Page 146 of Reckless Hearts

There are enough points in that one tournament that leads are won and lost every year. Someone can come in as a favorite and not make it out on the other side.

I search myself for the ruthlessness that’s always burned hot. The drive to take Maverick down, no matter the cost, and I find it missing.

My gaze sweeps the crowd, landing on Callie. There’s no sweet sunshine in her now. She’s staring down the reporter like she’s ready to take him out and hide the body somewhere out back.

A genuine smile hits my lips at the gleam and fire in my girl’s eyes.

If looks could kill, he’d already be six feet under.

The attention shifts to where Maverick’s sitting in front of a mic, being interviewed by a different circle of reporters.

He’s giving his standard stoic, no-bullshit answers in that short-clip tone of his, the kind that doesn’t waste a single word, but when my name comes up, his voice cuts across the space like a damn whip crack.

“He’s not out of the race,” Maverick says, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Not even close. You don’t write off a man like Colt Lawson. Not unless you’re ready to eat your words in front of a stadium.”

The air shifts.

Maverick’s always been calm, unshakable in front of the press. Now, there’s an edge to his voice, and the tendons in his neck stand out.

A brave reporter speaks up. “You’ve got to admit, you’ve got this in the bag whether he comes back or not.”

Maverick just looks straight into the cameras like he means every damn word. “If I want to be the best, I have to competeagainst the best. There’s not a man in this tent I’d rather face in the arena,” Mav replies. Sharp. Calm. Fiercely loyal. “Because when Colt rides, the rest of us are just trying to keep up.”

It’s not a sound bite.

It’s a statement of fact.

The words hit me harder than I expected. Not because they’re flattering, but because they’rereal.

Maverick’s not just backing me.

He just declared his respect.Publicly.

He just showed everyone that if anybody wants to take me down, they’ll have to go through him too.

I meet Callie’s eyes. She’s biting the corner of her lip, giving me an all-knowing smirk, like she’s known this version of Maverick all along.

I sigh and shake my head, because of course she has.

She’s been pushing us together since the day she came back.

They finally give the signal that Maverick’s done, and the reporters thin out.

I make my way toward him, trying to keep my cool, but my throat’s thick with emotion, slurring my words.

“What the hell was that?” I say with fake indignation.

I’m sure happiness is written all over my face.

Maverick keeps his voice low, just for us. “Had to set the record straight.”

I look away as the heat crawls up my neck, flushing my cheeks. I mumble, “Appreciate it.”

He shifts, stepping into my line of sight, gaze locking with mine like he’s trying to brand the words into me.

“You’re not out of this, Colt. I meant everything I said.”

It’s a rush. A tidal wave. An electric current snapping straight through my chest.

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