Maverick by Ashers, LeAnn (read dune TXT) 📕

He climbs up onto the counter with Bell, taking her hand. “We will take care of her so she doesn’t get scared anymore.”

This kid.

I close my eyes. He is so wise beyond his years it’s scary. Bell starts to move in my arms. “Baby, can you talk to me?” I ask.

She lifts her head, and I push her hair out of her face. She looks at me and then at Ronny, then at her hands in horror. They’re covered in her own blood.

“I am so sorry,” she cries.

“Baby, I need to check your mouth to see where you’re bleeding.” She nods and opens her mouth. I pull her lip down and I see that her tooth went through her bottom lip slightly.

“I think we need to get you stitched up,” I admit, hating this shit so bad.

She looks defeated. “Don’t do this shit to yourself, baby. You will not feel bad for getting scared. Don’t do that.” Fucking kills me that she’s getting torn up over it.

She looks at Ronny, closing her eyes. “Bell, I get scared too. You hold my hand and it makes me feel better, so I hold yours.”

Her eyes fill with tears over his words. “I’m not scared anymore, You helped me, sweetheart.”

He gives her the most beautifully heartbreaking smile I have ever seen. She pulls him over to her, hugging him. “I love you, honey.”

I watch as her words hit him. It hits him so deep that he can’t say a word, he just hugs her back.

I feel the ground shift under my feet as I look at her and him. It hits me. I love her. I love him too.

It came out of nowhere, but it feels right in my fucking soul.

I have found my place in life. It’s right here, right now.

With them.

Bell

I am so embarrassed that I went into the worst panic attack that I have ever had. I was just so startled and scared that I went into full protection mode of myself.

Then when I came to, the terrified look on Maverick’s face was haunting as sweet Ronny sat next to me holding my hand.

I’m in the emergency room. I just got a numbing shot before I get a few stitches in my lip.

Ronny is at Chrystal’s house. He knows her and he likes playing with her daughter who is at the center all of the time.

We’ll then go pick him up so we can take him to go shopping. Maverick is sitting in the chair beside me.

He’s in overprotective mode right now. He has to be touching me at all times.

I’m not going to say a word. I remember the scared look on his face when I finally came to.

I lean back onto the bed, closing my eyes. He puts his hand on my shoulder, shaking me slightly. “Bell,” he says in a slight panic.

I open my eyes and take his hand. “I’m fine. I was just closing my eyes for a second,” I reassure him.

He turns away from me, looking at the wall. “Climb up here with me,” I tell him, my voice sounding funny since my mouth is numb.

He climbs in beside me, pulling me against his chest. I can hear his heart beating in his chest. “I’m fine, I promise. He just scared me.”

Maverick kisses the top of my head. “I hate that you were scared, baby.”

I lean up, looking at him. “I’m safe with you. I feel safe with you. Nothing will hurt me—you’re here. It just surprised me.”

I want him to know that it’s not his fault.

He closes his eyes. I know my words affect him. He puts his hand on my face, pulling me back to him and wrapping his arms around me tightly.

“Alright, are you ready to get stitched up?” A nurse walks in, followed by a doctor, who I have to admit looks creepy.

Maverick slides off of the bed, settling back in his chair. I grip his hand hard, nervous.

The nurse drags my lip down for the doctor. He grins at me and I feel gross.

I look over at Maverick, who’s staring at me.

I close my eyes, not wanting to look at the doctor and playing it off that I’m just not comfortable around men, which I am not, but with Maverick I was comfortable right off the bat.

The doctor puts his hand on my waist, rubbing with his thumb slightly. I open my eyes and look at him, then the nurse.

He winks at me and I close my eyes at the sight of the needle. Maverick strokes the back of my hand.

I close my mind off to the pulling and tugging of the needle going through my skin. It starts bleeding again, dripping down my face onto the pad in my lap.

“All done. Oops, we made a mess.” The doctor grabs a napkin and starts rubbing it, right over my crotch, digging in. I’m in shock.

Maverick grabs his hand with one hand, his other hand around his throat. He slams him against the wall. “Why the fuck are you touching her without her permission? Tell me why I shouldn’t fucking kill you!” Maverick yells into his face, digging his hand into his throat.

My body is shaking at the shock of what’s happening around me. “What do you mean? I was told she was a whore!” the doctor yells and the nurse gasps in shock.

Maverick looks over at me, smiling. “Turn your head, sweetheart.

Maverick

She turns her head to the side, looking at the floor. I grip the doctor’s hand tighter. “Big fucking mistake,” I whisper.

I move my hand from his throat to his mouth. Then with a grin I twist the hand wrapped around his wrist.

I turn and turn.

Then I hear the snap, his screams under my hand. That shit makes me feel relaxed for the first time since all of this shit happened.

I turn more and more, until I know his hand is going to be beyond repairable.

I hope they cut that shit off so