Chapter 47
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
MAVERICK
N urses, orderlies, and security are pouring into the clearing.
Orders are being shouted, tasers are buzzing, and I know, if I look close enough, there are syringes ready to sedate the unruly patients.
Serenity Falls’ staff has one mission: get things under control.
Members from Rowan and Braum’s court are being taken down just as quickly as the Rookwell patients.
The indiscriminate way they’re going after everyone is only causing more panic.
But I don’t give a fuck about any of that as I charge headfirst into the woods where I saw Rowan take Everly.
“Mavie!”
I can hear Everly call to me. Despite not being able to see them, I know she’s close. Following her cries and strange giggling, I lengthen my stride.
The molten rage surging through my veins has my vision tinted red and my heart racing. I’ve been pushed to the limits of my sanity. I want to tear the kings to pieces for the shit they’ve put me and my girl through.
When I get my hands on Rowan, he’ll be the first to go. But I’ll make sure Braum is given his dues next. No doubt that he set this all up with Rowan.
Up ahead, I finally get a glimpse of Everly. She’s thrown over Rowan’s shoulder. The curly bun on top of her hair is slowly loosening with every jarring bounce. The sight of her spurs my legs to move faster. I’m only a few feet away when Rowan skids to a stop.
“Fuck!” he snaps.
I’m almost ready to pounce when a figure emerges from the darkness just in front of Rowan.
My feet come to a stop without me even realizing it.
It’s only when Rowan takes a step back, away from the man stalking toward him, that I realize Everly’s just within reach.
Yet I don’t immediately reach for her. I stare at the burly man with messy, reddish-brown hair and a dark, thick beard, who’s sporting a cocky grin.
He has to be in his late thirties, over six and a half feet tall, and a muscular physique.
I don’t know him… but at the same time there’s a nagging feeling in the back of my head that says I do.
“Well lookie, here. I came outside to get a bit of fresh air and I run into an old friend,” the man says, his voice gruff. He looks through Rowan as if he’s not even there. “How ya doin’ there, Rick?”
Rick. Not Vick. Not Maverick or Mavie. Rick . Memories roll in like a slow-moving fog. I can see this guy’s face hovering over mine. I can hear his voice reassuring me things will get better eventually and to hang on as long as possible.
As I stare at him, Rowan stiffens and Everly’s head pops up. She sees me and lets out a shrill sound of joy.
“Mavie!” She reaches out with one hand, keeping the other tucked into her chest.
Without taking my eyes off the man ahead of Rowan, I reach out and take her hand.
My mind races, trying to place his face but there are gaps in my memory.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why.
The only moments of time I lost were during my stint in Rookwell Tower.
And judging by this guy’s dark blue scrubs, that’s definitely where he’s just come from.
My stomach clenches with anticipation, not sure of what to expect.
As the man lifts his arms to cross them over his chest, I catch sight of a tattoo on the back of his hand. It’s a black and white cross with a rosary wrapped around it. Seeing it makes everything click into place.
“Saint?” I gasp.
“Ah, I knew you’d remember me!” Saint grins. “Last I saw ya, mate, you’d been a ravin’ madman. The doctors said they’d tossed you out like trash ‘cause you were all broken and shit, but I knew they were lyin’! You were too tough to break.”
A flash of metal in his mouth catches my attention and draws forth a crystal-clear memory.
“Got these bad boys when I was eighteen,” Saint says, laughing when I noticed his teeth for the first time.
He flashes me a grin, letting me get a good look at the long, metal, vampiric fangs in his mouth where his canines should be.
“Makes other men pause, ya see? No one wants to mess with a guy who will rip out his own teeth and replace them with the likes of these.”
There’s a sharp pang that follows the memory, as if my brain is being dragged through glass.
“They definitely broke me,” I admit.
Everly’s hand tightens around mine. “No, they didn’t. You’re here. You’re my Mavie!”
Saint’s gaze drops to Everly’s ass the moment she speaks. I growl at the same time Rowan twists so Everly’s butt isn’t pointed right at him. Saint grins.
“What’s going on here, mate?” he asks.
“Rowan drugged and kidnapped me!” Everly says before I can respond. “Mavie is trying to save me.”
Fuck . Rowan drugged her? I must’ve missed when that happened. What did he drug her with? And why? How long will it last? What happens if she has a bad trip?
Both of Saint’s brows rise as he finally takes a good look at Rowan. “You stealin’ my mate’s girl, huh?”
“Everly doesn’t belong to him,” Rowan snaps.
“Yes I do!” she chirps against his back.
I don’t take my eyes off Saint, but my mouth tugs into a small smile. “She’s right, she does.”
“Well then,” Saint drawls, taking a step toward Rowan as his arms drop to his side. “I can’t be havin’ you have your grubby hands all over my mate’s girl, now can I? Put her down and I’ll make sure you keep all your limbs.”
Rowan takes another step back. “As if I would let someone like you , with your grubby, filthy hands, ever touch my most prized treasure. Fuck off, psycho.”
Saint laughs, his body trembling under the booming sound. With Rowan distracted, I let go of Everly’s wrist and grab hold of her upper arms. With a hard tug, I yank her over his shoulder and into my arms. She hisses in pain as she collides with my chest.
“You’re hurt?” I ask her, ignoring Rowan as he whirls around to glare at me.
Saint lunges the moment Rowan’s back is to him. He moves so fast I don’t have time to process it or enjoy the thought of Rowan about to get his ass beat. But Saint never touches him.
“Rowan, look out!” Braum bursts from the trees and shoves Saint mid-lunge with a shout of warning to his friend.
Rowan spins back around in time to see Braum slam a fist into Saint’s jaw as the guy stumbles.
Saint laughs as his face jerks to the left.
Braum doesn’t even see Saint’s answering punch.
His fist flies so quickly through the air it’s a blur.
It smashes into Braum’s face. Rowan’s there before Braum even hits the ground, slamming his fist into Saint’s face with a snarl.
Saint responds by uppercutting Rowan, who tilts his head just in time to miss the knockout blow.
I don’t wait to see the rest. I tug Everly into my chest and as I turn, she throws an arm around my neck.
“Thanks, Saint!” I call out as I dart off into the woods.
Saint calls back with a laugh. “No problem, mate!”
I run faster than I’ve ever run before. Putting distance between us and everyone else here is imperative.
I bend and twist, making sure branches and thorns don’t touch Everly.
As I run, my thoughts race. Now would be the perfect opportunity to escape.
With Rookwell patients out and about, the staff in disarray as they try to corral them back into the building, and Rowan and Braum in the wind, there’s never been a better opportunity to bust out of Serenity Falls.
But which direction should I be running toward?
I try to see the map Everly had packed in my head, trying to recall where she’d indicated the place we’d have to be in order to escape.
Try as I might, however, I can’t remember where I need to go.
Dread pools in my gut. Even if I did remember, I’m so turned around I can’t even tell which direction I’m running right now.
“Maverick, I think Father is chasing us,” Everly whispers in horror before burying her face into my neck.
I shiver at the thought of seeing James Woodrow again. But I know he’s not here. James would never lower himself enough to chase someone down. He would just send his people after them and wait. This must be part of Everly’s trip.
“He’s not here, Everly,” I tell her. “I need you to focus. How do we get out of here?”
“Get out of here?” she repeats, confused.
“Yeah, we’re going to try to break out of Serenity Falls right now. Just the two of us.” Braum can fuck himself. It’s always been me and Everly. The two of us were meant to be. “But I need your help. Where did you come in at and where do we leave?” I huff out.
Everly lifts her head to look around. “Um… the waterfall. We have to get to the waterfall.”
I frown. “What? Why there?”
“Mavie,” she whispers excitedly, peering over my shoulder. “There are deer in the woods. I see two of them right now!”
I choke back a frustrated groan, it’s not her fault she’s tripping. “Evie, I know you’re not in your right mind, but I need you to elaborate on the waterfall bit.”
“We need the backpack. It has— ohmygod , Mavie! The deer are gaining on us. They have gold faces!” Everly gasps.
Fuck, I don’t have the backpack. The kings of Serenity Falls had sent Jonathan and Conner to kidnap me earlier in the evening, before I could get it back from Nolan.
Right, well, if we need the backpack, we need to get to Sortage Residence Hall.
There, I can meet up with Nolan, grab the bag, and head out. That shouldn’t take too long if we’re?—
I unexpectedly break through the trees and stumble onto campus, right in front of the White Stag Chapel. Damn it. This is the exact place I shouldn’t be with Everly.
The three, tall stained-glass windows situated in front of the building are glowing red thanks to whatever lights are on inside.