AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I mean it. You are the single most important thing in my life.”
Tears flood my eyes and a lump the size of a basketball clogs my throat.
“Come on, we need to get out of here,” he says before I manage to find any words in reply.
He releases my face, leaving me cold without his touch. Grabbing my hand, he drags me behind the tall wall that conceals the mansion behind us.
He treks through the undergrowth as if he’s done it a million times before. Pushing aside any feelings about leaving Reid’s manor, I follow my husband.
He might tell me that he’d lay down his life for me, well, in return, I’d walk right into hell for him. Some might say that I already have. But there is nothing in this life I could do to repay him for everything he’s given me.
I might have fucked up on the loyalty part of our marriage, but I want to show him that I didn’t do it lightly, and that not once did I forget about him.
“Just up there,” he says when we’ve been walking for a good twenty minutes.
Thunder and lightning still rumble around us, illuminating our way through the trees.
It’s probably not the undercover escape he’d planned, but it’s too late to go back now.
“Is that a car?” I ask when another bolt of lightning illuminates the air around us, the brightness flashing off the windows.
“Our getaway driver,” Mav says, glancing at me with a knowing look.
He planned this. I guess that explains why he was so quiet last night.
“You’ve really planned this, huh?” I mutter as we close in on the black Chevy.
Mav doesn’t reply; he’s focused on our escape.
The second he steps up to the car, he pulls the back door open and gestures for me to climb inside.
As my foot leaves the uneven ground beneath us, there’s another loud crack of thunder before the sound of heavy raindrops surrounds us.
“Quick,” Mav says, his hands wrapping around my waist and lifting me up.
“Good evening, young lady. Long time no see.”
The familiar voice gives me pause as I scoot across the back seat to give Mav space to join me.
Looking up, my eyes collide with a pair of soft, kind ones I know all too well.
“Sheila,” I cry, both relieved and mortified to see her.
I’ve no doubt that she already knows everything. She might not be Mav’s biological grandmother but that has never stopped her from stepping into the role. Over the years, there haven’t been many secrets between them, especially after Daisy came along and Ivy died.Mav has been there for them without question, supporting both of them in a way he would have if Ivy were still here.
“Nice hair. Didn’t think I’d ever see you cut it.”
Pain cuts through my chest as I think about my new look and that old promise I made to Kristie.
“Thanks,” I mutter, my voice twinged with sadness.
While I try not to drown in unwanted memories from my time in Reid’s basement, she studies me.
“Can we just go?” Mav suggests. “I didn’t drag you into this so you could spend the night interrogating Alana.”
“Not interrogating, Maverick,” she chastises. “I’m just concerned. For both of you.”
Finally, she spins back around and brings the engine to life.
