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

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.”

He nods and I hand him a card with information about a warehouse we are selling. “I can’t wait.” He grins and looks at Bell one more time. “Soon, bitch,” he mouths to her and the men walk around the building out of sight.

It takes every fucking thing for me not to run after them, to destroy them. It goes against every single part of me.

But I have to protect Bell and Ronny first. I won’t allow them to get hurt. The lie that I just spoke, it’s like acid on my tongue.

I round the truck when Smiley drives into the parking lot. He jumps out and runs to me. “What the fuck happened?”

I fill him in on exactly what happened, and he grins that fucking crazy grin. “Call everyone. We got to find out this shit and put a stop to it.”

He nods and I wave at his ole lady in the passenger seat looking concerned. I get inside of the truck and lock the door, starting it up. “What happened, Maverick?” Ronny asks.

“Nothing, buddy, they were just apologizing,” I lie to him. If it saves some of his innocence, I will.

He doesn’t need to know this shit. I know Bell doesn’t believe me. I lift her hand and kiss the back of it. “I’ll explain later.”

We