CHAPTER NINE
JULIET
My spine turns to steel at the familiar voice, making everything inside of me freeze. I hate the sensation of panic that grips me tightly. It makes me feel helpless, and for a moment I’m paralyzed.
How did Brock find me? His eyes are locked on mine from across the gym before Maverick shifts over to block his view. Then all I can see is his broad, muscled back.
“Jewels,” Brock shouts loud enough for everyone to hear. The gym grows quiet as heads turn our way. I hate when he calls me that.
“You know Brock?” Maverick’s voice is low, but there’s an edge to it.
I swallow and nod. Clearly he knows him, so I take a step back from Maverick. His brows rise as he shifts to face me slightly.
When I first met my stepbrother Brock, he seemed nice and charming. It wasn’t until he tried to make a move and I turned him down that everything changed. He was angry and told me I’d been leading him on. He even said he’d done it because he pitied me.
A few days later he apologized and blamed it on his drinking. That’s how things went from then on. Each time, he grew more aggressive, and it felt like a ticking timebomb. It seemed like only a matter of time before he did something that would haunt me for the rest of my life.
My stepmother was no help either. In fact, she encouraged it and joked about us getting married.
She was always pushy about it, making it feel like anything but a joke.
What was even stranger was that she would openly fawn all over him when I was around.
It was creepy. At that point I knew she had no love for me, nor would she ever.
No matter what I did, she was always going to be a terrible person.
“Juliet,” Maverick says, his tone softer this time. His eyes search my face as he leans closer. “Did he touch you?”
I open my mouth, unsure how to respond to that, so I close it. Turns out I don’t have to respond because when Brock calls my name for a second time, it snaps Maverick’s attention back to him.
“Andersen,” Maverick shouts, Brock’s last name booming across the room. “You’re in my gym, and we’re about to have a fucking problem.”
Brock’s steps slow as he draws closer. He’s not in his normal slacks and button-down or a random polo.
Today he’s wearing a dark blue hoodie with sweatpants.
His blond hair is still neatly styled, so he must have come from the office.
Brock has the all-American look with his blue eyes and dimples, but he’s far from it.
His body is lean and not built thick like Maverick.
I can see why women are attracted to him; he’s handsome on the outside, but he just doesn’t do it for me.
I didn’t know I had a type until Maverick, but I’m so going to get the ick if they’re friends.
“Sorry, but my fiancée has been missing for a few weeks, and everyone’s been worried sick.”
I swear Maverick flinches when Brock calls me that. Fiancée? Why the hell would he call me that? As much as the question gives me pause, it doesn’t matter. There are more important ones that I need to ask.
“How did you find me?” I hate the slight crack of my voice. Is he going to call the police? Is he going to force me to go with him? Do I need to run farther away to be free of them? How far could I possibly go?
“I use this gym occasionally. It’s near my office.” Brock glances at Maverick quickly and then back at me. It’s quiet for a beat before Brock starts again. “You’ve had everyone worried. This little game is done.”
“It’s—it’s not a game.” I’m trying not to break down, but panic is climbing up my throat.
“Then you’ll come home.”
“You live together?” Maverick asks me, and I shake my head.
“Not really.” Brock stayed at the house sometimes. I’m pretty sure he has a place of his own somewhere.
“Come on, let’s go. Your mother is worried.”
“She’s not going anywhere with you,” Maverick tells him in a low growl.
I notice a few people step back, including Brock. He’s stopped walking toward us now and is still a good ten feet away from me.
“Listen, Mav, she’s—” Brock says.
“Maverick,” he corrects him, and Brock tries again.
“Maverick, you don’t know her. It’s best that she comes with me.” He makes it sound like there’s something wrong with me. Hell, maybe there is.
“It’s best you stop saying she’s going anywhere with you,” Maverick warns him. I really can’t tell if the two of them are friends or not.
“I didn’t want to have to say this, but she—”
“Don’t finish that fucking sentence.” Maverick cuts him off, not letting him spew a lie about me for all to hear. I’ve never been so grateful.
“Take him to the back office,” Maverick tells one of the other employees nearby.
“I’m not letting her out of my sight,” Brock announces.
“You don’t have that option,” Maverick informs him as he turns his full attention to Brock. “You either go to the office or you get the fuck out of my gym and never bring your ass back here.”
“Fine,” Brock agrees and glares at me.
Maverick steps in his line of sight before Brock is led away by the employee.
“We need to talk,” Maverick says, taking my hand and leading me into a nearby room. It’s empty except for a few treadmills. Once he closes the door and we’re alone, he speaks softly. “Hey, you okay?”
Instead of answering, I stare down at the floor, embarrassed.
It’s my first day on the job, and I’m causing problems. Maverick reaches out and touches me under my chin, so I lift my head to look at him.
When our eyes connect, his whole demeanor shifts.
I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s like he’s softened and isn’t so big and intimidating.
I know he’s still the same size, but somehow he feels less imposing.
“I’m not here to push you into telling me things you’re not ready to. All you have to do is tell me you don’t want him near you, and it’s done.”
“You’d pick me?” I ask, surprised by his willingness to follow my decision.
“Every time,” he answers without hesitation.
An unexpected rush of emotions presses down on my chest. I can’t remember a time when someone picked me over another person. Here Maverick is, practically a stranger, standing up for me and wanting me to feel safe.
“He’s a big part of why I ran,” I admit. “I’m scared of him.”
Maverick’s jaw visibly tightens before he nods in understanding. “I won’t let anyone hurt you. You’re safe here with me.”
“Thank you,” I say softly as I sink my teeth into my bottom lip. I don’t want to cry.
“Don’t thank me for that. I’m only doing what’s right.”
Before I know what’s happening, he pulls me in for a tight hug, and I bury my face in his chest. I didn’t know how badly I needed the hug until his arms are around me and I’m in his warmth. He smells of sandalwood and cotton, and it’s comforting in a way I’ve never felt before.
“I’ll get rid of him,” Maverick says, and I’m a little disappointed he has to stop hugging me to do it. I know I can’t hold on to him forever, so I let my arms fall away and step back. “Let me take you up to my office first.”
“Okay,” I agree.
When we walk out, his hand goes to my back, and he leads me across the gym. I expect people to stare, but they don’t. As soon as we’re at his office, he lets me go.
“I’ll be right back,” he says and starts to walk away.
“Maverick,” I say quickly, and he stops. “Brock might say I stole things, but it’s not true.”
“I know it’s not,” he says with utter certainty. “But it wouldn’t have mattered if you did.”
Another heavy weight that’s been sitting on my chest lifts, and I smile at him. Maverick winks at me before closing the door and leaving me alone in his office.
Then a thought occurs to me. Maverick thinks I’m engaged, or at least was at one time, to Brock.