Maverick gave a wave over his shoulder as he guided Alexa out the door.
And then they were on their way, riding through town in four sets of two. Maverick and Alexa rode at the front of the group with Phoenix at their side. They roared into parking spaces right in front of the restaurant’s long windows. Eight Harleys. Eight bikers in full colors.
And what do you know? It was perfect timing. Because just then, Slater pulled up in his Mercedes and valeted the car. Alexa was standing at Mav’s side, and he could feel anxiety rolling off of her. He wanted to take her into his arms and comfort her, reassure her, let her know that they’d be right there the whole time. But she knew that. They’d talked this through. And Maverick didn’t want to do anything that might cause her dinner companion to get any more pissed off than he already looked.
Without a word, Alexa made her way up the sidewalk toward the front door where Slater stood waiting, scowling, looking like he wanted to break something with his hands. None of the Ravens moved. They just stood there watching. When Mav and Alexa’s abusive prick of an ex made eye contact, Maverick arched a single brow. Touch her, hurt her, and I’ll fucking make you pay.
The guy’s face was red and his mouth was pressed into a tight line. He bit something out at Alexa that Mav couldn’t hear, and it took everything he had to keep his feet planted and let this bullshit play out. They disappeared inside, but only for a second. Because then they appeared in the window, visible behind the pale, sheer curtains. They stood there long enough that it seemed like some sort of debate was going on, and then Maverick smiled. Because they sat at one of the tables in clear view of the street. Of the Ravens. Just like they’d planned.
That’s my girl, Al.
For the next forty minutes, the Ravens waited. They got a lot of strange looks from passersby on the sidewalk and traffic slowed as it went by as if trying to figure out what was going on, but he and the guys didn’t pay attention to any of it. Maverick couldn’t tell a lot about the conversation taking place inside because the curtains obscured facial expressions, but he could see Alexa. And that was all he needed. For now.
The brief, high-pitched whoopwhoop of a siren sounded out from just down the street. Maverick turned to see one of Frederick’s finest rolling up behind the farthest of the bikes, lights flashing. And of course it was Davis behind the wheel. So Slater had called in his lapdog.
The guy got out, all five-foot-seven-inches of him, and glared at the lot of them. You never saw a man with a bigger fucking power trip than Curt Davis. The blowhard swiped his hand over his slicked-back brown hair and put on his cop hat. “Y’all need to move along.”
Caine turned his lethal stare on the little weasel. “We’re citizens peaceably inhabiting public property. What’s the problem, officer?”
“The problem is you. All of you. We’re getting complaints from business owners. You’re loitering. And you’re impeding the flow of traffic,” Davis said, sounding a whole lot like he was trying to think of anything that might be relevant to harass them with. Maverick listened to the conversation, but mostly tried to keep his focus on Alexa. The cop’s appearance wasn’t really a surprise—it was a total Slater douche move—but it felt like a distraction. And distractions were dangerous.
Caine looked up and down the street, then back at the cop. “We all know who called you, Davis. You moonlighting as Slater’s security detail while on duty these days?”
“That doesn’t seem strictly kosher,” Phoenix said.
“No, it doesn’t,” Caine said, arching a brow.
Davis planted his hands on his hips, though one fell on the butt of his holstered weapon. “Move on. Now. Or I’ll add disturbing the peace and throw the lot of your sorry asses in jail.”
“Remember when the football team stuffed his sorry ass in a locker?” Phoenix asked one of their brothers, just needling the cop.
As if Davis had no sense of self-preservation, he got up in Caine’s face and spouted off with indignation and more threats.
“Go ahead. Try to arrest me,” Caine said. “Please.” If Davis couldn’t hear the deadly intent in the Raven’s tone, he was an idiot. And Maverick believed his brother meant it, which meant shit was about to escalate. Fast.
Inside, the curtains parted, briefly revealing Alexa’s unhappy face, and then she pushed up from the table. Slater followed quickly after. As she spilled out onto the street, her ex grabbed her wrist. She stumbled as the asshole reeled her in against him.
Maverick saw fucking red, already moving to get her free.
“Oh, shit,” someone said from behind him.
“Grant, let me go. Okay? Haven’t you said enough?” she cried, her voice clearly upset.
“Don’t forget what I said,” he said. “And know that I’m dead serious.”
“If you don’t get your hands off of her, you’ll be dead all right,” Maverick said, coming up to them.
Alexa tugged her arm free and crashed into Mav’s chest, pushing him back with both hands on his pecs. “No, Maverick. Don’t.”
He nailed the bastard with a murderous stare, letting Alexa hold him back. But just barely.
“Oh, please do, Maverick. By all means,” Slater said. Arrogant goddamned sonofabitch.
Mav’s blood fucking boiled with the need to take a swing at him. Which was exactly what he wanted.
“He’s not worth it, Mav. Come on.” She pushed him harder. “Come on. This we’re doing my way. It’s over. Let’s go.”
He pointed at Slater over Alexa’s shoulder. “Hurt her again, I rain down twice as much hurt on you.” Then he let himself be pushed, not waiting to see or hear what baiting comeback the asshole would throw at him. He hadn’t heard the other Ravens gather around him, but they were all right there on his six and walking with him back to their bikes.
“Have a nice evening, officer,” Jagger said with a smile as they all got on and started their engines. Alexa held Maverick tight, way tighter than on the way there, and he didn’t know whether she was still holding him back from Slater or just needing to feel him there. Whether her touch came from protectiveness or need, both sent heat through his blood.
One by one, they pulled out. Caine glared at Davis, while Phoenix flipped him off with a grin. But Maverick only had eyes for Alexa’s ex. Because that was not a man who thought this was over. Not by a long shot.
CHAPTER 19
The ride back to the Ravens’ compound passed in a blur. Because Alexa had no idea how she was going to resolve the situation Slater had backed her into, or whether to believe he’d really do all the things he threatened to do.