Chapter 17 Maverick
MAVERICK
I kept my back to the boys as I got the beef ready for the stew I was preparing, but I had my full attention on them. Matty was showing Everett how to cut vegetables while chatting casually with him.
Everett seemed a lot more settled than he had been last night. Matty had made the right call in asking us not to pressure him for answers immediately. His shoulders were no longer glued to his ears, and he’d lost a bit of that wild look in his hazel eyes.
“Thank you for showing me how to do this,” Everett said in a quiet voice. “I used to bake with Mama before she died, but no one ever showed me how to chop vegetables. Mama was afraid to let me use the big knife. And then after, well . . . I was only allowed to work.”
I slammed the pot down on the stove with a little more force than I intended, causing both Everett and Matty to jump.
“Sorry,” I mumbled. Matty raised an eyebrow in question, but I dipped my head, letting him know I was fine.
I doubted he believed me, the kid was way too fucking perceptive, but he turned back to Everett anyway.
I barely knew the guy and I was ready to dig up his aunt and uncle and kill them again.
I shook my head, trying to get my shit together.
I was already taking this job too personally.
Like with Matty, there was something about Everett that had me latching onto him as more than a client.
“I didn’t learn until recently, too,” Matty added, tone light. “We always had chefs growing up, and at boarding school, there was a cafeteria that cooked our meals. I spent some time in Finland before moving here, and the guy I was living with, he, um, showed me some stuff.”
It amazed me how Matty could compartmentalize like that. The guy he’d lived with had eventually sold him off without a second thought, but Matty had brushed past that, only mentioning the positive. I guessed it made sense. I wasn’t sure Everett was ready to learn about that.
“Anyway,” Matty continued, “since I’ve been here, Maverick and Wes have taught me a lot.
I really like it. It’s relaxing.” Matty grinned, looking a lot more like the teenager he was than he typically did.
All these damn kids had to grow up too fast. “No matter what he says, don’t let Brooks cook.
Last time he tried, he forgot he was making spaghetti and nearly killed us all. ”
I snorted, though it wasn’t an exaggeration.
All the water had evaporated and the pasta had been a disgusting, charred mess glued to the bottom of the pot before the smoke detector had finally gone off and Luca had come in to investigate.
Brooks had been outside throwing knives, having completely forgotten he had been cooking.
“Really?” Poor Everett sounded kind of terrified. “Was he punished?”
Before I could even think about how to answer that, Matty responded, “Not the way you’re thinking. Trust me when I tell you that you do not want details about their relationship, but no one would ever hurt Brooks. Or any of us.” Matty’s voice dropped. “You’re safe here, Ev. I promise.”
Everett made a soft sound in the back of his throat, and it took everything in me not to turn around. I thought he had forgotten I was in the room, and I didn’t want to ruin the moment by reminding him.
The beef seasoned, I scraped it into the pan I had heating to sear it, trying to be as quiet as possible.
My mind was going in a million different directions, which was unusual for me.
I didn’t like it. I could understand why Brooks was often so unsettled if this was what his brain felt like all the fucking time.
It made me want to go find him, hug him, and then put him on his knees until his brain got quiet.
Tattooed arms wrapped around my waist. I relaxed, turning away from the stove to greet Brooks.
“Hey, brat. You psychic or something? I was just thinking about you.”
Brooks made an adorable face of confusion, his lips all pouty. I kissed them.
“Better have been good things. Or sexy things. That would be okay too.”
My eyes darted to the boys, who had finally finished cutting the veggies and were bringing them over to me so I could get them prepped. “Maybe a little bit of both,” I told Brooks before gently pulling away from him so I could take the cutting board from Matty.
“Thanks.” I looked at Everett, who was hanging back. “Do you want to add them to the beef?”
He chewed on his lip, contemplating like I had asked him to solve the nuclear crisis or some shit. “I’m allowed?”
“‘Course.” Matty handed Everett the tray of veggies with an encouraging smile. The kid’s hands were shaking as he grabbed it. He took very careful steps toward me and then waited for instructions.
I kept my voice soothing as I helped him add the veggies and walked him through seasoning and adding everything to the broth.
Every step, he did extremely carefully, mouthing along with my verbal list. Brooks and Matty hung back.
They were mostly quiet, but they occasionally ribbed each other good-naturedly while they let Everett take focus.
When Everett finished stirring and then put the lid on to simmer, I grinned at him.
“Look at that. You made your first stew.”
He fucking beamed, and it hit me in the heart.
A nineteen-year-old should not be this fucking excited to stir broth.
Matty had a complicated look on his face I was having a hard time deciphering.
He’d clearly latched onto Everett and was feeling very protective of him.
I understood the sentiment, though I wasn’t sure if Matty’s feelings were more than brotherly.
There was something in the way he looked at Everett that had me wondering if Matty was already developing a small crush on him.
I’d have to get Brooks or Skye to investigate because he would clam up if I asked him about it.
“That’s gonna take a while,” Matty said. “Do you wanna play some video games until it’s ready?”
“Yeah. As long as it’s okay?” Everett eyed me warily.
I wished I could tell what he was thinking, but I didn’t know him well enough to get a great read on him. He seemed to be mostly an open book, but while I could see he was clearly anxious, I didn’t know what it was that had him unsettled.
“Yep.” I wiped my hands on my pants. “This needs about an hour. If y’all want to come back around then, I can show you how to make garlic bread.”
Everett’s face lit up again, but then it fell. He looked down, subconsciously digging at a cuticle until Matty grabbed his hand.
“What’s going on, Everett? You can talk to us,” Matty encouraged.
“It’s just that you’ve all been so nice to me.
I’ve gotten to do so many things already.
I’ve played video games and pool and learned to cook, and Matty even said he’d teach me how to swim later.
But shouldn’t I be working? Mr. Charles said you’d all protect me so Mr. Verlice and the others couldn’t get me, but shouldn’t I be doing something to pay that back?
Plus the bed and the food and the clothes?
” He gestured to the sweats and T-shirt he was wearing.
They must’ve been Diego’s. They were a little big on him, but he was the only one whose clothes Everett could possibly fit in.
“I know I don’t get things for free. I have to work for or pay for them.
And I can!” he quickly added. The kid hadn’t taken a breath yet, his words falling over each other in his rush to get them out.
“I can help. I don’t have money now, but I know how to access Mr. Verlice’s.
Agent Stevens said it was blood money and that since it was my fault that Mr. Verlice had it in the first place, then it was only right that I get it.
But then Agent Stevens died and Mr. Charles and Agent Lester said he was full of shit, but I don’t know what that means. Then they died too.”
Everett sucked in a breath. He finally looked up, though he still didn’t meet my eyes.
He was holding Matty’s hand, though, tight enough that his fingertips were turning white from the grip.
Matty was a tough motherfucker and didn’t so much as flinch, already acting as Everett’s wall and supporting him.
I had a flash of pride for my adopted son.
He was such a good fucking kid. So many people would’ve shut down after everything he'd gone through or become bitter and mean. But Matty had never broken, never let the shit turn him into something he wasn’t.
Whether or not he had a crush on our newest client was irrelevant because he would protect anyone.
“Anyway, I know I don’t know a lot about how the world works, but I know I have to earn my keep.
And if you’re protecting me too? Mr. Charles said you usually get paid.
He wanted to work out a deal, but he’s not here anymore.
So, I can get you Mr. Verlice’s money and earn my keep.
I’m a hard worker, I promise. Whatever you need me to find, I can find it. ”
I felt Brooks take a step, so he was standing directly next to me.
His hand slid into mine, and I was grateful.
Otherwise, I’d probably punch a hole through the fucking wall and scare the shit out of Everett.
The kid didn’t deserve my anger, but every time he spoke, I got more pissed at the people who’d taken advantage of him.
I thought about my nieces and nephews. I loved them to pieces, and if anything ever happened to my siblings and I got custody of those kids, I would do everything in my power to keep them safe and show them love.
They wouldn’t need to prove they were worthy.