Page 84 of Deadlier Obsessions

I turn to walk away but stop midstep. “Hey, Mav?”

“Yeah?”

“If you take off, I’ll find you, and if you ever break our girls’ hearts again, I’ll punch you in your ugly fucking face.”

MAV

I had every intention of getting in the Range Rover and driving somewhere far away. Maybe the mountains in Colorado, or someplace even further away like fucking Egypt. Hide out in a goddamn pyramid like the pathetic pussy I am. Yet, I couldn’t leave. Every step away from the women left the gaping fucking chasm in my chest aching more and more. I didn’t need Gage to tell me they cried themselves to sleep. I could’ve predicted it. I hate myself for causing them pain, and not being able to confront my demons head on. Gage was right, and that fucking burns. The day Gage has more emotional maturity than anyone, is a rough fucking day. How did that even happen?

I stare at the stupid fish that Stella begged for. The way her eyes pleaded with us because she wanted these koi so badly. And of course, Lucy joined in, to double Stella’s efforts. With both women batting their eyelashes at us, we never stood a chance. We act like we’re three dominating men and have all the control, but deep down, I think we know we’re not. These women have us by the balls. That’s how I know I have to do what’s right and dredge up my past in the process. Fuck. I much prefer Gage Rage to Insightful Gage. It’s like the world has been turned on its head. Everything I thought I knew is non-existent. Gage is some jackass whisperer and I’m, well,King of the Dickheadsapparently.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

STELLA

I love living in this house with my three men and my best friend. We have this massive plot of land, so it’s always quiet and peaceful. The birds chirping, the goats bleating, are all sounds that wake me up in the morning and generally have me smiling, but not today. Losing Maverick feels like something my heart will never recover from. I miss him already. My emotions are all conflicting with each other. I’m sad, shocked, heartbroken, and so fucking angry I can barely stand to sit here in my own skin.

I’m in the kitchen, watching the birds play around as I sip my decaf coffee. Fucking Gage and hisGooglesearches resulted in us not being allowed to consume caffeine. I searched it myself and showed him that one serving of caffeine was not shown to be harmful. He wouldn’t budge. Eventually I got tired of arguing with him and started drinking the decaf that he bought. It’s stupid. What is the point of coffee without caffeine?

I turn to the sound of a clearing throat and nearly drop my glass mug. Maverick stands staring at me, his hands in his pockets, and looking every bit of delicious, and I really don’t even want to notice that right now, but I do. His dirty blonde hair is messy from sleeping wherever he slept, and that thought just infuriates me.

Am I wondering where he was, what he was doing, and who he was doing it with? Yeah, of course I am.

“Stella.”

Shaking my head, I say, “No, Maverick. Just no. Last night was the time to talk, but you chose to walk away instead. Now it’s my turn.”

I set my coffee cup down on the counter, with the intention of walking past him and going upstairs, but he stops me with his hand curling around my throat. Pushing me against the wall, he squeezes just enough to make me squeak. “Listen to me, little mama,” he lowers his head, so his lips are ghosting mine, “You have every right to be angry. Hate me. But I’m here now and we are going to discuss this.”

Grabbing his hand, I attempt to pull it from my throat, and he chuckles, knowing full well he’s stronger than I am. “All I want is a fucking conversation, Stella.”

“You don’t deserve it,” I whisper angrily.

He shakes his head with something that looks like regret. “No, I don’t. I’ve always taken what I’ve wanted regardless, and I’m not stopping now.”

Gripping my waist on either side, he lifts me over his shoulder while I pound my fists against his back. “Where are we going?”

He growls with determination. “To find Lucy. I’m not fucking doing this twice.”

LUCY

It feels so weird waking up without Mav, even though Stella also isn’t in bed with me, and Gage is gone, so presumably they’re shower fucking, or something. Sebastian is way across the bed from me, drooling into the pillow, and I wish that I’d woken with him wrapped around me, so I wouldn’t feel so alone right now. How could Mav just walk away like that? The same night he and the others propose to us? It’s heartbreaking.

I love my entire family, every single one of them, but my bond started with Mav, and without him here, I feel like there’s too large a piece missing. Last night when he left, it literally hurt to breathe. Thank God for Gage and Sebastian, because they showed us once again what amazing men they are, even if they have a penchant for killing anyone who pisses them off. They wouldn’t kill Mav though, right?Oh god!They wouldn’t! I sit up suddenly in bed, a hand over my mouth, as that horrifying thought hits me, and Sebastian moves instantly, sitting up and reaching for my shoulder.

“Morning sickness, baby? Let me help you to the bathroom.” How amazing is it when your man wakes the instant you move like that? Like he instinctively knows you need him.

“No. I was just-” The door crashes open, and a man walks in, with an arguing, kicking woman on his shoulder. Stella, and the man she’s yelling at?Mav!He releases her and she joins me on the bed, glaring at him as she folds her arms over her chest.

My first instinct is to jump up and throw my arms around him, but Stella clears her throat, and reminds me that it’s not that simple. I shouldn’t just be relieved, because we need to deal with why he left, and how much he hurt us, all of us. Stella reaches out and grabs my hand, and I can feel hers trembling lightly, and I know she’s angry, and hurting, and anxious, and he did this. He made her feel like that.

“Mav? Where the fuck have you been?” Sebastian yells at him, lurching up from the bed and practically charging across the room at him.

“Hold up, everyone sit on the bed, and let him talk,” Gage says from behind him, freshly showered, and wearing only a smallish towel around his waist. As usual, Gage’s demands are met with obedience, and we all drop down onto the bed, like a peanut gallery, waiting to watch the show.

“Mav? Maybe time to open your trap, and share with the group, don’t you think?” Gage says, patting his shoulder as he passes him, and climbs up on the bed beside Sebastian.

Mav clears his throat, glancing around at all of us, his eyes lingering on Stella, then me. He clears his throat again and runs a hand through his hair. It’s the epitome of stalling, like he’s edging us for whatever he’s about to say, and my temper gets the better of me.

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