Maverick closed the distance between them, as he reached for the phone in her hand.
He knew she was about to call the police, a sensible choice for any rational person in her situation. But for him, getting caught was not an option—it would reveal everything he had worked to keep hidden.
"Why wouldn't I?" Melody shot back, her voice laced with disbelief, scoffing at what she saw as an absurd question.
"Because I saved your life," Maverick replied, the words spilling out in an attempt to justify his actions.
He hoped this revelation would make her hesitate and rethink, yet he underestimated her.
"Well, thank you" she drawled.
"But that doesn't mean you're a good guy. You should be in police custody along with your gang, not standing here trying to sweet-talk me." She retorted, her voice low and fierce.
Maverick raised a sardonic eyebrow, his interest piqued by her defiance. But his amusement faded as he glimpsed the screen of her phone.
To his horror, she had dialed the police, her finger hovering over the call button, ready to expose him.
Frustration bubbled within him, and as he reached out to seize the device, she swatted his hand away like a pesky fly.
"Hello, this is the police speaking. How can I help you?" The calm and professional voice of the officer on the other end wove through the tension.
"Hi. I have information about the robbery at the bank the other day. I stumbled upon one of those guys..." Her voice trailed off, as she cast a wary glance at Maverick.
But Maverick, to his surprise, didn't explode in anger. Instead, he remained annoyingly patient while his life and freedom was on the edge. Beneath the gravity of the situation, a strange sense of amusement flickered within him.
"Okay, what is your name and current location?" the police officer inquired, his tone unfaltering.
"Is this how you repay me for saving your life?" he asked in a low, almost desperate whisper, surprising himself.
Maverick could bolt away from there but he didn't. He couldn't, not when she had seen his face. If he did run away, posters of him flying around were bound to appear with some stupid ass drawing of him.
And he didn't want to kill her to bury his crimes. Not when she had struck a chord in him.
"Thank you, but you're still a danger to society. You need to be locked up," Melody responded smoothly.
Dangerous, yet she stood her ground, Maverick noted, intrigued by her lack of fear.
He could flee the scene, and escape into the night without looking back, but that was no longer an option. She had seen his face and had connected the dots from the bank to the figure that loomed before her.
They usually donned masks for their evil deeds, leaving their true identities hidden; however, tonight he stood unguarded, craving the cool night air against his skin after weeks of chaos.
"Miss?" The police officer's voice broke through the tension once more.
Melody's eyes darted back to the phone, determination etched on her features. "My name's Melody Brown and I stay at..." Her address hung in the air, but before she could finish, Maverick acted unexpectedly, his impulses overpowering any reason.
In one swift motion, he grasped her face, his lips crashing down on hers with an urgency that took them both by surprise. The phone slipped from her fingers, clattering to the ground, the officer's voice fading into a background hum.
Time seemed to stall. Melody froze, her mind racing—what just happened?
Maverick, too, felt a mixture of shock and turmoil welling within him. What had he done?
The kiss was impulsive, a mere brush of lips, yet it ignited something between them.
As his breath fanned across her cheeks, a wave of electricity coursed through her.
For 21 years, she had shielded her innocence— her body and heart.
And now, under the moonlight, this audacious gangster had stolen her first kiss, a crime more personal than any he had committed.
Why had he felt compelled to do this?
Melody demanded answers from her thoughts, her brown eyes locked onto his dark gaze, both astonished by the unexpected connection.
Where was her zapper? She thought frantically, wishing she could just shock him to reality for this madness.
Yet they stood there, suspended in disbelief, shocked by the uninvited spark of attraction that lingered between them.
His heart, so long dormant, began to thump with life, awakening at the touch of her lips.
Maverick realized, in that fleeting moment, that she was not just an ordinary woman—there was something so intriguing about her that he wanted to explore. From the instant he had pointed a gun at her, she had plagued his thoughts, refusing to fade from his mind.
"Miss?" The police officer continued, oblivious to the chaos unfolding on the other end.
Melody's brow furrowed in annoyance and he sensed it.
Maverick pulled away, crouching to retrieve the phone that lay abandoned on the ground.
"Miss?" The officer repeated, his tone edged with concern.
"I'm sorry, my girlfriend had quite a lot to drink; she lost it for a moment," Maverick blurted out, his words stumbling over one another as he hung up the call and tucked the phone safely into his pocket.
When he turned his gaze back to her, he saw the storm brewing in her expression, a mixture of confusion and anger brewing below the surface.
"Are you insane?" Melody shot at him the moment there was silence.
But was that even a question? They barely knew each other and he had the audacity to steal her first kiss!
And call her his girlfriend!?
This was nothing but madness!
Maverick shrugged nonchalantly, a smirk appearing across his lips. "Maybe I am," he retorted.
"And it's all because of you" The last part hung unspoken in his mind.
He strode toward her with a purposeful motion, each step heavy with intent.
Melody took a step back, retreating to the shadows as if seeking refuge from him. "You think I'd let you slip away after witnessing my true self?" he growled, his voice a low rumble, charged with menace.
"Even if I end up caught, I'll find my way back to you, and when I do, I'll make you pay."
A chill spiraled down Melody's spine, her heart thumping like a drum at the intensity of his gaze. "I'm doing this for your good," Maverick declared, the words spilling from him like an ironclad edict, a demand she was expected to obey.
"Death doesn't frighten me," Melody shot back defiantly, her voice unwavering.
Maverick's eyes narrowed, assessing her with a predatory gaze. "I can see that. It's clear that danger follows you like a shadow every time I see you." He let out a low chuckle, dark amusement dancing in his expression.
"But let me assure you, I'm quite good at dishing out threats and torment—"
"And I'm unfazed by that, too," she interrupted, unwavering.
Frustration simmered beneath the surface of Maverick's steely demeanor.
What could he possibly wield against someone who claimed to fear nothing, not even death? This girl exuded boldness, a daring glint in her eyes.
Momentarily, He straightened his spine, confidence radiating from him. "Let's put it this way," he began, his tone firm yet measured.
"You'll owe me for stepping in during those dangerous moments. The first time I intervened and saved you from those men, I required one thing: you must not call the police or try to reveal anything. As for the second time I put myself on the line for you, I want to take on the role of your bodyguard. I'll serve you without charge, but in return, all I ask is for a place to stay." He asserted, his eyes locking onto hers.