Rook & Rebel (Mavericks #1)

Chapter 28

Twenty-Eight

Regan

I walked up to the back of the garage two days later, smiling when Rook turned to look at me, his eyebrows jumping up.

“I wasn’t expecting you here. Stalking me again?” he asked, leaning down to kiss me.

“Nope. I didn’t come to see you.”

He scowled, looking around at the other guys. “What the fuck does that mean when you are dressed like that? Who are you coming to see?”

“Are you saying I look bad?” I asked, looking down at my new dress.

His hand slid over my hip, pulling me in. “You look beautiful. So beautiful that I will be very jealous if it’s for any other man.”

“It’s for me, not a man.”

Evie ran out from the front, heading right towards us. She reached up, pushing Rook out of the way, and making him stumble back.

“Come on, I’ve been stuck here all day and need a break,” she said, smiling as she headed to the door.

Rook grabbed my arm, pulling me hard against his chest. “You’re going out with Evie?”

“Yeah. We’re picking up Harper and going out for the night.”

“Where?”

I shrugged, and he scowled more. “I don’t know, around town.”

“But where?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“Fine, don’t tell me. I can track Evie’s phone anyway.”

“That’s creepy,” I said, looking up at him. He smiled, the bright blue of his eyes looking more clear now.

“We all have it set up on Evie’s computer that we can look at everyone’s locations if needed.”

“Well, it’s not needed. We are going out for a drink, maybe to dance, and to hang out. Nothing dangerous or deadly.” I looked past him to the bikes and the toolboxes that seemed to hold more than just mechanic’s tools. “Unlike you.”

His hands cupped my chin, making me look up at him. “When you look like that? I’m definitely not the one being dangerous or deadly tonight. You’re going out with Evie, so yeah, you’re going out to cause trouble. Text me if you need anything. Anything , Rebel.”

“I don’t think I’ll need any help with anything tonight. Who knows who I might meet? Evie seems like she could attract a lot of fun people,” I said, smiling to further I push his buttons.

Rook’s lips twisted into that wicked smile, his eyes growing heavy. “I think you’re trying to insinuate that you could meet another guy. Maybe go home with him? Or invite him home with you? Hilarious, if you really think I would let it get past the doors, let alone all the way to a bedroom.”

“You couldn’t stop me if that’s what I wanted to do.”

“Stop you? No, baby, you’re a goddamn queen against me. I can’t, and won’t, stop you.” He grinned, bringing me closer until my lips were almost at his. “But I would stop him. And you really won’t want to make out with him, let alone do anything else, when I rip out his throat and leave it on your pillow. So much blood and not enough breathing.”

“Rook,” I warned, scrunching my nose at the thought.

A rumble came from him as he finally leaned down, closing the distance between us to kiss me. “I love when you say my name like that. Like you kind of want to wrap your hands around my throat.”

“I kind of do,” I whispered, kissing him again.

“Oh my god, you two,” Evie groaned. “Can you please wrap this up so we can go? You can literally get a room later.”

“I’ll be in your room later,” he said.

“I’ll be okay with that. Actually,” I said, leaning in further. “I have something I need to talk to you about. Something I think I need help with.”

I had spent hours searching for any information on the logs my dad had hidden in his desk, but I hadn’t found a single clue. If they were related to boat shipments, I came up empty. Looking into going rates for security firms also gave me nothing about the type of high-level security my dad seemed to provide. My last hope was that Rook might have the information I needed and would be willing to share it.

He brushed my hair back, looking over my face. “Anything you need. Do you want to talk about it now?”

Evie gagged and grabbed my arm, pulling me towards the door. “It’s girls’ night, Rook, she can talk about it later.”

“Fine, but you know where we are if you need us.”

He kissed me again before I broke away and headed back out to the car that waited out front. Evie slid into the back, looking at the driver.

“I feel so fancy. A driver in a car and not on a bike? I’m a damn princess tonight.”

I laughed as we headed to get Harper. “It can be a nice change. I surprisingly don’t mind riding on the bike now, though.”

“Don’t mind the bike or don’t mind the rider?” she asked with a laugh.

“Is it weird for me to talk about since he’s your brother and all?”

“I don’t care much. I think it’s cute he actually has someone he likes, but for the love of everything, do not tell me any details.”

“Does he not have a lot of people he likes around?”

“Not even a little. He likes work, and more work, and riding. That’s about it lately. He spends more time working and worrying about all of us than doing anything for himself. He’s a protector to a fault. I swear he barely even sleeps anymore.”

“Is that why he looks like he might pass out half the time?” I asked, trying not to smile.

“Yeah, they’ve been so busy that he gets a few hours here and there. Has he shown you his…scar?”

“Yeah, he showed me.”

“Then you could see why it hurts him a lot. I think he ends up working more because he can’t sleep with it aching. He never complains to us about it, though.”

I was quiet as Harper slid in next to us and they immediately jumped into finishing a conversation they had started through text.

I didn’t understand Rook. It seemed like he was always violent, but I could see what Evie meant about being a protector. He definitely didn’t want to let anything happen to me.

With the driver, it made it easy to pull right to the doors to get out, and the door guys looked us over once before waving us in.

“I love going out with you guys,” Evie said. “Do you know the looks I get when I’m surrounded by the guys? No man is approaching me when they are around.”

“Does that mean you don’t have a lot of boyfriends?” Harper asked.

“Not really. I mean, I’ve gone on plenty of dates. There was one guy I started seeing, but then Rook and Aiden made it pretty clear that I shouldn’t be.”

“Why?”

“I mixed business with pleasure and it started to affect our business. I had to stop seeing him, but I don’t know if he was even my boyfriend.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, linking my arm in hers. “That sucks.”

“It’s alright. I don’t think I need one anyway, right? What good will that do me?”

The neon lights cast a vibrant glow on our faces as we made our way out of the hallway and into the club.

“It’s fine. Tonight’s about forgetting our troubles,” Evie declared, linking arms with Harper now. “Let’s dance, drink, and have fun!”

The club was packed, the music loud as it thumped through me. I had only been to a club one other time and quickly found out they weren’t for me, but with Harper and Evie, I was already having a better time. We weaved through the crowd and found a spot at the bar before ordering drinks.

“To a night of fun and forgetting,” Harper toasted, raising her glass.

I took a long sip, savoring the sweetness of the drink. It felt good to be out, to be out with girls who I could complain to or forget my problems with. To not be worrying about my dad, or his company, or even Rook. I could just be here, and that was it.

It took less than five minutes before Evie dragged us out to the dance floor. I stayed with them, dancing endlessly as the music played on. My heart leapt at every guy that approached me, and I wondered how taken I was exactly. I knew Rook wouldn’t be happy if I danced, or did anything else, with another guy, but that didn’t exactly mean we were together exclusively.

As if the men around me could hear my thoughts, a guy came up, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me into the crowd more.

“Hey, there,” he said, his lips so close to my ear that I could feel the heat of his breath.

I looked over my shoulder as he held me tighter. Fear and anger coursed through me as he kept moving, dragging me towards a corner of the dance floor.

“What are you doing? Let me go!”

The stranger spun me to face him, letting me get a better look at his face. He wore slicked-back hair and a button-up shirt open at the collar. He looked like any other guy in this place, but something made him think he could grab me and drag me across the floor.

“You need to get the fuck off me,” I said, pushing at his hand.

“Or what? I didn’t see your boyfriend here tonight.”

My heart hammered in my chest, trying to think of a good way to get away.

“I don’t have a boyfriend,” I said, pushing away from him again.

“No? Did I get something wrong when I followed you here from Rook’s garage after you were kissing him goodbye? How cute, by the way. I heard you like Rook’s…bike,” he said with a grin. “Maybe I should take you on a ride on my bike.”

“Not a chance,” I said, wanting to shrink back. The fact that he knew I was ever with Rook made my blood run cold, and I realized this was more than a pushy guy hitting on me in a bar. My eyes darted around, looking for any sign of Evie or Harper, but I didn’t see either of them.

I didn’t like confrontation, even on a normal day. The way people got pushy always made me uncomfortable enough to run away, but that wasn’t who I wanted to be anymore. I couldn’t be that person anymore.

I needed Rook here, but I couldn’t act helpless now. I kept going to hang out with Rook and I knew what type of problems could go along with that. I could either run from them, and then run from Rook, too. Or I could handle them, even if it meant calling for help.

The guy stepped closer, wrapping an arm around my waist to pull me in. He whispered something, but the music drowned the words out.

Panic welled in my throat, and I reached for my phone. The only way to look at it, though, was to wrap my arms around the guy so I could hold it up enough to hit Rook’s name.

The FaceTime connected and Rook’s grinning face filled the screen, before he saw what was happening.

Help, I mouthed.

His face hardened. His eyes narrowed as he headed to his toolbox with me still on the phone.

I moved to my texts, sending him one fast, as the guy seemed to think we were dancing.

“My name is Victor,” he yelled, his arm tightening on me.

Regan: He knows I’m with you.

Rook: Dead.

Rook: Kick him hard and find Evie. Now.

I switched back to the FaceTime, already seeing him on the bike. He clicked it on his stand before slipping on his helmet, not disconnecting the call. The guy stopped, grabbing my wrist, and I used my other hand to slip my phone into my pocket.

I kicked up. My knee connected with something, but he only held on tighter.

“Fucking bitch. We knew you would all get stupid about this.”

“All?”

“All you girls. Come on, we need to get upstairs.”

Before I could protest further, he dragged me through the crowd. By the time we made it to a set of steps, I could see Evie and Harper being manhandled by two other men. The three of us were forced up a narrow staircase, the music and lights of the club fading into the background as we were taken to a back office.

The room was dimly lit, with plush furniture and a large window overlooking the dance floor below. The men shoved us inside and closed the door, standing guard with menacing looks.

My heart pounded in my chest as I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. I glanced at Evie and Harper, who both looked annoyed.

“I already called Rook,” I whispered. “They’re on their way.”

Evie grinned up at the guys holding onto us. “Oh, you’re fucked,” she said.

An older guy came into the room, and Evie scowled.

“Cross?” Evie said, stepping back. “Why did you grab us?”

“Now you know these guys?” Harper asked.

She gave a tight smile, leaning over towards us. “The guy I kind-of dated that mixed business and pleasure was Asher. He’s a competitor of this guy, so I inevitably know all about them.”

“How are they competitors?” I asked.

“They are both drug lords in Valeport and hate each other,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “Cross hates us.”

“I hate you,” Cross interrupted, “because you sided with Asher when you shouldn’t have.”

“I don’t know. I think it worked out fine for us.”

“Wait,” I said, surprised I was saying anything. “What does that have to do with us?”

“I need your guys to look into the theft of my drugs, and they aren’t responding,” Cross said, not meeting our eye now.

“Then get the hint,” Evie said. “They don’t want to talk to you or work with you. You’re a snitch, and a pig.”

“They don’t exactly have a choice now. They have to come here to get you and then we can talk.”

“Asher isn’t going to love this, either,” Evie mumbled.

“Fuck Asher.” Cross sat back, looking us over.

“Can I get that on a recording?” she asked. “Just want to keep him in the loop.”

“Asher can go fuck himself. We all have shipments going missing and he doesn’t? You can understand why he is quickly moving up to the top of my list of who did it.”

“Like he would want your shitty ass drugs.”

“Shouldn’t you…I don’t know, be quiet or something?” I whispered to Evie.

She rolled her eyes again. “Seriously, don’t worry about it. He can’t kill us. He wants the guys to help him figure out what’s happening, and no one has the connections like we do. Rook and Aiden have been trolling this city for information for nearly ten years. They know exactly where his shipments are and he knows it. If we are dead, he’s dead with no information. Right, Cross?”

His lips tight in what I could only assume was supposed to be a smile. “This is a friendly meeting.”

I yanked at my arm that was still being held by Victor. “Then get your hands off of me,” I said, pulling again.

Rook stepped into the room, scanning it fast. His eyes landed on me, flicking once to Evie and Harper before turning back to me. Aiden, Mason, Hero, and Zack were behind him. Zack and Mason turned, facing the door they came through as the rest of them looked everyone over.

Rook pulled out his gun, aiming it with a steady hand and pulling the trigger without another word.

Victor fell, blood splattering on the side of my dress as he went down. My lips pressed hard together as I suppressed my scream.

And the bile rising in my throat.

“Rook!” Cross yelled.

“I will continue unless you get your hands off them,” Rook said. Hands dropped from Evie and Harper.

As if she didn’t care what was happening around us, Evie stepped out, walking across the room to stand by Aiden and Rook. I followed, and Harper sneered at Cross as we walked over with them. Rook’s arm snaked around my waist, pulling me hard against him before he shoved me behind his back.

“You’re fucking lucky I don’t kill you,” Rook said. “If you thought for a fucking second this would help your chances of getting our help, you’re wrong. I know exactly what you’re doing and I don’t give a fuck if your shipments go missing.”

“Rook, I need help. We have looked everywhere, asked everyone, and not a word.”

“And I’m going to make sure it stays that way now. You think you can bother them and I will suddenly do your dirty work? Go fuck yourself. The only reason I’m not killing you is to not start a war. Do this shit again and I won’t care.”

Cross went to stand, but Hero raised his shotgun with a grin.

Rook turned to us, nodding towards the door. “Go. Out of the room. Stay with Zack, Kane, and Mason.”

I grabbed his arm, pulling him back.“Rook, I’m?—”

“I’m coming. Just go.”

Zack put an arm around my shoulders, smiling as we walked out.

“What is he doing?” I asked.

Evie walked up next to me, grabbing Zack’s hand and lifting it off my shoulders until he dropped it.“No need to touch her, Zack.”

He rolled his eyes. “I was walking her out, not feeling her up.”

“Close enough.” Evie linked her arm in mine again, Harper on my other side. “I can walk her out just fine.”

“Really? You managed to get yourselves all kidnapped, basically,” Zack snapped.

Mason came up behind us. “Just walk them out, Zack. No need to piss anyone else off tonight.”

I smiled back at Mason, but I looked over his shoulder once.

“They aren’t killing him, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I was more worried about them getting hurt.”

Mason smirked as we headed out front. “They won’t. You want on the bike or in the car?”

“I don’t have a helmet,” I said, heading to the car. Mason pointed at Rook’s bike, my helmet sitting on my seat.

“Oh,” I went over, seeing that he had mine strapped to the back.

It was less than a minute before Rook came out. “Riding with me?” he asked, not stopping as he swung over the bike.

“If you don’t mind.”

“I prefer it. Come on, Kane will take Harper home safe.”

I got on, relief washing over me as I held onto him.

“You know, you might never be in trouble with anyone else, but you currently are with me,” I said.

He groaned. “Alright, Rebel. Let me get you home and then give me what you got. I’ll take my punishment.”

I squeezed tighter once, not saying a word for the rest of the drive.