CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Sadie

All aspects of my past tell me that what I have just witnessed and what I have just been a part of reiterates that I need to run. That I need to get as far away from Defiance and Maverick as I can.

The problem is, he does make it sound like the club is the safest place for me to be.

Like they would protect me, no matter what.

Maybe the fact I have been running for so long has tainted my view of what safety looks like.

Yeah, Maverick got hurt—a few of the guys did.

But they did that to protect everyone.

They would lay their lives down to make sure their family was safe.

I'm not used to that kind of straight-out commitment.

And I can't deny there's something between Maverick and me, even though I want to. Seeing him hurt like that scared me. The way he played with my hair made my heart skip, and because I was so concerned about his injuries, I knew I was in deep.

But with how we have been at each other's throats, how could it work?

Plus, the fact is, it's a conflict of interest.

He employs me.

I'm Clover's tutor.

It's not ethical to start something with him.

And as Haven pointed out so clearly, if I have to choose between Maverick and Clover, the right thing would be Clover because she is the most important in all this.

But the club is in trouble right now financially, and honestly, when I arrived here and heard their business was legitimate, I was surprised. These guys are decent, and my initial instincts on this place being the cause of Clover's troubles at school may have been off.

Sure, these kinds of attacks do not help.

But Clover doesn't seem affected by them.

She gets on with it like it's just another day of the week.

The things affecting Clover at school are the people not understanding her medical condition and how it affects her ability to concentrate. She's not a bad student, she just needs better understanding.

And as I stand out the back of the clubhouse, my mind wandering over all this information running through my mind, I nod.

I am going to help the club.

Even if it means I could potentially put myself at risk.

Because right now, they need a lifeline.

I don't know if my idea will help, but maybe it could be a stepping stone.

Drawing in a deep breath, I head back inside. Livvy has arrived, and she's suturing Maverick. Walking past him, I weakly smile as I go. He winks, but I ignore him, looking for Alpha who is with Haven and Poppy.

Standing back, Alpha appears frustrated as he talks to Poppy, and I can't help but overhear what he's saying to her. "I can't have you killing people, Poppy. You're goddamn seven. I need you to be a fucking kid."

Poppy glances at Haven. "But I'm trained for this, Daddy. I can help. Tell him, Haven."

Haven raises her hands in the air, shaking her head. "I'm with your dad on this one. I got you out of The Nest so you could have a childhood. While you did incredible and used your training perfectly, you don't need to prove yourself, Poppy. I know you would have made an amazing bird. But that life is over. You need to be a kid and do kid things, and killing is not one of them. Trust me. Your childhood goes so fast, and being an adult is no fun."

Alpha chuckles. "Haven's right. Poppy, you have years to decide what you want to do. You have a life in the club if you want it. But if you decide you want to go off to college and get a degree in, I don't fucking know, whatever the hell you want, you can do that too. You don't have to be a killer, and that killer instinct they trained into you, I'd prefer it if you unlearned it. I know your mother would be real fucking pissed if we told her what you just did. I'm gonna need you to take a step back and remember you're not in training anymore. Let us adults fight, and you can live whatever life you want. You are free, Poppy. Free to be the amazing woman I know you're gonna be when you grow up."

She turns to Haven like she's unsure how to answer.

Haven squats, looking Poppy in the eyes. "I know being out of The Nest is an adjustment. You still feel like you have to prove yourself. But you don't have to do that with us. Please,Poppy, we need you to stand down."

Poppy looks up at Haven, confusion in her eyes. "I want to be just like you, though. I was trained to want that."

Haven grips Poppy's hands in hers. "But I'm not an assassin anymore, Poppy. I work the farm and help Loki occasionally with tech. What you need to do now is to go to school. You have to get an education and find something you're good at and enjoy. Then we want you to chase that dream because your dream of being an elite assassin is gone."

"But didn't you see me out there? That is what I'm good at!"

"Poppy, we're going 'round in circles. You're gonna go to school, even if I have to send you somewhere that specializes in children who are, well… energetic," Alpha states.

Poppy glares at her father. "You're gonna send me away?"

Alpha steps forward. "I didn't say that, and I won't ever let you leave. I just think we need people around you who can handle what you've been through."

Poppy huffs, turns, and begins storming off.

Alpha lets out a grunt. "We're not done talking about this, young lady!"

"Whatever," Poppy grumbles as she makes her way over to Maverick and her mother.

Biting hard on my bottom lip, I slowly approach Haven and Alpha while they shake their heads, knowing this isn't over by a long shot. "I hate to interrupt, but I couldn't help overhearing all that."

Alpha huffs, running his hand through his hair. "You know a bit about kids. Suggestions?"

"Actually, yeah. As a tutor, I have a few contacts in the industry. I know various schools and other tutors who could suit your situation. I mean, they've never dealt with a trained assassin, but they have dealt with other kids who have been brought up in cults, been brainwashed, or abused and have tunnel vision about how they think. They help these kids get their lives back on track. You know… how to be kids again. I'd be happy to put you in touch with the people I know if I'm not overstepping?"

Alpha scrubs at his face, letting out a relieved sigh. "Fuck. Yes. Definitely get me those numbers. I wanna get Poppy out of this cycle as quickly as I can before she ends up getting herself hurt."

"Of course. I'll go through my contacts." I change the subject. "In the meantime, there's another reason I came over."

Alpha furrows his brows. "Everything okay? I know what just happened was a shit show. You okay?"

"I'm fine. Maverick told me what happened to your crops… that they were destroyed?"

Alpha glances at Haven, she nods, and Alpha shrugs. "We are fucking screwed where that's concerned. I'm gonna have to talk to Rip and see what we can do to fix it and how long it's gonna take to rebuild. So, yeah, it's a damn issue."

Even though my gut is telling me to let sleeping dogs lie, I can't in all good conscience let this go. I have to tell Alpha, especially if it might help the club. Forcing all my fears into the pit of my stomach, I figure it's best to just say what I'm thinking. "I don't know if you know this or not, but in Vegas, they have cannabis conventions. There's one coming up in a few days, and I also know that these conventions have all kinds of information, connections, and produce. Some serious people who know their shit attend. I'm wondering if the club attends if you might be able to find a fix to your problem, or if not a fix, then a workaround to help somehow?"

Alpha turns to Haven, a bright smile lighting her face, and she nods. "After this attack, babe, I think the club could use a few days RR. And what better place to unwind than in Vegas?"

Alpha glances at me. "You're becoming a useful member of this club, Sadie. The club owes you."

I wave him off. "You owe me nothing. I'm happy to help. I'll grab the details for Poppy and Vegas and get everything to you by morning."

"Appreciate it. You gonna stay here again tonight? I think Mav would like to keep an eye on you. Ensure your safety."

I glance over my shoulder at Maverick. His eyes are firmly on me while Livvy finishes suturing him up, and I can't stop the smile from touching my lips as I turn back to face Alpha. "If it is okay, I'd like to stay tonight. Especially to help with the cleanup. Just to make sure Clover is okay and to help Ingrid with Louis too."

"You're going far beyond the duties of a tutor. You know that, right, Sadie?" Haven asks.

I inhale with a nod. "You guys don't have to pay me to stay—"

"It's not about payment, Sadie. We will pay you for your time. That's only fair. I just don't want you breaking any hearts in the pro—"

Alpha wraps his arm around Haven, effectively cutting her off. "What my Old Lady is trying to say is that she's very protective of her little sister and brother, and she doesn't want either of them hurt if you decide the club isn't a good fit for you. So, choose your actions carefully."

I simply nod. It's all I can do before turning to walk off.

"Sadie?" Alpha calls, and I spin around, raising a brow. "Thanks."

"Sure thing," I reply, then turn on my heel to head over to South and Ingrid with baby Louis. I need a breather from all this, and even though Maverick has done nothing wrong, I know Haven has the ability to kill me before I have a second to blink. So, getting on her bad side is scary as all hell.

The fact is, there is something between Maverick and me.

That's more than obvious.

It's just whether I'm willing to risk everything—including my life, it seems—to figure out if that something with Maverick is worth fighting for.

But that's not for me to figure out tonight.

My brain can't handle philosophical reflections after everything that's happened today.

I need sleep.

Maybe in the morning, things will be clearer.

So tonight, I will help with the cleanup and head straight to bed.

There will be no mixed messages for anyone.

The Next Day

After meeting with Alpha and discussing all the information with him, I am feeling better this morning. Last night, I was simply overwhelmed, and I forgot Haven was just being protective. I get that. It's like Wes and me. Even though we can't see each other anymore, I would still do anything for him. And I know he would do the same for me.

While working on my laptop in the clubroom, Rhyan slides into the seat next to me. "So, how crazy was last night, hey?"

With wide eyes, I turn to face her. "So crazy. I'm glad the guys pulled through it okay."

A slow grin crosses Rhyan's face, lighting her eyes. "Did you see the way Noah stepped up? Mav told me he was hanging upside down from the stairs, strangling a soldier. Like, how insane is that?"

Glancing across the room at the young prospect, I purse my lips as he laughs at whatever Maverick says to him. From what I have seen of Noah, he appears energetic, maybe a little crazy, but always respectful of women.

Turning back to Rhyan, I narrow my eyes on her. "Have you and Noah ever…" I leave the question open-ended.

Rhyan gasps, her eyes wide. "Me and Noah? No! God no. He hardly even talks to me."

"Is that because you're a club princess? You're off limits?"

Rhyan chuckles. "How do you even know about that kind of thing?"

"I've been around a little while now. I hear things."

Rhyan chuckles. "Well, being a club princess has its perks but also its downfalls. One of the big ones being you're pretty much toxic to all the men in the club. My dad would kill any of them for even looking at me."

"I can't imagine Dutch getting too irate at one of his brothers for showing interest if it were genuine?"

Rhyan snorts out a laugh. "Then you haven't been at this club long enough. Dad has always said to the guys that I'm a no-go zone. So, they all keep their distance. But sometimes I just want to get laid, you know?"

I laugh, nodding my head, my eyes subtly shift to Maverick. "Oh yeah… I know."

"And living in this clubhouse, you hear things. And from the sounds I hear sometimes, I know these bikers can fuck reeeaaal well." I grin as she continues, "The idiots I've slept with half the time don't know the difference between my thigh and my pussy. So yeah, that's what I have been dealing with. Sex has not been a mind-blowing experience for me yet."

"You took the words right out of my mouth. Guys our age, you know, early twenties, don't know what they're doing."

Rhyan glances over to where Noah and Maverick are standing, talking to each other, and she giggles. "Though Mav and Noah are our age, I bet they're an exception to that rule."

Clenching my eyes shut, I groan. "Please don't make me start thinking about how good Maverick could be in bed."

"You guys would be cute together…" Rhyan grins from ear to ear, nudging me. "Just saying."

I glance at her and smirk. "Perhaps you should grow a pair and talk to Noah."

"I would, but then my dad might kill him. So for Noah's safety, I choose silent stares across a crowded room."

"Chicken shit."

Rhyan nods and smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. "Absolutely, one hundred percent, yes."

Suddenly, Alpha steps into the middle of the clubhouse, whistling to gain everyone's attention. "Everyone, listen up. There's a cannabis convention in Vegas, and the entire club is expected to be in attendance. As we're headed into another Defiance chapter's territory, I will call ahead and let Sin know we're on our way. He might want us to stop by the clubhouse after the convention. After what we've just been through, I want all of us to take a few days while in Vegas to unwind after the attack. By no means does this mean we're not gonna be planning a counterattack on the cartel. We absolutely are. But we won't have a club to come back to if we don't have a source of income. That takes priority right now. If we can find something at this convention that could help us, we gotta get the ball rolling on that first. Then, and only then, we will find a way to fuck Rojas in the ass. You all with me?"

The guys around the clubhouse let out a united cheer as a slow smile crosses my face.

"All right. Let's start getting shit ready. We leave in a week," Alpha calls out, and everyone starts moving about the clubhouse.

I'm glad I was able to give some good advice to help the club get back on its feet. But I also guess this is my cue to leave so they can prepare for their journey to Vegas.

I turn back to Rhyan, who is beaming from ear to ear. "Vegas baby!" she semi-screams, then jumps up and takes off.

Smiling, I move to stand, but Maverick steps in front of me as I do. My heart leaps into my throat, and my breathing quickens when he stares at me, an awkward silence shifting between us, especially after I have just been talking about sex with Rhyan. Now all I can think about is Maverick fucking me, and the way he is looking at me right now only adds to it.

"So, ahh… Clover is going to be coming with us to Vegas," he finally breaks our silence. "She's going to miss a couple of days of school, but because she is already struggling, I'd like it if you came to Vegas with us so you can work with Clover while we're at the Cannabis Convention. Then you can work on school shit and care for Louis too. Ingrid will need help because South'll be busy."

My stomach instantly churns. I only know about the convention in Vegas because of my past—and the people in it.

Anxiety ripples through me, wondering if I should come clean to Maverick.

Tell him where I really come from.

Tell him about my family and the hell they put me through.

"Mav, I, ah… I… need to tell you…" He narrows his eyes on me while waiting for me to spit it out. "I think it will be a good move for me to come and continue to help Clover. She needs consistency. And, of course, I want to help Ingrid with Louis. The four of us can stay in the hotel room and work on Clover's study the whole time." I chicken out telling him, and for some stupid, idiotic reason, I agree to go with them.

Maverick chuckles, not for one-second sensing my apprehension. "Where is the fun in that? You have to spend at least one night on the strip."

"We'll see. My priority will be Clover while there," I deflect, trying to hide my complete and utter panic.

Maverick smiles and nods. "Glad to hear it."

"So I will go home and make arrangements. I'll see you back here in a few days."

"Sure will."

I go to walk out but turn back to face him, "Mav?"

"Yeah?" He eyes me, a smirk playing on his lips and a slight lift to his brow.

"Our banter when we first met was not good, but things have changed since then… I just wanted to say I'm glad you didn't die."

He bursts out laughing, then winces, grabbing his side. I grimace as he steps closer, his eyes meeting mine. "I have a feeling I have too much to live for now."

My breath catches while our eyes remain locked, the electricity around us surging like an inferno ready to explode at any moment. My breathing is rushed, and my heart rate spikes. His hand slides up gently, cupping the side of my face, and my head sinks into his hold, my entire body feeling like it's floating. Any panic or anxiety swiftly vanishes as I step closer, needing to be near him. Even though alarm bells are ringing in my ears with Haven's warning to me earlier, I can't stop the magnetic pull toward him. "Mav… I—"

Before I can stop his advances, his lips are on mine. But the kiss isn't hard and furious. It's tender, soft, and so fucking intoxicating. My body gives way as his arm wraps around my waist, pulling me flush to him, my hands sliding up around his neck, my fingers fisting in his hair. Our tongues collide in a slow, blissful rhythm, needing the calmness of this moment to know we're both okay.

My heart races so fast, a contradiction to the tender caress of the kiss that threatens to steal my breath.

His hands grip my back, pulling me so tight against his body that I feel every delicious inch of him. I can't get enough of him, his tongue sliding with mine, our breath mixing for what feels like a blissful eternity. But I know it's only moments when someone in the distance begins a slow clap, breaking me from the moment completely.

Maverick chuckles against my lips as we regretfully pull apart, though he won't let me go, turning us to find the entire clubhouse watching us, and it's Noah who is slow clapping. My cheeks flush bright red as I look over while all his brothers, Clover and Haven, simply stare.

Maverick leans in against my ear, his hot breath tickling my skin. "Totally worth it," he whispers, and I can't help but giggle as he somehow manages to ease the tension running through me.

At the same time, Noah lets out a cheer. "About time!" He makes the others laugh as my eyes cautiously shift to Haven. She weakly smiles, gives me a slight head bob, then turns, walking for the bedrooms. I let out a long exhale when Alpha winks, then takes off after Haven.

I turn to Maverick, my heart racing a little more than normal, and exhale. "I think your sister has gone off to plot my assassination."

Maverick laughs. "No, what you just witnessed was her acceptance."

"Okay… so… what now?" I ask.

"That's completely up to you, Sadie. I'm not going to push you into anything. Fuck, I'm still on a high from kissing you."

Smiling, I take his hands in mine. "I think I'm going to go home."

A flicker of disappointment crosses his eyes, but he nods. "Okay."

"It's not that I don't want to stay. I do. I just… I don't want to rush this and risk the potential of ruining it. We have Clover to think about. I need to go home and get my affairs in order before we leave for Vegas anyway."

"You don't have to explain anything to me. We can take this at lightning speed or as slow as you want. Just as long as we both admit there is something worth pursuing here?"

Stepping in closer, I press my lips to his again, a little firmer this time. That all-too-familiar spark ignites through my body as his hand slides around my waist, holding me to him. But I pull back just enough so our foreheads are touching. "There's definitely something here worth pursuing."

Maverick smiles wide, his fingers gently caressing my back while he stares into my eyes. "I guess I'll see you in a few days?"

Nodding, I lick my lips. "I'll be here. I promise."

"I'll walk you to your car," Maverick offers, reaching for my hand.

I turn back to find Clover and wave to her. The smile lighting her face is infectious as she bounces up and down on her toes, giving me two thumbs up. Giggling, I turn back, and we walk to my car.

He opens the door for me, and I slide in. Then he leans down, planting another earth-shattering but light kiss on my lips. I can't help but smile when he stands back, wincing with the pain in his side and shoulder. "I'll talk to you soon."

"You take it easy. Make sure you rest."

He grins cheekily. "I don't even know what you're worried about. I'm barely even scratched."

I raise a brow while gently poking him in his wound.

He jerks, letting out a small groan. "Okay, okay. I promise I'll rest."

"Good. You don't have to be brave for me, Mav."

He dips his head. "Yeah, I think I'm beginning to see that. Drive safe. Let me know when you're home."

"You're not going to be one of those overprotective, macho guys, are you?"

He grins. "You bet your ass I am, cupcake."

I snort out a laugh, close my car door, and turn over the ignition. "I'll text you when I get home."

"See, not so hard, was it?" Maverick smiles, taps the roof of my car cheekily, and takes a couple of steps back. Shaking my head, I reverse out of the park and head for the gate, watching him watch me in the rearview mirror as I leave the clubhouse.

Once I reach the feeder road, I let out a long breath. "You stupid fucking idiot, Sadie. How could you put yourself in danger after all this time running from it?"

A slow tear slides down my face as I make my way home, wondering how on earth I'm going to find the strength to make my way to Vegas.

What a fucking mess.