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“Is that fucking so?” Tone dropping dangerously low, Maddox shoved by Ace to get right in my face. “Sounds like a threat to me. I didn’t come here to kick your ass, but my mind can be changed.”

He’d always been a fan of a good stare down. Too bad that shit didn’t work on me. I sipped my drink, looking bored. It took great resistance to keep from patting him on the head like a scrappy little dog.

“Be my guest,” I said with a shrug, eyeing Ruthless in my peripheral view. He was the one I didn’t trust. “Just remember, throwing the first shot gives me permission to throw the last one.”

Maddox’s bitter laugh made my jaw clench. “Is that how you think it would go? Care to find out?”

I opened my mouth to tell him to take his shot and was muscled aside by Ace. He pushed between the two of us, using enough force to shove us back a few feet.

“Fuck no. We’re not doing that shit here.” The usually easygoing, lighthearted Ace left no room for argument. He’d never been one for putting up with our sibling bullshit. “I understand that the two of you have some serious issues to work out, but it won’t be on each other’s faces. Not on my watch. You’re both better than that. At least, you used to be.”

Ace left that hanging there between us, letting us both absorb his words. Immediately I felt rightfully rebuked. I let Maddox get under my skin far too easily. That was on me.

I turned away first, dropping down onto the couch with a sigh. “Just leave, Maddox. Please. Call first next time.”

Dismissing him with a glance, I reached for the bourbon decanter and topped up my glass. I was a casual drinker, preferring not to be fogged by alcohol. In my line of business, a clear head was essential. I couldn’t say the same for Maddox who’d inherited our father’s love for the bottle. It made him especially unpredictable at times.

To my surprise, he backed off. Setting his empty glass on the table, he turned to leave, pausing to say, “Remember, Wolfe. You’re the one who walked out. Stay out of my business and stay away from my people. You made your choice.”

Without another word, Maddox descended the stairs with Ruthless right behind him. Neither of them saw the scowl that stole over my face as beneath my breath I muttered, “Because you drove her away, you selfish fuck.”

CHAPTER THREE

MAVEN

I shoved the chicken around on my plate, frowning at the garlic mashed potatoes next to it. For a five-hundred-dollar dinner it was unbearably bland and tasteless. There was no way I could eat this garbage.

I’d coughed up the insane amount required to get into this swanky dinner event in the hopes of making my money back and then some. The place was loaded with wealthy business types sporting expensive watches and jewelry. I had my eye on one particular woman’s bracelet. It had to be worth enough to pay my rent for the next six months. If I could catch her alone in the ladies’ room, it would be relatively simple to get my hands on it. I’d learned some sleight of hand tricks at an early age.

Every now and then I nodded along with the conversation happening among those at my table. The placement had been randomly assigned, sitting me next to people I could never relate to, not that I related to anyone attending such an event. An older man next to me kept sneaking glances at my plate. I pretended not to notice, sipping my wine as I surveyed the large event room where the dinner was being held.

After dinner there would be dancing and cocktails. That’s when I’d get my chance to follow someone to the restroom to swipe some flashy goods. I didn’t have many friends in Castle Grove. Since moving to the city several years ago, I’d mostly kept to myself, finding it hard to trust anyone enough to let them get close. Still, I’d made sure the few acquaintances I’d formed wouldn’t be here. I couldn’t be active with anyone I knew present.

“What’s the matter, little lady? Not enjoying your dinner? Better get eating. Put some meat on those bones.”

My head whipped around, and I found the man next to me grinning. Gross. Even though his wife sat on his other side, he ogled the glimpse of cleavage my little black dress displayed. Let’s level up that gross to nasty.

“How about you mind your own damn plate and refrain from offering women uninvited remarks on their appearance?” Cool as a cucumber, I eyed him over the rim of my wine glass, a brow arched. The small dagger strapped to my thigh would love a taste of him. Too bad that’s not what I came for.

Not expecting my harsh response, the man stumbled over his words a few times, cheeks reddening. “I was just trying to make conversation. I apologize. It’s impossible to talk to women these days.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I not fit the submissive persona you’d envisioned? Maybe you thought I’d appreciate your opinion on my body. Might want to choose your words carefully from now on. Don’t want to piss off the wrong woman.” My voice remained calm and smooth, but my words rang with a deadly promise.

The man frowned hard, glancing around the table to see if anyone else had overheard. He was in the clear. Without another word, he turned away, angling toward his wife. Good call.

A vibration in my purse drew my attention to my phone and the fifth text from my sister since I’d arrived. I told Rumer that I’d be busy tonight. She evidently didn’t give a shit. She’d never had a lot of respect for personal boundaries. Lucky for her, she was my favorite person in the world.

Holding my phone below the table’s surface, I opened her text to find a photo she’d taken with some spiky haired guy wearing a leather vest with patches marking him as a member of a River City motorcycle club. I scrutinized the smile my beautiful blonde sister beamed at him before reading the text.

I know you told me to stay away from this place but how hot is this guy?

The biggest drawback to leaving home was leaving Rumer. Whether she’d admit it or not, she needed me. My sister was no idiot, but she hadn’t grown up following in our father’s criminal footsteps like I had. She liked to party, and she enjoyed dangerous men. A bad combination. Although the dangerous men thing was something we had in common.

Not so much these days for me though. I didn’t let men get close enough to be a danger. Not anymore. Other than the occasional rare internet hookup, I had a battery-operated little friend in my nightstand that filled the void left behind by men.

I told myself I’d come here to Castle Grove to live a normal life. To move on from everything I knew and go legit. I hadn’t succeeded. Looking at the picture of my sister in a clubhouse filled with bikers, I wondered again if I was fooling myself. Maybe there was no leaving the past behind. Not really.

Quickly I typed back:You better not be there alone. You know the rule. Please fucking be careful.

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