MAVERICK
Why did it have to happen to me?
I cried in silence in my car. The silence it took, the more excruciating it got. It felt like someone just ripped my heart out of my chest. What did I do to deserve this pain- the kind of pain that I’d never felt before? It was too much- it was unbearable. And what worse could it be? I just stole five million dollars from my husband.
Lake was not just my husband-he was everything to me-my best friend, my anchor, my source of light and happiness. He was my soulmate. And now I just deceived him and left him with the thought of saving my grandmother and his legacy, his company, his name, and probably his safety.
How was it fair? I did nothing wrong than love the man for who he was, not what he had.
I pulled off from his parking area with only a suitcase, clothes, passport, and a few cash I took from his safe. I was grateful everyone seemed to be sleeping, including Homer and Owen. Was the universe doing me a favor? I didn’t think so. How did I end up in this situation? I had no clue.
After renting a cheap motel room, I waited till it was morning.
“Hi. I’d like to make an appointment to open a safe deposit box. Is it possible to do it today?”
“May I know your full name, ma’am?” asked the woman from the other line.
“Maverick Bates Winston.”
“You can visit any branch near you at nine am today.”
“That’s great. Thank you.”
I hung up the call and dialed another number.
He picked up right away. “Hey, sis. I missed you.”
I closed my eyes for a brief moment before I spoke. “I need your help.”
“Are you okay? What’s wrong?” I instantly heard the worry in Terzo’s voice. For a ruthless criminal, he still had humanity left in his soul.
“I’m fine. Can you come and get me? I don’t have time to explain, but I will tell you on the way.”
“Maverick, if you’re in trouble, you have to tell me. Did you and Winston fight?”
“Nothing like that, but you can’t tell anyone. Please, I’m begging you. I need you right now. You’re my family, and I know you’re the only one who can help me. Just please.” I wiped the tears off my cheeks, even though they fell endlessly.
He blew a breath. “Fuck, sis. Where are you?”
“Tell me if you’re in town.”
“I’m in the US, in Chicago. Stay put. I’ll see you soon. Take care, sis.”
I released a shuddering breath as I hung up the call. I went to the bathroom to wash my face again. Then, I applied makeup to hide the sorrow on my face. I wrote a letter to Lake before I left the motel.
If there was one person who was possibly involved in this, it was Wallace. He wanted to ruin my relationship with his son. He tried to break his son’s trust in me. I didn’t think it was the mafia’s doing. There was no need for threats- they acted. They could have killed me or hurt my grandmother without me knowing it.
That man was a manipulative narcissist. I stared at the Winston Towel in awe. It was a stunning skyscraper building. Now, it was time to end this madness.
I got out of my car and instantly saw Rusher, Lake’s best friend, just come out of the revolving door.
As he crossed the street, I went back to my car, hid my face, and grabbed my phone.
“What is he doing at the Winston Tower?” Lake never mentioned that Rusher worked at Winston Holdings, and neither was he close to Wallace.
Then, three men approached him as he reached his car. I grabbed my phone and took pictures of them, making sure I got all their faces. Once they were gone, I changed my mind and left the parking lot toward my appointment at the bank.
It took me almost an hour to get a safe deposit box. I sent those pictures to Terzo and sent them to my email, including my contacts. Then I typed a message to that asshole with one word, ‘DONE’ before I put my phone, my bank passbook, and the cards Lake gave me, including my rings and the letter.
It was three in the afternoon when I bought a burner phone and dialed Terzo. He picked up right away as if he knew I was the one who was calling.
“Maverick?”
“Yeah.”
“Where the fuck are you?” He sounded pissed. “I’ve been calling your phone for the last hour, like one hundred times. Are you okay?”
“You’re not seriously asking me now. Let’s meet up. Send me the address.”
“Whatever the fuck is going on? You have an explaining to do, young lady.”
“I know. Now, can we meet?”
“I’m sending you the address now.”
“Did you tell anyone?”
“Why would I? I trust you will tell me everything, and you are my sister. Whatever trouble you get into, I will always protect you. I’m always on your side, and you always come first. Meet me at that address. I can’t stay longer than an hour. Get your ass in here now, Maverick.”
I received it and drove to the address he had just sent me. It was a forty-minute ride. On my way, I disabled the GPS and used a hoody to cover my face. I knew Lake would ask for help from Osmium, and there was no way I could hide without them finding me.
My heart squeezed painfully at the thought of betraying Lake. He trusted me. We had plans together. He must have been so pissed at me and thought that the reason why we terminated the contract was because I was going to steal money from him.
Yeah, I betrayed him, but he couldn’t know the reason. At least, not now.
I arrived at what looked like a small private airport. A private jet was on the tarmac. A tall man just appeared and blocked my car. I stepped on the brake, which abruptly halted, almost breaking my nose. He came directly to my door and tried to open it.
“Who are you?” I asked in a shaky voice.
“Your brother is waiting on the jet. Hurry up.”
Jeez. “Okay.” I climbed out of the car.
“Give me your key, and let me park it in the hangar.”
“Let me get my suitcase.”
“I’ll take care of it. Just get on the jet.”
I glared at him before I dropped my key in his palm. “Don’t scratch my car.”
He didn’t reply but went behind and opened the trunk. I left him and went to the jet. As I held the railing, I felt an absolute excruciating pain crushing in my chest. I climbed up without looking back. The first person I saw was my brother.
I threw myself in his arms, and he instantly hugged me tight as if he knew how much I was hurting. For a few seconds, I sobbed against his chest, and I felt his fingers stroking my hair and saying random words in Italian that I had no clue what those meant, but I had a feeling it was beautiful.
He ushered me towards the seat and buckled my seatbelt. Then, the guy earlier gave him a box of tissues. Terzo pulled some out and offered it to me.
Without excusing myself, I blew my nose and cried again, with Terzo waiting patiently for my explanation.
After a few deep breaths, I finally got the strength to speak. “I stole five million dollars from Lake.”
His expression was neutral, with no shocking reaction but more sympathy in his eyes than judgment.
When he did not say a single word, I asked, “Did he call you?”
“Are you in trouble?”
“Just take care of Nana. Let someone watch her, please?”
His gaze never left mine. “Sis, how can I protect you if I don’t know who to protect you from.”
“Let’s just get out of here, please?”
“Sis, I told you I will protect you with my life, but you need to tell me what’s going on. You don’t have to tell me how you feel about your husband. You both love each other and protect each other. Your love for him is everlasting, infinite. I have a feeling you did what you did. It’s not to betray him or break his heart.”
I stared outside the window, tears streaming down my face. When the captain announced we were taking off, I sagged against the seat, silently crying. I felt his thumb on my cheek, wiping off my tears.
“He called and cursed the hell out of me. The first thing he thought was that you were in trouble because of your connection with the Siciliano.”
“Well, he’s wrong this time.”