Chapter 9: Consequences

Maya didn't sleep at all that night. She lay in the spare room staring at the ceiling while her brain replayed everything that happened. The Vipers showing up. Dominic claimed her in front of everyone. That text message saying they knew she was his now. Every time she closed her eyes she saw the tall Viper with the shaved head smiling at her in Avery weird manner like she was prey.

Around four in the morning she gave up on sleep and grabbed her laptop. She had an essay due Friday that she hadn't even started yet. The assignment was about market analysis or supply chains or something equally boring that she couldn't make herself care about right now. How was she supposed to focus on homework when her life had turned into some kind of motorcycle gang drama?

She typed two sentences then deleted them. Typed three more then deleted those too. Her brain wouldn't cooperate. It kept circling back to Dominic and the way he'd looked at her when he said she was his. Like he meant it. Like it wasn't just a convenient lie to protect her.

That bothered Maya more than anything else. She could handle being claimed if it was purely strategic. A chess move in some game she didn't understand. But there had been something in Dominic's eyes that made her think maybe he actually wanted to claim her. Maybe he'd been looking for an excuse and the Vipers just gave him one.

She hated that thought. Hated how it made her stomach flutter. Hated that some part of her didn't mind belonging to him as much as she should.

Her phone buzzed with a text from Riley asking if she was alive and if they were still meeting for coffee before their nine o'clock class. Maya had completely forgotten about that. She texted back saying yes and started getting dressed in yesterday's clothes because she still hadn't gone back to her dorm to get fresh ones.

Dominic knocked on the door at seven with coffee and a bagel. "You look terrible."

"Good morning to you too." Maya took the coffee because she needed it more than her pride. "I didn't sleep."

"I could tell from the pacing. You were right above my room." Dominic leaned against the doorframe. "You want to talk about it?"

"About which part? The part where you claimed me without asking or the part where the Vipers sent another threatening text?"

"You got another text?" Dominic's face went hard. "When?"

"Last night after they left. They said they know I'm yours now which makes it more fun." Maya showed him her phone. "Whatever that means."

Dominic read the message and his jaw clenched. "They're trying to scare you. Make you second guess the protection."

"Well it's working." Maya took a bite of the bagel even though her stomach was in knots. "I can't live like this. Waiting for the next threat. Looking over my shoulder constantly. This isn't sustainable."

"It won't be forever. The Vipers will either accept the situation or they'll make a move. Either way it'll be over soon."

"And what happens to me after it's over?" Maya met his eyes. "Do I stop being yours? Does the claim just expire?"

Dominic was quiet for a moment too long. "We can talk about that when we get there."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only answer I have right now." He pushed off the doorframe. "You need a ride to campus?"

"I'm meeting Riley for coffee first. I'll catch the bus."

"You're not taking the bus. I'll drive you." Dominic pulled out his phone. "What time do you need to be there?"

"Eight thirty but seriously I can take the bus. I've been doing it for two years."

"That was before you were connected to the Iron Wolves." Dominic was already texting someone. "Now you've got a target on your back which means you don't go anywhere alone. Not until this situation is resolved."

Maya wanted to argue but she was too tired. She finished the bagel while Dominic coordinated her transportation like she was some kind of VIP. It felt wrong having someone else manage her schedule but she also knew he was right about the danger. The Vipers weren't going to forget about her just because she took the bus to school.

They left the clubhouse at eight with Dominic driving his truck and two prospects on motorcycles following them. Maya slumped in the passenger seat feeling like a prisoner being transported. This was her life now apparently. Constant supervision. Zero privacy. All because her bike broke down in the wrong neighborhood at the wrong time.

"Stop thinking so loud." Dominic glanced at her. "I can hear your brain spiraling from here."

"I'm not spiraling. I'm processing."

"You're spiraling." He turned onto the main road toward campus. "You do this thing where you get quiet and your jaw gets tight. It means you're overthinking."

"How would you know what I do? You've known me for less than a week."

"I pay attention." Dominic said it casual like it was obvious. "You also bite your thumbnail when you're stressed. You did it last night during the whole Viper situation."

Maya looked down at her thumb which did in fact have bite marks on it. She shoved her hand in her pocket. "That doesn't mean anything."

"It means I notice things about you." Dominic pulled into the campus parking lot. "Whether you want me to or not."

He parked near the student center where Maya was meeting Riley. The two prospects parked their bikes nearby trying to look casual but failing completely. Maya could already see students staring. Whispering. Pulling out their phones to take pictures or text their friends.

"This is going to be a disaster." Maya unbuckled her seatbelt. "Everyone's going to know I came here with you."

"They already know." Dominic nodded toward a group of girls openly gaping at his truck. "The whole campus probably knows by now. News travels fast in places like this."

"Great. Just what I needed." Maya grabbed her backpack. "Thanks for the ride I guess."

"Maya wait." Dominic touched her arm before she could open the door. "Be careful today. If anything feels wrong or if anyone approaches you about the club you text me immediately."

"I know. You've told me like six times."

"I'm telling you again because it's important." His hand was still on her arm warm and solid. "Promise me."

Maya looked at his face and saw genuine worry there. It made something in her chest feel tight. "I promise."

She got out of the truck before she could do something stupid like lean into his touch. The prospects watched her walk toward the student center without being obvious about it. She could feel eyes on her from every direction. Could hear whispers starting up as she passed different groups of students.

Riley was waiting inside at their usual table looking concerned. "Okay so what the hell is going on? I've gotten like fifteen texts this morning asking if you're really dating Dominic Blackwood."

"It's complicated." Maya collapsed into the chair across from her. "Can we not talk about it?"

"We absolutely cannot not talk about it." Riley leaned forward. "You've been radio silent since Sunday. You're wearing yesterday's clothes. You just showed up in Dominic's truck with motorcycle escorts. What am I supposed to think?"

"Think that my life is a complete mess and I'm barely holding it together." Maya buried her face in her hands. "I can't explain everything right now. Just trust that I'm handling it."

"Are you though? Because from here it looks like you're in way over your head." Riley's voice was gentle but firm. "Talk to me. Whatever's going on you don't have to deal with it alone."

Maya wanted to tell her everything. About the threatening texts. About the Vipers showing up at the clubhouse. About Dominic claiming her to keep her safe. But she couldn't drag Riley into this mess. Couldn't put another person at risk because of her problems.

"I'm fine." The lie tasted bitter. "I'm just dealing with some stuff related to my bike repair. It got complicated but it's under control."

"Does under control include dating the president of a motorcycle club?"

"I'm not dating him. It's fake."

"Fake how?" Riley's eyes narrowed. "Because those escorts outside don't look fake. And the way he was looking at you when you got out of his truck definitely didn't look fake."

"It's complicated." Maya repeated because she didn't have a better explanation. "Can we please just drop it? I have class in thirty minutes and I still haven't finished the reading."

Riley looked like she wanted to push harder but finally nodded. "Fine. But this conversation isn't over. Eventually you're going to tell me what's really happening."

They studied in silence for twenty minutes until Riley had to leave for her statistics class. Maya stayed behind trying to focus on her textbook but the words kept blurring together. She was exhausted. Scared. Overwhelmed by everything that had happened in the last few days.

"Maya Chen?" A voice interrupted her thoughts.

Maya looked up to find three girls standing by her table. She recognized them vaguely from around campus but didn't know their names. They were the type who always looked put together with expensive clothes and perfect makeup. The type who usually pretended Maya didn't exist.

"Yeah?" Maya kept her voice neutral.

"We just wanted to say hi." The blonde one smiled too bright. "We're in the same economics lecture. I'm Brittany."

"Okay." Maya waited for the other shoe to drop.

"We heard you're with Dominic Blackwood now." One of the brunettes practically vibrated with excitement. "That's so amazing. How did you guys meet?"

"We met through mutual friends." Maya gave the vaguest answer possible. "It's not really a big deal."

"Not a big deal?" Brittany laughed. "He's like the most eligible guy on campus. Everyone wants to date him."

"Good for everyone." Maya started packing up her stuff. "I really need to get to class."

"Wait we were hoping maybe you could introduce us." The third girl jumped in. "We're having a party this weekend at my sorority house. You should totally come. And bring Dominic obviously."

Maya stared at them trying to process what was happening. These girls had never spoken to her before. Had probably never even noticed her existence. Now they wanted to be best friends because they thought she could give them access to Dominic.

"I don't think so." Maya stood up and shouldered her backpack. "But thanks for the invitation."

"Are you sure? It's going to be really fun." Brittany touched Maya's arm. "And we'd love to get to know you better. We should totally hang out sometime."

"I'm pretty busy with school and work." Maya pulled her arm away. "Excuse me."

She walked away before they could say anything else. She could feel them staring after her. Could imagine them already texting their friends about how Maya Chen was stuck up now that she was dating Dominic Blackwood.

The rest of the morning was more of the same. People Maya had never talked to suddenly wanted to be her friend. Guys who usually ignored her tried to start conversations. Girls gave her dirty looks in the hallways. Everyone was talking about her. Speculating about how she landed Dominic. Debating whether it was real or if she was using him for money.

By lunchtime Maya wanted to scream. She found a quiet corner of the library and hid between the stacks trying to escape the constant attention. Her phone buzzed with texts from numbers she didn't recognize. Some asking if she was really with Dominic. Others calling her names. A few making threats.

She was deleting the fifth nasty message when someone sat down across from her. Maya looked up ready to tell whoever it was to leave her alone. Then she saw who it was and her stomach dropped.

Vanessa Sterling sat there looking perfect in designer everything with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"We need to talk." Vanessa's voice was sweet but Maya heard the threat underneath. "About you and Dominic."

"There's nothing to talk about." Maya started to stand but Vanessa grabbed her wrist.

"Sit down." The sweetness disappeared. "Unless you want me to make a scene right here in the library."

Maya hesitated then sat back down. She pulled her wrist away from Vanessa's grip and waited. Whatever was coming wouldn't be good.

"I'm going to give you one chance to walk away." Vanessa leaned forward. "Break up with Dominic. Tell everyone it was a mistake. Go back to being nobody. Do that and I won't make your life hell."

"And if I don't?"

"Then you'll find out what happens when you mess with things that don't belong to you." Vanessa's smile was cold. "Dominic is mine. We might be on a break right now but we always get back together. That's how it works. You're just a distraction. A novelty he'll get bored with in two weeks."

"If you're so sure he'll get bored then why do you care?" Maya met her eyes. "Why threaten me if I'm not actually a threat?"

Vanessa's smile faltered. "Because you don't belong in our world. You're a scholarship student who can barely afford to eat. You think Dominic's family is going to accept you? You think his father is going to let his son date some poor girl from nowhere?"

"I don't care what his family thinks." Maya kept her voice steady even though her hands were shaking under the table. "This has nothing to do with you."

"Everything about Dominic has to do with me." Vanessa stood up. "You've been warned. What happens next is your choice."

She walked away leaving Maya sitting there trying to process what just happened. Another threat. Another person telling her she didn't belong. Another reminder that her life had become completely unrecognizable in less than a week.

Maya's phone buzzed again. She looked down expecting another nasty text from a random number. Instead it was from Sophie.

Mom just called. She's in the hospital. You need to come home right now.