Maverick

The second we stepped inside Lo’s house and the door clicked shut behind us, it was like I could finally breathe. Hooking an arm around her, I pulled Lo back into my chest, nuzzling her neck. “I missed you.” My voice muffled in her hair.

She smelled of smoke and beer.

She smelled like a party.

“You were out?” I said, and she stilled.

“You didn’t know?”

“Kyle texted and said you were okay, that’s all.”

“We went to the football team’s party. It was Laurie’s idea.” Her voice was flat, and I turned her in my arms, taking in her torn expression.

“What’s wrong?”

Her brow raised, lips drawn into a thin line.

“Okay, dumb question. But I’m here now, and your dad’s not.” And I needed her. Fuck, did I need her.

Three hours mixing with my father’s business associates, playing in his world. I needed to erase it all. Not to mention the lingering stench of Caitlin’s perfume. Her fake smiles and high-pitched laughter that set my hair on end.

“I need a drink.” Lo shirked out of my hold and stormed down the hallway with a slight sway. I dragged a hand down my face with a groan. I’d wondered what I would find when I showed up here. All night, I’d played over the possible scenarios in my head. Would she run into my arms, relieved to have me back in one piece, or slam the door in my face?

I guess we were somewhere in the middle.

And it would have to do. Because being here was better than being there: playing the puppet, letting him pull my strings. Adrenaline rushed through me, the familiar spike of anger looking for a way out. I craned my neck from side to side, trying to work out the kinks. Trying to push down the storm.

Three deep breaths and I moved down the hallway after Lo. She could run but she couldn’t hide. The second I stepped in the kitchen, my eyes found her, drinking in the sight of her clutching the glass like it was her life supply.

“Say the word and I’ll tell you everything,” I said. “I’ll give you the whole play-by-play if it’ll make you feel better.”

“Don’t.” Her eyes shuttered as she let out a shaky breath.

I wanted to touch her. God, did I want to touch her, to reach out and make her see there was only her.

Only ever her.

“London,” I growled, and her eyes widened, flashing with contempt.

“Fuck you.” A mask slammed down over her face, but it wouldn’t keep me out.

Nothing would keep me out.

“You can shout at me.” I walked toward her slowly. “Call me all the names under the sun. Hit me. Hurt me.”

Lo moved back, keeping distance between us, but I was quicker. My body almost slammed into hers, sending the water splashing over the rim of the glass. I crowded her against the counter, staring down at her. “You can hate me and wish you never got messed up in my fucked-up life. I’ll take it. I’ll take it all. But you can’t leave me, Lo. You promised.”

Her eyes glazed over and soft full lips parted on a soft sigh. “I hate this,” she whispered. “I hate imagining her with you.”

I lowered my face until my mouth was hovering over hers. “So don’t. Imagine me. Us. Imagine me kissing you. Holding you. Imagine me inside of you. Loving you.”

She swallowed, the sound piercing the thick silence, and she swayed again. Lo was drunk. Maybe not wasted, but she’d been drinking and like a pussy, part of me hoped it was the reason for her acting like this.

But deep down, I knew it wasn’t.

“When your mind goes there, imagine this.” My hand slid along her neck, burying itself in her hair. “Me. Standing here, telling you how much I love you. Showing you how much I love you.” A shudder ripped through her and I leaned in licking a trail from her collarbone to the soft skin underneath her ear. “Only you, Lo.”

I wanted nothing more than to scoop her up and carry her caveman style to the bedroom. But I was exhausted and Lo looked ready to collapse. So I took the glass from her and placed it on the counter, slipped my hand into hers and guided us down the hallway to the bedroom. Then I stripped the clothes from her body and helped her into bed.

“Stay with me?” She pulled the covers up around her body and I moved closer, reaching down to brush the stray hairs from her face.

“Not tonight. You need sleep and if I stay we both know that won’t happen.”

Lo pouted, her bottom lip begging to be kissed. But I resisted, stuffing down all my desires and needs and said, “Good night, Lo.”

She was asleep before I got to the door.

~

I should have gone straight home. When Selina’s text came through, I should have told her I was sorry. That I couldn’t babysit her brother.

But I didn’t.

I was too wired. Leaving Lo was the right thing to do. She was angry, tired and a little bit drunk; throw sex into the mix and I knew things could turn sour. But now I had all this pent-up energy and nowhere to use it. So when the text came through, I got in my car and drove.

The warehouse loomed in the distance, lit up by a couple of floodlights. Cars lined the perimeter. And as I drew nearer, the beast inside me stirred. It had been almost a month since I last fought. My bruises were healed. The pain barely noticeable anymore. But I missed it. Fuck, did I miss the sting. The jarring bite of agony. The adrenaline pumping through my veins.

The high.

But I’d made a promise, and I had no intentions of breaking it. But just because I’d promised not to step in the ring, didn’t mean I couldn’t watch. Like an addict stalking a bottle of vodka or a junkie lingering in a stoner’s smoke. Just one taste.

One. More. Taste.

The second I entered the place, my blood sizzled. It was busy. The crowd already fired up and thirsty for blood. I’d grabbed my spare hoodie out of the trunk and slipped it over my body, leaving the hood up. But a couple of guys noticed me, tipping their heads in respect. I cut through them, positioning myself as near to the ring as possible. Two guys were going at it, fists smacking. Heads cracking. Bone crunching.

Thirst exploded in my chest and heat flashed through me, forming beads of sweat across my forehead. I wanted in. I wanted to make it stop. To rain my fists down on some faceless opponent, imagining it was him.

“Prince?” Someone yelled over the noise and I turned to see Dex bouncing on his feet, shoulders pitching to the side with each crack coming from the ring. He looked as wired as I felt. A junkie itching for their next hit.

“Hey, man,” I said lifting my chin before fixing my hardened gaze back on the ring.

“Didn’t expect to see you here.” He moved closer. “I thought you were done after what went down last time.”

“I am done,” I ground out.

“Looks like it, man.” He slapped me on the back and I bristled, folding my arms over my chest. He laughed, deep and coarse, and it only fueled my agitation. When he noticed my worsening mood, he laughed.

“Easy, Prince. I’m just pushing your buttons. I don’t blame you for stepping away. Wish I could sometimes, but we both know it’s not going to happen.” Realization flashed in his eyes. “Wait, did Selina… of course she fucking did. She needs to learn when to—”

“She’s worried.”

He puffed out his chest. “Yeah, well she doesn’t need to be. I’ve got this, man.”

One of the guys went down and the room exploded. The crowd jostled, shoving us forward, but when they caught a glimpse of Dex’s blue-tinged mohawk they backed off, mumbling apologies.

“Listen, I got to go get ready. Stick around, we’ll catch a drink afterward.” He scratched his jaw.

I opened my mouth to tell him to be careful, to watch his back. To remember he had Selina to think about. But he was too far gone, and no fighter wanted to hear those words seconds before a match. So I gave him a tight nod and watched as he slipped into the crowd.

Dex was a live-wire, carrying a darkness not even I could comprehend. He’d lost his girlfriend. The person he loved. If anything ever happened to Lo… I couldn’t even go there. It was a place I wouldn’t return from. Bobby and the security guys hauled the lifeless guy off the cold ground and dragged him to the back room. She saw you like that, my conscience whispered. Only I’d been worse. Blood everywhere. Eyes swollen shut. Barely conscious. And Lo hadn’t run, she’d stuck by me. Visited me every day while I healed.

The thought gutted me. Punched me in the chest, sucking the air clean from my lungs. She’d been standing right here, watching as I destroyed myself. And she was still here. Without a second thought, I turned around, slid my phone out of my pocket and melted into the sea of bodies. As I texted Selina, I ignored my name being called. Ignored the flashes of recognition on guys faces. I ignored it all. I was done. I didn’t need this anymore. I had the one thing I needed.

The only thing I needed.

And I was going to fight whatever bullshit my father or Caitlin or JB threw at me because she was worth it.

Lo was worth every agonizing second.

~

“I enjoyed the other night.”

I slammed my locker, glaring down at Caitlin. “You’re in the way. Move.”

“Come on, Maverick, do you need to be so grumpy? It was fun, wasn’t it? Just like old times.” She trailed her finger up my arm and I snatched it away, glancing around the hallway. Caitlin mumbled something under her breath, rolling her eyes. “Don’t worry, she isn’t here. I saw her walking to class with Devon.”

“Lio—” I slammed my lips shut. She was baiting me, and I was falling for it. “Move, Caitlin, before I make you move.”

“Is it wrong I like the sound of that?” she purred like a strangled cat. It was no doubt supposed to sound sexy and seductive, instead it grated on me like nails against a blackboard. Everything about her rubbed me the wrong way. And I hated that I’d ever allowed myself to be manipulated into a relationship with her. Hated that she knew my most intimate parts, my secrets.

“Look, this thing, you and me, it’s business. Nothing more. The sooner you accept that, the better.”

Anger flashed in her eyes but then it was gone, a smug smile tugging at her lips. “There’s a gala this weekend. Daddy got us tickets.”

My fist clenched, and I inhaled deeply before I did something stupid. Something I couldn’t take back. “Fine.”

“Pick me up at seven?”

“Whatever. I need to go.” I shouldered past her and ducked down the hallway. When I rounded the corner, Kyle saw me and came straight over.

“What happened?”

“Caitlin.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah, shit. Listen, I can’t do this here. Too many ears. Was she—” The words died on my tongue. Of course she wasn’t okay. She’d been distant yesterday when she'd come over to study. She played a good game. Her kisses felt the same, her touch, even the way she pushed and challenged me. But I knew her better, and I knew she wasn’t there with me. Not really.

Lo was pushing me out. She was letting them win.

“I’m worried about her.” Kyle’s mouth down-turned at the corners.

“I know. Me too. Just keep an eye on her, okay?”

He nodded, and I saw he wanted to say more. But he knew as much as I did, I had no choice but to see this thing through until the end. It was the only way to put shit with my father behind me once and for all.

“You know I will.” He held my stare saying everything I needed to hear.

“I have to go see Coach. Text me later.”

“Consider it done.” Kyle clapped me on the back and then he was gone.

As I made my way out of the building and to the gym, Caitlin’s words played in my head. I knew she was lying. Lions had tried more than once to talk to Lo and every time she’d brushed him off. It burned that she hadn’t told me herself, but I got it. She didn’t want to run to me every time something happened. But lucky for me, I had eyes and ears everywhere and not much got past me.

Not where Lo was concerned.