“Fuck you, Maddox.”

He grins, the fucker. “Anytime, honey.”

“I’m not changing, and you’re not my father, so you can’t fucking make me.”

His grin widens. “Can’t I?”

I take a step back. “This is sick—you know that, right? The control you think you have over me. I’m a grown woman, and I can do what I like.”

“You want this man to respect you?”

“What?”

He crosses his big arms across his chest. “I said, you want this fuckin’ man to respect you?”

“He already does.”

“Not in that fuckin’ dress he doesn’t.”

“You don’t know him!”

“Alec Ramas. Twenty-eight. Works for a massive chain of clubs. Married once. No kids.”

I gape, seriously gape. “You checked him out?”

“Of course I fuckin’ did. There ain’t no way I was lettin’ you out with a fucker I hadn’t checked out.”

He gives me a “ah derr” look. I splutter, before storming forward and getting in his face. “What gives you the right to do that?”

“You in my house?”

“That is beside the point.”

He leans in closer. “Are. You. In. My. House?”

“Yes!” I cry.

“Then it’s my fuckin’ rules. You want Alec to respect you? Then you don’t wear slutty dresses. You wear something so fuckin’ ugly he’s forced to see you and only you.”

“We don’t live in the fifties, Maddox.”

He smirks. “No, but men are still men.”

“Not all men are pigs like you. Not all men are after a bit of cheap pussy.”

“How will you know if you wear that dress? After all, he’ll be seein’ every part of you before you choose to show it to him. Just bend over and he’ll get a good view of what you-”

I shove him. “Don’t!”

He takes my hands and brings me close, so I’m flush against him. “Then go and get fuckin’ changed, now.”

We have a staring contest. He wins. I growl and shove back. “Fine, but I’m only doing it to prove to you that Alec is twenty times the man you are.”

He winks at me. “We’ll see, baby.”

“Fuck you.”

“Again, anytime.”

With another exasperated sound, I storm up the stairs.

Fucking bikers.

CHAPTER SIX

2014 – Santana

A knock sounds out, and my heart clenches. I’ve changed into a nicer halter dress that flows around my knees, and binds up a little tighter around my breasts. It’s dark blue with small white spots. It seems ugly on the rack, but when I’m wearing it, it’s lovely. I’ve left my hair down and kept the makeup.

I hurry as quickly as I can out of the room when I hear another knock. I already know Maddox will get it before me no matter what, but I can save poor Alec. I skid to a stop at the bottom of the stairs when I see Maddox standing, his large body filling the doorframe as he stares at Alec. God, he’s huge; he makes Alec look like a toy doll next to him.

Alec’s face is pale as Maddox squeezes his hand so hard his fingers are bunched together. Great, he’s going to break my date’s fingers before we even get two steps out the front door. “Alec,” I say quickly, shoving Maddox out of the way and forcing them to part. “I see you’ve met Maddox.”

Alec is rubbing his hand, his face twisted in pain. Maddox is grinning. I ignore him as I lean in and kiss Alec on the cheek. Maddox growls and I turn, giving him a sardonic smile. “I’ll see you later. Don’t wait up.”

“One thing before you go,” Maddox rumbles, his eyes pinning Alec. “You so much as lay a harmful hand on her, I’ll cut your balls off and shove them—”

“Maddox!” I protest.

“It’s okay,” Alec says, taking my hand and squeezing it. “Let him speak.”

“Smart man,” Maddox grunts. “As I was sayin’, you hurt her, I’ll make it hurt for you. She’s a big girl, she can take care of herself real good, but it don’t mean I won’t be there to back her up if I need to. And let me tell you somethin’, fucker—you don’t wanna see what I’ll do if that girl so much as comes home with a scratch.”

I stare at Maddox, surprised he’s actually admitted that I can take care of myself. I give him a half smile, and he throws one back at me. The way it changes his face from gorgeous to stunning slams into me. I turn away, cheeks pink. “Are you ready?” I ask Alec.

“I’m ready.”

I give Maddox one last stare and turn, following Alec to his car. He opens the door for me and I slide onto the brown leather seats. When he gets in, I turn and give him a smile. Alec is a good looking man—not the same kind of good looking that Maddox is, but very appealing. He’s got messy blond hair and big hazel eyes. His body is well-built but lean, and he’s always impeccably dressed.

“You look beautiful tonight, Santana,” he murmurs, leaning over and kissing me softly.

“You look pretty good yourself,” I say back.

“Are you ready?”

I nod, beaming. “I’m ready.”

Neither of us says anything about the rumble of Harley Davidsons that roar to life behind us. He knows they’re following me, I know they’re following me, and we both know there’s nothing that can be done about it. He pulls out and drives away from the house. I turn to him as we’re heading off down the road. “I’m sorry about Maddox.”