Page 45 of Maverick

“I told him that I had something he needed and wanted. Two million dollars and it was all his. He’s meeting me in Orlando tomorrow.”

“Katelyn, you did this without asking, without thinking,” said Luke.

“You know, I appreciate all that you have done more than you could possibly know. But I do not appreciate not being a part of all the conversations relative to my future and my safety. I’m not an idiot. I do not want to die. Neither does Chelsea or Stephanie or Victoria or any of the other kids. We want to live our lives without fear.”

“I never meant to imply that you were an idiot or not capable of managing your own life,” said Luke. “But you can’t just simply fly off to Orlando and meet this guy expecting us to be okay with it. What are you going to do when you get there and he kidnaps you or, worse, kills you?”

“He won’t do either of those things because we’re going to be in public, in a crowd, and all of you will be around me. I’ve discussed this with Chelsea and the others, and they agree this will work. Bruloni needs to present something to his partners, or buyers, or whatever they are. Whether that’s a plan of how to create the AI device that I developed or to present me, he has to have something, or he’s going to be dead.”

“He’ll be dead either way,” said Maverick, staring down at her.

“I know. I get it. You all want him dead, and so does the president. That’s good for all of us. But he won’t just walk into the White House and surrender.”

“How did you convince him that you were legit?” asked Eric.

“I told him that Maverick and I had developed a relationship and then I found out what he really is, what he really does. I told him that my pacifist, peace-loving ideals did not mesh. We had a terrible argument, and I left and was in hiding somewhere in Florida.”

“So, he believes you’re already there,” asked Hex.

“Yes. He thinks I’m somewhere in the state right now. Since all of you were speaking to him this morning, I’m sure he panicked and ran. Getting the message from me is the escape he’s looking for.”

“Mav? What do you think?” asked Luke.

“I think it’s a fucking terrible idea, and I hate it. Make her stay here, Luke. We can go and find him and get him to show himself.”

“No,” said Katelyn. “It won’t work. He wants to see me. I know that you have the stealth vests. I’ll wear one. I’ll take every safety precaution, but he wants to see me out in the open.”

“I hate the idea as well, Mav, but she’s right. He won’t show himself unless she’s there. We’ll stay out of sight until we have to show ourselves. He won’t leave with her, and he won’t hurt her.” Mav looked down at her, shaking his head as he pulled her closer.

“I’ll be alright,” she whispered. “You’ll be there.”

“Why Orlando?” asked Hex. She smiled at the men.

“Happiest place on earth.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

“You cuddling closer to me in bed while naked doesn’t make me any less angry about this,” said Mav. Katelyn smiled up at him.

“I know.” She kissed down the side of his neck to his shoulder, tossing a leg over his belly.

“I don’t want to lose you, Katelyn.”

“And I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want to be hidden for the rest of our lives. I don’t want to be confined to Belle Fleur forever. I want to live a full, rich life with you and our children. We can’t do that if he’s out there looking for me, looking for the others. We’re all affected by this, Mav.”

“How are the others?” he asked, looking down at her.

“Victoria is doing well. They finally got a message to Hayes, and he’s fine. He’s on a team that’s one of the best, and they’re all being cautious and protective of him. But he’s okay. They spoke for probably an hour,” she smirked. “I think she was just happy to hear his voice.”

“And Marilisa and Stephanie?”

“Marilisa is happy doing what she’s doing right now. She has no desire to leave here at the moment. I think she’s content and definitely figuring some things out for herself. I think she might have feelings for someone, but she’s not ready to let that cat out of the bag just yet. She’ll, um, figure it out. She’ll figure it all out.”

“Like what?” he asked.

“Just things,” she smiled. “Stephanie is healing. She’s got a ways to go, but she’s doing better. Braxton told her she could have the cottage to herself, but she asked him to stay there. She feels safer with him being in the same place.”

“I can see that,” said Mav. “He’s a big dude and oozes protectiveness. He says stupid shit sometimes, but he means well.”

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