Maverick, Ashers, LeAnn [best ereader for students txt] 📗

I settle him in my lap and Maverick piles in next to us.

“Want to tell us about it?” I kiss the top of his head, rocking side to side like he’s a small child.

Maverick pulls up his blanket over all of us. I lean back in bed, holding him. “It was how scared I felt when the man reached inside of the center, grabbing me. I fought, but he told me my mommy sold me to him.”

I close my eyes. I can’t even imagine the horror and how that felt, knowing that you are going to be taken and there is nothing you can do about it.

“They took me to the house. They said things to me. I don't understand what it meant. I just know it was bad.”

I look at Maverick. His jaw is clenched so hard I’m not sure how it’s not breaking.

“I can’t imagine how scary that was, honey. You never have to fear again. You will always be safe with me and Maverick. Nightmares are awful and they remind you of bad things that have happened. I’ll be here to hold you through all of it.”

He sniffs and wraps his little arm tighter around my stomach. “I love you Bell.”

My nose burns from holding back the tears. “I love you too, sweetheart, more than anything.”

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