Chapter 9

9

MAVERICK

T he roar of a motorcycle interrupted me before I could decide whether to put a bullet in Whiskey's or Jake's skull or just cut off their balls for not telling me about the "gifts" Molly had been receiving.

"What the fuck?"

Whiskey's exclamation drew my attention as he stalked toward the newcomer. I glanced over and cursed when I saw Cash Gannon—a fucking Silver Saint—climbing off his bike. He was holding an arm across his middle, and I could see blood darkening his gray T-shirt beneath his hand.

"Blade around?" he asked as if he just wanted to visit.

"Fucking hell," I muttered. As if shit wasn't complicated enough finding out there was a motherfucker stalking my woman, now I had to deal with this. I'd been banking on being able to handle the "admirer" before shit went down with Mac and his club. I pointed at one of the prospects hovering near the entrance to the garage, smoking a cigarette. "Find Blade. Tell him to bring his medical shit."

A female gasp made me grimace as I watched Cash's gaze swing in Molly's direction.

"Are you okay?" she asked, rushing toward him. I grabbed the belt loop of her jeans and hauled her back against me. I could feel her glaring up at me, but I didn't take my eyes off Cash.

"Molly?" Cash gaped. "What the fuck are you…?" He trailed off when he spotted my arm curling around her, keeping her in place. Then his expression darkened and fury burned in his eyes. "You're a fucking dead man, Maverick."

Molly startled at Cash's statement, and I knew she was going to speak up, but that wasn't how this world worked. Apparently, she needed a reminder that her man would fight for her. I gave her a gentle squeeze, and she huffed but stayed silent.

"You think I didn't know exactly what I was risking when I brought Molly here?"

"You want a war?" Cash grunted, trying to contain his shock.

"I want Molly."

He scoffed and shook his head. "Not a fucking chance in hell. And if you want a prayer of keeping a bullet out of your skull, she'll be leaving with me. Forget Blade," he ground out, clearly in pain but willing to leave anyway. "Molly, get on my bike."

I quickly maneuvered Molly behind me and took a threatening step forward. "She doesn't ride on anyone's bike but mine," I growled.

Cash scowled and snarled, "She's a Silver Saint princess, asshole. Molly, get on my fucking bike."

In a flash, I was in front of Cash with my hand around his throat. Normally, we would be pretty evenly matched, but not only was he injured, fury at the threat to my woman pumped heavy and hot through my veins. "She's an Iron Rogue old lady, motherfucker. She's mine ."

Cash's free hand wrapped around my wrist, gripping it hard enough that I knew it would break if that was really his intention. Since I was aware of his restraint, I loosened my grip on his neck so he could speak. "I don't see a?—"

"Property patch?" We both turned at the sound of Fox's voice. He stood beside Molly, who was slipping a black leather vest over her shoulders. Fox stood slightly in front of my woman and crossed his arms over his chest, his legs in a wide stance. "Look again."

Whiskey had moved to stand on Molly's other side, and he said something to her that only they could hear.

Her hair was already up on her head, so nothing was obscuring the back of her vest when she turned around.

Despite the situation, seeing "Property of Maverick" branding her caused my dick to harden. I wanted nothing more than to fuck her in that cut. Only the cut.

"Fucking hell," Cash grunted.

I released him and took several steps back. He was no longer a threat. I'd claimed Molly, and he had to respect that as long as she'd been willing. Since she'd put up no argument and was beaming at me when she turned around, there was nothing he could do.

Mac was a different situation altogether. I doubted he would give a fuck about my claim when it came to his daughter, and honestly…I respected him for it. I couldn't pretend that I would be any better with my daughters. Still, he'd have to come to terms with it eventually because the only way someone could take her away from me was if I was dead.

"Let me fix him up before you kick his ass, Maverick," Blade said with a sigh as he ambled over to us.

"Not gonna fight with you, Cash," I told the Silver Saint in a voice low enough that Molly wouldn't overhear. "And I'm not gonna stop you from telling Mac about us. But don't ever bring up taking her away from me again, or you'll be having a real close encounter with the end of my Glock."

Cash shook his head and let Blade lift his arm and drape it around his neck. "I think you're delusional about who will end up six feet under in this situation, Maverick."

I shrugged and watched them until they disappeared inside the clubhouse. Blade had a medical clinic set up in a building directly behind it.

Once they were gone, my eyes found my woman, and I perused her from head to toe, then back up again. I needed to fuck her. Licking my lips in anticipation, I prowled over, letting her see the dark hunger gnawing at me.

"How do I look?" she asked, her tone a little sassy, turning me on even more.

"Like you're mine," I grunted.