Page 6 of Savage Hearts

“Yes, but none of them are Daniel Hayes’s daughter.”

“So, that’s it? I’m paying for my father’s sins, even if I don’t even like the man?”

Maverick shook his head. “You’re not paying for his sins. Otherwise, we would have killed you already.”

Never mind the fact that it had been the original plan.

She stilled against me. I heard her take a stuttered breath. “I have nothing to do with the club. I’m innocent.”

“So were we when your dad decided to attack our club. But he made the mistake of not coming after us. That led to his death,” Maverick answered her.

Her breath hitched at the confirmation about her dad, but otherwise, she didn’t show any reaction. Was she telling the truth, then? Did she really hate her old man, and if so, why was that?

“And now you’re making sure you won’t make his same mistake? You think I’m going to come back and kill you?” Her voice was incredulous. I didn’t blame her.

With this soft girl in my arms, the thought that she would come back and kill us was downright ridiculous.

She shook her head. “Please. I never wanted to be a part of this life. Just let me go and I promise you won’t ever hear or see from me.”

“Can’t do that, little monster,” Maverick said. “You belong to us now.”

She flinched at the finality of Maverick’s words.

I couldn’t see her face, but I could see the way her shoulders sagged, as if she didn’t know how to keep holding the weight.

My heart felt suddenly heavy.

“That’s not much of a choice, is it?” she said bitterly.

“No, it’s not,” Maverick answered calmly. “So what’s your answer, little monster?”

She laughed, the sound empty. “I’m not the monster here.”

He shrugged as if he couldn’t care less. He tilted his head to the side, waiting for her.

“Option one, you stupid son of a bitch,” she said angrily. Maverick didn’t show any emotion at that, but I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was amused by her.

She wiggled against me. I tightened my arms around her for a fraction. “I’m not going to run, so you can let me go now,” she insisted.

I held onto her for a moment before I loosened my arms, and she quickly climbed off my lap. I felt empty with her gone, and I didn’t know what to do with that feeling, so I scowled at her.

“What now?” she asked. “What about tonight?”

This sounded like a conversation she would be having with Silas, not me. I stood up to my full height, thoroughly enjoying the way her eyes widened a bit in fear before she formed her face back to defiance. I still scared her. That was good. She would do well to keep her distance from me.

I would do better if I stayed away from her.

I walked up to her and cupped her shoulders in my hands. Leaning down so our noses touched, I said softly, “I think you forgot your place in our lives. Starting right now, little girl,”—my grip on her shoulders tightened a fraction—“You’re to do as we say, without question. You’re not in charge. Remember that.”

She sucked in a sharp breath and tried to get away from me.

I kept my hands on her shoulders, my eyes roaming over her face and taking in her delicate features. I didn’t let go of her for five long seconds, and only did so because it seemed Silas was going to step in.

I moved away from her and headed out the door. Whatever the fuck Silas wanted to do with her tonight was his business.

As for me, I headed straight down to the lobby. The valet grabbed the truck for me. I got in without saying another word to anyone and drove off.

It was barely ten o’clock at night.

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