Maverick turns around and looks out of the window. “That fucker!” he roars and rips open the door, tearing out to go after him.
Smiley walks over to me. “What happened?”
A second later Maverick comes back, disgust on his face, and I know mine is showing the same.
He chose to pick on me, he assumed that I was weak and that I couldn’t do anything about it.
“He whipped out his dick in front of Bell and was making fucking sick gestures. I want our tech guy on this. He’s mine.” Maverick points at Smiley.
I take his hand. He’s shaking so hard. I wrap my arm around his back. Maverick moves me until my back is pressed against his front. “I’m sorry, baby,” he whispers into my ear, kissing the side of my neck.
“Not your fault.”
He shakes his head, kissing the side of my head. “It’s not, but I am fucking sorry that a grown-ass man decided that he was going to do that shit to you. I think that shit hurts me more than you.”
He turns me around so he can face me, cupping my jaw. “You are my woman, you are my fucking world and the thought of some fucker upsetting you, disrespecting you, makes me murderous.”
I smile. “You are everything to me too,” I whisper, leaning my forehead against his chest. He pulls me close, arms wrapped around me tight.
“I want to tell you something, something I should have said months ago.”
I lean back so I can see him fully, my heart starting to beat fast at what he plans to say.
“What?”
He smiles, showing me his dimple. “I love you. I love you so much, darlin’.”
I laugh, feeling happiness unlike I have ever felt before. “God, I love you.” I lean up, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him with everything in me, not caring who’s watching.
I pull back, smiling. “But I knew that.”
“What?” he asks, smiling slightly.
“I knew you loved me—you showed me every single day.”
The way he takes care of me, always wanting to make sure I’m okay, protecting me. In the bedroom he is out of this world and he makes sure my needs are above his own.
He worships the ground I walk on.
“I don’t deserve you, darlin’, but I’m just selfish enough to keep you. But no one can care for you, love you like I do.” He stares down at me in disbelief, like he can’t believe I’m actually here in front of him.
“You deserve all of me. I give you all of me,” I whisper back to him, the crowds around us going wild with what happening’s on the ice.
Right now it’s just me and Maverick.
He gives me the most heartbreakingly beautiful smile, and I turn around to check on Ronny, who is now back on the ice.
I take Maverick’s hand and pull him to the glass so we can get a closer look. The timer is almost up.
We’re up by a lot, but Ronny is still skating like he’s losing and trying to hit the last goal to make the win.
I know with all of me he’s going to go pro. I know that this is what he’s meant to do in life. It just makes me happy that I get to watch this journey and be a part of it.
Being with Ronny the last few months, it’s been the best few months of my life, but it’s been so hard too.
I never got to experience things like this with my girls. I never got to take them to practices or games. I never got to see any of that.
The most important thing is I’m here now. I’m here with them and we are so close.
My old life seems like a dream.
I hold my breath as Ronny knocks the puck towards the goal at the last second and makes it.
“That’s my baby!” I yell, and he raises his arms above his head, hooting and hollering.
Maverick chuckles and rubs my side, but I can see how proud he is.
Ronny skates over, his helmet under his arm. He is grinning ear to ear, and all of the people who came to watch him walk over and congratulate him.
He stomps over to the bench and takes off his skates. His friends sit down beside him, talking.
“Thank you all for coming,” I tell everyone. Jessica and River come up to me and I squeeze them tightly. “I love you, girls. Be safe driving home.”
I squeeze Chase’s hand and he smiles, pulling Jessica to him. He loves my girl fully and it makes me so happy that she has that.
Thirty minutes later Ronny is packed up and ready to go. “I am so proud of you,” I tell him.
He grins, his eyes shining, showing his happiness. “Thanks. I’m not sure what that other player’s problem was.”
I look at Maverick, whose jaw is clenched at being reminded of the very shitty father.
Maverick opens the back door, grabbing Ronny’s bags from him and setting them on the seat. Ronny steps on the side steps that Maverick had installed because it got old not being able to get in the truck.
“Buckle up.” Maverick stands and watches to make sure he does. “Do you guys want to get some drive-through?” We’re an hour from home.
Maverick shuts the door and looks at me, his eyes going to something over my shoulder. He opens the passenger door and I’m lifted inside, the door slamming shut just as four men make their way over to him.
Oh my god.
“What’s happening?” Ronny asks from the back seat.
What do I do?
I take out my phone. Hopefully Smiley won’t be too far way. I dial his number. “Hello?” he answers, unsure.
“There are four men here who I think are going to try to jump Maverick,” I rush out so fast I’m not sure if he can fully understand what I’m trying to say.
“I’m right across the road eating dinner. I’ll be there in a minute.” He hangs up the phone and I look out the window.
Maverick
“Let me have her.” The crazy fucking dad from earlier looks through the window at Bell.
I don't turn around to look at her, my eyes staying on him and the others.
“Why do you want her?” I ask.
He grins. “I was going to let it go. She’s a tempting bitch, isn’t she? But no one is worth that trouble unless she’s worth a fuck of a lot of money.”
I try not to flinch at them calling her a bitch. My mind is immediately stuck on him saying she’s worth a lot of money.
He grins. “I’m assuming you don’t know, because she’s sitting in your truck and not with those fuckers that want her.”
Don’t fucking move, Maverick. Don’t show any kind of emotion. Your hands will be around their neck soon enough, I reassure myself.
He chuckles, nodding to himself like he has it all figured out: I am a member of this fucking cult. It’s a cult where the men get to fucking rule, our wives, kids, anything we want.
“Last week I was at church. They were passing around her picture and her husband was at the altar, crying, saying a demon had her. That little show earlier…” He stops grinning, looking at her again. “That was me reminding her of her place. She will be fucked until God is back within her.”
I smile at him. It’s the last thing I want to do. “Why didn’t you say so? We have to split the reward money, don’t we?” He nods, licking his lips and looking at Bell once again.
I will thoroughly fucking enjoy ripping his eyes from their sockets. “Invite everyone. Meet me here for me to hand her over. I can’t do that shit in front of my boy.”