They sped into the night.
Melody felt the rush of wind against her skin as she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, anchoring herself to him despite her initial reluctance.
These bikers were reckless, she mused inwardly, noting the amount of speed he was using. She was convinced that they were practically flying.
But how could she voice her concerns when this masked stranger had just pulled her from the clutches of horror?
As she inhaled, the scent of his jacket enveloped her senses—a captivating blend of leather and musk that hinted at a rugged masculinity.
His body felt undeniably solid beneath her touch, like someone who dedicated hours to physical training. His voice, deep and commanding, reverberated through her, striking a chord within her that she had never paused to contemplate until this very moment.
"Please, slow down here," Melody urged, sensing they were about to zoom past her apartment.
With a sharp twist of the throttle, he pulled over smoothly in front of her building. Melody dismounted the bike, her heart racing as she stood to the side, clutching her purse tightly.
"Thank you for coming to my aid," she murmured, her voice barely escaping her lips.
"Get going," he replied curtly, his deep timbre slicing through the stillness of the night and sending a shiver cascading down her spine.
As Melody turned to leave, he glanced in her direction, the helmet obscuring his features and the tinted visor shrouding his eyes. "Take care of your injury too" He said softly.
She swiveled, her lips parted in surprise as she gazed at the masked man in front of her.
Maverick's eyes narrowed at her, a fleeting gaze that caught sight of the silver chain resting against her collarbone, a detail that seemed to ignite a flicker of intrigue within him.
He also had a silver chain.
"I will, thank you," she managed, her gratitude lingering in the cool night air.
Maverick nodded before roaring off into the darkness.
She stood there, gazing until he disappeared from view.
Little did she know, he was the very person who had threatened her days before— disguised as her savior.
Maverick was no saint; he carried the weight of countless misdeeds he wished he could forget. Yet, witnessing her flee from those predators awoke something deep within him—a protective instinct he thought he had buried beneath layers of his hardened exterior.
It struck him as ironic that she had once stood defiantly in front of a gun; yet, in that moment, surrounded by a storm of menacing figures, she found herself powerless.
He couldn't blame her, there was no way she could take them down all at once.
The thought of what could've transpired gnawed at him, filling him with a simmering rage that made him clench his jaw tightly.
With nowhere to call home, and nowhere to belong, Maverick had wandered the streets until fate brought him to her in distress. And now he had dropped her off to her apartment and left to roam around once again.
Every dollar he earned from his dubious endeavors went toward the care of orphans like himself—never for indulgence or leisure.
****
Upon returning home, Melody was greeted by her aunt Nina, whose face was etched with worry. A police officer stood guard at the entrance, his presence a stark reminder of the night's earlier chaos.
"She's already here; you don't need to worry," Aunt Nina assured the officer, who nodded before making his way towards the opposite direction.
When Aunt Nina spotted her, her hand instinctively flew to her chest. "Oh, Melody! You almost gave me a heart attack! What happened to your phone? I've called and called…" Her words tumbled out in a rush, her breath catching as worry twisted her features.
Melody dashed to her side, wrapping her arms around her aunt to steady her as she struggled for breath. "My phone battery died," she explained, her heart aching for the fear she had caused. "I didn't mean to worry you."
Aunt Nina took a deep breath to compose herself. "I was terrified. You have no idea how desperately I fought the urge to faint," she chuckled, though the tension lingered in the air.
Melody gazed at her aunt, warmth flooding her heart at the profound love and care in her eyes.
She pulled her into a tight embrace, pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "How did you get here, did you walk?" Aunt Nina asked, concern knitting her brow.
Melody hesitated, the truth weighing heavily on her tongue, but she kept the dangerous encounter buried. "Someone picked me up and brought me here."
"Someone?" Aunt Nina's eyes narrowed skeptically. "Do we still have good people in this city? That's unbelievable."
Melody laughed softly. "I guess so. I was terrified too, but I didn't have much choice. I couldn't just stay there waiting."
"I'm sorry for making you wait, dear. I called someone, but unfortunately, my calls went unanswered," her aunt replied, disappointment shadowing her voice.
"This night is just cursed," Melody mused inwardly, the weight of the evening pressing down on her.
"I'm not even in the mood for a celebration anymore," she admitted, turning to her aunt. "I can't eat; I just need to rest."
Aunt Nina opened her mouth to protest, her heart heavy with the anticipation of a joyful evening that had slipped away. But looking at Melody's weary face, she nodded in reluctant agreement. "Go and rest, dear. If you need anything, just call for me."
"Sure," Melody replied, her voice tinged with a mixture of resignation and fatigue.
She slipped into her room, the door clicking shut behind her.
Leaning against the door, she let out a heavy sigh, only to grimace as a sharp twinge shot through her bruised elbow and leg.
Thank goodness her aunt hadn't caught sight of those injuries; the last thing she needed was another round of her aunt's incessant nagging.
After a quick shower, she wrapped herself in a soft towel and sank onto her bed, the fabric cool against her skin.
She began to clean her wounds, the sting of antiseptic pulling her back to the present. As she carefully wiped away the remnants of the day's chaos and bandaged her injuries, her mind wandered to the enigmatic biker who had crossed her path.
Could there truly be good people in the country?
Thank God she saw him right on time, otherwise what could have happened to her on this cursed night?