Page 66 of Twisted Trust
“Money won’t fix that. I have to make a court appearance because that’s what regular people do to fix these things, understand? You can’t just pay off the fucking courts.”
“I could. Easily.”
“No. I’m doing this properly because this is my mess and I don’t want my son growing up thinking money solves everything.”
“Moneydoessolve everything,” I point out gently. “But in this case, you might be right. Money and law get messy.”
“It’s fine.” She sighs tiredly. “I’m sure it will be an in and out thing.”
Despite her request, my mind is already running about how to fix this for her. It’s like a reflex but as I’m thinking, something else occurs to me and I lower my gaze back to her.
“Maeve.”
“What?” She glances up at me and holds my gaze. “Another accusation?”
“No… you said you reached out about a year after Idied.”
“What of it?”
“You had Scott.”
“Yeah, and?” As the words escape her, I see the burst of realization behind her eyes and her lips part.
“IsScott mine?” My heart freezes in my chest and I expect the same lie to flow from her, a lie I’m sure I could disprove if I had the time.
“Yes,” Maeve whispers, shocking us both. “He’s the reason I ran. I was protecting him. That’s all I’ve ever done. And when I reached out, it was because I was so sick I feared I’d die and leave him alone. Everything I’ve ever done has been to protect him. Including hiding him from you, because I don’t want you to take him away from me.”
23
MAEVE
It’s like a huge weight lifts from my shoulders as soon as those words slip out of me, but it’s quickly replaced by a sick sensation in my gut.
Will Levi go ahead and do what I fear the most? Will he take my son and I’ll never see him again? Five years of pent-up hurt, upset, and anger have flooded through me during our argument, and now I feel so utterly deflated with only one last thing to cling to.
My son.
“He’s the most important thing in the world,” I say brokenly, unable to tear my gaze away from Levi’s shocked expression. “You said earlier you wanted to kill me because you thought I was a traitor, and honestly, I don’t really know how to prove that I’m not. I can tell you until I’m blue in the face but I can’t prove something like that. All of this, your world? It’s not my world, so I don’t know how to make you believe me, but please believe everything I’ve done is to keep Scott safe. He’s my heart. And if you still hate me, if you don’t want to listen and you still want to go ahead, then please,pleasedon’t hurt my baby. Please!”
Levi’s hands suddenly warm my shoulders. “Maeve, stop.”
“Please don’t hurt him.” Fresh tears flood my eyes as a scratchiness creeps up the back of my throat. “He’s just a child. He’s innocent. Please don’t hurt him. Do whatever you want to me, I don’t have the energy anymore, but please don’t!”
My begging ends when Levi suddenly scoops me up in his arms and kisses me hard. My lips briefly continue to move against his as words try to force their way out but ultimately, I fall silent and melt into his arms.
This isn’t a kiss of hatred.
He’s not distracting me to sink a blade deep into my back. He’s kissing me hard like I mean something, and his grip is so tight that it feels like he’s holding together all the pieces of me that want to fall apart through weariness.
“Stop,” he murmurs against my lips. “Stop begging me. Please.” The kiss continues for a brief second, then Levi pulls back and gently cups my face with one warm hand. “I’m not going to hurt you and no one is going to hurt Scott, understand?”
I nod as his shimmering face bobs and blurs through my unshed tears.
“When I thought you betrayed me, I thought you’d broken my heart. I thought I’d fallen in love with a trick and a lie, but I see now that I was wrong. You’re not any of those things and I am so sorry, Maeve. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you and my… myson.”
It’s strange hearing that term come from Levi. He speaks as if it hurts him, as if there’s a deep wound opening up somewhere. I clutch at his clothes until his pin digs into my palm.
“Do you mean it? Because if this is some kind of trick then?—”
