Chapter 7: The Vipers Return

Maya had been working on the club's records for three days now and the mess was even worse than she'd initially thought. Whoever handled the books before her had apparently never heard of organization or basic filing systems. Receipts from two years ago were mixed with invoices from last week. Tax documents were placed between takeout menus. She found a birth certificate for someone named Tommy tucked inside a folder marked "brake pads."

It was Wednesday night and the clubhouse was quieter than usual. Most of the members had cleared out around eight leaving just a few guys watching TV in the main room. Maya appreciated the quiet because it let her focus without constant interruptions from Dominic who seemed to find a reason to check on her every thirty minutes.

She was sorting through a box of receipts when Sophie texted asking how things were going. Maya responded that everything was fine and she'd call tomorrow. She didn't mention the threatening texts or the fact that she was currently hiding out at a motorcycle club. Sophie worried enough without adding to it.

Her phone showed nine forty-five when she heard motorcycles pull up outside. The engines sounded different from the Iron Wolves bikes. Louder. Rougher. Maya's stomach tightened but she told herself it was probably nothing. Maybe someone visiting from another club or friends stopping by.

Then she heard voices in the main room. Angry voices.

Maya set down the receipts and moved closer to the office door. She knew she should stay away and mind her own business but that had never been her way of doing things. She opened the door slightly just enough to hear what was happening.

"We need to talk to Blackwood." The voice was rough and familiar. Maya recognized it from that first night when her bike broke down. The tall Viper with the shaved head and neck tattoos.

"Dom's not here right now." That was Jake speaking. His voice was calm but Maya heard the tension underneath it. "You want to leave a message?"

"Yeah, here's a message for him, make sure it gets to him. Tell him the Vipers don't appreciate being disrespected in our own territory."

"What disrespect?" Connor asked this time. "We haven't been anywhere near your territory."

"Really? Because last Friday night you were two blocks from our streets. Had six bikes and a truck. Rescued some girl who talked back to my boys and we don't accept being talked back at."

Maya's blood went cold and she froze out of fear. They were here because of her. Because Dominic and his club had helped her when her bike broke down. She pressed harder to the door than necessary trying to see through the crack without being seen.

"That was neutral ground." Jake's voice got harder. "You know that. The boundary line is three blocks east from where we were."

"Funny how the lines keep moving when it's convenient for you." The Viper laughed but there was no humor in it. "We're here about the girl. The one with the Kawasaki. Dark hair. Runs her mouth when she should keep it shut."

Maya's heart was beating fast now. She should have stayed in her dorm. Should have dealt with the scholarship issues on her own. Should have never gotten involved with any of these people. But it was too late for all that.

"Don't know who you're talking about." Jake was lying and everyone in the room probably knew it.

"Come on. Don't insult my intelligence. Your president gave her a ride home that night. We've got eyes all over this city. You think we don't notice when Iron Wolves start playing heroes?"

Maya heard chairs scraping and footsteps. Someone was moving around the room but she couldn't tell who. She wanted to step back from the door but she was still trying to hear every word.

"Even if we knew who you meant, which we don't, what's your point in coming here?" Connor asked.

"Our point is that the girl disrespected us. Talked back. Made us look weak in front of witnesses." The Viper's voice got louder. "In our world you don't let that slide. So we're here to have a conversation with her. Set things straight."

"Nobody's having a conversation with anyone." Jake's voice was steel now. "You need to leave."

"We'll leave when we're ready. First we want the girl."

Maya's hands were shaking. Part of her brain screamed at her to stay hidden in the office. Lock the door. Wait for this to blow over. But another part knew that wasn't an option. If the Vipers were here looking for her then hiding would only make things worse. And she wasn't the type to let other people fight her battles anyway.

She took a breath and opened the door wider. She could see the main room from the office. Five Vipers stood near the entrance. Jake and Connor blocked their path with two other Iron Wolves Maya didn't know by name. The TV was still on but nobody was watching it.

"She's not here." Jake said it flat like it was not something serious, like he was discussing the weather. "And even if she was, you wouldn't get near her."

"That's not very friendly." The tall Viper smiled and it made Maya's skin prickle. "We just want to talk. Clear up some misunderstandings. Make sure she knows how things work around here."

"She knows how things work here perfectly just fine."

"Does she? Because from where we're standing it looks like she thinks she can do whatever she wants with no consequences." The Viper took a step forward. "That's not how the world works sweetheart. Actions have consequences."

Maya realized with a jolt that he was talking to her. Somehow he knew she was listening. Or maybe he was just hoping she was. She stepped back from the door but it was too late. One of the other Vipers had seen the movement.

"There she is." He pointed at the office. "That's her right there."

Everything happened so fast after that. The Vipers moved toward the office. Jake and Connor moved to block them. Someone shoved someone else. Maya heard glass breaking and then shouting as the situation escalated from tense conversation to actual confrontation.

Maya backed away from the door but she knew she couldn't hide now. The Vipers had seen her which meant they knew for certain she was connected to the Iron Wolves. Running would make her look weak and she'd learned a long time ago that showing weakness to men like this was dangerous.

The door to the office opened and Maya found herself face to face with the tall Viper from that first night. Up close she could see a scar running through his left eyebrow and eyes that held no warmth at all.

"There you are, college girl." He smiled like they were old friends. "Been looking for you."

"Get away from her." Jake appeared behind him moving fast. "Now."

"Or what?" The Viper didn't turn around. He kept his eyes locked on Maya. "You're gonna start a war over some random girl? That seems stupid even for you."

"She's not random." The voice came from the doorway and Maya's stomach grumbled from shock. Dominic stood there still in his leather jacket like he'd just arrived at the club house. His face was calm but his eyes were not they, were fire. "And you need to step away from her right now."

The Viper finally turned to look at Dominic. "Blackwood. Good timing. We were just having a conversation with your new friend here."

"Conversation's over." Dominic walked into the office and the atmosphere changed immediately to something more tense than it was before. "You came to my clubhouse looking for trouble. You found it. Now you can leave before this gets ugly."

"Before it gets ugly? Brother it's already ugly." The Viper gestured at Maya. "You rescued this girl from my territory. Now she's hiding out here with your club. That looks a lot like you're claiming her as yours. That true?"

Maya opened her mouth to deny it but Dominic spoke first.

"What if it is?"

The room went completely silent. Maya stared at Dominic wondering if she'd heard him right. Jake and Connor exchanged glances. The other Vipers shifted positions like they were preparing for a fight.

"You're claiming her?" The tall Viper's smile disappeared. "Are you making this girl your old lady?"

Maya's brain couldn't process what was happening fast enough. Old lady. She knew what that meant in motorcycle club culture. It meant girlfriend. It meant protected. It meant belonging to someone. She'd read about it while researching the club's structure but she never thought it would apply to her.

"That's what I said." Dominic's voice was steady. He looked at Maya and something in his expression made her chest tight. "She's mine. Anyone who has a problem with her has a problem with me."

"Since when?" The Viper looked between them trying to find the lie. "Last week you were rolling solo. Now suddenly you've got an old lady? That's convenient timing."

"Timing doesn't matter." Dominic stepped closer to Maya without breaking eye contact with the Viper. "What matters is that she's under Iron Wolves protection now. Which means you and your boys need to leave. Immediately."

Maya knew she should say something. Should deny the claim or at least ask what Dominic thought he was doing. But her voice wouldn't work. She just stood there while her life moved further out of control.

The Viper studied them both for a long moment. Maya could see him calculating odds and consequences. Finally he stepped back toward the door.

"This isn't over Blackwood. You can't just claim every girl who wanders into trouble and expect us to back off." He pointed at Maya. "She disrespected us. That has consequences."

"The only consequence she's getting is my protection." Dominic moved to stand between Maya and the Vipers. "Now get out of my clubhouse before I make you leave."

The tall Viper looked like he wanted to argue but the other four were already backing toward the exit. He followed them out slowly, never taking his eyes off Dominic. Maya heard their bikes start up a minute later and then the roar of engines as they pulled out of the parking lot.

The silence after they left felt heavy. Maya became aware that every Iron Wolf in the room was staring at her. At her and Dominic. Waiting to see what would happen next.

"What the hell was that?" Maya found her voice finally. "You just told them I'm your old lady. You told them I belong to you."

"I kept you safe." Dominic turned to face her. "That's what that was."

"By claiming me like I'm some kind of property?" Maya's hands were shaking again but from anger now not fear. "You didn't even ask me."

"There wasn't time to ask. They were here for you Maya. They weren't going to leave without making their point."

"So you made a bigger point without thinking about what I wanted?" She could feel everyone watching them. Could feel the weight of what just happened settling onto her shoulders. "I'm not your old lady. We're not together. This is fake."

"It doesn't matter if it's fake or real." Dominic's jaw was tight. "In their world I just claimed you. That means you're protected. That means they can't touch you without going through me first."

"And what happens when they figure out it's not real?" Maya's voice got louder. "What happens when they realize you're lying?"

"Then we deal with it." Dominic looked tired suddenly. "But right now you're safe. That's what matters."

Maya wanted to keep arguing but she could see it was pointless. What was done was done. Dominic had claimed her in front of witnesses. The Vipers would spread that information and soon everyone in the city's motorcycle community would know that Maya Chen belonged to Dominic Blackwood.

Except she didn't belong to him. She didn't belong to anyone. She was her own person who made her own choices and she definitely hadn't chosen this.

"I need air." Maya pushed past Dominic toward the door. "I can't be here right now."

"Maya wait." Dominic followed her. "You can't just leave. It's not safe."

"Then what am I supposed to do? Stay here and pretend this is normal?" She stunned around to face him. "You just told everyone I'm yours. Do you understand what that means? What you just did?"

"I understand better than you think."

"Then why didn't you ask me first?" Her voice cracked. "Why didn't you give me a choice?"

Dominic opened his mouth to respond but before he could speak the front door crashed open. Everyone turned toward the sound. A younger guy Maya recognized from around the clubhouse ran in looking panicked.

"Dom we've got a problem." He was breathing hard like he'd been running. "Big problem."

"What kind of problem?" Dominic was already moving toward him.

"The Vipers didn't leave. They're still outside." The guy swallowed hard. "And they brought reinforcements. There's at least twenty bikes out there now. Maybe more."

Maya's stomach dropped. She looked at Dominic whose face had gone hard again.

"Get everyone inside." Dominic pulled out his phone already dialing. "Lock the doors. Nobody goes out there until I say so."

"What are they doing?" Jake appeared next to them. "Just sitting there?"

"No." The younger guy shook his head. "They're forming up. Getting organized. It looks like they're planning something."

Maya walked to the nearest window and looked out into the parking lot. Her heart stopped for a second. The guy wasn't exaggerating. At least twenty motorcycles were parked in formation blocking the exit. More were pulling in as she watched. The Vipers weren't just here to talk anymore.

They were here for war.

And it was all because of her.