Page 72 of Swan

I shook my head. “Doesn’t matter. Anyway, you’d better get back to her and find out what she’s doing travellin’ on her own.”

“Oh, I already did. Griz said she’d be safe here, and this was the only place she was stopping in at.”

“Good. Now, Maya, I’m gonna trust that you’ll keep this locked away. Don’t hint at anythin’ with her, yeah?”

“I won’t. Promise.”

Fuck, I hoped she wouldn’t.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

SWAN

It was a week after I’d been to the tattoo studio when I walked through my front door and Mum announced, “We’re having dinner with the Marcus crew tonight.”

I placed my bag on the stand near the entrance and removed my shoes. “All of them?” There were a lot of them. Would we even fit everyone in the kitchen?

Mum laughed. “I think so. We set up enough places for everyone. We opened the patio doors and connected the inside table with the one outside. There’s also the other outdoor seating area some can sit at while we eat.”

“Okay. I’m just going to get changed. I’ll be back down soon. Let me know what you need a hand with.”

“Will do,” she called, heading towards the kitchen while I went upstairs.

The last time I’d seen Maya was when I called in to have a coffee with her at the tattoo shop. That had been my own little “stuff you” to my fear over going somewhere that wasn’t home or work.

It sounded ridiculous now, since it was still a place owned by a club member.

But it had made me feel stronger.

It also had nothing to do with Drake working there that day.

I hadn’t wanted to see him, really.

Then I was surprised by the ache under my ribs and the bitter taste in my mouth when I’d overheard that woman’s words. Lately, I’d been thinking about him a lot. It was wrong. I shouldn’t be.

Sighing, I braided my hair and slipped on leggings and an oversized tee to be more comfortable.

As I walked downstairs, I noticed there was a flutter to my stomach.

I’m just hungry.

The doorbell rang, which caused me to jump. Since I was close, I swallowed my nerves and went to open it.

“Hey, Swan,” Talon said. He kissed the top of my head on the way through.

“Hi, sweetheart.” Zara hugged me.

Where were the rest of them?

Zara smiled. “Maya and Texas can’t make it. Neither can Mum and Gamer. Drake’s running late, and Ruby should be here any moment. Julian, Mattie, and Aeila are close too.”

“No problem. I’ll stay by the door.”

Zara snorted. “You know they’ll let themselves in.” She hooked her arm through mine. “Come on. Let’s go find your mum.”

Which was how I got led into the kitchen by Mum’s best friend.

“Hey, hooker.” Mum smiled.

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