Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
MAVERICK
“ H ey, you.”
Everly Woodrow’s words barely make it through the rioting in my skull. The roaring and chaotic murderous thoughts are so loud, it takes everything in me not to jump up and wrap my hands around that thin, fragile neck of hers.
Seeing her is like being struck by lightning.
The breath in my lungs disappears as they seize, and the pain that expands from the middle of my chest brings both a mind-blowing sense of disbelief and a heat so scorching I’m sure I’m going to erupt into flames.
Over the five years I’ve been here, I’ve done everything in my power to simply forget about this girl’s existence.
Her father and brother destroyed my life, my soul, and nearly decimated my sanity.
The Woodrow family is beyond evil, and I lump Everly into that lot.
But now I almost wish I had thought about her more, if only because it wouldn’t be like seeing a ghost.
Even in my shock, my eyes do a swift once-over, taking in the changes before me.
Little Evie is no longer little. Gone is the girl with the curly pixie cut, paint-covered overalls, and lanky arms and legs.
Now Everly has long, toned legs, a narrow waist, and tits that are just barely contained in the sundress she's thrown on—a strange outfit choice given her aversion to dresses when she was younger.
Everly's face has slimmed, which only enhances her large hazel eyes and full pouty lips.
Behind her hangs a dark curly mane that tumbles down her back like a turbulent river.
Half of it is pulled back in some deliberately messy bun-type thing, but it doesn't keep the shorter strands from framing her face and gently kissing her jawline.
Despite her being all grown up, there’s an air of something soft and unfettered by the harsh realities of life. I can’t quite put my finger on it. But it’s not like I try hard. I don’t give enough of a fuck about what it is.
Seeing her here, standing before me in that little sundress and all grown up, is like having someone stick a thick, fat finger into an open wound.
She’s a stark reminder that time, for all its stillness here at Serenity Falls, continues to pass by outside its walls.
It’s a shock to my system. The breath that threatens to escape my lips with a heavy grunt is due, in part, to the feeling of a steel-toed boot catching me right in the gut.
In the place where my heart once sat, something flutters.
It’s a phantom reaction due to seeing the girl I’d quietly yearned for while growing up.
How I’d longed to kiss the quiet, awkward little sister of my best friend.
Though two years younger than me, Everly never acted her age.
Soft-spoken, thoughtful, and sweet—being around her was grounding and peaceful.
Her painfully shy, timid demeanor was so different from the cocky, spoiled rich girls at school.
It called to me, and I ached to answer it.
To drag her into my body and show her how much I adored her.
Of course, I never indulged in the fantasy.
Peter would’ve thrown a fit. He was protective of his sister, and I cherished my friendship with him, and her, too much to jeopardize that.
It appears time has been good to her.
Admitting that makes me sick to my stomach. To find anything belonging to James Woodrow appealing makes me want to rip my eyes out of my head. It’s because Little Evie belongs to the man I despise that I’m able to shove away the shock.
James probably sent her here. It has been a while since he’s really tried to fuck with me. Maybe sending pretty Little Evie is his way to get under my skin.
“What the fuck do you want—” I glance down at her name tag and sneer “— Anastasia ?”
Briefly, I wonder at the fake name. The thought comes and goes, burning up in a wave of loathing for the Woodrow in front of me.
Everly's sweet, tentative smile falls away slowly. One hand comes up to grip the elbow of the opposite arm as she visibly swallows.
“I, ah…” She looks quickly over her shoulder, checking to see if we’re actually alone before stepping closer to me.
The trepidation on her face melts away and is replaced with something akin to regret.
“Maverick, I am so, so terribly sorry about this.” She waves a hand, indicating the room around us.
“I thought you were dead. That’s what Peter told everyone—that you died. ”
My teeth grind together. Peter came to Serenity Falls and told me the story he shared with everyone—including my parents.
According to him, we’d gotten drunk and headed out to the beach for a late night swim.
While his back was turned, I drowned and my body was carried out to sea, never to be found.
It was James, however, who came and told me later on, once the shock of my ‘death’ settled down, that he’d erased me from every database in the world. Outside Serenity Falls, I don’t exist anymore.
“If I knew you were here,” Everly continues, “I would never have allowed it.” Lowering her voice, she adds, “Now that I do know, I'm going to get you out.”
My harsh laughter is booming. Everly's brows furrow and her lips tilt into a frown.
“Good one,” I sneer when my laughter subsides. “Should I just jump up now and we can walk out together?”
Everly shakes her head. “No, I?—”
“Or do you think you can fit me into your tiny purse like a fucking chihuahua?” I ask, cutting her off. “Or is your plan to click your magical heels together three times and the two of us will teleport our way out of here?”
“Maverick, I?—”
I stand abruptly, my sudden movement causing Everly to gasp. I take a step toward her and lower myself so our faces are inches apart. Before she can jerk back, my hand shoots out and wraps around her throat. Beneath my fingers, I can feel her pulse jump.
How easy it would be to simply squeeze the life out of her right here and now. I bet her father would regret his decision to send her here then.
This close, I can see the flecks of gold in her hazel eyes as they widen while she stares up at me.
I have to give it to James. Seeing Everly is…
hard. I’ve pictured killing her family a million times over, including her.
I can easily envision her body on top of the pile of her family’s corpses.
But as I stare down at her, a small pang of homesickness echoes where my heart once used to sit.
Everly was the forgotten Woodrow child. Anyone who spared them any attention at all would know Peter was the golden child.
Her existence was only acknowledged when she accidentally crossed paths with her parents and they were in a mood to deal with her.
I witnessed, on more than one occasion, her parents looking right through her.
I suppose that’s changed now. Mr. Woodrow must’ve realized his daughter’s potential somewhere along the way and sunk his claws into her. Why else would she show up out of the blue? Is this a test? Is her father putting her up to this to see what she’s capable of?
Slowly, Everly’s hands rise. She grips the hand wrapped around her throat but doesn’t try to pry it away.
The familiar stubborn set of her jaw only irritates me.
So, she’s going to brave this storm, is she?
Clearly, she doesn’t sense the devil residing inside me.
The part of me that would gleefully shred the soul she houses.
Through clenched teeth, I growl, “Listen here, Everly.
I don't know what fucking game you're trying to play, but I'm not stupid enough to take the bait. So, go tell your father that whatever this is, it didn't work. And while you’re at it, tell Peter to go fuck himself. I hope he rots in the deepest, darkest pits of hell.”
“Father doesn’t know I’m here,” she replies softly. “And Peter, he’s… he’s dead.”
The news is a surprise though, for once, not a bad one. I don’t even bother wondering how it occurred. It doesn’t matter. A cruel smile spread across my lips at the news. “Is he now? How fucking wonderful . One less Woodrow in this world to deal with. Just a few more to go.”
Everly gasps in surprise at my words. It’s cut off with the tightening of my hand.
Her eyes widen further, and her nails momentarily dig into skin before they suddenly drop away. Without looking, she fumbles with her purse and yanks something out of it.
“Here, he left this behind.”
Out of my peripheral vision I see a thick off-white envelope she holds up for me to take.
Without directly looking at it, I use my free hand to pluck it out of hers.
The relief in her eyes is instantaneous, as if she thinks it will fix everything.
The hope is so bright I swear the gold flecks in them seem to glow.
Still holding her gaze, I lift the envelope up to my mouth, grab a corner with my teeth, and tear the card in two with a jerk of my head.
Everly’s hope blinks out of existence, just like that.
I smirk as I spit the half still in my mouth onto the floor while dropping the other. “Consider it read.”
Everly’s brows come together as she glares at me.
“Maverick Ronald Sutherfield, I swear I’m here of my own volition.
Father doesn’t know. I’ve taken every precaution to make sure he never does.
I’ve been planning your escape for months.
I have absolutely everything you’ll need to start fresh.
We need to discuss what needs to happen so you know?—”
My grip on her neck tightens to cut off her words.
“You spoiled, naive, stupid little girl,” I snarl, spit hitting her face. “The fact you showed up thinking I would jump at this opportunity only proves you’re a goddamn stupid cunt.”
My words vibrate as the tension and anger rushing through me intensify. I squeeze her throat tighter until her eyes flash with fear. Every minute in Everly’s presence is a painful reminder of what her father did to me. What her father is still trying to do to me.