Maverick

by Ashers, LeAnn

  It took a lot of reassuring that no one was going to hurt her. Ronny was the biggest help. She trusted him completely first. She trusted his word that she is safe with us.

  Then one day she approached and asked if I could hold her. That changed my life.

  I was so happy, I cried for hours. I think it’s the pregnancy hormones. I’m not sure how I’m going to tell Maverick.

  I know he wanted kids, but we have these two—what if this is all he wants? I close my eyes, letting the anxiety wash over me then pushing it down. There is no point in freaking out over something until I know.

  I hid the test under the sink. Tomorrow we’re making a trip to Kentucky where my parents are.

  Smiley and Adeline are coming. Adeline is going to watch the kids at the hotel while I see my parents.

  I thought about letting Jessica watch them, but Anna overheard and she panicked.

  She is super attached to me and Maverick. She’s still terrified that she’s going to be taken away from us.

  She has nightmares every single night. With some she just rolls over and goes back to sleep, but the others terrify her to her core.

  She will run to our room and cling to Maverick, then she’ll go back to sleep. I smile to see her fast asleep. I wrap her up tighter.

  The one thing I’m not fond of for these games and practices is the cold. We’ve learned the hard way so we bring blankets, warm drinks and something to sit on because those seats are cold.

  Maverick walks into the room. He looks around until he spots me and Anna.

  God, he is so sexy.

  All of the mothers turn to stare at him walking to me. I would watch too. He’s a great dad—the best. He’s there for every little moment, and there’s nothing more attractive than that.

  “Hey baby.” He sits beside me, his arm around my back, pulling me and Anna into his side.

  “Hi.” I kiss the underside of his jaw, smiling.

  Just do it now, get it over with so you don't cause yourself a panic attack, I tell myself.

  “I have to tell you something.” I sit up, looking at him, being serious.

  His eyes widen at my expression. “What is it? Are you sick?” He runs his hand down my arm.

  I shake my head. “I’m fine, a little sick to my stomach, but that tends to happen,” I hint, but I’m dying inside waiting for him to catch what I’m trying to say.

  He puts the back of his hand against my forehead. “Do you want me to take you to the doctor?” He leans forward, kissing my forehead. “You’re not hot, no fever.”He smirks. “Well, you are definitely hot though.”

  I laugh at him being cheesy. I hesitate for a second, but I know he loves me and I think I’m being completely ridiculous.

  I take his hand in my mine, pressing it against my stomach. “I took a test this morning. It was positive.”

  He looks down at his hand pressed against my stomach. “Pregnant?” he says, so low I can barely hear him, before he smiles a smile of pure happiness.

  “I am so fucking happy.” He leans forward to kiss me, making sure not to jostle Anna.

  Tears are falling from my eyes into our kiss, mingling. The weight of the world is off of my shoulders. I was scared for no reason.

  I am so happy.

  I am so blessed. Every struggle I have had in my life is worth it because everything I have ever dreamed about is happening.

  He breaks the kiss, forehead pressed against mine. “I am so fucking lucky. You gave me a life, baby.” He chuckles, shaking his head slightly like he’s in disbelief that this is happening.

  It is. I’m going to have a baby. It will complete our family. My hand drifts to the back of his neck, rubbing slightly, basking in this moment.

  “We need to get you to the doctor ASAP.” He stands up abruptly, his phone out and to his ear.

  Ronny gets off of the ice, stomping to his seat and taking off his skates. He looks over at us and grins. “Mom, what’s for dinner?”

  He’s always hungry. “We’re having lasagna.”

  He fist pumps the air and start unlacing his skates even faster. Maverick hangs up the phone. “I have an appointment for you in the morning before we leave. Maybe I should just go?”

  I glare at him. “No, I need to do this. I have to have this last piece of the puzzle gone out of my life.”

  He sighs. “Fuck, I know, darlin’, but you know this shit is hard to me. I’m taking Shaylin just in case. I’m not fighting that bitch, but Shaylin can.”

  Oh my lord. “Maverick, I am not going to fight her.”

  He laughs. “Darlin’, I’m going just to bash your motherfucking piece of shit dad’s face, period.”

  I shrug. “I honestly don’t care what happens to them. I never wished bad things to happen to them until I saw this precious baby.”

  I study Anna’s beautiful face. She is so beautiful and her heart is so pure, but she has demons that haunt her. Those are from my parents. They caused that.

  “They did it to you, baby. I can’t forget that fact either. I am fucking enraged.”

  “Watch your language,” some older lady calls from behind us.

  I turn around and stare at the lady, confused. We’re whispering because Anna is literally asleep beside me.

  She looks down at us like we’re scum. “You both are disgusting.”

  Maverick points his finger at her. “Mind your own business,” he growls. I can tell he is pissed the fuck off and so am I.

  She gasps in shock, holding her chest like she’s having a heart attack. “Is that how you’re teaching your children?”

  That’s what pisses me off. I lift Anna, settling her in Maverick’s arms, and I stomp up the bleachers to her.

  I sit in front of her, staring. “What is hurting so bad inside of you that you have to be ugly to others?” I ask.

  I can tell she is shocked. One part of me wants to tear her a new one, but I also know that everyone has hurts.

  She looks down at the floor. “My husband is cheating on me. I am just so angry at the world.”

  I sigh in sympathy. “I am sorry that is happening to you, but did that make you feel better, being mean to us?”

  Her face reddens, showing her shame. She shakes her head no. I smile, nodding. “I didn’t think so. Take this as a lesson to be nice to others because everyone hurts. But next time someone might not be lenient with the Karen attitude. I could have beaten your ass, but I decided to be nice today but next time I won’t be.” I wink and leave her speechless.

  Maverick, on the other hand, is half lying down, cracking up with Ronny. By his side Anna is wide awake too,

  “You are the nicest badass I have ever seen, darlin’,” Maverick says through his chuckles, tugging me to him and kissing me.

  My face burns. “I just can’t be mean. I want to be so bad sometimes.” I stomp my foot slightly and Maverick laughs so loud it booms around the rink.

  “Mom, you are too nice to be mean.” Ronny hugs me around my middle. I bend over and hug him back.

  I know I will do anything and everything to protect my kids, no matter what.

  “I love you, my boy.” I squeeze him a little tighter. One day he is going to get old enough and the hugs will end.

  “I love you, Momma.”

  God, my heart

  Anna takes her spot on the other side, hugging me and Ronny. “Family hug.” Maverick takes his cue and we are all huddled together.

  “You guys, I really am starving.” Ronny breaks the moment, his voice muffled from being squeezed. I laugh and let him go. “Come on, let’s get our boy fed.”

  Bell

  The Next Morning

  We have been on the plane for an hour. I’ve been staring at the ultrasound pictures of my baby.

  I am ten weeks pregnant.

  I’m over the moon. Hearing their heartbeat for the first time was life-changing. The kids were there with me and Maverick. It was a moment I will never forget.

  We told the kids once we got ho
me from Ronny’s practice. They were excited. Anna thinks the baby is hers to raise. She was on my phone looking at baby stuff all evening.

  Ronny is just wanting to teach him or her how to play hockey. He has tried for days to talk Anna into learning with him, but she just wants to be a princess.

  Anna and Tiana are playing dolls in the floor of the plane—both are the same age.

  Imagine my shock when we pulled up to the airport and a private jet was waiting for us. I knew the club had money but never did I expect this.

  Zach is watching a movie with Ronny. I’m glad they have someone to have fun with during this.

  I don’t want Anna to know we’re in Kentucky to see our parents. After that we’re going to fly to Disney World for a vacation.

  Butcher is quiet. He doesn’t really speak, and if he does it’s to Shaylin, who looks a lot like her dad Smiley. He’s here with us, along with Adeline.

  Anna crawls over to us, giving us huge puppy eyes, and taps Maverick on the knee. “What’s the matter?” he asks.

  “Can I have a puppy?” she asks in the sweetest little voice ever.

  She’s good, I’ll give her that. “If you could have—and that’s if—what kind would you want?”

  “A poodle!” she says so excitedly. “They are so, so cute!” she gushes, and starts listing facts about poodles and why they’re so great.

  Maverick sits and listens to her ramble on and on about how she’ll take care of it, love it.

  The kids are not in school. We decided to homeschool for the rest of the school year and we will be sending them to school with the rest of the MC kids.

  * * *

  The second we drive down the familiar road, the nerves start to kick in. I have not seen my parents since I was fourteen years old and I had to walk down the aisle.

  I remember begging my mother in the bathroom where I was getting ready to take me home with her, but she told me it was my duty as a woman to marry or I would shame them.

  Little did I know that he paid for me.

  “There’s the trailer.” I lean forward, pointing. There’s a bunch of girls I knew as kids outside working in the garden.

  They had the same fate as me. I wonder if their lives were better. I think I would like to speak to them and maybe see if I can help them in any way.

  Butcher parks the SUV in front. I look at the house and it looks the same but more run-down.

  “We don't have to do this,” Maverick says, holding my hand tighter.

  I lick my lips, breathing in and out, trying to calm my nerves as best as I can. I’m terrified to see them, but I’m also so angry for the way they treated Anna.

  “Just stay with me?”

  His face softens. “I would never leave you, baby, ever.” He takes my hand and steps out of the SUV with me behind him.

  Shaylin takes my other side. Smiley stayed back with Adeline to help the kids.

  The door swings open before we can even step on the porch. My father’s face comes into view as he steps out.

  He looks older. Time has not treated him well.

  I can tell he’s shocked. His eyes go from Maverick to Butcher before settling on me.

  “Isabella?” he questions.

  “It’s me,” I confirm, my body shaking at seeing him after so long and so many memories coming to the surface, not good ones.

  I close my eyes as the images of him beating me for spilling my food rush through my head. I wasn’t allowed to eat for a couple of days after that in punishment.

  I had no peace. I had to walk on eggshells. God forbid I would get sick; it was left up to me and if I made a mess, I was in deep trouble.

  No one cared for me.

  I’m not even sure how I’m even alive.

  Maverick steps in front of me, walking up the porch and pushing me farther inside. Shaylin takes my hand, holding it tightly as we follow Maverick inside.

  I bite my lip to stop the trembling, I feel like I’m thirteen years old again and scared of my parents.

  I look around the house. It’s exactly the same, just much older and everything is worn down.

  I spot a Barbie doll in the corner of the room. The scared little girl is gone and is replaced by anger at what happened to Anna.

  My mother gasps when she sees me. “Isabella, why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be with your husband?”

  That sends a chill right down my spine. “We are not here to talk about me. We are here to talk about how fucking disgusting you are.”

  Her face shows her shock at my language, oh yes. “What?” she says, so dramatically I want to puke.

  My father stands beside her, his hand on her shoulder. “What is the meaning of this, Isabella? I taught you better than that,” he scolds me like I’m a child.

  I laugh. “Are you kidding me? You didn’t teach me anything! You gave me away as a kid. I was engaged at thirteen years old and married at fourteen! I was groomed.” I stop myself from calling him “Dad”—he doesn’t deserve the title.

  His face shows his anger. “You have embarrassed this family, you and your sister!” he hisses.

  That pisses me right the fuck off. “Anna? She is a baby!”

  His face changes to confusion. “No, Daniella.”

  What? What is he talking about?

  “After you got married, your Mom got pregnant again with Daniella. Daniella died soon after she gave birth to Anna.

  I am floored, FLOORED. Anna isn’t my sister, she is my niece…

  Maverick’s looks shocked too. “What happened to her?”

  He shrugs his shoulders. He fucking shrugs his shoulders. “Daniella's husband said she was misbehaving and she was taken to the church to correct the problem, which was the right thing to do. The next thing we knew Anna was at our door. Daniella died, leaving us to raise Anna.”

  What the ever-loving fuck?

  My head is spinning, “What is her husband’s name?” I urge.

  “Randy McCormick.”

  I know exactly who that is. I rush out of the house so I can breathe. I have a sister who is dead, or is she dead?

  Maverick

  Bell’s face shows complete horror. I nod to Butcher and Shaylin, giving them the go-ahead to do as they please.

  My girl needs me more than I need justice.

  “Baby.” I take a hold of her arms, trying to get her attention.

  She tilts her head up, eyes filled with tears. “They are horrible people, Maverick. They’re known for it. We need to confirm she’s dead.”

  “We will, baby. Let me call River.” I open the SUV door, helping her inside so she’s not out in this heat.

  I stay on the phone while she searches. She is the best and the club has been using her a lot lately with things like this.

  I can hear my brother in the background laughing his ass off, probably at something completely stupid

  “Found her. I don’t think she’s dead. I hacked the fucker’s—aka the husband’s—phone and he texted his father a few days ago letting him now that she should be ready soon.”

  Fuck.

  I don't know if I’m relieved or not to hear she is alive. I cannot imagine the things she has been through if it’s true.

  I open the door, and Bell sits forward, ready to find out the truth. “River doesn’t think she’s dead. We have the address.”

  “I’m on my way down there. Don’t fucking start without me. Gage, get your ass up. We’re going to Kentucky!” River yells, then hangs up. I put my phone in my pocket, gathering Bell in my arms.

  Bell is horrified. “Maverick, I’m scared to see how she is.” She’s shaking. If it’s worse than the horrors she has faced…

  “I’ll be back.” I shut the door and lock it so no one can try to get in. Inside the house, Butcher has the dad on the ground in a ball, crying, with knife cuts covering him.

  Shaylin is cackling as she cuts Bell’s mom’s hair, leaving her completely bald with a few strands here and there.

  “We nee
d to leave them tied up for the next few days. We have some shit we need to handle.”

  Shaylin pouts. “You mean no more fun?” She drags her gun down the mom’s face.

  “Let me fill you in.” I wave them to the door and onto the porch and tell them all of the info.

  “This is so fucked up, Maverick. I can’t stand this shit. Can we just kill them all and move on?” Shaylin throws out.

  “Don’t I fucking wish.”

  * * *

  Bell is deep inside of her head, but the kids are keeping her happy. I can see that this shit is riding her head.

  I can’t say I blame her.

  The horrors she has faced fucks me up. Every night I have bad dreams. It goes against every part of me that she was hurt and I couldn’t save her.

  The door is pushed open. Gage enters first and then River, grinning. “I’m here. Who’s ready to fuck some shit up?”

  Shaylin tilts her head to the side, studying her, eyes narrowed. “Can you shoot?”

  River smirks. “Just the balls off of an ant.”

  Shaylin gets that crazy fucking grin on her face, “Do I have a mini me? I think I do. I shall teach you my ways.” She grabs River’s hand and pulls her to the side of the room where she has her guns laid out.

  I look over at Butcher, who should be panicking but he’s just sharpening his knife. Smiley is grinning that fucking grin. Gage sits beside Butcher, sharpening his knife also.

  River stops talking. “Where’s my mom?” she asks.

  “She’s over here.” I nod to window, where Bell is partially hidden by the chair.

  River walks to me. “Is she okay?” she asks.

  I shake my head. “Her mind is racing with the what ifs right now.”

  River walks to her mom, hugging her. Bell hugs her so tight. “I love you, my sweet girl.”

  Gage watches River. “You really do care for her?” I ask him.

  He nods. “Fuck yeah I do. When you know you know.”

  That is without a doubt. The second I met Bell everything changed, but it’s the best change.

  “We’re ready,” Smiley says.

  Adeline comes over and sits beside Bell. Bell looks so sad and defeated.