Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Treating you!” he roars, then throws his head back and laugh. “Scum gets treated like scum.”
He drives a booted foot into my ribs, and I hear, literally hear one snap. I scream in agony as a pain unlike anything I’ve ever felt rips through my body. Darkness threatens to take over, causing my vision to blur. A hand curls into my hair and I’m wrenched up off the floor. Another fist to my face. Then another. I’m screaming so loudly, but nothing, I swear I can’t hear it.
Everything in my world goes black after the final punch.
Tears run down my cheeks as I finish telling Maverick what happened that night. The night he suspected I’d been telling people about what he was doing. It’s the only time I ever really saw him lose his control. And he took that out on me. Maverick reaches over, grabbing the base of my chair and pulling it forward until I’m right in front of him. He cups my face in both his big hands and tilts my head back so I’m looking at him. I hiccup and he swipes a tear away with his thumb.
“He hurt you.”
I nod. “So bad.”
“I promise you, he’ll fuckin’ pay for that. But first, I need to know what happened after that.”
I swallow down my tears, because I want to finish the story. I want to tell someone who actually believes me. I am so tired of being scared. I need to get this off my chest.
“Susan said she heard the screaming. She’s a smart woman, she called security. They came in, two massive men, guns blaring, but he was already gone. He, too, wasn’t stupid. He knew someone would hear. He hightailed it out of there as soon as I passed out. They must have missed him by seconds. Though, I’m glad Susan didn’t come in when she first heard it. He would have killed her. Without a doubt in the world. She felt really guilt after that, because she didn’t believe me when I told her what he was like.”
Maverick’s jaw tightens, and he grinds out, “So she fuckin’ should. Someone tells you somethin’ like that, you listen. Don’t give a fuck if you think they’re makin’ it up, or lyin’, or whatever, you believe them.”
I swallow. “Yeah ...”
“Didn’t believe you again tonight, did she?”
I shake my head.
His jaw gets even tighter. “What happened in there?”
“I saw him, in the crowd. God, the look he gave me. It was a threat. A warning. Only I’m not sure why. I haven’t seen or heard from him for a year. Why now?”
“What did your security and management do about it?”
“They checked all the cameras, things like that. No sign of him. After he first disappeared, after the night he nearly killed me, I used to think I would see him when he wasn’t really there. A form of panic, I suppose. They think that is happening again.”
“Saw the look on your face. What you saw was real.”
Not even a doubt. Not even a question. He believes me without hesitation. My heart swells and tears burn fresh under my eyelids. For the first time, I have spoken and someone has just believed me, just like that, no questions asked.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “For believing me.”
He reaches over, cupping my jaw, squeezing my chin just slightly. “Everyone should have someone that believes in them, no matter what. Now, you’re goin’ to tell me more about this man.”
I nod and he lets me go. I tuck my legs beneath me and start talking.
“His name is Treyton Wilder, or Trey.”
Maverick nods. “What kind of business do you think he was involved in.”
I purse my lips. “Drugs, definitely. I never knew the depth, though. All I know, and I hate to admit it, is that he’s incredibly smart. One of the smartest men I’ve ever encountered in my life. If he was running something like that, he’d do it well, that much I know. And that’s a scary thought. I don’t know what he’s dealing in now, I don’t know who, I only figured that much out from the encounters I had with him. That’s the only thing I know.”
“You have no idea what drugs he was dealin’, or where?”
I shake my head. “Sorry, no. I don’t even have names. Just his.”
Maverick nods. “Do you think you’re in danger?”
I shrug. “I’m not really sure. But for him to pop up, after this long, it is a little odd. I won’t lie.”
“How good is your security?” Maverick asks, looking around. “Clearly not very fuckin’ good because you’re sittin’ on an open deck without anyone watchin’. Someone could walk right in here and take you.”
That thought has my eyes darting around. He’s right. Anyone could come in here, or worse, they could hit me without even getting close with the right shot. I rub my arms and shift closer to Maverick.