Page 14 of Forsaking All Others

Yesterday, after the house cleared and Colt broke the news he broke, my mind immediately went to Maverick. He wouldn’t have burdened me with what Colt laid on me, he would’ve rallied his brothers and done whatever it takes to make sure he took care of the situation. Sure, it would likely be illegal, but that’s another thing, I’ve inherited Mav’s criminal mindset and his morals. Money, whether it’s dirty or not, is always green and a man is only as strong as his hustle. I suppose that’s what happens when you’re with someone for so long, their beliefs and their reasoning, even their crimes, they all become yours.

Maverick hustled like a boss so I could live like a queen. I didn’t appreciate it back then, but I’m starting to see there was more to his absence than just love for his club.

“Three…”

My gaze snaps back to him and he arches an eyebrow.

Shit.

“Two…”

Maverick counts down from three when he’s reprimanding the kids.

He counts down from three when he’s about to the pull trigger too.

But whenever he counted down from three with me, there was a smirk on his lips, and I knew he wouldn’t make it to one. By two he was pulling me toward him and in a flash I either got his lips, his cock and sometimes, when Maverick was really feeling the fire between us, my ass got his hand.

There’s no smirk on his lips now, though, and he isn’t pulling me toward him. Instead, he holds my gaze, his jaw clenching as he hits that last number.

“One.”

I look away and blurt, “I wanted to talk about H & M.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Maverick go completely still at the mention of our old business. I don’t blame him. It’s been a long time since either of us brought it up and that’s mainly because it’s a sensitive subject. H & M Recycling was just as much our baby as Tara and Shep are. It was the first legal venture for the Satan’s Knights under Maverick’s watch and wanting my man to succeed, I took an interest in it. Sure, the club had a piece of it, but that business was a reflection of us. It’s how we bought our house.

My gaze wanders to the other side of the lot, to where the trailer that acted as my office used to stand. We dissolved the business just as we dissolved our marriage, and like our marriage, it broke my heart.

Now here I am, looking to open that wound.

“I think we should try to bring it back,” I whisper hoarsely.

“Eyes over here, baby,” he demands quietly.

I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to meet his gaze. This is Maverick, I can literally tell him I murdered someone and all he’ll do is ask where I left the body. But he’s not my husband anymore, therefore I’m not his responsibility.

Sighing, I force my eyes back to him. He doesn’t say anything for a moment, letting that silence weigh heavily between us. Then, he swipes a hand over his face.

“You really come here to discuss reviving an old business?” he questions.

“Yes.”

Jerking his chin, he pulls his hand away from his face.

“Gonna need more than that, Holly.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you come to my club, toss shade on where my dick’s been, then tell me you’re here to discuss being business partners again—I’m gonna need more—like an explanation as to where the fuck this is coming from.”

I pull my lower lip between my teeth and turn my gaze to the windshield. This morning I woke up and thought about how I would present my situation to Maverick but seeing Vivi got me all riled up and now, I can’t fucking remember shit.

“Last night I stood in your kitchen while you cooked dinner—it was just the two of us—you could’ve brought this shit up then. If you felt more comfortable discussing things in front of your husband, you could’ve done that when we sat down to eat. You had a bunch of chances and yet you said nothing.”

“It wasn’t a thought then,” I snap, bringing my eyes back to his.

He arches a brow.

“Woman, that was twelve hours ago.”

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