Chapter 8
MAX
Shit.
That had been too close. Way too fucking close. But the pain in her eyes, pain I’d caused, was too much to bear. I’d had to set her straight. Having her that close had been nearly excruciating. Her full, rosy lips taunted me, her sweet smell drawing me in. I deserved a fucking medal for my restraint.
I slammed my way back in to the club, growling at any one who dared look in my direction.
“Max. My office,” Cole’s command had me inwardly groaning.
Fucking great.
I followed him into his office, sitting in the chair opposite his desk. “I’m talking to you as your brother right now, not as your prez,” he began, sitting on the edge of his desk, looking down at me with concern. “What the hell is going on with you lately?” he demanded. “You’ve been in your own head more than usual and meaner than a fucking grizzly.”
I clenched my jaw but remained silent.
“You’re avoiding everyone, including Pop and your mom. They’re worried.”
Though not related by blood, Cole and I shared a father in Cal, who’d adopted me when I was seven. Despite being over twenty years my senior, Cole and I had always had a solid bond. He accepted my reserved personality, my tendency to be a loner. Except for right now apparently.
“I’m fine,” I ground out.
He made a noise of frustration. “You’re not. You can talk to me, Max. You know that.”
Not about this. Not about Wren.
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
His blue eyes shone with frustration. “Fine. You don’t want to talk to me? I’m not going to force you, but you need to rein your shit in. I still need you on the Rossi business tonight, but not if you’re going to go off half-cocked. You get me?”
I took a deep breath in. The club had some issues with the mob wanting to expand outside of Vegas, way outside, too close to Hawthorne. That shit was not happening. “I get you. Gun and I are riding out tonight.”
“Be careful.” I could tell he wanted to say more, while at the same time knowing he wouldn’t get more out of me.
“I will,” I agreed, rising to stand and heading for the door.
“Max.” His voice stopped me short. “That offer to talk? It stands, always.”
I nodded once and walked through the door.
****
My fist met flesh again and again, the rhythmic sound soothing in some twisted way as I took out my aggravation, my angst, on the man slumped in a chair in front of me.
Thanks to Maddox’s source, we’d intercepted the member of the Rossi family with a truckload of firearms headed directly through Hawthorne.
“Max, man, enough.” Gunner grunted, pulling me back.
“It’s not,” I ground out, the primal growl of my voice barely registering as mine.
“It is,” he insisted, pushing me by the chest toward the far wall.
“Stay the fuck out of Hawthorne,” I warned over my shoulder.
“Doubt he heard you, brother.” Xander chortled. “He’s out cold. But he heard you the other ten times you said it. I’d consider your message delivered.”
“Let’s go, man,” Gunner coaxed, guiding me from the warehouse. “What the fuck is up with you?” he demanded, echoing Cole’s earlier line of questioning. “Not saying you don’t usually hold your own, but I’ve never seen you like that.” His gaze was cautious and a little amazed as he regarded me.
Had I really gone that overboard? My bloody knuckles, so torn up you could see bone, said maybe.
“Whatever it is, you know I have your back, right?” he demanded. “Whatever it is. Whoever it is,” he emphasized.
Fuck, he knew.
We’d been thick as thieves since grammar school. We’d patched in together. I trusted Gunner more than anyone, and he knew me better than most. That didn’t mean I wanted to talk about it.
“How long has it been?” he asked quietly.
“Since what?” I ground out.
“Since you fell in love with Wren,” he replied simply. He was going to force my hand. Hell, maybe it would help.
I sighed, raking a hand through my hair. “I’m not sure,” I answered honestly. “A few years maybe.”
“Shit, man,” he muttered. “Sal’s gonna kill you.”
“Not if he doesn’t find out,” I shot back.
Gunner leaned against his bike, crossing his feet at the ankle. “Hate to say it, but there’s no way you can hide it forever. I figured it out easily enough. It’s all over your face when she’s around. If he cares enough to pay attention, he’ll notice. And you, fuck, dude, you’re wound so tight you’re going to fucking snap. Something has to give.”
“I’ll rein it in.”
He chuckled. “Sure you will. About as much as she will.”
My head snapped to his in surprise.
“What?” he demanded with a grin. “You’re telling me you don’t see the way she looks at you? You two are ridiculous.” He shook his head.
The fact that Wren might feel the way I did made something foreign, but not all together unpleasant, expand in my chest. I’d never considered the possibility and instead had focused on controlling my own feelings.
“Sal will kill me,” I repeated.
“Yeah, he will,” Gunner agreed. “But he might also surprise you.” He shrugged.
He might. But could I take that chance?
“Are we done with our little heart-to-heart?” I demanded, swinging a leg over my bike.
He chuckled. “It was beautiful, man, but yeah, sure.” Gunner loved to fuck with me, always had. It was part of why we were such a good team. I kept him grounded, and he got me to lighten up every now and then.
“Fuck you,” I threw back without malice as our bikes roared to life.
He merely chuckled and shot me his middle finger.
We hit the highway, my thoughts jumbled, heart pounding with the knowledge that the girl I loved might actually love me back. I knew that with that possibility, even without acting on it, my life would never be the same.