Page 86 of Drop His Mask

He had dreamed of her every night since he had tasted her. Since the first time he had angrily pressed his lips to hers. When she was training with Enzo on the mats. It felt like a lifetime ago but it was onlyweeks.

Time moved differently inside of this game.

“You need to get it together,” Maverick tossed out. He bent down, offering his brother a hand. “You made a mistake many years ago. I wish you had told me. I wish you had trusted me. But I can understand why you didn’t, we never did get along before George died. Oil and water and George was the emulsifier.”

“The what?” Enzo took his hand, getting to his feet.

“Exactly.” Maverick walked back to the couch, sinking down onto it. “No one else is back yet. I wonder what’s taking them so long. Did you meet with your Sponsor?”

Enzo groaned before settling on the couch next to Maverick, leaving as much space between them as he could. “No, I tried but after they dropped the first round ofspecial guests, I decided it wasn’t worth it.”

Maverick hummed his agreement. From a logical standpoint there was no reason to meet his Sponsor. It wasn’t as if he planned to beg for their favor, for their help.

No, it would only act to enrage him.

The front door whipped open, and Levi was deposited into their room next.

Maverick jumped to his feet again, it took a moment to realize he was concerned.

Concerned for Levi?

Because we are all tied together by the same sun.

Another startling realization that Maverick didn’t want to unpack.

Levi’s attention whipped around the room. “I don’t…I don’t…I…” The man that was usually so confident and self-assured had turned into a blubbering mess.

“What happened? What’s going on?” Maverick moved closer to Levi.

The latter was frozen just inside the room.

Levi’s frenzied eyes continued to bounce around before finding Maverick’s. They were glassy,unfocused.

“I met my Sponsor,” Levi muttered.

Something wasn’tright.It was clear, evident. Levi was on edge.

“Levi?” Enzo was getting up now, noticing the change too.

“I am a hypocrite. I should have told her! Fuck!” Levi exclaimed before shouldering past Maverick and stomping away into his room.

Maverick didn’t move, his mind racing instead. Considering all the different scenarios, the possibilities.

He came to one conclusion. Levi’s Sponsor had information. Information on Raven. Somethingbig.

Apprehension dug painfully into Maverick’s brain in the wake of Levi’s outburst.

With no answers and nothing to go on, all Maverick could do was stand lamely in his own anxiety.

Is Raven going to be hurt? Is Raven safe right now? Will Raven make it through the next game unscathed?

Raven. Raven. Raven.

“I care about her,” Maverick whispered. “Too much.” The words were a startling realization that he didn’t want.

A hand came down on his shoulder, a reassuring hold. “I know, brother. Me, too.”

Maverick leaned back into his brother’s support. He needed it, because if his guess was correct, he knew exactly how the next game would play out.

---