A shiver worked down Maylee’s spine. The promise of violence shouldn’t have made her feel better.
Her sister’s killers deserved nothing less.
Silence hung over their shoulders for a long moment before Ellis cleared his throat and slashed his gaze away from her. “You should get up front,” he said in a gruff tone. “Jensen doesn’t like when we’re late.”
“Ellis.” He turned to her and she refused to duck her eyes. For this moment, she had to be open with him. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For not assuming I can just go home.”
He shrugged up a shoulder. “That’s family, ain’t it? Ask anyone with good people who would hold them up when they’re down, and they’ll say, family. Ask those with bad relations who’d hurt them the most, and they’d say, family. Most genuinely don’t understand the other’s thinking.”
The words surprised her. They held the same hurt that had lodged deep in her heart over a lifetime of disappointment. She cocked her head and asked softly, “Who did you lose?”
He raised his hands to fend off her question. “I need to get out there. Gotta keep an eye out for any other stray mothers wandering through.”
Maylee frowned at the teasing twinkle in his eye and the possessive growl rumbling from her inner bear. “Not everyone wants to be rescued.”
“No.” He scratched at his beard as he looked down his nose at her. “But offering a hand until they can stand on their own is the right thing to do.”
Maylee stared after the man as he made his way toward the door. His words stuck to her ribs, filling out some of the empty spaces inside her chest.
Except… She didn’t want to be rescued. She didn’t want to be indebted to anyone. But a hand back to her feet, where she could take her own steps without someone’s strings directing her movement? That sounded just fine.
Despite all her walls and barriers and coils of barbed wire caution, he made her curious. Big man with his bad boy looks and soft center, but also a tough streak used to keep the peace in his domain. She wondered how many saw one side versus the other.
The puzzle pieces turned over as she slipped behind the bar.
Jensen didn’t believe in coddling a person, Maylee decided within an hour of her shift. He was definitely a sink or swim teacher, tossing her right into the deep end and letting her flounder on her own. Luckily, she’d waitressed before. Not much else to do where she’d grown up.
The bar quickly filled with regulars and average joes alike jockeying for position in one of the main stools. To keep the crowding down, she was meant to check on the castaways flung to the far tables, clear off discarded drinks, and bring fresh offerings.
Easy, once she figured out the quickest route between tables and the bar. Dodging packed bodies came tumbling back to her after the first few bumps of her shoulder and crushed toes.
Maylee rounded the bar with a tray full of empty glasses and sighed. No wonder they were desperate to take the first stray that walked through the door. The only bar in town did a fine bit of business.
“Pretty girl! Take a shot with me!”
Maylee looked around until she found the voice. The man had the tan and wrinkles of hard labor under an unforgiving sun. Work-rough hands waved his empty glass in the air.
“Me?” She straightened and glanced down the bar. Jensen spotted her and hustled over. “I don’t think I’m supposed to.”
Jensen took one look at her and the man. “Back off, Jud. No one wants to take shots with your ugly face looking over the rim at them.”
Jud leaned forward and grinned widely, showing off a few missing teeth. “I wouldn’t take a shot with me, neither!” He barked a laugh and sank back into his seat, humming happily to himself as his attention shifted back to a game replay on the television above the bar.
Jensen motioned her closer and laid a finger on a vodka bottle set apart from all the others lined up and ready to pour. “You ever put in a spot where you don’t want to drink, but it’ll earn you more tips, this is your go-to. Far as anyone on the other side of here knows, you’re a vodka drinker.”
Maylee fingered the shot glass he filled and handed to her. Under his watchful eye, she threw the drink back and grinned. Water. Huh. She’d always heard bartenders used that trick, but she’d never worked in one herself.
“Always been a bourbon gal, but I see what you’re saying.”
“Bourbon? You and Ellis will get along fine.” Jensen reached for another bottle in the rail and poured two glasses. “Here. He’s looking thirsty and you deserve something after Jud’s idea of flirting.”
Maylee looked at the glasses like they were a pair of snakes coiled up and ready to strike. Carefully, with a gracious dip of her head, she put them on her tray and waded back into the press of bodies looking to shed the day’s weight.
She could talk to Ellis. Be around him. They were coworkers! She couldn’t avoid him forever.
Her bear rumbled in pleasure as she stepped closer, but Maylee kicked the beast to the back of her head. Instincts be damned. She ran the show, and she was decidedly not looking for a mate to tie her down and ruin her life.
Maylee handed Ellis the glass and clinked hers against his. A quick scan of the nearby tables showed full glasses and customers engaged in conversation. Nothing she could pick up or refill.
She leaned against the wall next to Ellis and sipped her bourbon. At the bar, Jensen and Wyatt passed fresh pints to those that requested them, then turned to shoot the shit with one another in the brief lull. “How long have you known them?”
“Jensen and Wyatt? About nine, ten years.” Ellis slid a glance her way without moving his head. “We ran with a rougher crowd back then.”
“So the leather and boots aren’t just for show.”
“Part of the uniform when you ride with a motorcycle club.” He shook his boot slightly. “Armed to the teeth, too.”
“Dangerous and honest. Unexpected combinations.”
Ellis grunted. “That doesn’t bother you, knowing what I used to do?”
“No. Where I come from, tough boys turned into tough men.” And women weren’t worth a damn.
He cocked his head. “Tough girls turned into tough women, too.”
“Part of the uniform when you work at a former biker bar.” Maylee tipped her glass at him. “Alanna and Noelle have their hands full with those two and the cubs.”
He turned to her fully. Gold swirled in the dark brown of his eyes. Heat, too. “They’re tough women, too. You’re in good company.”
She smiled and was about to answer when she spotted someone moving slowly between the other patrons, swinging her head from side to side.
Sheila.
Maylee froze in place, her heart pounding a wicked beat against her ribcage. Fuck.
“What is it?” Ellis growled.
Maybe they sent her in to canvass the place, figuring she wasn’t likely to be recognized.
Sheila turned and narrowed her eyes.
Shit. Spotted.
Pure hatred sparked in the other woman’s eyes.
The glasses on her tray shook as she leaned close to Ellis. “Dark blue tank top and cut-off shorts near the pool tables. She’s with them.”
A growl rumbled in his chest as he snapped his attention over her head. “I see her. She was here with the others last night.”
Maylee felt cornered. She never should have stayed in Redwater. They had her pinned down in the exact same place as the night before. She had no car, no means of escape.
Ellis settled a large hand over hers and stopped her spiraling thoughts with a wave of heat whipping through her.
“Put these down and head to the back. I’ll come for you when it’s over.” The air vibrated with another growl, but the man simply leaned against his spot by the door and folded his arms over his chest.
Maylee wasn’t fooled. A relaxed Ellis cocked his foot against the wall. That moment, he was wound tight and his hands clenche
d into fists.
That was one change she held by the horns. Ellis was ready to throw down. For her or just for the chance to fight, she wasn’t sure. She didn’t know if she wanted an answer, either.
Right then, she wanted to get Esme and get away from Sheila and all the rest.
Maylee firmly set the tray of glasses behind the bar. Jensen was already focused on Ellis, but she flicked her eyes toward the door when Wyatt turned to her. “Trouble,” she mouthed, then spun away toward the back door. She had a cub to protect.
No Dustin, please no Dustin.
She dodged couples and groups crowded around tables. She silently measured the feet between her and her target. She’d be safe behind that door. She could pick up Esme and make a run for it. Stay where they could find her? She’d already made that mistake.
Maylee pulled to a sudden stop as Sheila stepped in her path.
Sheila smiled cruelly. She’d never been a fan of the Henderson twins. She saw herself more suited to a place at Dustin’s side than Helena. Maylee would have gladly let them trade places.
“Maylee,” Sheila purred smugly. “Time’s up, girl. Dustin wants a word.”
Chapter 6
Ellis watched in slow motion as more bears streamed past him. Fuckers he’d beaten and warned away dared to show their faces in his pack’s territory.
Not only that, they made their way right for his mate.
Ellis pushed off the wall with a growl he wasn’t sure was meant for his inner wolf or the bastards stalking toward Maylee.
She’d been on his mind all night, and day, and night again. Hell, he’d barely been able to sleep without knowing she was safe. Even in his alpha’s den, the pressure of his wolf to check on her had been high enough to send him across town to check and recheck to make sure no one had snuck her away under their noses.
Like they were trying to do now.
She wasn’t his mate. Couldn’t be. Not after all the shit he’d done and the scum that still discolored his heart. But instincts to protect her rode him hard when others were after her.
They moved smart. Two went left, one went right. They didn’t even bring in their full crew, which meant more probably waited out in the parking lot. They kept their heads down and didn’t shove anyone aside. All the big dick bravado the night before vanished while they hunted. To anyone else, they were just other customers making their way through the bar.
The female blocked Maylee from hitting the door to the back, and the others took advantage of the little alcove set apart from the rest of the tables. They ringed in Maylee and snapped closed the trap as soon as they cleared the last set of chairs.
The loudmouth Vinnie took point. “Where’s the brat?” he demanded.
“I don’t know who you’re talking about.” Maylee tried to sidestep Sheila, but was blocked, then blocked again. Twin scents of fear and anger unfurled around her.
“We don’t need you, “ Greg snarled. “Hand over the cub, and you can be on your way.”
Maylee’s eyes flashed gold. “She belongs with me!”
“Where she ends up ain’t for you to decide, is it?” Sheila taunted. “That’s for her father.”
“It’ll go better for you if you leave peacefully,” Vinnie hissed.
Ellis rounded the last table. “Same goes for you,” he said in a voice thick with gravel.
The males whirled, but the female stayed right at Maylee’s back.
“Is this what you want, Maylee? More blood on your hands?”
“Fuck off, Sheila,” Maylee growled.
Wyatt appeared at his side, ready to even out the numbers if it came to a fight. His pack mate chucked, “Back for more? You fuckers look dumb, but I didn’t think you actually had shit for brains.”
Fuck. Wrong thing to say.
The three males snapped and lunged for Wyatt, who threw the first punch. Ellis waded into the shit with him, landing blows left and right on fuckers who’d already felt his fists.
His wolf scratched at the back of his skull. There was a reason they wouldn’t give up. Something that kept them on the hunt.
In the middle of it all, Maylee slammed a fist into Sheila’s gut and bolted for the back.
Ellis shot forward at Wyatt’s nod and blocked the other woman before she slipped inside. He clucked his tongue and pointed to the front door. “Out, now. And don’t come back again.”
He slipped into the back and slammed the door in her face, hoping he didn’t have to physically wrap her up in his arms and toss her into the parking lot.
Sharp quiet ballooned behind him. His wolf stayed at full attention. The beast prowled under his skin and scented the air, trying to make sense of something that bothered him. Something dangerous.
Ellis slowly turned around. Noelle held Esme in her arms. The cub babbled away and reached for Maylee, growing more frantic to get to her as one second ticked into the next. He dragged his gaze from the cub to the blonde woman staring straight at him.
That’s for her father.
The words ate at him. His wolf howled.
Everything he’d done the night before had been with one goal in mind—keep Maylee. Feeding her, the job offer. Fuck, he’d nearly offered up his own bed to give her somewhere to sleep. He’d sat outside Jensen’s den just to keep her near.
Illogical. Idiotic. And now it was blowing up in his face.
“Esme’s father isn’t in the picture?” Ellis growled, stomping forward. “Because it sure as hell sounded like he wanted his pup back.”
“You don’t have any idea what you’re talking about,” she snapped.
But didn’t deny.
“Then explain,” he ordered. Ellis straightened to his full height and stared hard at Maylee. “I need to know what you’ve brought to this pack’s doorstep. I need to know what’s truth and lies.”
“Ellis,” Noelle tried to cut in.
He held up a hand for her silence. Jensen was going to chew him out later for the disrespect, but he didn’t care. Assessing threats to the pack was his job.
His wolf howled in his middle and slashed at his insides while waves of disappointment whipped into a storm.
Fuck, this was a blessing in disguise, and all his inner beast could do was mourn for a loss that wasn’t theirs to claim. She wasn’t his mate. She wasn’t even his woman. Maylee and her child belonged to another.
She’d lied. Somewhere in her story, she’d told a lie, and he’d missed it. He’d endangered his pack because he didn’t pick up on the woman’s lies.
He’d let another pretty face pull the wool over his eyes.
“You want my advice?” he growled. “Fix it up with your mate and leave the cub out of your disputes.”
Her eyes flashed and red spread over her cheeks. “There you go again, talking about things you don’t understand.” Pure venom injected into her voice as she yanked down the collar of her shirt to reveal smooth, unscarred skin. “I don’t have a mate. I don’t want one. And you sure as hell don’t get to stand there and tell me what to do.”
She ripped her eyes from his and reached for Esme. With a gracious nod, she said, “Noelle, thank you. I’m sorry for dragging you into my mess.”
Then she spun on her heel, slung Esme’s diaper bag over her shoulder, and shot toward the back door.
His wolf ripped him apart, but he hardened himself to her disappearing. Wyatt still brawled on the other side of the door because of the trouble she brought with her. He couldn’t let that touch his pack.
He couldn’t let her touch his heart.
Not his. Not his. Someone else had a claim on her.
Except she hadn’t smelled like a lie.
She hadn’t the night before, either.
Noelle shot him a withering look and darted past him. “Maylee, wait! Let me at least give you a ride somewhere.”
Jensen pushed through the doors at that moment. His jaw set in a hard line. “The fuck?” he rumbled. “Where are they going? Why aren’t you with them?”
Ellis raised his hands. “You want me putting hands on your mate? Seems like the only way to stop her.”
Jensen’s eyes flashed as he made a noise in the back of his throat. “Fuck it. Put Wyatt back on the leash and make sure the place doesn’t burn down. I’ll get them back inside.”
Good fucking luck.
* * *
Ellis growled almost as loudly as his engine the whole trip from Dark Horse to the tiny motel located just outside of town, but when the alpha called, he obeyed.
Reluctantly.
Ellis pulled to a stop next to Jensen and gave him an update without asking. “A couple off-duties hauled in the ones from the bar, so they’re tied up until morning. The rest outside scattered.”
Jensen nodded. “You want to tell me what happened?”
Shit. He knew there would be more to the ordered meet than a simple update. Ellis regretted ever giving Jensen the idea that he could step up and be a great alpha.
“She lied.” He rolled his shoulders and cut his gaze away from the motel. He didn’t want to imagine her inside those walls, stretched out in bed. Alone, with someone else, both stabbed at him in predictably awful ways.
Jensen passed a hand down his face. “A big lie, or something to keep her safe?”
“Does that matter?”
“It might. Fuck, man. You saw those pricks. They’ve come after her twice now. Maybe she thought she’d be safer with whatever she told us. They didn’t exactly seem like the type to treat a woman well.”
Aw, fuck. Ellis worked his jaw. Tight-lipped woman living out of her car... And he’d basically told her to buck up and take her bruises.
Anger boiled in his veins. He wished he had another chance at the fuckers that had hurt Maylee. He didn’t give a fuck how high or low a person lived. No one laid hands on a woman in his book.
And he’d let his fucking past color what he saw. Lies. He couldn’t fucking handle lies and the betrayals they brought.
Bourbon and Bears: Book Three: Shifters and Sins Page 4