I hold him a little tighter like I can take away his pain, his fears, and make him feel secure.
Maverick kisses my temple, his arm wrapped around the both of us. Ronny reaches over and grabs Maverick’s hand. “I love you too, Maverick.” He pulls his hand over until it’s resting under Ronny’s neck.
“I love you too, buddy.”
Ronny sighs and goes silent, his body growing heavy as he falls back asleep. I imagine it’s so draining for him.
“Sleep here with him?” I ask Maverick.
He nods and scoots us farther in the bed. He lays on his side, wrapping his arms around the both of us, tucking us into him.
I close my eyes, cocooned between Ronny and Maverick.
Maverick
Two hours later
The sound of Ronny’s screams will forever fucking haunt my dreams. I don't even remember getting out of bed and getting to his door.
The sight of him huddled on the floor, the exact same place I found him in that fucked-up house.
It’s killing me knowing I can’t fight this shit for him. It’s a huge part of me to protect and knowing that this is out of my control haunts me.
I want to tear apart the people who did this to him and to her. I am making it my mission to make that shit happen.
I can’t sleep. I can’t take my eyes off of them.
Bell sits up in bed, gasping, and she climbs to the bottom of the bed. “Baby, what’s the matter?” I ask her, but she takes off out of the room without looking back.
I slide out of the bed, making sure to tuck Ronny in, before I run after her.
I find her in the bathroom in front of the toilet, puking. I grab a wash cloth from the cabinet, wetting it. “Baby, are you okay?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “I am so hurt by what happened to him. One day he will know what those men meant, what those words meant. I just woke up super sick to my stomach. It happens if I’m startled awake and I get sick from the fear.”
I lean down and clean her face off, settling the cool rag on the back of her neck. “Come on.” I pick her up, setting her on the counter. She looks exhausted.
It’s been a shit few days.
I put some toothpaste on her brush. “Open.”
She smiles slightly but does as I ask. I brush her teeth for her. “Spit.” She spits into the sink. “Usually I’m not a spitter,” she jokes, and I laugh, laying my head on her shoulder.
“You need to get some sleep, baby. I’ll get up every so often to check on him.”
She looks unsure. I reach around and take her hair out of her bun, rubbing her scalp. She moans, closing her eyes. “Why are you so good to me?”
I fist her hair slightly, getting her attention. “You are mine. I take care of what is mine. Always.”
Her pupils dilate and I grin, kissing her. “Come on, get some sleep.” She wraps her legs around my waist.
11
Bell
Three months later
“Let’s go, twenty-four!” Maverick yells at the top of his lungs. He’s standing at the glass staring down at the ice rink where Ronny is playing his very first game.
The second he was on the skates I knew he was meant to be on them. He’s good. The coaches were shocked, I was shocked and Maverick was damn proud.
Right now the whole MC, my daughters and their friends have taken over a whole section.
Maverick didn’t last two minutes sitting before he was up at the glass shouting through it like Ronny can hear him.
He’s a proud dad is all.
Dad is exactly what he is. The last few months he has come into the role like he was meant for it. He has taken Ronny to every single practice and assisted in coaching.
I’ve done every bake sale. I’ve been that person at every practice with cookies, snacks, drinks. We are those crazy-obsessed parents that most would make fun of, but we’re having the time of our lives.
Ronny is our heart, our soul.
Maverick is my whole world. I love him so much sometimes that it catches me off guard and I can’t breathe.
I know he loves me too. I know that without a doubt.
Ronny is tripped by a little boy from the other team, on purpose. I am out of my seat and standing next to Maverick in a second to get a closer look to make sure he’s okay.
Ronny gets up off of the ice and he throws his stick down, pointing at the boy who tripped him. The little boy yells something back.
Ronny takes off his gloves like he’s a grown man ready to bust some heads.
“That’s my boy,” Maverick gloats.
The other little kid takes off his gloves and Ronny swings on him, knocking him back a little. “Fuck yeah!” Lane yells, and the others join in with their laughter.
But I’m dying inside hoping that he doesn’t get hurt.
The boy recovers. Ronny comes back, holding onto his shirt, hitting him twice in the face before knocking him down onto the ground.
“I taught him that shit,” Maverick tells the guy standing next to him, both of them grinning.
I roll my eyes and wait for someone to intervene. “Get that boy off the fucking ice or I will!” From the stands, some man runs to the door that leads up to the rink.
Maverick’s head snaps over to look at the man yelling. I feel movement behind me and I know the guys are standing up preparing for a fight.
I look back to Ronny, who is grinning at his teammates. The fight’s already broken up. He picks up his gloves before he skates to the bench.
He looks up at us and his eyes go to Maverick, who has his hands around the guy’s shirt so he doesn’t tear off towards the rink.
“Look, bitch, I don't know how the fuck that kid thinks he has the right to touch my kid…”
I scoot closer, wanting to stop this before Maverick knocks him out. Maverick doesn’t play when it comes to Ronny.
Maverick puts his face in front of his. “That kid is my fucking son. Your son started that shit. Get the fuck out of this arena before I make you.”
I clench, getting wet at his menacing tone and for protecting Ronny. It may be wrong of me, but I get so turned on when he gets into dad mode.
“No.” The guy leans forward, glaring at Maverick. “He shouldn’t be allowed on the rink with my son,” he says in a snarling tone. He looks over Maverick’s shoulder and I see Ronny leaning over the wall watching what’s happening.
I smile at him reassuringly. “Maverick, Ronny is seeing what’s happening,” I point out.
Maverick pushes the guy out of the door and slams it shut before he can get back in. He leans against it, not even moving from the pushing and shoving the guy is doing.
Maverick gives Ronny a thumbs up. I walk over to him and take his hand. Maverick’s MC brothers sit down and pay attention to the game.
I hear a very loud sound from behind the door. I look back and see the guy’s face in the window, his fist banging into the glass.
I don’t understand why he’s so upset. It’s just a game. I watch as he starts throwing stuff from behind the door, before he whips around, looking at me.
He grabs his dick through his pants, squeezing. My stomach turns in disgust, feeling very uncomfortable.
He unbuttons his pants, and I gasp as he pulls out his dick right in the middle of the arena and starts stroking.