3. Maverick
3
Maverick
T he rage burned a path through my chest. The flames destroyed any desire I’d felt. Looking at the girl, the little flower, almost unconscious on the floor, had me ready to kill.
We’d built this club as a safe place. And I hated nothing more than when people abused our generosity. Or when they hurt others.
“You can all get out.” The old fucker ordered as if he was in control. My body jerked towards him, but a look from Reid and I fought the urge to jump to my feet and kill him. He must know something wasn’t right or he wouldn’t be here.
That’s not to say he didn’t sometimes join us, but only when he was the one who could be in charge. It was a thing for him. The need for control.
“What seems to be the problem?” He asked in that cool, calm voice of his. He was the oldest at thirty-six, but it felt like he was older than that. We’d all suffered, but he’d snapped first.
His control was necessary to keep that part of himself locked away. To make sure he didn’t lose it again. He didn’t have to. He had me now to do the dirty work for him.
I craved the blood like he craved control. I needed it to survive. Needed the pain. To feel it. Inflict it. I enjoyed it.
But everyone knew he was capable. His reputation preceded him even now. I watched as the asshole flinched, though Reid was in his businessman persona. He hadn’t snapped yet.
He looked the part in his suit and tie. His dark hair styled perfectly. But it was the eyes. The unsettling blue that seemed to pierce into you. That’s what made him scary.
“They’re questioning how I run my girl.” The old fucker grunted.
“Simon.” His brows rose slightly as Reid said his name. “I apologize. My brothers can be a little hotheaded.”
He crossed the room casually, patting the guy on the shoulder. Simon didn’t seem to notice the tightness in Reid’s jaw or the way he wiped his hand on his pants when he let him go. Only we knew he hated to be touched. But he understood when he needed to initiate it. When it fed his persona.
“She is beautiful. And quiet young.” My chest tightened as the asshole stared down at her. The girl whose name I hadn’t even bothered to learn.
Now I was dying to know everything. Her name. Who she was. Who he was to her. Why she was here.
“Have you always been with her? I’d like to know who trained her.” Reid asked. The fucker smirked at her and I wanted to cover her up. Hide her away. But I had to let this play out.
Disgust rolled through me. This poor beautiful flower. And we’d fed into whatever pain she’d been living. However, unknowingly. We’d touched her.
“It’s great, man.” The guy chuckled, becoming more relaxed as Reid pretended to be his friend. “I didn’t have to train her at all.”
The girl whimpered as if she knew they were talking about her. As if she wanted to tell her own story. She looked so soft and vulnerable. She blinked like she was fighting to stay awake, but her body was limp. It was obvious he’d drugged her with GHB just by looking at her. I wondered what else he’d done.
Connor glared from across her. I could see him vibrating with the same rage. Holding onto his thin thread of discipline.
“No? She had another Dom before you.” Reid shrugged. “Just curious. I’d love to find one like her.”
“I can introduce you to the guy who sold her to me.”
“Sold her?” The words were ripped from my chest. The weight of them slamming into me, stealing my control.
In a blink, I had the fucker by the neck. I squeezed. There was none of the restraint I’d had while holding her throat. None of the gentleness.
The fear in his eyes sent a thrill through me. Almost comparable to when I’d touched the beautiful flower. He knew he fucked up. But truly, he had no idea how bad it was going to get for him.
“Take her.” Reid directed to Connor. I couldn’t see, but I assumed he’d picked her up.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Simon struggled against my hold. “She’s mine!”
Reid’s expression changed. His eyes turned cold and dead. The true monster coming out as he pulled a gun from his pocket. He pressed it to the asshole’s skull who didn’t look nearly scared enough. “Don’t make me kill you. This is a nice suit.”
“I paid for her!” My fist connected with his face almost the moment the words left his mouth.
The crunching of bone sent another rush down my spine. The tingles increased as I closed both fists around his neck and crushed his airway.
His eyes popped out as he clawed at my wrists. I barely felt the pain as I held my grip. His skin turned red as his hands slapped mine. They were weak attempts to get free. Pathetic just like him.
His leg jerked as if he was trying to kick me. I beat him to it, slamming my knee into his groin. His choke was trapped under my palm.
“This is just the beginning.” I laughed as I guided him to the ground. He was out before his head hit the floor. I let it drop. The sound of it bouncing off the carpet wasn’t satisfying enough.
I’d be back for more of him. For every piece he’d taken from her. Until there was nothing left.
I turned to follow Connor and Reid, leaving the body where it was. We’d get it later.
Reid took off his jacket, tossing it over the girl. Something inside my chest twitched. I wished I had clothing to cover her up. The music grew louder as I opened the door and we stepped into the hall. I locked it behind us, hiding the filth.
“There you are.” Ivette’s heels clicked on the carpet as she rushed towards us. “I was just coming to find you. His invitation popped. It was issued by Craig McCabe.”
“Motherfucker!” Connor cursed. Reid’s jaw ticked as he started walking in the direction of our offices again.
My fist connected with the wall. Pain radiated up my arm, but it wasn’t enough. “We killed all his approvals.”
She shrugged. “One got through. Who’s the girl?”
“Don’t know. She came with him.” Connor answered.
“She wasn’t willing.” I growled. “I thought we were done with this shit.”
We’d pushed Craig McCabe out of our city months ago. We might be criminals, but we had a line. He crossed them all with a smile on his face. I knew we should’ve executed him.
Ivette closed the door behind us as we stepped into Reid’s office. Connor placed the girl on the couch. Pieces of her black hair clung to her soft cheek. They were stained a light pink like her lips. Her dark lashes made shadows over them.
She looked serene now. But I knew the anguish would come. As soon as she woke up, the world would shatter around her. If it hadn’t already.
The sudden urge to protect her roared up inside me. I’d do anything to take away her pain. To reverse what had been done to her.
Connor stared at her with an expression that mirrored mine. “I have a feeling we’re just getting started.”