Page 124 of King of Pride

Rose pressed her free hand over her mouth, but the sob that escaped her was impossible to hold back. Her shoulders shook as tears streamed down her face.

She wanted to reach through the screen and tear that boy away from them.

She couldn't watch anymore.

With trembling fingers, she tossed the phone onto the couch and covered her face, desperately trying to stop the tears. It didn't help. They kept spilling down her cheeks while her shoulders shook with silent sobs.

But even after she looked away, the images wouldn't leave her mind.

Maverick as a child.

So thin he looked almost fragile. Sitting on the floor while hungry dogs fought him for scraps of food. Albert striking him again and again with a wooden stick. That cruel voice calling him a monster.

Rose squeezed her eyes shut, but the memories only became clearer.

For the next hour, Rose couldn't settle down.

Eventually, she managed to wipe her face and steady her breathing, but her eyes remained swollen and red. She picked up her phone again and stared at Maverick’s name on the screen, her thumb hovering over it.

She was just about to call him when the front door opened.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the house.

Chapter 16 Ivan’s Accident

Rose’s head snapped up.

Maverick walked inside, completely unaware of what had happened while he was gone. The moment Rose saw him, whatever composure she had managed to gather disappeared.

She shot to her feet and hurried toward him.

“Maverick…”

Before he could even ask what was wrong, she threw her arms around him.

He stiffened in surprise.

Then, almost instinctively, his arms came around her, pulling her against his chest.

Rose said nothing. She simply clung to him, burying her face against his chest as another wave of emotion threatened to overwhelm her. The familiar scent of him only made the tears come harder.

Maverick’s hand moved slowly over her back.

“Rose…”

When he finally eased her away, his eyes immediately searched her tear-streaked face. The concern that crossed his features was instant.

“What happened?” His voice dropped, each word edged with concern. “Why are you crying?”

Rose looked up at him, desperately trying to hold herself together.

She failed.

More tears spilled down her cheeks.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Why did you have to suffer so much?”

Maverick frowned, clearly confused.