Chapter 13 Why Do You Care? #3
Maverick didn’t even wait to hear what he was saying.
He charged forward and drove his foot into the man's back.
The man stumbled forward, caught completely off guard. Only then did the others realize they had been surrounded. Maverick’s men moved in at once, cutting off every possible escape.
Maverick grabbed the nearest man and shoved him aside before rushing toward Rose.
He tore the blindfold from her eyes and freed her from the hands holding her.
The moment she was released, Rose sucked in a shaky breath of relief.
“Maverick!” she cried, throwing her arms around him.
He caught her immediately, pulling her tightly against his chest as his gaze swept over her.
“What did they do to you?” he demanded, his voice dangerously low.
Rose was breathing heavily, still shaken from everything that had happened. Her face was flushed, and then Maverick noticed the red marks across her cheek.
Handprints.
Someone had slapped her.
His entire expression changed.
His jaw tightened, and something vicious flashed through his eyes as he looked at the marks.
“What did they do to you?”
Rose immediately shook her head, trying to calm him.
“He just hit me a few times,” she whispered. “They were threatening to ra—”
Her voice faltered.
She swallowed hard, unable to force the rest of the words past her throat.
But Maverick understood enough.
His eyes darkened dangerously.
While his attention remained fixed on Rose, neither of them noticed one of the men breaking away from the others.
The man rushed toward Maverick from behind and swung a heavy brick into the back of his head.
Thud.
Rose screamed.
“Maverick!”
His body lurched forward, and Rose instinctively reached out to catch him as he staggered.
Her hand flew to the back of his head.
“Maverick!” she cried again, panic flooding her voice.
For a moment, he couldn't hear anything clearly.
A sharp ringing filled his ears, drowning out every other sound around him.
Maverick’s men immediately grabbed the man who had struck him and pinned him to the ground with brutal force. The sharp snap of his wrist breaking cut through the silence, followed by his scream.
Rose barely noticed.
She was too focused on Maverick.
She wrapped her arms around him in panic, her voice trembling as she looked up at him. “Maverick… are you okay? Please, tell me you’re okay.”
Maverick’s face fell against the curve of her neck as he took a slow breath, his arms tightening around her.
“I’m fine,” he muttered. “Give me a second.”
Rose carefully reached toward the back of his head, her fingers trembling as she checked the spot where he had been hit.
“You should see a doctor.”
“I will.”
He straightened slowly, and even as he got back on his feet, he refused to let go of her. His arm remained firmly around her wrist as he guided her toward the door.
Before leaving, Maverick turned his head toward his men, his expression turning cold.
“Find out who is behind this.”
His secretary, Leo, who had been standing nearby with the men who had entered the building, immediately stepped forward.
“Mr. Bishop, don't worry. I’ll take care of it. The driver is waiting downstairs, and I’ve already arranged for a doctor to come to your house to take care of Mrs. Bishop.”
Maverick didn’t wait for him to finish.
He simply pulled Rose along with him and headed down the stairs.
He didn't let go of her hand for even a second.
Once they reached the car, he helped her inside before climbing in beside her. Even on the drive home, his hand remained wrapped around hers, as though he needed to make sure she was really there and safe.
By the time they arrived home, the doctor was already waiting.
He examined Rose first, checking her injuries and making sure she hadn't suffered anything serious. After giving her some medicine, he advised her to rest.
The fear and exhaustion finally caught up with her.
Once she had calmed down, Rose eventually drifted off to sleep.
Only then did Maverick finally rise from his seat and walk out of the room.
Zoe was waiting in the living room. The moment she saw him, she stood up.
“How is she?” she asked anxiously. “Is she okay?”
“She’s fine,” Maverick replied. “The doctor gave her something to help her sleep.”
His expression remained grim as he looked at his sister.
“I need you to stay with her for a while. I have something to take care of.”
Zoe immediately nodded.
“Don’t worry. I’ll stay with her.”
Maverick gave a brief nod before turning around and walking out of the house.
His anger had been silent throughout the entire night.
Now, it was finally showing.
By the time he reached his car, Leo was already waiting beside it.
Maverick stopped. His expression didn't change, but something in his eyes became frighteningly still.
“Who was it?”
Leo answered at once.
“Augustus, Mr. Bishop.”
Maverick's jaw tightened.
“Take me to his house.”
His voice was dangerously quiet.
Leo had worked for him for years, and he couldn't remember the last time he had heard Maverick speak in that deathly calm tone.
It sent a chill down his spine.
“Yes, sir.”