Page 81 of Relentless

No one says anything as the tension continues to grow, crackling around us like a wildfire. I swear to God they’re the longest few seconds of my life.

“I’m not with them,” I whisper, needing him to know that all this time, the one person I’ve thought about more than any other is him.

But then JD scoffs, refuting my words.

“That’s not what I’ve heard.” Mav growls darkly. I’ve heard this tone many, many times before, but it’s never been directed at me.

I stare into his eyes, begging him to believe me as my heart fractures in my chest.

“I love you, Mav,” I confess, taking a step forward, pressing my palms against his chest and sliding them up. But before I can loop my arms around his neck, he grabs my wrist.

“Did you forget that while you were letting JD fuck you against the wall or when Reid painted you with his blood?” His voice is rough, cracked with emotion, and it cuts me down to my soul.

“Mav,” I whisper, not knowing what to say.

He studies me. His eyes bounce all over my face, down to my neck, which I’m sure is littered with JD’s hickeys and stained with Reid’s bloody handprint.

“I’m starting to wonder if I even know who you are.”

There are so many awful things he could say to me in this moment, so many things he could accuse me of being. But hearing those words spill from his lips, I realize that none other would have hurt half as bad.

Wrapping my arms around my waist, I squeeze tight in an attempt to keep myself together.

Call me a liar, tell me that I’m a whore. I can take those harsh words.

But having him think he’s never had the truest version of who I am… no. Just no.

His eyes stay on me, begging me to say something. But I can’t. I can barely breathe let alone say anything.

Silence stretches out, as my heart continues to race and my guilt threatens to swallow me whole.

“We’ve got a guest room upstairs if you’d prefer that over this.” To my surprise, Reid is the one to break the silence and if Mav’s reaction is anything to go by, he’s as shocked as I am. His eyes widen and his chin drops.

“Uh…” Mav hesitates, clearly thinking this is a joke.

“I told them,” I force out. “They’re on our side, Mav.”

He shakes his head, scrubbing his hand over his face.

“Of course you did,” he mutters in disbelief.

“She did the right thing in doing so,” Reid assures him. “I had no idea.”

A rush of air escapes Mav’s lips as if he’s just been punched in the back.

“You really expect me to believe that?”

“I guess that all depends on whether you want to extend your stay down here, huh?”

Reid turns, ready to leave Mav in his cell.

“No, he’s coming up,” I argue, reaching for Mav’s hand and attempting to drag him toward the door before Reid locks it again.

22

MAVERICK

Alana tugs on my arm, trying to force me to move as Reid walks out of the cell, quickly followed by JD.

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