I glance over at Phoenix, biting down on my bottom lip. “Are you guys going to be able to bring him down?”
Maverick huffs, and the uncertainty in that one sound sends a shiver down my spine. “We’re gonna try our damn hardest, Clo. We’re gonna give it all we got.”
Wracking my jaw from side to side, my eyes begin to well up again. “So, what does this mean for Phoenix and me?”
Maverick chuckles down the line. “You sick of him already, huh?”
Glancing over at him as he pulls Dracula up onto his lap, the sight melts my heart. A silent tear slides down my cheek at the shit I have been putting him through. Sniffing back, I swipe the back of my hand across my nose. “I’ve been such a bitch to Phoenix, Mav,” I whisper, guilt washing over me. “He was just trying to follow your orders, and I’ve been making his life pure hell.”
“Phoenix can handle himself.” Maverick lets out a soft laugh, like the thought delights him. “But… maybe cut him some slack. The guy’s been worried sick about you since this trip started.”
My heart humps an extra beat. “He has?”
“Yeah. He cares about you, Clo. More than I think you realize. More than I realized. More than he probably should, considering you’re my little sister. Even though you were out of service, he was still sending me text messages, updating me, knowing they would come through when you got in range…” There’s a slight pause before he continues with, “There werea lotof messages,Clo.”
My entire body sinks with this information, and my eyes close, my heart hammering in my chest as the vision of Phoenix kissing me plays over and over on repeat through my mind. “Oh,” I simply whisper, not knowing what else to say.
Maverick exhales heavily. He’s frustrated, and he groans. “Look, he just wants to do the right thing. He clearly adores the ground you walk on,” he snorts like it’s a no-brainer. “Everyone does, Clo. But the guy’s also trying to stand on his own two feet as a Defiance brother. You’re making itrealfucking hardfor him right now.” He exhales as if he is defeated. “Whether I like it or not, you two are there together, in this situation, and have always had this pull to each other, just…” he hesitates as though he is unsure how to finish, and something in my brother’s tone makes me pause.
“Mav…”
“Yeah?”
“Are you… are you giving me permission to like Phoenix?”
“Fuck no,”he snaps back quickly. Slumping my shoulders, I sigh as he continues. “But, Phoenix is good people, Clover. He’s been through hell with the Steel Serpents, but he’s Defiance now. He’s family. And you? You’ve been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders for far too long. Just be careful and for fuck’s sake, please for the love of God, don’t come back here pregnant.”
Snickering under my breath, I can’t tell if that was his warning for me to stay away from Phoenix, or his acceptance that he knows our pull toward each other is already happening.
I watch Phoenix stand and dust off his jeans as Dracula winds around his ankles. Even from here, I see the gentle way he’s handling the cat, the patience in his movements, and how his toned and muscular body moves against the glistening of the setting sun.
Damn, he really is a marvel to look at.
“Did I lose you? You still there?” Maverick asks, and I snap my lustful stare from Phoenix and concentrate back on my brother.
“Sorry, I’m here. So, the world’s not ending?” I ask quietly, more to myself than Maverick.
“No, Clo. It’s not. We’re all okay. You’re okay. And you’re gonna have a great time in Vegas, you hear me?”
“I hear you.”
“Good. Now go apologize to that poor man before he thinks you hate him forever.”
I laugh, wiping my eyes. “I love you, Mav.”
“Love you too, Clo. Call me when you get to Vegas.”
“I will and keep me updated on all the shit happening there.”
“Tell Phoenix I’ll call him for a debrief tonight.”
Smiling, I glance over at him again and smile. “You got it, and say hi to Sadie for me, and from Phoenix too.”
“’Kay, later,” he chimes, then ends the call. The line goes dead, and for a moment, I just sit in the passenger seat, clutching the phone, feeling like a completely different person than I was an hour ago.
Everyone is safe.
The club is safe.
