They were both lying, at least a little. But the thing about men like this? You didn’t stop the fight with the truth. You stopped it with presence. With control.
And right now, mine was slipping.
I looked between them, hoping to find something to align the two. But something told me it would take some kind of miracle for these two to be on the same team.
“You’re both going to pay for the damage,” I said. “You’re bothgoing to walk away. And if I hear about one more incident between your clubs in my jurisdiction, I swear to God I will bring down every violation I can find and bury you both in paperwork and overnight holds.”
Spike raised his hands. “Relax, Chief. We’re done here.”
Cole didn’t say anything. Just gave me that assessing look again. The kind that said he was still measuring me, still deciding if I was worth respecting.
I didn’t react, but the truth was I wasn't sure anymore if I was.
Eventually, he gave a short nod to one of his guys. They started rounding up their crew. Spike did the same, shooting one last look across the lot like he wasn’t finished yet, just pausing.
As the tension drained, I felt my phone buzz.
A text from Erin.
Erin
Another disturbance call at the Carter Sinclair clinic.
Still thinking they are the good guys, Chief?
I stared at it for a second.
Fuck
I felt like I was running in circles with no end in sight.
Reid stepped up beside me, still wide-eyed. “You uh... want me to write them both up?”
“Write the report,” I said. “Leave the charges out. For now.”
He blinked. “Seriously?”
“For now.”
Because I needed more than the charges. I needed leverage. And if I played this right, I’d figure out how to keep both clubs in check without having to draw blood.
But something told me this wasn’t the last time I’d see Maddox and Dawson squaring off.
And next time?
There might not be time to step in.
CHAPTER 14
AVA - AVOIDING HIM
If I had a nickel for every time a man told me to calm down, I’d have enough to fund our damn clinic myself.
I was elbows-deep in paperwork when I heard the front door chime.
Remi looked up from the file she was flipping through at the front desk. She tried to play it off, but her body went tense. “You expecting someone?”
I didn’t answer. Because I wasn't expecting anyone... But I had a feeling about who it was. And I was avoiding him.
