Page 84 of Secrets

"Already did that," he says, hoping his tone sounds disinterested rather than hurt.

It’s easier to let her see him as a jerk than to see his pain. Pain she could easily take away but won’t.

Marnie flips him the bird before storming to her car and peeling out of the lot. Tears sting at the back of his eyes, and heclimbs onto his bike to head home. Things just got even more complicated than they were before, and he needs time to think. To decide what he should do because seeing her without being able to touch her will be a slow, torturous death.

Chapter Thirty-One

Summerville

Max

Max walks to the shop with a smirk of triumph. He just got word from Kip that the sale to the Drifters has been finalized with all papers signed. And Max gets to be the one to break the news to Nick. The bastard who will hopefully shit, not just piss himself, this time.

He walks inside, ready to share the good news, but Daphne sits at her station, head in her hands. Her sobs fill his ears, and he hurries over to her while Phil, Yohan, and Geoff look morose. "Baby, what's wrong?"

"It's gone!"

"What's gone?"

"The shop," Daphne says between sobs. "The shop was officially sold today."

Nick walks out with a beaming smile on his face. "It's a great day!" he boasts and looks at Daphne, ignoring Max. "You're fired, Daphne. I'd like you to have all of your stuff cleared out by the end of today."

"You can't fire her," Max says, tilting his head.

"Unfortunately, with the sale today, all old contracts are no longer in effect. Don't worry, I'm sure your girlfriend can find another job somewhere. I'd say she could be a stripper, but she doesn't have a good enough body for that. Maybe she can wear a funny hat and ask if customers want fries with their order."

Anger flares inside of him. "Talk about her like that again. I fucking dare you."

"Look, I get you're protective and all, but it's just business. You understand."

"You're an idiot," Geoff says, his accent thicker with his anger. "You realize you're talking to a Drifter, right? Selling this shop doesn't mean he won't kill you and rip you into eighteen pieces just for the hell of it."

Nick finally looks a little frightened. "It's not my decision-"

"You're right, it's not. And I agree withCrocodile Dundeeback there. You're a fucking idiot."

Laughing, Geoff says, "I choose not to take offense to that."

"It's meant to be endearing, I swear," Max says, his eyes never leaving Nick. "And this isn't just business. Not when Daphne's father started this place. It's a part of her, and you're acting like it's nothing. It's something. It's a big something."

"Look, I just work-"

"I do have to agree, though. It's a great fucking day. Wanna know why, Nicky boy?"

The plump man looks around the room. "Because the sun's shining?"

"For some of us," he says. "But it's a great day because my girl still has her job. She has her shop. And as for you... your services are no longer needed, Nick."

Daphne's head pops up. "What?"

"You don't have that authority. I know you're part of a biker gang, but-"

"Motorcycle club," everyone says, cutting him off.

Smirking, Max wraps a protective arm around Daphne's shoulders. "As for authority, I fucking do, you goddamn Weeble Wobble. Oh, and you can expect a call from your investors about the money you stole. Those doctored books weren't fooling us."

His face pales. "Excuse me?"

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