Page 39 of August 20

He was a dangerous man.

Strong.

Controlling.

Criminal.

Sexy.

The door opened. She stepped away from Maverick as her senses came back in full force.

The bikers left the house without a word. Maverick followed them outside, shutting the door behind him. Brooke turned to Skye to make sure she was okay, and her niece smiled at her as if weddings were her new favorite thing.

"Maverick says you're going to sleep in his bed." Skye swayed in front of her, holding Brooke's hand. "Can I sleep in there, too?"

She blinked, totally speechless. Her world had flipped upside down.

"What if I need you in the middle of the night?" asked Skye.

Her thoughts swirled. Their marriage was on paper only. She wasn't going to sleep with him. "Nothing is going to change—"

The door opened. Maverick strolled in, carrying a box. That was enough to distract Skye from the invasive questions that Brooke wanted to ignore.

"Did you get Aunt Brooke a wedding present?" Skye approached Maverick and tried to jump and see what was in the box. "Is it flowers? She likes flowers. She likes the ones with lots of petals."

"Skye." Brooke wanted to slip out of the room.

Today was not a day to celebrate. It was the worst day of her life.

She'd always imagined getting married to a man who loved her. Not to a man who had committed at least ten crimes to get her to say I Do.

"For you." Maverick motioned for Skye to sit.

"Me?" Her niece hurried to the couch. "What is it?"

Maverick cleared his throat and set the box on the coffee table, then he reached inside and pulled out a familiar black and white ball of fluff that meowed her hello.

"The baby kitty." Skye scooted to the edge of the couch. "Is it mine to keep?"

Maverick nodded and handed her the kitty. "Feed it. Clean its box."

"I will." Skye hugged the kitty to her chest. "Can I show it my room?"

He stepped out of the way and motioned for her to go. Skye ran off without a second thought. Everything was perfect in her world. Maverick had once again made all her little girl dreams come true.

Brooke's upper lip twitched. Skye was easily influenced by Maverick. Too easily.

She'd almost believe Skye remembered her father because she had a trusting attitude with him. An ease that would hint at familiarity.

But her niece was only four years old when the explosion happened, and she lost her parents. One to death and one to prison.

On the rare occasions, she talked about her mom and dad, she always talked in questions, as if she recalled memories someone had planted in her head and not experienced them herself.

Alone with Maverick, she wasted no time.

"This changes nothing." She pointed at him. "You don't hurt her."

He raised his brows. Even she knew he would never hurt Skye. He'd shown repeatedly that everything he'd done was for his daughter. But Brooke was not easily swayed.