Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 115186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
“Maddie…” When he reached for her, she quickly moved away.
“I told you to let it go, Rome.” She pounded a fist against her thigh. Not once, not twice, but too many times to count. Maybe it was so she wouldn’t punch him instead. “This is exactly why I never wanted to get involved with a biker. Thanks for the reminder. I’ll make sure not to make that mistake again.”
“It wasn’t supposed to go like that—”
Her head tipped to the side. “You know what I haven’t heard yet? A damn apology. You know why? Because you guys don’t want to admit when you’re wrong. Not that saying sorry will undo the damage. It won’t.” With another shake of her head, she stormed past him.
“Maddie!” When she didn’t stop and disappeared around the corner of the building, he muttered, “Goddamn it.”
He rubbed at his forehead because he was getting a damn headache.
Even if gave her an apology, he doubted she’d want to hear it anyway. Right now, she was too damn pissed. He needed to give her some space and wait until she cooled off so he could explain that he hadn’t gotten her fired on purpose.
That hadn’t been his intent.
Did he want her working at Smith’s? Fuck no.
Did he want to screw up her career? Also no.
Did he really have to pay Smith another visit? Probably. Maybe the asshole would take her back if Romeo ate a little humble fucking pie. He hated that flavor but would force a piece down if only for Maddie and to make up for his fuck up.
Once again, he realized his biggest mistake.
He shouldn’t have been a cheap ass and should’ve stayed anonymous by hiring Mercy to pay Smith a visit.
Yeah, he should’ve handled it a whole different way and kept his hands clean.
His fucking mistake.
One he wouldn’t make again.
He waited a few hours—long enough for her to cool off a bit—before shooting her a text.
He did something he rarely ever did… Apologized.
Fucked up. Sorry.
All he got in return was radio silence. Maybe a few hours wasn’t long enough. He might have to wait a few days.
For fuck’s sake, he didn’t want that.
Her tears had killed him. She had her heart set on working for a well-known sports team and he broke that heart.
He thought he’d done right by her when he resisted putting his hands on her boss—now former boss—at least to the point of causing any injury. What he did was only supposed to be a warning.
He didn’t want to get her fired. He only wanted Smith to start treating Maddie better. Treat her like she deserved. She did not deserve to be abused by her damn boss and stressed out to the point she had to find relief by having sex with a man.
Of course, he benefitted from that stress, and he was the lucky one to help her relieve it. But she could’ve gone to any fucking man.
His lip curled at the possibility of her picking someone other than him. The thought of Maddie getting dick from someone else burned deep in his gut. Of having orgasms from some other asshole.
Goddamn it.
The truth was, she could’ve gone anywhere. But she had come to him.
Because she trusted him enough to do so.
The same way she had trusted him enough to take her virginity.
He broke that trust. Now he had to fix it.
Even if she didn’t want that.
Even if she stuck to her guns about him staying out of her life.
He got it.
She was pissed. She was hurt. She was worried about her future. And, as expected, how she’d pay her bills until she found another job.
“Stupid fuck,” he muttered under his breath as he got off his sled.
He stared at his house. He didn’t need to go inside to know it was empty. Just like his goddamn soul.
He should’ve told her no. Just like Magnum insisted. He should’ve sent her on her way. Told her to run fast and far from him.
He had never been good at doing the right thing.
The evidence of that was obvious.
Maddie was right. He was a selfish fuck. He only thought about himself.
Her situation was the first time he hadn’t. And, of course, he fucked that up.
Maddie said what he did was a good reminder why she didn’t want to deal with bikers. Her reaction was a good reminder why he didn’t like strings.
He choked on them.
Maybe he only needed to snip those fucking strings and simply let her go.
That would be the best thing. For her. For him.
Even for the alliance.
He hated that Magnum was right.
As he pulled his keys from the front pocket of his jeans, he paused when he heard a rustle nearby.
It could be an animal. A bird or a squirrel.
Fuck. Did they come out at night? He was no wildlife expert. What if it was a skunk?