“You make me so fucking happy. You have since the second I saw you.” He shakes his head in disbelief. “You were a magnet, a piece that I never knew was missing, but I can’t live without you. I don’t care if I have known you only a short time. In my fucking soul I’ve known you forever.”
Wind could push me over at this point. His words hit something deep inside of me to my core.
I never knew someone could feel like this about me, or I could feel like this about someone.
I never had a chance at a real life, to be fully happy and feel safe with someone.
I do with him.
I feel so safe, safe enough that I don’t have to worry about what will happen if I freak out. I am myself, he likes every part of me and I have not had to hurt to get this from him.
I shake my head, leaning over and kissing him with so much feeling. I don't have the words to describe the way I feel.
He buries his hand deep into my hair, taking over the kiss instantly. I run my hand over his stomach, his abs flexing beneath my fingers.
He pulls back, kissing my cheek, then my forehead, pulling me over to him. My stomach does a little dip as he holds me close. I close my eyes and let him hold me for a bit.
“Wait, how can we make this legal? I didn’t think of that.” I slightly panic at the thought of having to send Ronny back.
“We have so many people in our pockets it won’t be a problem at all. Lane will bring the papers over as early as the morning if we want.”
That makes me feel ten times better. I would rather die than allow that boy to go back to that worthless mother of his.
“Tomorrow, I want to see her.” I can hear the anger in my voice. I am so angry that if I think about it right now, I’d probably kill her if she were in front of me.
And I never want to hurt a living soul, but her? I don’t care. I can see the pain she has caused him.
“Where am I?” I hear Ronny ask in his sleepy voice.
I turn around. “Hi, we are at Maverick’s house.” I smile.
His eyes widen when he takes in the house. “Wow, you live here?”
“You live here now,” Maverick informs him, causing my heart to dance in my chest.
Ronny sits back in the seat like it’s hitting him hard. “I’m going to text a prospect to bring Ronny some clothes to wear until we can get shit for him tomorrow.”
I open the truck door. Maverick glares at me the whole time, but I grin and do it anyway, sliding out of the truck.
I hear Maverick’s door slamming shut. I open the back door for Ronny and Maverick slides his way in, taking over to help him out.
Maverick bends down and whispers in my ear, “You’re in trouble for that shit.”
I stop my giggling and look at him from the corner of my eye. My face grows hot at his double meaning.
“Want to pick out your room?” Maverick asks Ronny.
Ronny looks up at Maverick like he’s not real. I don’t know everything that Ronny has been through, but when I transitioned from my old life, everything was just shocking.
Ronny is like a bobblehead looking from left and right at everything in the house. Maverick shows him the kitchen, and I start making a mental list of things we need like snacks and drinks. Wait, will he be going to school? Has he ever gone to school before?
I don’t know how to be a mother or a caregiver. I never had that chance when I had to give up my girls.
I’d kill to be a mom, to have the chance to be that for someone. I’m in my late thirties, I can still do it.
“The last door on the right is mine and Bell’s bedroom,” Maverick says in a smug voice.
Ronny lets go of Maverick’s hand and walks to a bedroom a few doors down from ours.
Maverick takes my hand, pulling me to him. Both of us watch Ronny as he explores the room.
He walks to the bed, putting his hand down, rubbing the comforter. “I think I really like this room. Is this one okay?” Ronny looks at us. I can see he is hesitant.
“It’s yours,” Maverick confirms, and Ronny’s face brightens. He jumps up on the bed and lies down.
“I never had one before.”
We walk into the room with him. Maverick grabs a TV remote off of the chest and brings it over to Ronny. “Here’s the remote to the TV.”
“Never had what, honey?” I smile and sit next to him. He scoots closer to me and I resist the urge to pull him into a hug.
I just want to wrap him up and protect him from the world. I just can’t fathom how scared he was or what he thought when his mother did that.
It still blows my mind that she could sell her baby.
“Never had a bed before.”
Tears fill my eyes. I turn away so he doesn’t see. Maverick looks just as hurt as me.
“You know what would make this room better?” Maverick asks Ronny, who sits up higher.
“What?” Ronny asks, excited.
“Well, for one, we need a bookshelf with all of your favorite books. I think a bookstore run tomorrow is needed.” Maverick winks and Ronny looks like he could fall over.
“Oh, thank you, Maverick!” Ronny jumps off of the bed and slams into him, hugging his waist.
Maverick looks down at him, then at me in a way I have never seen before. I know in this moment Ronny just took his whole heart, claiming it as his.
There’s a knock at the door. “That’s probably Myra and Ryan.”
We all walk downstairs and I peer out the window. “Who are they?” Ronny asks, gripping my hand, I can see the slight fear on his face.
Maverick bends down. “The lady is a doctor. She is going to check you over to make sure you are healthy. The guy standing next to her is her husband. The other is someone bringing you some clothes. You’re safe.” He runs his hand down the back of his head. “I will always protect you, nothing will hurt you.”
I am so gone for him.
Ronny relaxes and takes Maverick’s hand as he opens the front door. “Hi Ronny, I’m Myra. I’m a doctor.” She smiles, holding her hand out for him to shake.
He does it. “Nice to meet you.” He smiles and scoots closer to Maverick when the guys walk into the house.
Maverick takes notice. “Why don’t you guys go to the kitchen and relax? There’s beer in the refrigerator.”
“Alright, sweetheart, let’s go sit on the couch.” Ronny lets go of Maverick’s hand and follows Myra to the couch.
“Hang on one second. I need to ask Maverick and Bell something.” Myra sets her bag down, walking over to us.
“I need to know, do you think there is a chance something could have happened to him, sexually?” she whispers, soft enough that only we can hear.
A deep fear strikes my heart at the prospect of that happening. It crossed my mind, but I am terrified to find out.
Maverick walks away, rubbing the back of his head. I can feel the anger rolling off of him in waves.
“Maverick, it’s probably a good idea,” I whisper.
He looks at me completely heartbroken. “I think it’s best I take him to my clinic here in town. It’s probably better for him,” Myra says.
Maverick nods and my heart cracks a little. “Hey Ronny, I think we’re going to get you checked out in town at the clinic, is that okay?”
He looks at the both of us in confusion, but nods. “I think pizza for dinner would be a great idea—what do you think?” I try to distract him from overthinking.
“I would love some!” He gets excited and runs to the door to put his shoes on.
Maverick
The wait is fucking torture for me and Bell. We sit and sit in this waiting room.
“I am so worried, it’s hard to breathe,” Bell whispers to me.
I lean over, kissing her on the forehead. “Me too,” I confirm. I hope to god that nothing has happened to him. I will go FUCKING BALLISTIC.
Twenty minutes later Myra walks out and shuts the door behind her. She pulls up a chair next to us. She has tears in her eyes. Fuck.
&
nbsp; Bell looks at me, horrified at what she could say. “First, I want you to know that he has not been sexually assaulted. I think you saved him from that fate.”
You could scrape me off of the floor I am so relieved.
“When I raised his shirt to check his lungs.” She pauses her head drops towards the floor.
Bell scoots forward, taking her hands in hers. “Are you okay?” she asks. She is so caring.
Myra takes a deep breath. “He has been whipped with a belt for years. He has wounds as fresh as yesterday. I need you guys to come with me, to show you how to clean the wounds. There are quite a few. I gave him medicine for the pain before we started.”
Bell jumps out of the chair, pacing the room. “Tomorrow you take me to her,” she says in a voice that I have never heard from her before.
“Did he say who whipped him?” I spit out the words.
Myra nods. “His mom and stepdad. He doesn’t even remember when it started.”
Fuck me.
Bell stops pacing and looks at me. “We will do right by him. We will give him the best life. One he deserves.”
Bell
Maverick stands up from his chair and takes my hand in his, squeezing tight, letting me know he’s here with me.
“Let’s go to our boy.”
We walk to his room. Ronny is sitting on the bed looking unsure. “Hi sweetheart.” I smile at him and take his hand.
“You’re not mad?” Ronny asks, looking unsure.
I look at him, startled. “What do you mean? Why would I be mad, honey?” I question, catching his tear with my finger.
He looks from me to Maverick. “She said you will have to take care of my back. That won’t make you not want me? Right?” I can hear the slight tremor in his voice.
It destroys my soul.
“No, baby, no. In the morning, if you want to live with us, we are going to sign the papers making you ours forever. If you want that…” Ronny interrupts me, “No, I want to live with you guys.”
Maverick rubs his shoulder. “Then you will be with us forever, even if you’re thirty years old and I’m an old man.” I laugh and Ronny joins in.
Myra makes her way into the room, shutting the door behind her. She gets some items out onto the tray.
“I will send everything you need home with you.” She starts opening gauze pads. “I will also be prescribing some antibiotics. I already did blood work and we should have that back tomorrow.”
“Alright, sweetheart, do you mind taking off your shirt?” Myra asks.
He looks at the both of us to make sure we’re okay with it. He lifts it over his head, handing it to me, and I take his hand, holding on tight, letting him know I am there for him.
Maverick and I step to the head of the bed so we can watch, and I almost fall to the ground in shock.
Maverick turns his head away, gripping the counter so tight it creaks under the pressure.
I rub Ronny’s hand, hoping he doesn’t notice our reaction. This precious baby has suffered; he has suffered in a way that is utterly inhumane.
His mother is a complete and utter monster. It makes me sick that I ever had hope that she would be a good mother.
Scars upon scars cover almost every inch of his skin—scars so thick and aggravated.
“I can recommend a great plastic surgeon, if that’s something he wants,” Myra points out.
“We will talk to him about it,” Maverick tells her, holding Ronny’s other hand.
Once his back is cleaned with ointment, we help him put his shirt back on. Myra doesn’t bother with the bandage because he will be showering later. “It feels much better, thank you.” Ronny smiles at her, his beautiful blue eyes shining with life for the first time today.
Ronny’s belly growls and I laugh. “I think it’s time we get some dinner!” Ronny giggles and takes my hand, hopping off of the bed.
“Thank you, Myra, we’ll see you in a few days.” He is to come back in a few days for a checkup.
Next thing on the list is to get him set up with seeing Braelyn, then we grab a few pizzas and his medicine and head home.
“Maverick, do you have soda at your house?” Ronny asks sheepishly.
Maverick grins that he openly asked him a question. “I sure do.” Ronny smiles, looking out of the window.
My poor heart. I feel so much love for this precious boy.
I feel so much for Maverick also. I feel things for him that I never dreamed
possible. He has completely changed my life.
* * *
“I’m dressed!” Ronny yells.
Maverick and I walk into the bathroom. “How are you feeling? Is your back hurting?” I ask, thinking the water probably made it hurt.
He shakes his head. “It doesn’t hurt me, Bell.”
It hurts me.
Gosh, how it hurts me. My heart is aching so bad as Maverick applies the ointment to his back and bandages it.
His whole back.
I take a comb off of the counter and run it through his strands, and it hits me. I have no clue how to fix his hair, at all. I try to comb it as best as possible.
“Alright, you are all set,” Maverick tells him, handing him his new pajama shirt that has dinosaurs on it.
He is so cute.
Ronny climbs into his bed. I pull the blankets up to his neck, tucking him in. “Can I turn the TV on? Just for a little bit?” he asks.
Maverick turns on the TV, handing him the remote. “Goodnight, honey.” I kiss him on his forehead and close my eyes for a moment, thankful that he is here, safe.
Today has been horrible, but I have him now.
Maverick takes my spot. I leave the room. Needing a second to myself, I stand outside of the door.
“I want to make a promise to you, Ronny. I will always keep you safe. You will never be hurt again. I will take care of you, always. This is your home, with me and Bell. I don’t want you to have any sort of fears, okay?”
I look at the two of them together. Ronny looks like he is on the verge of tears before he rises up and hugs Maverick, climbing into his lap.
Maverick closes his eyes, holding him just as tight. “Goodnight, Maverick, thank you for saving me.”
Maverick pulls back to look at Ronny, eye to eye. “I will always be there, always.”
Ronny lies back into the bed. Maverick tucks him in once again and shuts the door behind him, letting him have his privacy.
Maverick scoops me off of the floor, carrying me to his room, locking the door behind us.
My mind is stuck on him locking the door. Butterflies swarm my belly as to why we need to lock it.
He sets me gently onto the bed and stands above me, staring down at me with so much emotion that I have to catch my breath.
I take his hand, pulling him into the bed with me and kissing him. I lean back onto the bed, my legs on either side of his waist, pulling him as close as I can.
My fingers slip under his shirt, drifting along his back. His hand cups my throat, tilting my face to the side, breaking the kiss.
My eyes flutter open and I watch him. He gives me a heated look. I tighten my legs against him.
He bends, kissing the side of my neck. Goosebumps break out across my arms, my face growing warmer.
“I have never met someone in my life I have wanted more,” he whispers against my neck, his breath causing me to shiver.
He lifts his head to look at me. “I have never met someone I wanted to give the world to like I do you. I have never met someone who I wanted to protect like I do you.” He lifts my hand, pressing it against his chest. “You are mine, just like I am yours.”
“Maverick.” My voice cracks, overwhelmed by his beautiful, unexpected words.
“I am yours. I never want to be anyone’s ever again.” I close my eyes, collecting myself. “I want to be yours, you have shown me how it feels to be taken care of, to be safe. You make me feel safe, physically, but most of all, you take care of my heart, my mind. Everything
.”
He looks at me in a way that lets me know that he means every single word. He rests his forehead against mine.
“Baby, can you tell me about your past?” he asks.
A deep fear strikes my heart. What if he thinks I’m disgusting? But he needs to know.
“I was forced to marry when I was fourteen years old, to a man that was in his thirties.” I start shaking so bad, I tuck my trembling hands under my body to make me feel like I am sort of in control.
Maverick reaches under me and takes my hand from under me, kissing the back of it.
I don’t deserve him.
“I thought at first that maybe I could have a better life. The second I was married, I wished I could have gone back to my old life.”
Maverick
Bell’s eyes get a glossy look to them. I regret asking her to tell me, but I need to know.
I need to know how long I’m going to make her ex-husband fucking suffer, how long I need to torture him for the pain he has caused her.
“It started the wedding night. I was scared, alone and so confused, but he just threw me down onto the bed. That was the first time he raped me. That continued until a few months ago when I left him. And that’s not even counting the physical and mental abuse I suffered along with that.”
“Baby, I am so fucking sorry that you were hurt in that way. That shit has broken my fucking soul.”
I feel split wide fucking open. I feel so much anger I can barely breathe, but the pain of what she suffered?
It’s suffocating.
I press my face into the crook of her neck, trying to control my anger. I don’t want her to see me mad. “I’m okay, promise,” she tries to reassure me.
“Angel, I know you fucking hurt, but the amazing thing is, you’re here. You’re thriving and I feel honored that you trust me enough to be around me.”
She smiles slightly. “What if I told you I would never be ready to have sex?”
Bell
I watch his reaction closely as he buries his hand in my hair. “I’m not here with you because of sex. I’m here with you because I care about you so much that I can’t fucking breathe sometimes.”
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