Chapter 40
Chapter forty
My eyes crack open to a dimly lit room, and I wait for my fuzzy vision to clear. Looking around, I realize that I’m in my bedroom back at my uncle’s house. A lump forms in my throat and tears well in my eyes when I realize that I’m safe. The relief is quickly dashed when I recall Preston’s words.
He sent someone after Maverick. I need to call him. I need to…
Struggling to sit up, I move to push the blanket off of me when I feel a large, warm hand gently grip my arm.
“Woah, where you going, Sweetheart? Take it easy.” Large, tattoo-covered hands gently cup my face, and sage green eyes slide into my line of sight.
The bed dips under his weight, and relief crashes into me like a tidal wave.
Tears spill over my lashes and a broken sob escapes my lips.
Flinging myself at him, I wrap my arms around his neck and hold onto him as if it’s the last time I’ll ever get the chance.
“Shh.” He coos. “I’ve got you. I’m right here.” He holds me tightly and buries his face into my hair.
“He told me he sent someone to kill you.” I choke out. “I thought you were dead.”
“He did, and they tried. But not hard enough.” He whispers into my hair. “They would have to do a whole lot more than that to keep me away from you, Sweetheart.” My sobs become louder, but Maverick just holds me and waits for them to subside before he speaks again.
“How are you feeling?” He asks and pulls back to look at me.
“My head feels like it’s been split open, and I’m thirsty, but otherwise I’m okay. How long have I been out?” I ask.
“You’ve been in and out for about twelve hours. The doctor gave you some pain medication which helped you stay asleep, but you need to take it easy. You have a bad concussion.” He tells me and I wipe the tears from my cheeks.
“Is that all that he found?” I ask. He shakes his head.
“Your skull has evidence of numerous healed skull fractures, as well as a couple new ones.” He says and searches my eyes. My heart lurches into my throat, knowing that I can’t hide anything from him any more. I swallow and look down, then knot my fingers on my lap. I nod and take in a deep breath.
“Eyes, Sweetheart.” Maverick whispers, then lifts my chin with his finger. My eyes fill with tears when I look back at him. “I’m not going anywhere. Tell me.”
Blowing out a breath, I nod my head then begin to tell Maverick everything.
What happened to my parents, living with Uncle Nick, meeting Preston, and every dark detail of my past. It’s painful to tell him everything, and I can see the rage behind his eyes when I recount the abuse and isolation I experienced, but he remains silent–allowing me to tell my story without interruption.
“No one will ever hurt you again, Raven. I will kill anyone who even thinks of hurting you in any way. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to protect you.
I will never let that happen again.” He tells me when I’m finished, and cups my cheek.
Leaning into his touch, I close my eyes, reveling in the fact that he’s here, and he’s safe.
“I love you, Parker. I swear to you I will protect you with my life.” Maverick confesses and my heart slams into my ribcage. I know wholeheartedly that he means every word.
“I love you, too.” I say softly. And I do.
I love him in a way I never thought was possible.
Maverick Cain is everything I didn’t know I needed in a man, and I can no longer be without.
He came out of nowhere and captivated me, consumed me, and made me feel alive again.
Every fiber of my being screams to be his.
He leans forward and presses a long, gentle kiss to my lips, then pulls back to smile at me.
“Come on, let’s lay down. You need to rest a little more.” He says and climbs up the mattress to lay down next to me. I wrap my arms around his waist, and rest my head on his chest. With Maverick’s heart beat as my lullaby, I drift back into a deep sleep.
It’s been two weeks since Maverick, Karson and Uncle Nick found me.
We’re still in Rhode Island–Maverick doesn’t want to get me on a plane until he knows that I’m fully healed and ready to head back to Oregon.
Today is that day. The headaches and dizziness have finally subsided and the foggy state I’ve been living in has lifted.
They told me that Preston brought me to our old house, and they’ve learned that he was going to take me somewhere else.
A car was set to come and get us the same day they found me.
Thankfully, they wasted no time, arriving at the house just a few hours before that car was supposed to arrive.
Nick had one of his men waiting at the house for the driver and when he arrived, he was killed quickly.
Who knows what Preston would have done in those few hours.
After telling Maverick everything that had happened to me, I decided to tell my uncle as well.
He didn’t deserve to go the rest of his life thinking I didn’t want him in mine anymore; he deserved to know the truth.
We cried, hugged, and he apologized for not seeing the signs sooner.
How could he? I always protected Preston, and then I wasn’t able to get away.
Nick, Marie and I have spent most nights staying up late watching movies like we used to, and Maverick has joined us for all of them.
Karson is still here as well, but he spends most of his time down in the tunnels where Preston still sits.
He comes in the house for meals, then disappears again.
I don’t need to ask to know that he’s making Preston’s life agony for the time being, and while the thought should make me uncomfortable, it doesn’t–I’m grateful.
Leaves crunch under my shoes with each step I make and a cold wind whips through the trees and brushes across my face. Coming to a stop, I release a shaky breath as I look down at the marble head stone in front of me and trace my fingers across the names.
Moretti
Anthony and Tanya
“I miss you so much.” I whisper and drop to my knees in front of my parents’ final resting place.
Visions of their last day plague my mind, and I lower my head.
To know what actually happened that day has filled a hole in my chest that I have carried since I was twelve.
I take a deep breath, and slide my eyes over to the large, cross shaped monument directly to the right of their graves.
It stands about eight feet tall, and has an angel with outstretched arms engraved at the top of the cross.
My eyes trail down the beautiful granite to the base, and the tears fall to the ground like rain.
Elizabeth Ann Moretti
Beloved daughter and niece
1996-2023
It is so strange to see a grave with my name on it. Reaching out, I brush my fingers along the lettering, and let out a silent sob. Fallen leaves rustle with the sound of footsteps, and I feel his large hands wrap gently around my shoulders.
“Are you okay, Sweetheart?” Maverick whispers, his warm breaths tickling my ear. Nodding, I look over my shoulder to see him crouched behind me. A soft, sympathetic smile pulls at his lips.
“I’m okay.” I nod, then sniff as I stand back up. “It’s just strange to see. I’m still here, but seeing this really puts into perspective just how much had to happen to be able to say that.” I say and he wraps his arms around my waist from behind.
“I can’t even imagine.” He says softly and we both stare at the cross. His voice breaks the silence after a moment.
“So, do you want to be Elizabeth again? It is the name your parents gave you.” I think for a moment, then shake my head.
“No. Elizabeth died in that house. Little by little over time, she died. So, as strange as it is to see, this is a memorial for the me who never got the chance to really live.” A lump forms in my throat, and I swallow it down.
“I haven’t been Lizzy for a long time.” I finish with a whisper.
Maverick tightens his arms around me, and drops a kiss to the side of my neck.
We stay for a little while longer, before I gently place the Calla Lilies in my left hand on my parents headstone.
They were Moms favorite, and Dad brought her some everyday after work.
Maverick steps out from behind me, and drops a single black rose at the base of Elizabeth’s memorial.
“Black?” I ask with my eyebrows pulled together.
“They represent strength, rebirth, and transformation. They also represent a final farewell. Lizzy’s death was the birth of Parker.
A strong, courageous and brilliant woman.
The woman I fell in love with.” My heart swells as he steps up to me and grabs my face in both of his hands, tipping my head up to look into his green eyes.
I smile, then raise on my tiptoes to touch my lips to his.
He kisses me long and slow, then touches his forehead to mine when we part.
“Are you ready?” He whispers and I nod. Lacing my fingers with his, we walk back over to the car where George and Uncle Nick wait for us. We slide in the back seat, and ride back to my uncles in silence, fingers still laced.
It’s time to finish this for good.