Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 74022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
A knock at the door sounds, and we both look over to see Maverick standing, eyes on us. “Mind if I have a minute?”
Penny smiles and then looks back at me. “I’ll call you later, check in, okay?”
“Okay, darlin’. And Penny?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. Means a fuckin’ lot to me knowin’ we’re okay.”
She smiles and lets my hand go, disappearing out of the room.
My eyes go to Maverick, and for a moment, the air in the room feels thick and tense.
I don’t know why he’s here, but it has been a long time since we’ve spoken one on one.
“Not goin’ to take up much of your time,” he murmurs.
“It’s no problem.”
He walks in a bit further, and stops. Not close, but close enough that I can see him more clearly.
“Listen, been a fuckin’ long time comin’ and I should have asked a whole lot sooner about what happened with Nerissa. But I was fuckin’ wild, and I didn’t want to hear it. But Chantelle, she told me what happened. Right after she give me a fuckin’ mouthful about holding a grudge.”
Fuckin’ Chantelle.
“But she was right,” he goes on. “I didn’t hear you out, and I didn’t listen. I heard what she told me. And she told me everything. And, more than anything, I fuckin’ think you deserve to know, that I know you did your best. I know you fuckin’ did. I was blinded by hurt, and rage, but shit is different now. I’m happy, and I’m in a good place. And you deserve to be in a good fuckin’ place, too. So, I won’t go on about it, because I don’t do words and bullshit, but you gotta know that I know you did your fuckin’ best.”
Fuck.
My chest burns, and I nod.
“Appreciate it.”
“Forgive you, and I want the past where it belongs, in the past. Hear you’ve got a bundle on the way, you fuckin’ deserve happiness as much as the rest of us, and I’m glad you have found it, brother.”
Brother.
Fuck.
Been wanting to hear those words for longer than I ever fuckin’ realized.
All I can do is nod, because fucked if I don’t feel like I’m goin’ to explode.
“Get better, yeah?” Maverick nods, smiling at me for the first fuckin’ time in a long time.
“Yeah.”
He walks out, and I watch him go. Then Chantelle comes into the room, followed by Malakai.
“You’re a fuckin’ pain in my ass woman, but I fuckin’ appreciate the hell out of you.”
She smiles, and looks to Malakai. “Told you they’d be fine.”
Malakai nods, and walks in closer, staring down at me. “You good, brother?”
“Good.”
“Okay. Rest up, take care of your girl here, and we’ll worry about everything else.”
“One problem down,” I mutter, “Another one about to start up.”
Chantelle rolls her eyes and slides onto the bed beside me. “Don’t mind him, Malakai, he’s dramatic.”
Malakai chuckles. “Know that, darlin’.”
I grunt, and mutter, “We’re still findin’ Ellie for Slater?”
“No need to worry about that,” Malakai says. “Just sort your shit out, yeah?”
“It’s sorted. Are we still findin’ her?”
Malakai looks to Chantelle, then to me, and nods.
“Already fuckin’ found her.”
We all turn to see Koda coming into the room, followed by Mason and Maverick.
“I’m going to go ahead and let you guys talk,” Chantelle says, leaning over and kissing me. “See you, honey.”
“Later, baby. Take care of the little one for me.”
Her face goes pink.
And fucked if I don’t adore her more.
When she’s gone, I look to the guys. Koda looks pissed. Maverick looks concerned. Mason just looks ready for whatever is about to come.
“What’s the problem?” Malakai asks. “We’re in a hospital so it must be fuckin’ important because this isn’t really the time or place.”
“Hate to talk about this in here, believe me,” Koda says, “But had to talk to you all as soon as I fuckin’ heard.”
“Heard what?” Malakai grunts, getting frustrated.
“Got news that they found Ellie.”
Fuck.
Doesn’t sound good.
“And?” Malakai prompts. “Fuckin’ get to it, Dakoda.”
“She’s alive. She’s in the city.”
The fuck?
Was I right?
Has she been trying to stay hidden?
“She doesn’t want to be found,” I mutter.
Koda shakes his head, and meets Malakai’s eyes. “No. Fuckin’ worse. She has no fuckin’ idea who she is. She doesn’t even think her fuckin’ name is Ellie.”
Fuck.
“Slater know?” Malakai murmurs, running a hand down his face.
“Yeah.”
“And?”
“She has no fuckin’ idea who he is, either. Whatever that girl went through, it’s fuckin’ bad. Real fuckin’ bad. She’s terrified. And broken. And a fuckin’ mess. The people she is staying with had no idea about her past. She just showed up not knowin’ who she was. This is goin’ to be a lot messier than we first thought.”
Ain’t it always.
Fuckin’ ain’t it always.
We’ve all been through our shit, and come out the other side.
Guess now it’s Slater’s turn.
Here we fuckin’ go again.
THE END