MAVERICK
I’d never been so happy to see a familiar face, but how did Terzo find me? What was he doing here? From what Lake had told me about Terzo, it just terrified me even more. Every time I was in trouble, he seemed there like Superman, saving the day.
My arms tightened around Nana.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” When I was still shocked, he stepped closer and asked my grandmother to reply, “Mrs. Bates, are you hurt?”
“No. I’m fine. Thank you,” Nana replied.
“I can’t stay long.” He kicked the gun away from the man who pointed at me earlier. “Maverick?”
“Y-yeah.” I swallowed hard and blinked rapidly. “Is- is he dead?”
“Nope, but he will be if he loses too much blood. Osmium men will be here shortly. Your husband is on the way.”
“What? I thought- how?” I had so many questions that needed answers, but our time was limited, and he was ready to bolt out.
I did my best to get up. My limbs were still shaky. I could be dead by now if it weren’t for Terzo. How did he get in here so fast? It didn’t matter right now. He just saved my life.
I launched into him and hugged him tightly. “Thank you. I would have been dead by now if you did not arrive on time.”
He stiffened as if he wasn’t expecting a hug from me, but awkwardly, he patted my back. “I would never let that happen.”
I stared at him for a moment as we pulled away. “You saved my life.”
“I know you have a lot of questions, but I’ll see you at Osmium.”
“Lake told me. Is it true?”
There was a panic in his eyes, but it disappeared in a millisecond. “What did he tell you?”
“It’s about your family.”
The man he shot just groaned. Terzo kicked him on the leg, startling me. “I will kill you if you make another move, asshole.”
“Terzo,” I called him while waiting for his answer.
“That’s true.”
I instantly heard footsteps, and Terzo heard it, too.
“They’re here.” He instantly left the apartment to escape, and the help just arrived.
Minutes later, or maybe an hour later, I lost track of time as we took a ride to the Osmium. They had a short clinic and examined me and my grandma.
I refused at first because I was fine. What I needed was therapy and a good sleep to forget what happened, but I knew it was impossible for me to erase that memory. I was so terrified, like I’d never felt before. I thought I was going to die. Me and my grandmother.
The door swung open, and Lake walked in with wide eyes but relieved. “Maverick!”
“Lake!” I threw myself at him, and he instantly engulfed me in a tight hug.
“Baby,” he said breathlessly, and I was shaking, sobbing, letting out the emotions I kept in my chest and the fact that I tried harder not to collapse as that man pointed a gun at the back of my head. “It’s going to be okay. I promise.”
“I was so terrified.”
“I know, baby. I wish I were there for you.”
I pulled away, and he wiped the tears flowing down my cheeks. “How are you here? I thought- Terzo was there.”
“Yeah. He was the one who called me and said that you’re about to get yourself-” He swallowed hard, finding it hard to complete his sentence. Guilt flustered all over his face as he stared at me. “I thought I was going to-” He swallowed again and pulled me back in his arms, sighing in relief.
I squeezed him back and cherished him and us in a way I never had until this moment. I was still alive and with the person I cared about so much.
“I stole your money.”
We pulled apart, and they looked down at me intensely as if offended. “You can have all our money. I don’t give a damn as long you both are safe.”
I blinked at his response. I was expecting him to tell me that he knew.
“Did they hurt you?” He looked behind me and held my hand as he walked towards my grandmother, who was resting in bed. Mrs. Bates, how are you feeling?”
“The feeling of about to die.”
“I’m so sorry that you have to go through that.” He squeezed Nana’s hand.
“Who are those people who pretended to be delivery men?”
“I will find out about them. You have my word, and they will pay for what they did to you and Maverick.”
“The man who saved us. Do you know him?”
“Yes.”
Nana didn’t look surprised by Lake’s answer but nodded. “You, two, have a lot to talk about.”
“It’s okay if I borrow Maverick for a while?”
“Take her. I’m fine. Thank you, Lake.”
“Of course.” Lake squeezed my hand and took me out of the clinic. We got into the elevator, lot letting go of my hand.
“How did you know I was in trouble? I thought you were on the way to Toronto.”
“I received a notification when you unlocked the safe. There’s a hidden camera inside. You looked terrified and disturbed. If you were going to run away with the money. You could have taken them all, and I trust you. You’re not that person.”
“Your money saved our lives, but we can’t take it back.”
“Don’t be so sure about that.” He wrapped his arm around me, kissing my temple. “I’d never been so terrified in my life and useless at the same time. I have everything money can buy, but I can’t even keep my wife safe, and I failed you, baby.”
I faced him and cupped his face so he could look at me. “This is an unparalleled situation that you’ve never experienced. Don’t ever blame yourself, and you’re a great help. Nana would have been dead if you did not keep cash in the safe and didn’t have to tell me about it. Maybe I can withdraw money, but the caller with a modulated voice only gave me two hours, and I think he knows about us.”
Linden came as soon as we exited the elevator, hugging me. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Yeah. I’ve no words.”
“I can relate to being in that situation. You can ask Estelle. Anyway, follow me.”
Lake never let go of my shaky hand as we walked alongside Linden and opened a door.
It looked like a conference room with a table and chairs at the center. “Are you going to interrogate me?”
“No,” Lake replied. “Take a seat, baby.”
A man walked in with two bottles of water. He was one of the men who came to rescue us. Jacques Lynx. “How are you feeling, ma’am?”
“I wish everyone could stop asking me now.” I took a seat, my hands on the table.
Lake sat next to me.
Linden was on my left. “We just want you to identify the men in your house.”
“There were two of them wearing ski masks, but I saw their eyes. One of them is bulky, and the other is medium built, but both are white with brown eyes.” Then I remembered my ring. “The bulky guy took my ring.” I looked at Lake.
“I’ll buy you another one.” He squeezed my hand. “It’s just a ring, baby.”
I nodded and looked away as my tears rolled down my cheeks.
“We can do this later,” Linden suggested.
“No. I wanted to finish this and get some sleep.”
“Are you sure?” Lake asked me, who looked more distraught than me.
“Yeah.” I squeezed my eyes closed as I realized something. “That asshole.”
“Who?” they asked in unison.
I rose to my feet, pacing. How did I miss all that?
“What is going on?”
I stared at Lake. “Before I saw that man following me, Rocco told me Heath wanted to talk to me for a minute.”
“Your fucking ex?” Lake’s voice boomed in the room, making me more jumpier. His eyes narrowed. “How did I not know about this?”
“Because it was nothing but a waste of time.”
“Looks like it isn’t now.”
“He wanted to borrow 10k from me. Even if I had that amount that night, after what he put me through and how he forced me to give the money I owed him, I would never waste my energy and money on him.”
“So what happened?” Linden asked.
I looked at Lake, whose hands were on his hips, shooting me a glare. “He said something about my ring worth more than ten grand.”
“That motherfucker.” He looked at Linden.
Lake hadn’t said anything, but Linden was already calling someone on his phone, ordering whoever was on the other line: “Bring Heath Davis here. Use force if necessary. Take extra precautions; he might be armed.”
“Is this even legal?” I stared at both of them. It was a stupid question.
The door swung open with full force, and then Terzo walked in, brooding, and just like that, as if he had not just shot someone earlier.