“If you don’t, I’ll send my men through Creed’s Crossing and find you. I’ll send them to Shackled Sons businesses and blow them up. They’ll never recover. Then I’ll take you anyway. You’re mine, Octavia.”
I couldn’t speak. Tears flowed freely down my face as I listened to his vile decree. I was so close. So close to being free of him. Why had I chosen to stay?
For Maverick.
Because I loved him.
I’d always loved him.
“What about Maribelle? Lani and Bane? Don’t you care about them?” My heart was in my throat, just thinking about them being in danger because of me. “What would he think if his own family got hurt because of you? He’d never trust you again…he’d cast you out and then where will you be? Whoring on the side of the road to make ends meet and I’ll still have my son with me. I’m giving you an out.”
Bile was rising in my throat. “If I come to you…you’ll stop your attacks on them? You’ll leave them alone?”
I could hear the glee in his voice. He thought he’d won, but I had a plan in place. I wasn’t going to let him poison my son. No, Van would know love, even if it couldn’t be from me.
“Yes, I’ll leave them alone. Come to the house tonight. I’ll have dinner waiting.”
He hung up before I could say anything else. The cordless phone hung limply in my hand, cold dread shooting through me.
I could warn Maverick. Tell him everything. But what if everyone got hurt because of me? What if his family were hurt and he’d never be able to look at me again?
I have to do this.
For him.
For them.
For Van.
Maverick
Dane,
I’m sorry. I can’t even begin to fathom how much you’re going to hate me for this, but I’ve had to do it. This world…the bikes…the club…it’s all too much. I had to make sure I’m giving my all to Van. I can’t keep putting him through these changes, through danger. You’re a dad. You made that call once before too. I wish things were different. I wish he were your son, not his, but he’s not. I need to run. Need to get away before he takes my son from me, before he destroys everything good about me.
By the time you read this, I will be long gone. Hidden away. Safe.
Be good to yourself. Goodbye.
Octavia Bainbridge
Reading over the handwritten note didn’t get any easier. I’d thought after clearing everything with Mari and the kids thateverything was going to be fine. We were locking down that night. We were safe.
But she’d left, without a word and now I was here, drowning in the bottom of my bottle of bourbon as the club partied around us. Prospects and our enforcers were outside, keeping us safe, Reaper was enjoying his time with Rowan, unencumbered, and I was here, hating everything about my life.
At least Mari was happy. And the kids. They had a deluxe cabin out the back. Safety.
“Answers can’t be found at the bottom of a bottle, Mav.” Shadow slid up beside me, sitting down at the stool as if I’d invited him to join my pity party. I couldn’t think of anything worse right now.
“Then don’t ask any questions of me.”
“Come on…she was scared, she left. This life isn’t for everyone.”
I wanted to believe that. I did. But the pain of losing her was almost too much to bear. I hadn’t realised how much you could love someone after only knowing them a short while.
Then again, I’d always known…hadn’t I?
She was tattooed on my body because I’d fallen for her five years ago. This time, it hurt more, because I knew I loved her.
