Page 26 of Maverick
“You’re one of them.”
His voice was a sneer, like the very idea of it was repulsive to him.
“I amnotone of them. Do you know why,Maverick?My father was going to sell my virginity to one of his enemies just to save on a debt he owed. I hated him. I was glad when he was killed. My brother is different, but he’s still bound by stupid laws set up from our forefathers. I am not one of them. I want to get away from them. Everything I said to you was true. Hardy is trying to hurt me, to hurt Van, just because of the power of my last name.”
His rage was simmering down, but I could feel mine rising.
“You could have just asked me. Not once did you ask me anything.”
“You could have told me what you were running from.”
That was also true, but I wanted him to see how unruly he was being. “I am not part of the Ironborne by choice, and if it came down to choosing between you and them, I would choose the Sons, every day of the week.”
Maverick looked away, his hands on his hips, but the weariness was evident in his eyes. “Hardy is looking for you. Put a hit on you.”
Fear sliced through me in every direction. I knew he was capable of it, but I didn’t think he would.
“I’ll leave, take Van and go, I just need…to find my brother. He can spot me a couple of thousand.”
“No,” he said, with finality. “I’ve got a place you can hide out in. But you can’t have a phone, or any way to contact your family. You have to be silent, and hide out for a few days until I can get you out of here.”
My chest burned with anger and heartache, but I refused to let him see me cry. I nodded, moving to get Van, but he stopped. “Grab a few clothes from my drawers. I’ll get Van.”
I wanted to object; tell him that he was my son, but I also knew I felt erratic right now and I didn’t want Van to panic. I noddedand moved into his bedroom, a place that felt so foreign to me now, even though just an hour ago, I’d felt at home in it. Tears pricked at my eyes, but I pushed them back, holding onto my anger.
This was for the best.
Later, when the danger was over, when Van and I were free, I could explain. I could tell him what I lived through, all about my youth, about why I had started to attend the clubhouse parties, in the hopes of falling for a biker to piss my dad off.
I could tell him I wanted it to be him since the moment I saw him.
But right now, he needed to hate me, and I needed that too.
The house Maverick brought us to was in the suburbs of Jordan Springs. It was nice, a new modern home, and close to the park. Van was going to love it.
“Where are we?”
Maverick didn’t respond, which only made my anger return instantly. The entire ride over here, in a car I didn’t know he owned, he’d been quiet. That was okay, because I didn’t want to show him how much I was hurting. But now?
He got out of the car, and woke Van up, who looked up at him with a lazy smile, like he trusted him. Oh baby boy, how was I going to break your heart when I told you he wasn’t going to be coming around anymore?
Slowly, I followed behind him with the few items I took from his drawers so I could wear clothes, my heart pulling in different directions. A new found fear forming in my throat.
A woman came out of the house with a warm smile, as she took in my son, and then me. “Hi, I’m Mari.”
“Tavi.”
“And who is this handsome little man?” she asked.
“Van.”
“Well, you’re both very welcome, come on in.”
I nodded at her, unable to form any words. Maverick handed Van over to Mari who was heading inside with him. He blocked my path, his eyes looking everywhere but at me.
“It won’t be long.”
“Whatever, Maverick. You got what you wanted, didn’t you? A quick fuck, and now I’m gone.”
