Page 31 of Maverick

I could barely sleep because my thoughts kept going back to Ruby and the sadness in her eyes. Sadness that I put there, however unintentionally. Mabel was still furious with me because, according to her, I hadn’t done enough to convince Ruby to stay. She wasn’t wrong, I hadn’t because I still wasn’t sure that her staying was the right thing.

No, that’s wrong, I knew it wasn’t. But that didn’t mean I felt good about it.

I didn’t want to think about Ruby out there running from someone who hurt her, Sophie either, but I had to think about Mabel first and foremost. She was getting older, and though she was a tough old bird, she wasn’t as strong as she used to be. I couldn’t worry about all of them at once while also dealing with the threat to my MC.

Something had to give.

Hell, if I knew what, and no matter how elusive sleep proved to be, no answers came. So I just lay there in my bed and let thoughts of Ruby fill my mind even though they shouldn’t. She was a liar, regardless of her reasons. She’d lied to me, and that wasn’t something I could easily forgive.

My cell phone buzzed on the nightstand beside me and I sat straight up, immediately on alert as I answered. “Yeah?”

“Maverick?” It was Ruby’s voice, quiet, shaky, and definitely afraid. “Someone tried to break in. No one got in the house, but a few of the panes on the front door are broken. You should come now.” She ended the call before I could ask one damn question.

I was on my feet, stepping into a pair of jeans and grabbing a t-shirt on autopilot. Every one of my fears coalesced as I got on my bike and hauled ass to Mabel’s house.

***

I rode to my grandmother’s house in record time and ten minutes later I stomped up the steps and the door opened instantly.

My gaze landed on Ruby, who was shaking like a leaf, pale and frightened. “Mabel’s upstairs in her room,” she said, pointing over her shoulder as she stepped aside.

“Are you all right?” I got in her personal space and put my hands on her shoulders, but the stubborn woman shrugged me off. “I’m fine. Worry about Mabel. She’s in the walk-in closet with Sophie.”

“What?” I hadn’t meant to yell at her, but what the fuck? “Why aren’t you up there with them?”

“Because I had to make sure no one got in before they were safe.” She took another step back, her gaze refused to meet mine. “No one got in and I’m not sure they tried. I think the point was just to give us a fright.”

“Which it clearly did.” I tried to comfort her again, and again she rejected the offer, stepping far enough away that she was out of reach.

“I’m fine,” she assured me as she wrapped her arms around her waist. “Nobody was hurt. This time.”

“Ruby,” I groaned, and grabbed her arm, which was ice cold.

“You were right, Maverick. Is that what you want to hear? Because you were right, I shouldn’t be here. We shouldn’t be here. Just go check on your grandmother.”

It was clear that Ruby didn’t want to be comforted right now. She was too busy beating herself up about the broken glass and a long string of what-ifs, so I left her downstairs and went upstairs to check on Mabel. I was in two minds whether to call the cops, from what I could see it was just damage to the door. After what Mabel told me about the abuse, I wasn’t sure that Ruby would thank me for getting the police involved. They’d want statements—and statements were another way she might get noticed.

I decided to check on my grandmother first, her bedroom was to the left of the staircase, taking up almost the entire front half of the second story. Her room smelled exactly the same, and I smiled as I tapped on the closet door. “It’s me, Dylan.”

A few seconds later, the slide lock made a sound and the door opened. “Are you here for a sleepover, Mr. Maverick?” Sophie asked the question and scrambled back to my grandmother and their card game before I could answer.

“Is everyone all right in here?”

“Sure are,” Mabel answered in a bright voice. “Just getting my butt kicked at Go Fish.”

Sophie giggled. “Sorry, Grandma.”

“Meh, it’s all right, honey. We’ve all gotta be bad at something.” Mabel smiled and ruffed Sophie’s hair, affection radiating from her. It was clear how much she loved having Sophie and Ruby around, and it was going to break her heart when they left.

“So, are you staying, Mr. Maverick?”

I hadn’t thought that far ahead, but now that the little girl mentioned it, that was the exact right move. “I am. Can I borrow your bed?”

“Yeah,” she said easily. “But you’re too big for it.”

“Then I guess you can keep sleeping there.” I flashed a smile and she giggled, looking up at me like I was some kind of hero instead of the man forcing her to leave her new home.

“Need some help getting up?”

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