Page 89 of Deserving Maisy
“Where’d you hide the stuff, Maisy?” Brick asked gently.
Pressing her lips together, Maisy turned away from the mess in the bathroom and headed for the window. Once upon a time, she’d loved to sit on the small window seather dad had made for her so she could read books comfortably while looking outside. The books that had sat lovingly for years on the small shelf under the seat were all destroyed now. Their pages ripped out, covers bent and stomped on. Paint poured over everything.
Maisy knelt on the floor and pushed some of the mess aside. She held her breath as she reached for the loose board. There was just enough room at one edge to get her fingernail under. She pulled it up—and heard Tiny swear when he saw nothing in the hole under the floor.
She simply grinned to herself and reached down. The hole was long, and she’d stuffed the evidence all the way back, out of sight, just in case someonedidfind her hidey-hole.
She didn’t realize how tense she’d been until her fingers brushed against the small bag she’d hidden back there. Sitting up, she pulled it out and held it up to the others.
“That it?” Brick asked.
She nodded.
“You sure?”
She nodded again.
“I’ll hold onto it for you,” Jack said, reaching for the small blue bag.
Without hesitation, Maisy let him take it from her. He stuffed it into a pocket on the vest he was wearing. She’d wondered why he’d packed it, because it didn’t seem like something he’d usually wear. Then she’d realized how handy it was when she saw the multiple pockets held things like knives, zip-ties, and other objects that could come in handy for a badass like her husband.
Bag secure, he held his hand down to help her up off the floor.
“The next step was to pack your things, but…” Brick’s voice faded as they all looked around the room.
Maisy was sad for a moment when she saw her favorite sweatpants covered in paint on the floor. The picture of cows she’d always loved, broken in half and also paint-splattered. All her belongings, destroyed.
But she took a deep breath. As she’d thought earlier, it was just stuff. Alaska and the other women had gone out of their way to make her feel comfortable and bought her so many cool clothing items. Jasna had drawn her a picture of Melba the cow to make her smile, and it was tacked to the wall back in Jack’s cabin.
Thankful that she’d put her mom’s ring, one of her dad’s handkerchiefs, and a picture of her parents in her hiding place months ago, for safekeeping, Maisy turned to Jack. “I don’t want anything from here. I have everything I need back at home.”
Home. People threw that word around without thought. She’d always done the same. But the thing was, a home wasn’t four walls and a roof. It was anyplace—or anyperson—that made you feel safe. And this house hadn’t been safe for years. Ever since her parents were killed. She hadn’t felt safe first because the person or people who’d shot her mom and dad were still on the loose. Then because of Jason. He’d made her life a living hell, and she’d been happy to lose herself in the fog of drugs to escape it.
Her home was wherever Jack was. It didn’t matter if it was in Washington, New Mexico, or the other side of the moon. As long as Jack was by her side, she was home.
“Right, then let’s get the hell out of here,” Brick said brusquely.
Jack once more took Maisy’s hand in his and theyfollowed Brick, with Tiny bringing up the rear as they headed out of her room and down the hall. They made it downstairs, but that’s when their luck ran out.
Jason was standing in the living room, and he looked up in surprise as Maisy and the others appeared.
“Well, well, well,” he drawled. “If it isn’t my baby sister and her husband, returning home.”
Maisy gaped. Jason lookedawful. His hair hadn’t been combed, brown tufts were sticking up all over his head. He hadn’t shaved in what had to be a few days, and she could smell his body odor from where she was standing across the room. He obviously hadn’t showered in quite a while, and his clothes hung off his gaunt-looking frame.
She was shocked by his appearance. Her brother had always prided himself on his looks. Now, he simply looked like a bum.
“Jason,” she said, not sure what else to say.
“I’m guessing since you’re here, that means you’ve completely fucked me over,” Jason said.
Maisy frowned. “What?”
“You did it, didn’t you? Signed the papers.”
Understanding dawned. “Yes.”
“You stole this house, and the money from my account too,” Jason accused.
