Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Hendrix
I couldn't get Maisie back to the house fast enough. I doubted she realized the potential for the threat but I refused to take any chances. Not until I knew what we were dealing with.
To her, Matthew was nothing more than her big brother. To the rest of the world, he was a cult leader. Until I could get her to take things seriously, I would need to keep a closer eye on things.
"If you want to throw your things in the bedroom, I'm going to call Mav."
"Matty would never hurt me."
I didn't want this to be something we fought about, so I agreed. "I know you believe that. I just want to let my team know what's going on since we’re looking into him."
Maisie nodded her head but I could see it in her eyes; she didn't believe me. I wasn't sure what else I could say considering my gut was telling me there was more to the note than just what it said.
I watched Maisie exit the room and pulled my cell phone out of my pocket. Mav, my boss, answered after two rings.
"I thought you didn't want to be disturbed tonight?"
I had said that as a “fuck you” on my way out of the office when my friends were harassing me about how I was handling the situation with Maisie. I was looking forward to one normal night with her but apparently the universe—or more accurately, her brother—had other plans.
"Yeah, I know but something came up."
"Let me guess, she decided to try locking you out again and finally managed to succeed, so now you're home alone crying into your Wheaties?"
"No, she's here with me, asshole, and of her own free will. Thank you very much."
"Then why the hell are you calling me and not enjoying your night?"
Everyone in Willow Creek thought Mav was so serious all the time, and maybe since starting the security business he was, but that wasn't always the case. My friend was almost as much of a ball buster as me.
"Maisie's brother broke into her apartment and left her a note."
I gave him a few seconds to express his displeasure. This version of Mav was the one I knew well. Not the stuffy guy he became.
"Did he threaten her?"
If it were anyone else getting this angry over what happened to my girl, I would be pissed. But it was Mav. He and Lex were two people that I knew had no interest in her. Lex had no interest in anyone, he barely tolerated us, and Mav was too focused on making sure the business succeeded to give any female a second look.
"Not exactly. It was simple. He wants us to back off digging into things. I think Maisie is more upset that he's in town and didn't see her than what the note said."
"I'll have Lex install cameras at her place ASAP."
And this was why I called Mav. He knew what I would want without even asking. Although I was curious.
"Lex?" Usually it was Nolen who handled our tech problems.
"He's getting antsy and we both know he doesn't sleep anyway. I'm worried he's going to go looking for trouble if I don't keep him busy."
"Has he said what made him decide to join us?"
I was so sure Lex would've opted not to come to Willow Creek. The man needed to be constantly busy and this small town was the opposite of that. Our current job was more like partial retirement than anything.
"Lex hasn't spoken to me about anything other than what jobs I need him to do. Not that I expected him to. He's a man of very few words."
That was the truth.
"Have him text me when it's done."
I hung up the phone and made my way to the bedroom. Maisie was sitting on the edge, staring at the note. She didn't even look up when I walked in and squatted down in front of her.
"Tell me what's going on in that head of yours?"
Still she didn't take her eyes off the crumpled piece of paper when she answered. "I wish he’d stuck around long enough for me to speak to him. Growing up we weren't allowed to have friends, so we only ever had each other. It's been hard staying away all these years but it's worse now that I know he was here in town."
I used the bed to push myself up and sat down next to her. She finally looked my way when the mattress dipped. A pool of unshed tears made her green eyes sparkle brighter.
I hated tears. I normally avoided them at all costs and seeing them in Maisie's eyes gutted me. I wanted to beat the shit out of her brother for the pain he was causing her.
I couldn't lie to her though. "I'm not sure what to do here. I want to protect you but also give you everything you want.”
"You think he's guilty."
It wasn't a question.
"I wouldn't say guilty because as far as I know, he hasn't committed a crime. Well, maybe getting rid of a body, but even that we don't know unless we talk to him. I know based on what Nolen found, it doesn't look good, but for your sake, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt."
I didn’t tack on that I’d also do anything to protect her even from her brother. That was a bridge we would cross if, and when, the time came.
She snuggled into my side. "He's always had my back. We didn't have a choice as kids, but it continued even when we did start spending time with other people. There was never a time I didn't doubt he would be there for me."
"And now?" I rubbed my hand up and down her arm.
Maisie sighed. "Now I can see why you guys don't trust him. I just wish you could meet him. I think you would change your mind."
Maybe she was right or maybe not, but I didn’t want to think about it right now.
“How about you let me make you feel good?”
I slowly leaned her back against the mattress, and when she didn’t protest, I started the thing I loved to do more than anything. Undressing her.
When I had us both naked, I propped a pillow under her ass and preceded to sit back on my haunches so I could watch as I leisurely entered her, allowing my piercing to bring a silent O to her mouth.
That night I made love to her, instead of our usual fucking, and it was clear I would spend the rest of my life with this woman, no matter what she wanted. I was too obsessed to have any other outcome.