Chapter 42
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
EVERLY
E verything in me screams to run into Maverick’s embrace. God knows I’ve wanted to since I learned he was alive.
But while I’m thrilled to see Maverick, I know to be cautious now.
The last time I saw him was in the woods after he chased me through the Labyrinth as he screamed my name like a lunatic.
That night, Maverick had been trembling with poorly contained rage.
His gaze had gone in and out of focus, his body seemed to swell in size, and his parlor was pale with hints of red in his cheeks. He’d been unpredictable and dangerous.
Right now, his eyes are clear and his body is relatively relaxed. But who’s to say that can’t change in a blink of an eye? Dealing with Maverick is like approaching a wild animal—I don’t know whether I should play dead or run.
Conflicted, I just freeze.
“Evie.” Maverick takes a deliberately slow and measured step toward me.
When I don’t make a move to close the distance between us or run, Maverick takes another. And another. He comes to a stop directly in front of me, his shadow engulfing me. I have to tilt my head back to look up into his face.
Maverick doesn’t say anything right away.
Instead, he tilts his head sideways, his eyes locking in on the faded bruising around my neck first. I watch as they bounce from one fingerprint to the next.
When he’s done there, his gaze lowers. I follow it down to find light bruises on my wrists left by the rope Rowan used this morning.
Quickly, I pull my hands behind me and clasp them together.
Last night, I begged Braum to fuck me. This morning, I came undone between Rowan and Braum, feeling more alive than I have in a long time.
How can I possibly stand here before Maverick when I can still feel his enemies inside me?
I feel more like a traitor than his savior—as I originally intended to be.
I agreed to be a sex toy for them in exchange for protection from the staff while I tried to talk sense into Maverick.
This wasn’t for fun. It was a transaction, a repulsive and misogynistic one at that.
So where’s my disgust? Where’s the feeling of being violated?
Where’s the hatred I should have for them?
Right now all I feel is ashamed as Maverick studies their handiwork. But the rest…?
Is it all buried beneath the pretty words they whisper to me?
Are the promises of loving me or running away with me to save my life a beautiful veil that keeps me from seeing the ugly parts of the kings of Serenity Falls?
I can’t stand the thought that a few sweet words and a couple of orgasms are enough to turn me into putty.
Unfortunately, I’m afraid that’s exactly what’s happening.
But I can’t let myself lose focus. I’m not here for Rowan Underhill or Braum Milligan. I’m here for Maverick Sutherfield. If my bargain with the kings is what adds another strike against me in Maverick’s book… Well, there’s nothing I can do about that now.
“Are there more?” Maverick asks grimly, breaking the silence. “Bruises, I mean.”
I don’t want to admit to it, but I do with a shallow nod.
At the sight of it, something dark flashes in Maverick’s eyes, turning his steel gray orbs into a dark onyx.
I stiffen, not sure what to expect. Maverick notices my reaction; clocking it just as he had with the bruises.
The darkness fades instantly and his shoulders slump.
Slowly, he raises a hand and reaches for me.
“You don’t have to be scared of me,” Maverick assures me, his voice purposely low and his words spoken slowly. “I swear I’m completely in control of myself.”
His hand stops inches from me, allowing me to choose whether I want his touch. I wonder, as I lift my hand and place it in his, if there would be any situation where I would refuse the opportunity to touch him. Probably not. When it comes to Maverick, it seems I’m not quite sane.
Maverick’s relief is instantaneous. His shoulders slump further and he lets out a shaky sigh.
The next thing I know, he’s pulling me into his body.
I press my cheek against his hard chest and breathe in the smell of cheap bar soap and fabric softener.
Just like the rest of him, I don’t recognize the scent.
It’s not as familiar to me as his Axe Body Spray had been growing up.
Taking a deep breath, I attempt to etch this new smell to memory.
When Maverick’s arms wrap around me, something in me cracks open.
Tears well up for the second time today, but I refuse to let them fall.
There’s no reason to cry. I’m with Maverick again.
All is okay, at least for right now. Cautiously optimistic, I return the hug, reveling in his large, solid presence.
Wrapped in his arms, I feel safe. I know it’s a false sense of security, but it feels so good that I allow myself to pretend it’ll last forever.
“I’m so glad to see you,” he says.
Doubt kills the smile that had stretched across my face. The last time we talked, he’d made it clear he wasn’t interested in seeing me again. That and his absence the last couple of days have me wondering what this is all about.
Reluctantly, I drop my arms and force myself to pull away. Stepping back, I tilt my head up and meet his worried gaze. “What are you doing here? Is this one of Braum’s games?”
“No.” Maverick shakes his head, his mouth pressing into a tight line. “For once, I think Braum has good intentions.”
“And what intentions are those?” I think I already know, given my conversation with him. There’s a chance, though, that Braum is playing us or setting one of us up for failure. If that’s the case, I need to know if Maverick and I are on the same page.
“He wants to help you, I mean us —” Maverick corrects quickly, “—get out of here.”
I stare at him, confused. “I don’t understand. He mentioned leaving Serenity Falls with us but… Us ? There is no us, unless I misunderstood our last conversation?”
“You didn’t,” he interrupts sharply but seems to regret it because it’s followed by a wince. “Things have changed since then.”
Changed? I step backward, suspicious of this meeting. Quickly, I glance over my shoulder to see if Braum’s still there. He’s not. I guess he really did leave to give us privacy. I turn my attention back to Maverick, my head spinning.
“What are you saying?” Wrapping my arms around my waist to keep the dread from spilling out, I take another step back.
Maverick doesn’t move, watching me closely. His brows smash together before sliding upward, and his face pales.
“Don’t… don’t run from me, Evie. Please ,” he begs quietly.
“What’s going on, Maverick?” I ask. “Why are you and Braum working together? I thought you hated each other.”
Maverick heaves a sigh. “We do hate each other. We’ve put that on the back burner for the time being given the circumstances.”
When all I do is raise an inquisitive brow, Maverick pushes on.
“Your dad came looking for you, Evie, and when I wouldn’t tell him where I thought you’d be, he tried to get me thrown back into Rookwell Tower. Braum stepped in and saved me.” Maverick laughs dryly. “That’s the second time someone unexpected showed up to help me.”
He gives me a pointed look and a rueful smile. When I remain silent and don’t react, it falls away.
“Braum and I talked, and he told me things about himself, how he believes the people his family works for want you. He thinks your dad works for them too. He calls them?—”’
“The White Stag,” I interrupt quietly. “Yeah. He was just filling me in.”
Maverick nods slowly, his eyes never leaving my face.
“Braum wants us to work together to get you as far away as possible from here. After convincing me he was being genuine, we created a plan. I can’t let your dad get his hands on you, Everly.
The way he spoke about you… it was horrible.
I didn’t realize growing up that he used to strike you. ”
“Shut up, Mavie,” I hiss, my arms tightening around my waist. “I don’t want to talk about this with you. I know what Father did and certainly don’t want to rehash it.”
“But I didn’t know, Everly,” Maverick’s face twists in pain. “If Peter and I had, we would’ve?—”
“Peter did know! I made him promise not to tell you because if you got involved it would get so much worse.”
Maverick jerks back as if he’s been hit. “He knew ? And let it happen?”
“He couldn’t stop it,” I admit bitterly before turning away from the pity on his face. “What does this have to do with Braum, Maverick? Why does he think the three of us are leaving?”
“Because we are. The three of us are leaving Serenity Falls, Evie.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, blocking out the hope that threatens to take root. It tickles my heart and causes my breath to catch. Immediately, I exhale, not willing to let it do more than this to me.
“And it was Braum that talked you into this?” Of course it wasn’t me. I couldn’t do the one thing I set out to do—it had to be Braum to swoop in and convince Maverick to escape. Shame and self-loathing swell up. How could I have believed that I was capable of?—
“It had nothing to do with Braum,” Maverick declares, his voice dropping an octave.
His heavy footsteps warn me of his approach. My eyes fly open and my head whips around to find him coming to stand before me. He reaches out, grabs my arms, and peels them away from my torso. His hands slide down so he can take mine, then he gives them a gentle squeeze.