Chapter Two #2
“Your Honor, my client works full time as a guard, protecting vulnerable women at Haven House, a women’s shelter founded by the Steel Rebels Motorcycle Club, and has complied with every condition set since his release.”
For the first time since walking in, I tear my eyes from Maeve and glance up at the judge, whose pen has stopped scribbling at Maeve’s words.
“Mr. Maddox, any violations since your release?”
“No, ma’am,” I respond, surprised at the sudden attention. “I check in every month. Haven’t missed one.”
Silence.
“He’s not a flight risk, Your Honor. Many women and children at the shelter are dependent on the protection he provides.
” Maeve pauses a second before carrying on.
“However, we recognize the seriousness of the charge. If the court is inclined to grant release, Mr. Maddox will agree to enhanced supervision through weekly check-ins or any other supervision the court finds appropriate.”
“This charge is serious,” the judge says after a long pause, back to tapping her pen.
“But…Mr. Maddox has demonstrated consistency and cooperation during parole. This court accepts the counsel’s proposal, not as leniency but as structured continuation of proven compliancy.
” I freeze at the words, confused by the storm of legal jargon, but not at the meaning underneath it.
“Bail is granted at five thousand dollars. Conditions are weekly check-ins, verified employment, and enrollment in drug counseling. Noncompliance will result in immediate remand.”
I turn to Maeve, in awe of her. I don’t see the smug and self-satisfied look I expect to see on her face as she nods at the judge, scribbling on her notepad. When she finally turns to me, I notice a flash of quiet relief, but it’s quickly gone and the mask of professionalism slips back on.
She did it.
My beautiful attorney secured my release when I didn’t believe it could happen.
Ten years ago, I sat in this very courtroom, staring up hopefully at my court-appointed attorney, trusting him to defend me, but he shattered whatever trust I had left in the justice system.
He barely put up a fight for me and I spent months locked away, waiting for my court date, grasping on to hope that I would get my freedom.
Months of hoping, trusting, and believing all the wrong people, and I paid for it with six fucking years of my life.
Maeve kept her promise and got me out.
I’m numb as I’m escorted back to the holding area to wait while Saint pays the bail money and they process the release paperwork.
And I’m still numb when I’m transported back to jail for final clearance and to collect my stuff.
I flip through my wallet to make sure I have enough money for a cab, and I almost pass right by Maeve when I step through the main gates.
I stop a few feet from her and allow my gaze to run shamelessly over her, making no effort to hide the desire that’s no doubt swimming in my gaze.
If she hadn’t waited for me, I’d intended to go looking for her tonight.
“Hi,” she says with a shy wave, miles away from the woman who fired off legal jargon in court a couple of hours ago. “I thought we could share a cab so I can update you on the, um, reporting schedule and counseling enrollment. The court date—”
“Do I need to do any of this within the next twenty-four hours?”
Her brows knit prettily as she blinks up at me. “No, but—”
“Then we don’t need to worry about that for now,” I tell her, closing the distance between us.
I know it’s crossing a line, but I find that I don’t care as I lift my hand and caress the smooth skin of her cheek.
Her eyes widen at the touch but she makes no move to step away.
“You were magnificent in that courtroom. I’m in awe of you, Miss Halloway.
” Her eyelids flutter with pleasure and I watch with surprise and amusement as she leans into my calloused fingers like a touch-starved kitten.
“You said you would get me out and you did it,” I drawl, rubbing a thumb over her skin. “I should find a way to thank you.”
“You…um, don’t need to,” she says, her voice breathy. “The Rebels hired me and um…they— I mean, Saint already covered the legal fees, so you don’t have to worry about it.”
I don’t know where Saint found this woman, but I’m not surprised that my MC brothers had my back, like they always do. They’re my family. Still, after everything I went through during my first sentencing, I’d had so little hope that I would hold on to my freedom today.
“I wasn’t talking about money,” I say, watching as twin pink spots form on her cheeks.
“What then?”
“I’ll have to think about it.” I drop my hand from her face.
I mean, I already have a few ideas, but nothing I’d want to do in public where anyone could see.
Just being close to this temptress is enough to send my dick hardening to steel, and I don’t want anyone else to have the privilege of seeing the things I want to do to her sexy body.
Fuck, I should warn her. Show her how dangerous a man like me can get when he gets fixated on something. I ought to get as far from this woman as I can before I get obsessed but…Christ, something tells me it’s already too late for that.
I want her.
On her knees, taking my aching dick between those pink lips, eyes brimming with tears as she takes me deeper into her throat until my cock is wet and ready for her.
I imagine the pounding I would give her pussy, taking her fast and hard until this desperate need clawing at my insides is sated.
Then I would kiss her slowly, take my time the second time around until she’s sobbing and pleading for release…
“Trigger?”
I don’t realize I’ve been staring at her until she calls my name and snaps me out of my stupor. I shake my head as if to be rid of the lustful thoughts in my head, but it’s hard when the subject of my desire is standing right in front of me, staring up at me with those beautiful green eyes.
I want to make this woman mine.
“Let’s get the hell out of here, Miss Halloway.”