Page 95 of Maverick

I shook my head, tears dripping. “You don’t know how powerful Marciano is. Or Mark’s father. They have their claws everywhere.”

Maverick’s jaw flexed. “So we run. As a nomad, I know how. And if they come after us, I’ll bury them. I’m done letting you suffer in that bastard’s mansion.”

My breath came in ragged gasps. A swirl of longing and terror battered me. “I… God, I can’t believe you two. This is insane.”

Nova stepped closer, placing a tentative hand on my shoulder. “Lex, we did what we had to do. You and the baby deserve a life free from threats.”

I glanced at the baby. He blinked awake, eyes so like Maverick’s. My throat tightened. Could this truly be freedom? Or just another tragedy in the making?

Maverick exhaled slowly. “I’m sorry for scaring you. But I had to do something. The second Nova told me about her plan, I jumped at it.” He ran a hand through his hair. “This is your chance, Lexi, to break free.”

A whirlwind of conflicting emotions seized me. The child fussed, picking up on my turmoil. I rocked him gently. “He’s hungry,” I mumbled, sidestepping the bigger conversation.

Nova gestured to a small dining area. “There’s formula and supplies. We planned for everything.” She cast me a hopeful look. “Let’s feed him, talk it through.”

I bit my lip. “You expect me to just… be okay with this? You drugged me, took me from my home.” I was so upset I could barely see. “Mark’s going to lose his shit.”

Maverick’s expression flattened. “Let him. Let the mob come. I’ll handle it.” The fierce protectiveness in his eyes sparked a deep memory of the times I’d felt truly safe in his arms.

Still, my shoulders wouldn’t relax. Maybe this was my only escape. My entire body yearned to collapse into Maverick’s embrace, sobbing out the months of fear and loneliness. But a swirl of guilt clung to me. I lied to him for so long, insisted he had no role. Now I’m forced to rely on him.

Nova gently guided me toward a worn couch. “Sit, feed your baby. Then we’ll figure out the next step. We have a plan, Lex. You’re not alone.”

My eyes burned as I sank onto the cushions, the baby in my arms. Could I trust them? Could we outrun the entire Syndicate, Marciano and Mark’s father’s resources? Questions hammered my brain, but a fragile hope glimmered in the distance. Maybe there was a way to keep my son safe without living in a fancy prison.

Kneeling beside me, Maverick's warmth evoked memories of our love. "We'll protect you." His voice choked with emotion. “Me, Chigger, Nova, we’ll do whatever it takes.”

I met his gaze, tears finally slipping free. “I’m terrified,” I admitted. “But… I don’t want to go back to that mansion. Ever.”

A soft smile touched his lips, a promise blazing in his eyes. “Then you won’t.”

As the baby nuzzled against me, I let out a trembling breath, leaning into Maverick’s shoulder for the first time in what felt like a lifetime. Outside, night descended, but inside, a light came on inside me. Hope flickered. My captivity was over, replaced by a new fight for freedom, and possibly a second chance at love.

Chapter 49

Maverick

I gunned the throttle, the wind slicing across my cheeks, tasting of dust and open road. The black SUV carrying Lexi and the baby trailed behind, guided by Chigger and Nova. We’d managed to get everyone safely into Oklahoma, just barely across the Texas state line, and holed up in a little rental cottage tucked away off some old highway. It wasn’t much, but at least there was enough cover that Mark’s men or the mob wouldn’t find us easily.

One step at a time, I kept telling myself. First, get Lexi and the baby out of Texas. Next, head for Maine, where the Kings of Anarchy MC welcomed me once before. But the plan had changed a bit, thanks to Kingpin’s meddling, or maybe to his benefit, hard to say.

With Lexi out cold, it gave me my first moments with the baby. I would never call him Mark. He was Adam, and he already owned my heart. Even though Nova offered to step in, I was determined to be the one to help him settle in.

Once Lexi woke, Nova broke the news to her gently as I cradled Adam. Of course, she was confused and then angry at us for taking her. Because she was also terrified that the mob would find us, kill us all. When Lexi rested her head on my shoulder, I knew there was hope for us. Still, that first night I gave her some space.

We rolled up to the next cabin just as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in purples and golds. Nova parked the SUV a ways down a gravel patch, and I pulled my Harley alongside. The air was muggy, cicadas droning in the trees. The baby cried from inside the car, and I saw Lexi step out, worry etched on her face.

“We’re here,” I told her, gently taking the diaper bag from her weak grip. She was exhausted, understandably, after being uprooted so unexpectedly. I hated the guilt gnawing at my gut. If I’d come sooner, maybe she wouldn’t have spent a year in that sham of a marriage. If I’d never left her behind in the first place…

But regrets could wait. We had a job. Keep her safe from Mark, from Marciano, from all the mob connections. And that meant forging a new path north. This time, I wouldn’t use phony names or hide behind the shadows. I was Maverick, still a Road Monster, but I’d called in favors from Kingpin. Hell, I basically sold my soul to the biker president for his help. It was complicated, like everything else in this twisted underground.

We crowded into the small living room with mismatched furniture and faded wallpaper. Chigger carried in supplies, bags of groceries, extra diapers, the random stuff Nova had prepped. Nova herself busied with checking windows, while I locked the front door, scanning for any sign of watchers.

Lexi stood at the center of the room, holding the baby tight. She looked so small, her eyes darting around the unfamiliar space. Her dark hair was tied back, revealing the worry lines on her forehead. I ached to hold her, to promise it’d all be okay, but I knew trust didn’t come easy after I’d barged into her life again and practically kidnapped her.

“There’s two bedrooms down the hall,” Nova said, returning from her quick inspection. “One’s got a crib. We did our best on short notice.”

Lexi gave a strained nod, cradling the baby closer. “Thank you,” she murmured. Her voice trembled, and I knew she was overwhelmed.

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