Page 23 of Iron Rogues: Vol 1

Fritz nodded, his smug air firmly back in place. “You do that. Now, Molly and I are going to walk out to my car, nice and slow. Don’t make any sudden moves, or I’ll kill her.”

Dahlia was focused on the stalker, so she didn’t notice Fox come up behind her. His hand was over her mouth before she could make a sound, and he dragged her back to the driveway and around her car so she was shielded from the situation.

“There’s nowhere you can go that we won’t track your ass down and feed you a bullet,” Whiskey snarled from my left.

The distinctive roar of a Harley engine drowned out Fritz’s response and stole his focus. The second his eyes left me, I pulled the trigger.

The force of the bullet sent him reeling backward, and his heavy grip on Molly took her down with him. But the hand holding his pistol fell to his side, out of harm’s way.

“Molly!” My gaze swung in the direction of the newcomer, and I recognized Mac Mackenzie as he roared his daughter’s name.

I didn’t give him another thought. Molly was my only concern. Tucking my gun into the back of my pants, I ran toward her. Mac reached her first and held out his hand and helped her up.

“Don’t fucking touch her,” I growled.

I didn’t care if it was her fucking father. I was still reeling from the fear of losing the most important person in my life. The thought of anyone’s hands on her but mine sent me into a blind fury.

Molly didn’t even look at her dad. Her eyes were glued to mine, and she immediately released his hand before running the rest of the way to me and throwing herself into my arms.

12

MOLLY

“It’s okay, princess. I’ve got you,” Maverick murmured, stroking his palm down my spine.

I knew he’d been worried about the guy who’d sent me the flowers and stuff, but I’d just thought of him as a secret admirer. Not an actual stalker. I couldn’t have been more wrong and had almost paid for it with my life. “If you hadn’t been here…”

“You still would’ve been fine because my brothers would have made sure of it,” he growled, pressing me closer. “There couldn’t have been any other outcome. I can’t imagine my world without you in it. Nothing is ever gonna happen to you.”

“Fucking hell.”

My head jerked up at the familiar, deep voice. I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten that my dad was here. “Daddy,” I whispered, stepping away from Maverick to hug him.

His arms tightened around me as he rasped, “Shit. Fuck. Damn.”

“I know you came here because you’re not happy about me being with Maverick and were probably planning to try to drag me away from him, so I’m not super happy about that. But thank goodness for your timing because that could’ve been so bad if you hadn’t distracted my…my…stalker,” I babbled, tears streaming down my cheeks now that what had just happened was actually sinking in.

“You would’ve figured something out.” My dad brushed a kiss against the top of my head. “All those self-defense lessons the guys and I have given you over the years would have kicked in, and you would have found your chance and gotten away from the bastard.”

“Maybe,” I mumbled against his chest. “I heard your voice in my head the whole time, telling me to stay calm and not let my fear rule my decisions. To bide my time for the perfect opportunity.”

“So fucking proud of you, kiddo.” He patted me on the back. “Even with a gun to your head, you didn’t panic.”

“I knew Maverick would do whatever it took to make sure I was okay.”

“Yeah, I caught that.” I tilted my head back, but my dad’s gaze was locked over my head. “You’re not good enough for her.”

Pushing away from him, I heaved a deep sigh. “Seriously, Dad? Maverick just saved my life, and that’s the first thing you want to say to him?”

Maverick came to my side and wrapped his arm around my back. “Don’t worry, princess. I get where he’s coming from.”

I tilted my head back to gawk at him. “You just killed someone for me, and you don’t care that my dad is giving you a hard time about being with me instead of thanking you for what you had to do to keep me safe?”

“I don’t need your dad’s gratitude.” Cupping my cheek, he brushed his thumb over my bottom lip. “You standing here without a scratch on your perfect body is the only thing I need.”

“You got my gratitude anyway,” my dad muttered. “But it doesn’t change the fact that you’re not good enough for my daughter.”

Maverick’s hand clenched my waist as he replied, “I know, but she’s mine anyway.”