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After the night before, I knew that to be true. He’d been so dominant, his hands rough against my skin, every pound of his hips brought tears to my eyes. I knew I’d grow to live for that touch.
“Maverick,” I asked.
He rolled over, dragging me back against his chest. “Yeah?”
“Why wasn’t Derek arrested when you got better?”
His light fingertips drug against my skin causing goosebumps. “I told them his name, but he was a ghost. No one could find him, and to be honest, I don’t think the police believed my mother when she explained everything to them. She was a drug-using prostitute.”
“Then why not tell on him now?”
Maverick tensed. “Josie, it’s been five years, no one would believe me, and how could I prove it was him—,”
“Get a lawyer—,”
“With what money, Josie? If I get one, he’ll get a better one, if he’s selling drugs, he can afford a good one. It’ll be a waste of time—,”
“It’s not,” I nearly shouted. “He tried to kill you, Maverick. He pimped out your mother and gave her drugs. He can’t get away with this.”
Maverick shot up out of bed. “We can’t beat him. Even if I tried, I can’t risk him hurting you because of me. Look what he did to my mom. I don’t know whom he works for. I don’t know who works with him. I can’t risk your and Frankie’s life because of me.”
Frustration stained Maverick’s face. I hated that he didn’t want to try, I understood, but I hated it. Slowly, I crawled over to his side of the bed on my knees and pulled him into a hug. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I just hate seeing you this way.”
Maverick kissed my forehead. “I’ve got to get ready and so do you.”
I watched him go to his room to get dressed without another word. There was no way in Hell I could let this man get away with this.
If Maverick was too scared to find evidence. I would.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Maverick
The bittersweet taste of the truth hung heavy on my tongue the next day. After Josie confessed to wanting to bring justice down on Derek, my head spun during all of my classes. I couldn’t let her risk her life for me.
I hadn’t seen Derek since that night. He disappeared from my mother’s life and my own. I’d spent most of the next two years looking over my shoulder, scared that he’d try to come back and finish the job. It was the reason I decided to start football and begin working out. To be able to defend my family and myself.
After a while, I stopped thinking about him coming back. Which meant I didn’t know what he was into, or what he would do now to Josie or Frankie. If she started digging around in his life, he may hurt her—or kill her. Look what he did to a thirteen-year-old boy who asked too many questions.
I pressed my eyes closed on the bus ride back to campus. Most of the guys were sleeping since it was after ten, but sleep hadn’t come as easy to me this time. Every time I closed my eyes, I could see the way Derek tried to kiss Josie. Part of me felt curious as towhy. Josie was beautiful and talented, but something else lingered.
Why risk his career, and why risk the chance of getting caught hitting on a student and your past dug up for a kiss? It didn’t make sense.
I opened up my phone to see a new text from Josie.
Josie:How was the game? I heard y’all won.
After I responded, I waited for her to answer but she didn’t right away. We passed the population sign for Baton Rouge and I felt myself relax.
“Have you heard from him?” I heard the assistant coach ask.
“No, he’s disappeared," Coach said.
I knew they were talking about King because he’d been a no-show since the raid at the fieldhouse.
“His parents have been looking for him,” he whispered.
I couldn’t imagine what they were feeling. I didn’t like him but I wouldn’t want him to disappear due to drugs, or whatever. Part of me knew it would link to Derek, but I couldn’t prove that to anyone.
