Chapter 34
Brielle
It doesn’t take long for the people we need to come to the ranch.
In fact, it isn’t only the sheriff that comes.
The state’s attorney general arrives by helicopter.
Maverick said all it took was a simple call from his father, and she didn’t think twice.
Apparently, they all go way back, and she’s more than happy to help Maverick with his omega.
The men went off to wrestle all the animals into their pens so she could land in the field.
I hold my hand over my eyes as I gaze up into the blue-orange sky. The sun is setting, but I’m not going to miss greeting the woman who can more than likely get me out of this mess. Wind whips around me, and Maverick’s fingers dig into my waist as he holds me.
It’s loud, and I have the sick satisfaction of knowing my parents watch us waiting on a helicopter to land.
They probably thought the ranch and Maverick’s family were people they could bully with their money.
And while I hate the idea of any money being spent to help me, they’ve reassured me that most of the time, this community helps their own.
When the chopper lands, my mouth drops open as the most stunning brunette climbs out.
“If we weren’t bonded, and I couldn’t feel you don’t have an attraction to her, I’d be so nasty right now. She’s the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen, and a lawyer? Double-murder. Actually, I’m questioning my sexuality right now.” I can’t shut up, suddenly nervous to meet her.
Maverick chuckles under his breath, shaking his head.
A man follows her out of the helicopter, a tall burly type, I assume her partner or bodyguard.
Someone who seems to be all bite and bark.
She flips her sunglasses off, pushing her windblown hair out of her face, and looks back at the man with a soft smile.
His hand rests on her hip as they walk toward us.
“Maverick, hi. How is your father doing?”
My grumpy cowboy scoffs. “Better than ever. He got a daughter. How are you, Poppy?”
Her emerald eyes slide to me, and Maverick holds me closer.
“No, not her—well, actually, we did get married, but I meant a real daughter. Fuck, I got a half sister now. This is Brielle, my wife.”
Poppy raises an eyebrow and then puts her hand on the arm of the man behind her. “Well, that’s a lot at once. Have you met Carr before?”
Maverick puts out his hand and they shake.
Carr nods at him before moving behind Poppy, still silent and stoic. She gives me a small smile. “Don’t mind his nonexistent manners. We have an omega at home that would freak out if he smelled another omega on him.”
I grin back. “I more than understand. I’m thankful you guys were able to come on short notice.”
She nods. “Of course. If it wasn’t for Levi, I wouldn’t have a career, or have gotten out of this small town.”
Maverick grunts. “You would have. You were always destined for more than just prom queen, Poppy.”
Carr lets out a chortle. “Prom queen?”
Poppy snaps her fingers in his face. “You keep that to yourself, or I won’t show you the photos.”
His mouth immediately shuts, and his hand flexes on her side. I look up at Maverick, knowing he must have thrown that in on purpose. He winks at me before clearing his throat and waves his hand toward the main house. “Let’s get inside and I can explain what’s going on.”
Poppy looks over the documents, a frown on her lips and deep V between her eyebrows. If I thought waiting for her to arrive was torture, sitting in silence, gathered in the living room while we watch her sort through the papers is double that.
Carr lounges next to her like a docile bodyguard with his feet kicked up on the table. I think he does it to seem relaxed. The sheriff is standing by the door and hasn't taken his eyes off him, as if he’s the problem here and not the snakes in designer brands across the field.
She sets the papers down and turns to me with a frown. “Did your parents have control of everything when you lived with them?”
I nod. “Everything.”
“So money, clothes, friends. I assume courting and your heat clinic choices?”
It’s embarrassing talking about all this out loud, but none of the men in the room should be surprised.
Carr seems like he could not care any less.
“Yeah, all of that. They didn’t like Kinsey as my friend, but since she never openly pushed me to defy them, they allowed it.
Thankfully, the omega academy had regulations in place for heats.
Once I was behind their doors, my parent’s wishes didn’t matter.
They didn’t get a choice in my partners. ”
Poppy gives me a sad smile. “Nice to know that some places still have a sense of decorum.”
“How does any of that matter?” Maverick asks.
She sighs. “They’re trying to establish a pattern that Brielle is unable to take care of herself.
I assume they’ll try to add that any marriage or bond should be annulled because she can’t consent.
” She holds up her hand when my men start to protest and shakes her head.
“I’m just telling you the facts. Put your emotions aside.
Tell me how you got to Brackenridge.” Poppy directs her question at me.
I glance at Maverick, and he gives me a reassuring smile. “My best friend, Kinsey, the one I told you about. She was leaving town to search for her dad. I wasn’t going to go with her, but…” I trail off, taking a deep breath.
Duke crosses his arms, his stare moving to the ceiling, and Maverick moves closer to me. Cooper silently watches, standing next to Duke.
“The morning she was leaving, I had a date with the pack my parents wanted me to keep courting, and they attacked me.” When I look up at Poppy, I shiver when I see Carr staring, his jaw tight.
Poppy frowns. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to go into details yet. Did you report the assault? Did you tell your parents?”
I shake my head. “No, neither.”
She looks over at Carr, and he shrugs. “Just need a date, time, and location. I can look into it.”
Poppy pinches his chin as she crinkles her nose. “And that’s why I keep you around.”
Carr doesn’t look amused, but it makes me smile until she faces me with a somber look.
“We might not be able to do anything about the assault, and if we can, that’s a separate issue.
I can file protection orders to keep them away, but it doesn’t correlate to your parents.
Tell me how you’ve been taking care of yourself while in town. ”
I understand what she’s saying, and most of me doesn’t care. I don’t care about them getting the justice they deserve as long as I never have to see them again.
“Kinsey and I got jobs at the local bar. We’ve been paying for a room at the inn.”
Poppy grins. “That’s great. It shows the capabilities that your parents are saying you lack. Any possibility that your boss can vouch for your work?”
“Tracy would do it in a heartbeat,” Maverick says.
My eyebrows furrow. “You sure? I don’t want to drag her into this mess.”
He reaches over, squeezing my hand gently.
“Tracy would do anything to protect any woman who needs it. You can ask her one day for her story, but she fought like hell to get away and does everything she can to have a place for others to land. It’s why she didn’t think twice about checking up on you two and where you came from. ”
I smile, tears pricking my eyes. I had gotten the feeling that Tracy helped us out because she knew we needed it and not so much because the bar needed the help. I wipe my fallen tears and clear my throat. “The people in this town have treated me better than my parents ever have.”
“Okay, so next order of business. I’m going to call up their lawyer, and you two are going to round up everyone that can speak on Brielle’s abilities.
And you,” she says, giving me a pointed look.
“You don’t leave this house. Legally, they currently have authority to take you home, and the sheriff can’t defy orders, even if he wants to.
If anything, it would probably help if you stayed in the station.
” Poppy raises her voice. Sheriff Jones rolls his eyes.
The door opens, and I turn around, expecting Maverick, and almost weep when I see a head of auburn come through.
I rush over, throwing my arms around Kinsey's shoulders. She squeezes me back just as hard.
“I came as soon as I could. Colt just heard, and then he wanted to make sure it was safe and all that.”
I pull back and give her a sad smile. “It’s okay. You have a pack now. I don’t expect you to come running every time my family has drama.”
“You’re still my family, pack or not,” she chastises, then she raises an eyebrow. “Plus, you married my brother. You are, by law, my sister.”
Laughing, I pull her back into another quick hug before guiding her to the living room where Maverick has lit a fire for me.
“If my parents have anything to do with it, I won’t be.”
Kinsey sits down next to me. “Colt told me that Maverick called in the state attorney. I think your parents don’t know the league they’re trying to play in. A different ballgame down here.”
“I hope so. I’ve never been as happy as I am now.
I refuse to go back, Kinsey. I don’t care what the courts say, I won’t go back.
” Relief courses through my body, finally admitting that out loud.
I don’t care what the decision comes to; I will never return to living under their roof.
And I believe that. I’ll disappear again, knowing my pack will follow me into the dark if we have to.
We’ll miss Brackenridge, but I know Cooper, Duke, and Maverick would leave it all behind for me.
I would do the same for them if they needed it, and that confirmation in my heart gives me the confidence to fully stand up to my parents.
“I know that,” she says with a sad smile, aware of my conviction.
Shouting and arguing outside has us both standing, and even Carr moves from where he was leaning against the counter in the kitchen.
“Stay here,” he says, moving to the front door and opening it.
My mother’s shrill voice carries over immediately. “I'll sue you! I’ll sue this whole town, we’ll bury you!”
I run over, and Carr moves aside just enough for me to peek through. Poppy and Maverick are on the porch, and two police cruisers are lit up, guiding my parents to their cars.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
Maverick looks over his shoulder before coming to grab me from Carr’s side. His arms wrap around my waist, as he turns to me to face them. “The judge threw it all out.”
I gasp and look over at Poppy. “It’s over?” Just like that? It doesn’t seem possible.
She nods, giving me a brief smile. “Yup. Handed it over to the local DA and got us on an emergency docket. Could smell the corruption a mile away. I’m going to be calling over next about the judge who even issued that load of bullshit.”
The relief that courses through me doesn’t feel real. It’s hard to imagine that I’m finally free of my parents forever, and I can live in peace. I look up at Maverick, tears in my eyes. “I can’t believe it.”
He kisses me gently. “I promise you, Brielle. No one will ever touch you again.”
Poppy clears her throat. “We should be able to get Duke’s charges dropped as well. The man is in a medical coma, but Carr found some footage that should have the pack running with their tails tucked.”
My heart sinks a little. “Footage of…that day?”
She nods. “Yes. If you want to see it, I’ll show you, or you can let us handle it.”
Maverick squeezes my side, and I melt into his body for a little support.
I give her a small smile. “I’m okay. I just want to move past all of it.
I just can’t believe it was there all along.
” That I could have obtained it, and my parents would be forced to believe me.
I wonder if it would have changed anything.
I shudder, not caring any longer. It doesn’t matter what my parents think anymore, and I never have to worry about them again.
I reach out, squeezing Poppy’s arm. “Thank you. I thought this would be a long, drawn out battle. I—just, thank you.”
She nods, turning to watch the scene my parents are still causing. “Believe me. I wish we could be doing more. People like that and the Westin pack deserve what’s coming for them.”
“Whatever you need, Poppy. Just let us know and we’ll help you,” Maverick rumbles behind me. “We can’t thank you enough.”
My eyes drift over to the yard, locking with my mother’s wild stare.
Her nostrils flare, and her jaw is tight as we watch each other.
There’s a coldness in them that I finally recognize, and it’s because I know what it’s like to gaze upon someone fully in love with you.
They may have birthed and raised me, but they didn’t care about me.
And as my lips pull into a smile, the last thread attaching me to them snaps, and I’m free.