Page 38 of Dirty Empire

I shook my head. “Tsk, tsk. It looks like you picked a bad business partner.”

He lunged. I grabbed his right hand and slammed his face into the glass wall.

“Listen to me! You fucked with the wrong guy on the wrong day. If I ever hear from you, of you, or even get the feeling you’ve got my name in your mouth, I will decapitate that sister of yours and pull your fucking heart out with my bare hands.”

Brighton breathed heavily, bleeding from the mouth as he tried to reach for his handgun behind his back. Seeing his movement, I drew back and fired two shots into his knees. He crumpled to the floor, writhing in pain, and begging for mercy.

“Okay, okay… Urghgggh. I get the fuckin’ message. Don’t kill me,” he shouted. I stared down at him.

“I’m not a killer, but don’t push me.”

Brighton fell to the ground, bleeding profusely, squirming in excruciating pain. I tipped my head to him and grabbed his gun as I exited.

“Let’s go, fellas. I think he got the message,” I say through my earpiece.

My men and I exited the building as my driver swung into view. I peeled off my gloves. “Take me back to my plane.”

I sat back in the seat, letting the adrenaline leave my body. Brighton was easy to take care of. He was a nuisance. But what about next time? What if I got shot again? If I died right now, what would be left behind? I’d made billions of dollars, all for what? So I can leave this world alone because I was too scared of turning into my father?

My biggest regret, if I died right now, would be pushing Hazel away. I had the opportunity to live a normal life with my family. Nothing goes as planned, and neither Hazel or this baby was planned, but I couldn’t live with myself if they left. I couldn’t go on with an empty house, my business being the only thing to keep me company.

My cell vibrated. It was Hazel.

“Maverick, is everything okay?” Hazel asks in a panicky voice. My shoulders relaxed at the sound of her voice. I wanted to hear that voice every day for the rest of my life. I’d been stupid before. Hazel and I might not work out in the end, but we could always walk away from each other. No one was stuck.

“Yes, Pumpkin, we’re good. All taken care of.”

“What did you do? Is anyone dead? Are you hurt?”

I straightened myself up in the seat. “I’m good. No casualties. But my message was received loud and clear. I’m on my way back to the airport. I’ll be home soon.”

“Okay, Mav.”

***

I stand outside my house. The biggest house on the island, yet there is only value to it if Hazel is inside. Movement from the upstairs window catches my eye. Hazel drew back the curtains and searched through the window. Her wide eyes frantically sought me out. I wrench my bags from the back seat of the car. When I turn, relief is evident on her face. Maybe she’d done some thinking too when I was away. I never doubted that Hazel would be fine on her own. She doesn't need me in her life, but a part of me wants her to need me. I want to be there when our baby wakes up at two in the morning to eat. I want to support her in whatever she wants to do. It doesn't matter to me anymore if the baby is Miles’s or mine. He or she will be raised by parents that love them, and if I and Hazel, for some reason, fall out of love, we can walk away.

Although I’d be damned if I was going to let this woman walk away from me without a fight. I’d always fight for her. Walking inside, I drop my bags in the foyer. Hazel comes rushing down the stairs. She wears a bright sundress and sandals. Her dark hair falls down her back in waves.

“Maverick,” she says with a breath of air leaving her lungs.

I open my arms, hoping she’ll step into them. She hesitates only a moment before wrapping her arms around my neck. Fuck, her body is so warm, I’ve missed it.

“I was really scared. I don’t want the past to haunt us,” she says. “What did you do today?”

“This guy was a young punk trying to make a name for himself. I roughed him up quite a bit, but no one was killed. We don’t have to worry about anything else from him,” I assured her. I don't mention Brighton’s men that we killed, figuring that’s better to leave out.

“But what if someone else pops up? Will we always have to live with the possibility of someone trying to make a name for themselves?” Hazel queries in an exasperated tone. She pulls away from me. Her blue eyes bore into mine. “I just want a normal, peaceful life, Mav.”

I listen to the strain in her voice. “I can’t promise you that we will never have any problems. Hell, I didn't expect this to come up. What I can promise you is that I’m out of it completely. And I will protect you at all costs. I won’t put us in any compromising positions, and I will tell you about anything that comes up right away.”

Hazel shakes her head and clutches me tightly. “I just want us to be happy. Together. I don’t want to have to leave. If I had the power to, I'd guarantee this baby is yours.”

“Hazel...”

“Yes?”

“Come upstairs with me.”

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