“Talk about Mexican fireworks.” Manny laughs around his words. “This should back off anyone else looking to set up shop in Tijuana.”
We mount our bikes, and as the flames and heat intensify, I’m filled with satisfaction at erasing another part of Hector from Maxine’s life.
The sun begins to rise as we pull into the lot of The Tropics. I’m fuckin’ beat, but it’s a good tired. I have a loyal woman waiting in my bed, and a club of brothers at my back.
“Job well done, boys.” Smoke gives us a two-finger salute. “I’m heading home.”
The other brothers head into the back door, and I hit the stairs, anxious to get back into bed with Maxine. After the last few days, she’s probably still asleep. Just thinking about her warm, willing body has me taking the stairs two at a time.
I barrel through my apartment door and stop dead. “What are you doin’ up?”
Maxine pushes off the couch, heads to the kitchen and returns with a steaming cup of coffee. “Figured you’d be needing this.”
I take a sip and practically moan. “Just what I need, although I was looking forward to seeing you wrapped up in my bed.”
“I figured the coffee would keep you awake for the conversation we’re about to have.”
“Conversation?” It’s been my experience with women thatconversationsusually ended badly.
“Tell me what Bolt was talking about last night at the bar.”
“Who the fuck knows? The guy smokes way too much weed.”
“He didn’t seem stoned to me. As a matter of fact, he seemed on point and focused.”
All right, so she was gonna make me say it, but I knew she was gonna hate it too.
“I brought up you becoming my old lady at our last church meeting.”
“And why would you do that without saying something to me?”
Shit, she sure isn’t gonna make this easy.
“Look, I know we talked about it briefly, but I got the impression you weren’t interested.”
“Well, I’m not crazy about the term, but Marisol did explain it to me the night I stayed with them, and it kind of made sense.”
“Really?” Maybe I could salvage this after all. “What did she say?”
“She said it’s a commitment like a marriage with a rougher meaning. As in, I’ll have the devotion of all the club brothers and you. She also said if another guy even smiles at me in the wrong way, you have the green light to knock him into next week.”
I smile at her explanation. “Sounds about right.”
“Brutal, yes, but I relish the sense of protection after flying solo over dangerous territory for so long.”
“So, does that mean you’ll accept my offer?”
“Your offer?”
“To let me be your number one, to let me protect you, to be my old lady.”
She stares back at me, and my chest spasms. “Only if it means our commitment is equal, and that it’s more than ownership because, with my past, that would never work for me.”
“Of course it’s equal and mutual.” I drag my fingers through my hair. “You’re all I want, and all I think about, but I’m not gonna fuckin’ beg.”
“And that’s what makes this so perfect.”
“Shit, Maxine, I love you. I think I loved you after the first week you were at the gym.”
“You love me?”
“Fuck, yeah.”
“I love you too.” She jumps into my arms, and I almost drop the coffee. “So much.” She smothers me with kisses, and I know, from this point on, neither one of us will ever be lonely again.
THE END
