Chapter 2

I turned.

Maya stood in the doorway, but she wasn't the girl in the leather jacket anymore.

She’d changed into a black leather dress. Skin-tight. The V-neck plunged almost to her navel. The hem was dangerously high on her thighs.

This wasn't the Maya I knew.

"You… changed," I stammered.

"What? You don't like it?" She did a little spin, the leather skirt riding up even higher. "Thought I'd try a new look."

My eyes were glued to her.

Her body… I’d never noticed how sexy she was.

"It's… different."

"Catherine, for the last time, don't marry him."

Her words were like a splash of cold water.

"What?"

"Luciano Carbone is too dangerous." Maya walked toward me, her heels clicking sharply on the floor. "He’s killed people, Catherine. A lot of them."

"That's not news." I took a step back. "I know who he is. I know what his family does."

"You don't know shit," she hissed, her fingers digging into my arm like claws. "You watch movies and think you know the life? The reality is a thousand times uglier."

I shook her hand off. "We've had this conversation a million times. You fight with Luciano every time you see him."

Maya's face hardened.

She turned away, pissed at my reaction.

"May, wait." I went after her. "I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry... I know you're just worried about me. And I worry about you, too."

I bit my lip, then asked the question that was eating at me. "Are you seeing someone?"

Her whole body went stiff.

"Why do you ask?"

"No reason, just… a woman's intuition." I tried to sound casual. "If you are, I just hope you're being careful. Stay safe."

Maya spun around to face me, her green eyes burning with fury.

"Stay safe?" she repeated, as if the word was poison.

"I mean… if he's into... rougher stuff. You have to be safe."

"Rougher stuff?" Her voice got colder. "Like what?"

My face flushed. "You know what I mean."

Maya suddenly laughed, but the sound sent a chill down my spine.

"Catherine Sterling, the little princess." She stalked toward me. "You think I need your advice? You think I don't know how to handle a man?"

"I didn't—"

"Yes, you did!" she exploded. "Always the fucking saint, aren't you? St. Catherine, looking down on me from your ivory tower. Am I your pet project? Your charity case?"

"May, I never—"

"You can't stand it when I have something you don't, can you? A little fun, a little danger." Her eyes flashed with a dangerous light.

"I'm just worried about you!"

"Worried?" Maya sneered. "Catherine, you don't know the first thing about living. Your world is all pink roses and diamond engagement rings. Real passion, real danger—you wouldn't dare touch it."

Her words cut like a knife.

"I'm leaving."

"May, please—"

"Don't call me May!" she yelled. "I'm sick of your fake sympathy!"

"Maya!" I ran after her. "Don't be like this!"

But she was already out the door.

I heard the elevator doors open, then close.

Then, the roar of an engine.

Her Harley.

I rushed to the window and saw Maya tear into the night on that black beast.

Where was she going?

I remembered her mentioning it once. When she was upset, she’d go to an underground street racing club. In the industrial district in Brooklyn.

That kind of place… it was dangerous.

Especially for a woman dressed like that.

I grabbed my keys and ran out of the apartment.

Maya was my best friend.

Even though we just fought, even though she said all those hurtful things.

She saved my life.

Now, it was my turn to pull her back from the fire.

I texted Luciano that Maya had disappeared and I was worried.

Then, I found the club. I pushed open the heavy steel door and was hit by a wave of heat. Sweat, booze, and something else.

I scanned the crowd, searching for her.

Then I saw it. Her Harley, parked in a corner.

But Maya wasn't on it.

I pushed through the bodies, looking for her.

The music was so loud I could barely hear my own heartbeat.

And then I saw them.

In a dark corner, two figures tangled together.

Maya was slammed against the bike, her dress hiked high up her thighs, a man's hands all over her.

They were kissing wildly. The man spoke between kisses, his voice a low growl. "How’d you ditch Catherine to come see me?"

Maya, breathing heavily, kissed him back and laughed. "I just had to throw a little fit. The good little princess is probably at home right now, wringing her hands, worried sick about me."

My world stopped. The air left my lungs. My nails dug into my palms.

My fiancé. My best friend. Tangled together like animals.