Page 91 of Even if You Fall

“You can return Chloe to me,” he said as if he had all the confidence in the world that I would do exactly that.

“Yeah, I don’t think so,” I mumbled. “Last I heard, she didn’t wanna be anywhere near you.”

Maverick turned his laptop for Briggs and me to see, pointing at a small dot on a map. As soon as I realized what I was seeing, I muted the call in time for Briggs to hiss, “That’s the girls’ house.”

“Which girls?” Maverick quickly demanded.

Briggs and I gestured in the directions of the rooms Lainey and Chloe were sleeping in while saying their names, forcing a fraction of relief to sweep across Maverick’s features.

“They’re here right now,” Maverick stated, only partially making the confirmation sound like a question, “not at their house.”

“Correct,” Briggs answered.

“I’ll let Kieran know, but that’s where your guy is,” Maverick said softly, then nodded toward the phone when Vance started speaking again. “If Vance is still there, Kieran’s in there with him.”

“I find it amusing what women will say to make men come to their rescue, when their situation couldn’t be further from that,” Vance said with a sigh that only hinted at frustration as I unmuted the call. “Deep down, none of us can resist being a white knight, can we?” He breathed out a feigned laugh of wounded understanding. “Your tone and words sound eerily similar—” He hesitated. “Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

“I never gave it.”

Amusement and understanding hummed through the call. “Eerily similar,” he repeated, sounding strangely and convincingly sad. “I don’t know what she’s told you, but I can imagine, considering Chloe and I began the same way. I thought I was saving her from an abusive relationship, only to find out it was a game she’d enjoyed playing. But by that time, I was too far gone to care.”

A week ago, I would’ve believed him. Easily.

A few days ago, I might’ve hesitated just because I’d wanted to findsomethingto base my suspicions on when it’d come to Chloe’s mask.

But I didn’t even blink at Vance’s words then. I couldn’t. I had proof of his manipulations from their conversations. I’d witnessed Chloe’s reactions to him that she hadn’t been quick enough to hide. I’d seen and felt her blatant fear and horror when she realized how close she’d come to being takenbecauseof him.

“Nice story,” I said, doubt leaking through my words. “I might’ve considered believing you if you hadn’t tried having Chloe taken for your little trafficking ring.”

Silence settled over the call for a moment before he spoke, his tone no longer trying to sway me to believe anything. “I wouldn’t have had to if she wouldn’t have refused me.”

My brows slammed down as that rage burned hotter. “So, that’s what this is? When women start refusing you, you sell them off?”

A dark laugh sounded. “Just her. Chloe is—well, I’m sure you understand. She’s unique. I didn’t plan on letting her go easily, and I still don’t. I’m a forgiving man and believe in offering many, many chances, mister...”

“Still no,” I told him.

Satisfaction left him on a hum. “Doesn’t matter. Whether you release her to me willingly or not, you and your group of friends will soon?—”

I looked between Asher and Maverick when the obvious sounds of a phone falling filled the speaker. “Soon...” I echoed after a few seconds, drawing out the word and making it sound like a question. “Your threat kinda loses its power when you drop the phone.”

My brow furrowed when the call ended, and my heart beat harder. “Actually, that kinda makes it worse,” I muttered, then focused on Maverick. “Your wife’s watching the cameras here, right?”

He grunted in acknowledgment, drawing the laptop back to him at the same moment his phone buzzed on the table. Scooping it up, he tapped on the screen a couple times before announcing, “Vance has been taken care of.”

Even though the immediate threat to Chloe and other women in the Dallas school district was gone, disappointment unfurled in my chest at the news. I worked my jaw before glancing at Briggs. “Should’ve been mine.”

“Just be glad it’s done,” he mumbled before telling Maverick, “If there are already orders, we need to stop whatever Vance was hinting at.”

“You keep telling me things like this isn’t what we do,” Maverick said as he shut his laptop. “Kieran will make the house look like nothing ever happened, then meet us there. My brother’s already waiting, so let’s head out.”

“Where?” Briggs asked, not moving when Maverick started quickly packing up.

Maverick only paused to give Briggs an exasperated look. “Wrecker’s main base of operations. We’ll draw them there and send your message. If anything was already ordered for tonight, we’ll get it stopped.”

“I’m not leaving my fiancée and niece here unprotected,” Briggs ground out.

At that, Maverick straightened with a clipped sigh. “Do you not trust the rest of your team?” he asked, sounding partly curious, partly aggravated. “It’d be best if the Wreckers saw you with us so they know this is real. So, at the very least, you need to come. If it were me, I’d bring another member of your team with you so the Wreckers don’t think you’re making dealings with mafia families behind your team’s back.” He held out a hand. “Are we good? Or do you wanna question me a dozen more times like I don’t know what I’m doing?”

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