Chapter 9
Maverick
“What crawled up your butt?” Chaos asked as he entered Chapel. It had been the only place where no one wanted anything off me tonight. The party was in full swing, and it seems Prez’s new relationship was out in the open with the way he was pawing her.
“Nothin’.”
“Fuck man, just speak. We know something’s going down with you. Is it the family?”
“No.”
“A woman?”
I hesitated long enough for him to chuckle and lean back in his seat. I loved my club, and I loved my brothers, but they could work me out faster than anyone else around.
“Just tell me. You know I can get Trojan to find out everything if I really wanted to, and believe me, brother, you don’t want that fucker in your shit.”
That was true. It was scary what he could find given the motivation and time he spent on a computer.
“Yes, I met a girl, but it’s over now.”
“Not a club girl then.”
“No,” I bit back, angry he would suggest that I’d get my head caught up in a girl only after a good time.
“Prez has noticed your absence. So has everyone else. You either tell me, or Prez demands answers.”
“She’s…trouble. Fuck–no, she’s in trouble with her ex. She needed a place to hide out until she could get away.”
“And you took her to bed knowing she was fucked in the head?”
“She’s not. The guy, her ex…he’s working for the Ironborne.”
Chaos sat back, his eyes wide, and his mouth shut for once. Now, that was never good.
“Fucking speak.”
“Did she hunt you down for any specific reason? Are we to be concerned with this piece of pussy turning tables?”
I stood up quickly, the scrape of the chair on the hardwood floor, loud in the small room. Chaos’ eyebrows shot up in surprise, and he slowly rose.
“This going to be a problem for the club or not, brother?”
“I got it handled.”
Chaos sighed. “See to it that it is handled, or I’ll have to loop in the Prez. He’s got his dick wet and he’s happy, I don’t want him to find his clubs not secure when he’s finally got something to look forward to.”
Chaos left Chapel ahead of me, putting me into an even more sour mood.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Tavi, and her little boy.
I missed listening to his little sound effects of his toy cars crashing into each other, or how he would ask me a million questions, each topic more outrageous than the next.
Mostly, I missed Tavi’s presence. Even without speaking, I felt calm around her. Did I think this was all a ruse? No.
Van didn’t even know Hardy was his father. Kids can’t lie like that, which means the fear I saw on Tavi’s face was real, and that made me almost murderous. Almost.
His time would come.
First, I needed help in figuring out what the fuck was going on.
I slipped out of Chapel, past everyone enjoying their night, and toward my bike.
The night air was doing nothing for my frayed nerves.
The amount of times I’d pulled my phone out to text Tavi, or even Mari, about her, had been insane.
I felt like a fucking school boy waiting for the girl he likes to text him.
But I knew I’d hurt her.
I could only hope that I could figure this all out before it came landing on the club’s doorstep.
Tavi
“He’s married?” I found myself asking, completely shocked. Not only did I not know that about him, but I couldn’t exactly be surprised. I was married, technically, as well.
“No, love, he’s divorced,” she said with a smile. “We’re still friendly, much to my current husband’s chagrin. He still watches and looks after his kids. Lani and Bane.”
His daughter, a woman almost, scoffed and looked away, disinterested. But I knew the look. She was hurting. He must not see them often. I moved to look at his twin of a son, wondering if that’s what my son would look like if we hadn’t been interrupted five years ago.
Five years ago…
“How long have you been divorced?” I asked, suddenly aware that he may just be a player and I was now in his way.
“About twelve years. Bane was only a year old, and Lani, four.”
I felt lightheaded. Mari and Lani both grabbed for my arms and held me up. Lani held me close, making sure I didn’t topple over.
“You’re okay,” she said in my ear. “Don’t let that asshole make you feel like shit.”
“Lani!”
“What?” she replied, and I had to admire her spunk. Lani and Mari both helped me to sit down at a table near the kitchen.
“Right, Lani, go put the kettle on, love. I think Tavi needs to sit down and have a cuppa with me.”
Lani did as she was asked, and Mari sat opposite me at the table. I looked around at the simple dining room that looked into the kitchen where I saw Lani setting about making our tea.
“I’m sorry to be a bother,” I said, feeling the burning of tears at the back of my eyes. “I can call my brother, and I’m sure he’ll help us.”
“Now, Tavi, if Dane brought you here, he wants you safe. Trust me, he’d never put us in danger, which means he likes you.”
I scoffed, just as Lani entered the dining room with a tray of tea and biscuits. She smirked at my scoff, and made sure I had my tea in front of me.
“I like her.”
“Lani.”
She held up her hands and moved away. I turned back to Mari who sighed, and took a sip of her tea.
“Lani takes it personally that Dane doesn’t want to be around as much. He still watches her play sport, and attends every award ceremony at school, but she’s mad he couldn't be here for it all.”
“Why can’t he?”
“When we were together, the club was at war with the Ironborne Crew. Do you know who they are?”
I bristled, unsure what I should divulge. Slowly, I nodded my head, before taking a sip of the tea. It was warm, and comforting.
“Good, I don’t have to explain then. It was bad.
Families were being taken out by the leader…
I think his name was Thomas. Anyway, Dane didn’t want us to get hurt.
He removed his name from their birth certificates, and anything linking him to us, just in case.
It hurt him to do that. Something about his kids no longer being his, or whatever bullshit men think if their name isn’t on something.
By that point, our relationship was a glorified friendship anyway.
We got together too young, married and had Lani. He did what he thought was right.”
“He did it to protect you.”
Mari nodded. “Yes, and he still maintains a distance to continue to protect us. Thomas was killed a few years ago, but I hear his son took over for him.”
Nodding, without really knowing why I was, I tried to hide behind my mug. “My husband is evil. He wants to take my son from me. Maverick was helping us.”
Mari sighed. “I’m sorry you’re going through that, my love. You are safe here. It looks as if Van has a new best friend.”
When I followed her gaze, I saw Van playing with Bane on the living room floor. Bane had pulled out his lego, and was showing him how to build cars. I couldn’t help but smile.
“Are you hungry?” Mari asked. “I can make you something to eat.”
“Oh no, thank you. I think I’m just tired.”
Mari nodded. “Of course. Come with me. I’ll take you to your room.”
I finished my tea and moved over to pick up Van. He yawned as I held him close to me, and followed Mari up the stairs and down a hallway.
She opened a door at the end of the hall, and I looked in the modest room.
“It’s not the Ritz, but it should be good until we can get you set up properly.”
“I don’t want to be a bother, Mari. This is perfect for us. Thank you.”
Mari nodded. “I’ll see you in the morning, love.”
She closed the door behind her, and I moved Van over to the bed, laying him down on the duvet, before I removed my jeans and then set about moving his pants, before we got under the covers. Pulling him up into my arms, I tried to hold the tears at bay, but they fell anyway.
I couldn’t stay here.
Maverick was done with me. I could see it in his eyes when he left. I was nothing but Ironborne scum to him.
In the morning, I would take Van and we’d leave. Leave Sydney behind and find somewhere for just us. Where Hardy would never find us again.
Where we could be Tavi and Van.
Fuck Maverick. Fuck him to hell.