop me so easily but what did I expect from a fucking biker?
Although after what Joey insinuated, maybe it’s better to let whatever was happening between us go.
If it is true, I can’t imagine Maddox would be pleased to find out about it.
Now I’m trying to get through this shift without losing my shit and when one of the customers gives me the stink eye, I escape into the bathroom before turning on the water.
I’m walking a tight wire and with every breath I take I feel myself slipping further into the abyss.
The cool water soothes my aching eyes but when I glance in the mirror, I pause.
Did I make a mistake? Yes, it stings that Maddox hasn’t made an effort to speak to me but it’s not like we had an arrangement, and I wouldn’t classify anything we’ve done as dating.
Stop obsessing about this, Delaney. It’s done. Move on.
Resolved I blow through the swinging doors to the dining area and stumble to a stop.
Not two feet away from each other, Peter musters a stiff smile while Maddox raises a brow.
I know I was just complaining that Maddox never reached out but come on…is the universe trying to tell me something?
“Delaney?” Peter says and I turn to him.
If this were six months ago, I would be embarrassed but happy to see him.
Now, I can’t define the emotions swirling through my system. Love. Anger….and sheer fucking panic.
While I stand there dumbly, Peter’s gaze slides to Maddox and his brow darkens. I know what Peter thinks of the MC but it never truly resonated until he turned that distaste on someone I know.
Yes, Maddox is rough around the edges but he’s not evil. He’s just a guy.
Except the silent exchange between these two makes me wonder if I’m missing something.
Does Joey’s affiliation with the Aces have anything to do with this?
My throat dries when I consider the possibilities and summoning a casual tone, I step away from the doors and say, “Peter?”
I don’t know what’s happening but it’s deeper than this silly scenario and I give a brief moment to be grateful I composed myself in the bathroom because the last thing I need is for either of them to know that I was upset.
Meanwhile Peter turns back to me and says, “Hello, sweetheart.”
“Hey.” Once again, his eyes slide to Maddox and I turn, saying, “Did you need anything else, um, sir?”
My heart clenches when Maddox’s eyes narrow before his lips pull into a smirk and he says, “Nope, I’m satisfied.”
Kill. Me. Now.
From the corner of my blurred vision, I see Peter stiffen and rush to say, “Okay. The, uh, bill is on your table.”
The asshole nods while Peter watches him suspiciously.
Absently I note the pulse pounding away in my throat until Maddox finally says, “Fine.”
Ignoring his wintry gaze, I turn back to Peter but my stomach sinks to my toes when Maddox stalks to a table where he proceeds to sit down, folding his hands on the table.
Thankfully, Peter isn’t looking but now I have to get him out of here without noticing Maddox boring holes in my skull from where he’s sitting like an asshole.
“Delaney girl, this has gone on long enough. It's time to come home,” Peter says, and I grab the edge of the counter.
So much has happened between us and it stings for him to stand here and pretend this is a silly snit by a stupid girl.
“Peter,” I say, touching the perpetual ache in my chest. “You know I can’t do that.”
“Why?” he asks, and I eye his fingers curling into a fist. “Your mom needs you.”
It’s a low blow, using her as a tool but it solidifies my resolve and with a bittersweet smile, I shake my head and say, “You know that’s not true. She doesn’t need me. She doesn’t even know I’m there.”
“She’s been getting help,” he says. “She’s in a program…”
I hope what he’s saying is true, but it doesn’t change anything. Until she’s willing to admit her sins, she’ll never get better.
It's a slippery slope when you’re hiding behind your lies.
“I’m sorr–”
I start to speak but he slams his hand on the counter. Over his shoulder, I spy Maddox stiffen and fight back a pulse of panic. I need to defuse this situation but before I can say anything, Peter barks, “Your mother needs you, stop being so…”
“What?” I ask, cocking my head. “Selfish?”
“Del–”
“No.” Slashing my hand through the air, I lean over the counter and say, “I’m a slut, remember?”
He has the good grace to flinch but I’m immune as I back away and say at the swinging doors, “You don’t know a goddamn thing.”
As soon as I’m in the hall, tears fill my eyes and leaning against the wall, I bat at them angrily.
I don’t blame Peter for saying something horrible in the heat of the moment but his silence after speaks volumes.
He’s never apologized and that’s because he does think I’m a stupid slut.
“You okay, Delaney?” Jack says from behind me and I spin around.
“Shit,” I mumble. “You scared me.”
“Another customer just came in,” he says, shaking his head.
“Okay.”
I give myself two seconds to recover before grabbing a stack of menus and reentering the dining room.
I’m not up for the mental gymnastics I need to speak to Maddox and pause when I find him in the same damn booth, this time with one of his brothers.
Thank god Peter is gone but I’m already drained and now I have to face off against the sexy bastard? Yay.
With a silent groan, I approach, recalling his cold ass stare while I spoke to Peter and wishing that the ground would just open up and swallow me.
Although I’ve never met the man who sits across from him, I recognize him from the fallout with Micah where he tried to talk Maddox down before Peter showed up.
I’m not sorry about our lack of acquaintance when he pins his eyes on me. Bikers are dangerous. I know that but where Maddox has a teasing, playful air about him, this one, screams—run, don’t walk—away.
“Well, hello little Delaney,” Maddox says when I stop at the table. “How’d it go with the pig?”
Pig? Okay…
Although his tone is teasing, there’s a weird glint in his eyes. Why is he so cold?
Normally he’s an incorrigible flirt but maybe something changed after what we did. I just wish I knew what that was.
Either way, I’m tired and yes, a little sad to be here waiting on him after arguing with Peter when I should be with my family celebrating the holiday.
Which is why, I pull up my best bitchy tone and say, “Fine.”
Maddox frowns but the other man barks before he can respond, “Coffee.”
Jumping, I spin around and walk away. Once I’m behind the swinging doors, I clutch my pounding chest and sigh.
Between Maddox’s handsome visage, snarky attitude, and that other man’s commands, I’m afraid I might have a heart attack right here and now.
After a moment of composing myself, I bring the two coffees and place them on the table and ask, avoiding their stares, “Anything else?”
“Hm, Darcy around?” Maddox asks and I drop the hand holding my pad.
Maddox looks away working his jaw while I consider an appropriate response which doesn’t include throwing coffee in his face.
“Nope,” I finally say and stalk away to the family sitting two booths over.
After taking their order, I hide in the back, staring at the wall. Why is Maddox acting like an asshole?
Is it really about me? If so, fuck him.
I would think he’d be the last person to judge someone considering the life he chose.
Or maybe Draven said something? Maybe he thinks I’m a stage one clinger.
Groaning, I pound my head against the wall until Jack says, “Order up.”
Jumping into action, I push through the double doors and deliver the food to the family of four.
Although I’d rather leave them hanging, I move back to Maddox’s table on lead feet.
Why are they here? Shouldn’t Maddox be with his family, gorging on turkey and eating pumpkin pie.
The image forms in my mind before I shake it away. Yeah, I can’t really see Draven giving thanks for anything, so there’s that…
“Anything else?” I ask, avoiding Maddox’s stare.
This means I’m stuck meeting the stone-cold gaze of his companion and when he raises pale blue eyes my way, I shiver.
Talk about someone dancing over your grave. This man has zero fucks to give.
His glare bores a hole in my skull and I’m almost grateful when Maddox says, “We’re here for Darcy. She work tonight?”
“No,” I mutter, annoyed that I’m annoyed by his line of questioning.
Get over it, Delaney. You knew he was a player the night you met him.
Still, it feels particularly cruel to ask me about her after he took my damn virginity. Asshole.
“When’s the last time you saw her?” he asks.
Eyeing him silently, I envision all the ways I can fuck up his world until he raises a brow.
“Why?” I growl, tempted to throw my fucking notepad at his head.
“Just asking,” he says, and I slam my hand on my hip.
“Really? Well, maybe you should have got her number, big man because the last time I saw her she was with you.”
His friend chokes on his coffee while I turn away and stalk back to the kitchen.
On the other side, I lean against the wall, bow my head and mutter, “Happy fucking Thanksgiving.”
“Is that all you got?” Maddox growls and I whip around as he grabs me around the waist and pulls me in.
“What are you doing?” I mutter.
“What I wanted to do since I came through that door,” he rasps before his head dips to mine.
Our lips touch and a tingle of need dances down my spine before I pull back far enough to see his face and smack the notepad against his head.
The burn of rage deepens though when he doesn’t so much as flinch, merely raising his brow and I shove him away, spitting, “Fuck off!”
His eyes flash as he shoves me against the wall, and I suppress a shiver when his erection bulges against my belly.
“You offering?” he purrs and choking on my rage, I press my palm to his face.
“Are you fucking serious?” I growl.
His chuckle only ratchets my annoyance as he lifts me up and stalks down the hall while I shriek, “Maddox!”
At the storage room, he steps inside and pushes the door closed before dropping me to my feet.
“What are you doing?” I hiss, slamming my fist against his chest.
My fingers ache for my effort and I back away only to hit the door when he grabs my cheeks and says, “I want another damn taste. That a problem?”
Huh? What the hell?
“Why?” I ask.
This fucker blew me off and now he wants another taste? I’m getting freaking whiplash from his weird ass moods.
His brows furrow as he searches my gaze before he pulls up a dirty smirk and says, “You’re so fucking cute, princess.”
“No. Nope,” I say, shoving him away. “You want to pretend. Do it with someone else!”
“What the fuck does that mean?” he barks, and I touch my chest, silently order my racing heart to calm the fuck down.
“Really?” I snap, throwing out an arm. “Maybe that damn dimple fools everyone else but I’m not them. How about you be real for five fucking seconds?”
Maddox
What’s her problem? I’m just fucking smiling.
Ignoring the weird burn in my chest, I back up and point to the door, sneering, “Whatever. Don’t you have coffee to deliver or something?”
When her eyes flicker and she slowly shakes her head, I grit my teeth so hard, a slice of pain shoots up my jaw.
“Coward,” she mumbles, and I grab her arm.
“What the fuck did you just say?”
I can’t believe I’m even having this fucking conversation. Just go, Maddox.
I don’t need this shit, and I was doing a damn good job of staying away until Pops said we need to dig deeper into Darcy’s disappearance.
As it stands, every time I close my eyes, I see her pretty skin beneath my rough hands, feel her tight flesh as I slid inside and damn but those wide, blue-gray eyes slay me.
Knowing I’m the first creates a greater need that I can’t fulfill…and the notion is rotting my insides like a fucking cancer.
Delaney ain’t a sweet butt and I know the consequences of dabbling where I don’t belong so why does this little spitfire pull at every one of my fraying strings?
That pig cop would eventually come looking for her and I can’t risk my brothers, but I can’t believe Delaney doesn’t know about Darcy and my skin itches to throw her over my shoulder and take her back to the clubhouse where she’ll be safe.
“Look,” she says, and my fingers itch to run through the silky strands when she brushes her hair out of her face. “You were right. You’re MC and I’m not…Can we just let it go?”
It takes a moment for my brain to catch up with my pulsing dick but when I do, I summon a slick smile.
Her eyes widen as I reach for the door at her back, but I don’t fucking care what she or her pig stepdad think.
As soon as she looked at me while the pig stood there and pretended that she didn’t know me, she made her choice.
Fuck this.
“Maddox,” she says, so quietly that I pause and glance back.
Once again, I meet those wide eyes filled with an emotion I refuse to identify. She blinks and a tear falls down her smooth cheek pushing me past my breaking point.
Turning, I slide my fingers into her dark hair, lean in and grit through my teeth, “You want real, princess?”
“Real?” she breathes before a bitter chuckle taints the air between us.
What did she mean when she called herself a slut to her stepdad?
Why does my chest hurt when I think about how she silently pleaded with him for something he failed to give?
Either way, she’s right. I’m MC and she’s…not. I’ve done things that would make her sick and I’m not ashamed of it, but I know to my bones, if she ever looked at me the way she did that cop, I would never be able to forgive myself.
“Princess,” I say, while she stares at the wall.
“Just go,” she whispers, and silence descends between us.
I’m a selfish bastard, I know it, but I need one last touch before I go and grabbing her around the waist with my other hand, I memorize her curves as I say against her temple, “You deserve…”
My chest thumps painfully when she shudders in my arms, and I spin her away from the door before pressing her gently against the wall.
“More,” I finish, my empty arms aching as I step into the hall and walk away.