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Rocket hadn’t bothered to wait for them either. He’d hopped off his bike and trudged into the bar before they’d even rolled to a stop.
“Buddy of Rocket’s owns this joint. Not exactly the Four Seasons, but they serve alcohol, play music, and keep their mouths shut. The owner is good people.”
A drink would hit the spot. Talking to Chloe put her in a bit of a funk. The woman had been through hell, making what Stephanie endured seem like a walk in the park. She’d politely asked Steph not to return and to make sure the Handlers never contacted her again. Most likely, Copper would honor it, but he’d probably keep eyes on her in some capacity for a while. Until they were sure they could trust she wouldn’t freak out and blab to the cops.
Jesus, now she was encouraging victims to keep their experiences from law enforcement.
She couldn’t fall much farther.
“Hey, babe, you hear me?”
Blinking, she focused on Maverick’s handsome face. “What? Sorry, zoned out for a second.”
He cupped her cheek and kissed her softly. They didn’t do soft frequently, and that made those moments he gave it to her that much sweeter. “That was hard on you, wasn’t it? Talking to her.”
She bit her lower lip and nodded. For more reasons than he’d ever understand. It only highlighted the choices she’d made, the decisions that were taking her so far from what she’d always stood for, always believed in. “It was a little rough,” she whispered, suddenly feeling choked up.
“Babe, talk to me about it.” His thumb brushed a tear she hadn’t been able to control. “Don’t let it turn to poison inside you. Trust me on that.”
Because he knew. And he thought he was full of something toxic. “There is nothing poisonous about you, Mav,” she said. She meant every word of it. He was an outlaw. Had done things both the general public and law enforcement saw as wrong. But he was a good man. And those things didn’t define him. Everything he did, everything his club did, was done for a good reason. They weren’t about senseless violence, killing, or hurting others.
Maybe she was just justifying it to make herself feel better for leaving everything she’d stood for behind. “You hear me?” she asked him.
“Yeah, babe, I hear you.”
“Good,” she grabbed his biceps and gave him a little shake. “Now, let’s get inside and have a drink.”
Ten minutes later, she was working her way to the bottom of her gin and tonic at a back table in the rundown bar. Part of her wanted to ask the bartender to leave the bottle of gin and bring her a straw. If she sucked down the entire thing, maybe she’d forget what was coming. Forget what tomorrow was.
Check-in day with Baccarella. The end of her rope, her job, possibly her freedom, or the Handlers’. Even though she shouldn’t ask, shouldn’t have the knowledge she was dying for, she had to find out. She’d fallen in so deep with Maverick she’d never be able to stop thinking and worrying about him when she was back in DC. Possibly living in a cardboard box because she had no job.
Better than prison.
Fuck it.
“Can I ask you guys something?”
Rocket hadn’t said much since they’d arrived, which was no surprise. He seemed to talk business with the guys when necessary, but otherwise preferred to observe. And he did it well. The man seemed to see straight into her head, which was unnerving to say the least. “What?” he replied.
She lowered her voice and leaned forward even though the bar was completely devoid of any customers but them. Even the bartender had disappeared behind a closed door about five minutes ago. “Is there a plan for Lefty and the gang he’s trying to build up? I mean, I know you guys threatened him, but do you think he’s done with the sex trade?”
Mav and Rocket exchanged a look that had her narrowing her eyes even though she understood it. This was a boys’ club at its core. Women weren’t technically in the club and weren’t privy to the information. It had still been worth a shot.
“Club business is for club members,” Rocket said in that gruff voice of his.
Steph nodded. As she’d thought.
“Usually,” he continued.
Her mouth fell open, and she blinked. Was he going to answer her question?
“Women are disappearing. We’ll protect you ol’ ladies as best we can, but shit happens. Figure the more you know, the more you can protect yourselves.”
She’d almost missed everything he’d said after ol’ lady. Face heating, she risked a glance at Mav. Where she’d expected a look of panic, all she got was a wink.
Shit. Did he think of her as his ol’ lady? They’d never talked about exactly what they were to each other. Was she going to break his heart when she left? The thought made the gin in her stomach turn to lead. She pushed the nearly empty glass away and focused on Rocket.
