Page 15 of Maverick
“Russian?” Bear stopped. “Are you serious?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Tracker and I guarded a shipment for the Irish that was held at a Bratva-controlled port. We sat in front of that container for fifteen hours until the buyers arrived. Everyone around us spoke Russian. It was boring as fuck. But it led to my new skill of being able to identify Russian words.” That and my love of spy movies,but I’d leave that out.
“So the guy in our bar was Bratva? What the fuck do they want in Atlantic Shores?”
“Good question, and one I’m sure my enforcer will stop at nothing to figure out.” My voice turned hard. Bear might be my best friend, but the club came before everything and he understood that.
We’d prospected together, though it felt like a lifetime ago. Bear had been eighteen and I was twenty-two. Dad had insisted I get a college degree before joining the club, said we needed some book smarts to go with the street smarts. In retrospect, I think he did that to keep me safe. At that time, Sinner had recently gone to prison and there was rot in the club. Dad worked hard to get rid of the traitors, and by the time I finished school, things were looking up. He’d purchased the property we were currently located on and the club’s finances improved.
Then a massive heart attack took him out. Ironic, really. After all the crazy shit he did, it was the bacon and fried food that did him in. It became my mission to see his vision come true, to see the club prosper and go back to the brotherhood it was meant to be. I streamlined our businesses—got rid of the ones that were high risk and low reward. Nobody had time for that shit. Our protection business was high risk but very high reward and we were now the strongest we’ve ever been financially. Maybe that business degree worked out after all.
I stepped inside my office. “I’ll get you the contact. Rowan might have information he’d be willing to share.”
Bear scratched his beard. “Bratva, huh?” His eyes danced with excitement. “Yeah, that could be a lot of fun.”
My phone rang and I checked the caller ID. “I’ve gotta take this. I’ll text you Rowan’s number.”
With a two-finger salute, he turned and left.
“Larry, how are you my friend?”And how is your gorgeous daughter?
“I’m good, thanks. Just need a favor.”
“Of course, man. Whatever you need.” Especially if it involved seeing Kat.
“My daughter needs her oil changed, and I was hoping your boys could fit her in this afternoon. She’s got that fancy ass car with the three letters, and she’s used to going to those overpriceddealerships. I told her I had a place that would do her up right for half the price.”
I chuckled. I’d offer to ‘do her up right’ for free. “Yeah, that’s no problem, Larry. Send her on over. I’ll make sure she’s well taken care of.”
***
I waited until Kat’s Beamer was on the lift before coming out. In the event she misconstrued my attentiveness for stalking, I needed to limit her ability to run.
She sat in the waiting area, flipping through a magazine and looking like a fucking goddess in another pair of tight jeans and an oversized, off the shoulder t-shirt. Her dark hair was braided over her shoulder and she twirled it between her fingers. She looked softer, more relaxed than before. Maybe country life was working for her. But enough staring from a distance.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite Kitty Kat.” I stepped from behind the counter as if I’d just come from the back office.
“Mav?” Her brows furrowed. “Do you work here, too?”
I shook my head. “Nah, but it’s one of the club’s businesses. The brother who runs the place is on medical leave, so I pop in a couple times a week.”
“Oh.” She nodded. “Well, it was good seeing you again.” Her eyes lingered on mine as she turned a page without looking.
“Have you had a chance to see the town yet? A lot’s changed since the last time you were down.”
“Not really, just the grocery store, hospital, and here.” She glanced out the window. “I guess I should get to know the place a little better.”
And there it was. My opening. “Your car has another hour before it’ll be ready. I’d be happy to take you for a ride, show you a few of the local highlights.”
“I hadn’t planned on—” She stopped and took a breath. “You know what? Why not? That sounds like fun. I’d love a tour. A fun, spontaneous, unplanned tour.”
I handed her a spare helmet from under the counter and took her outside to my bike. The helmet connected to mine with Bluetooth so we’d be able to talk during the ride.
“You ridden on a bike before?” I asked her.
She nodded, fastening the helmet. “It’s been awhile, but yeah.”
My jaw clinched. The thought of Kat on the back of someone else’s bike made my blood boil. I must not have hidden my reaction too well, because Kat smirked.
