Maverick by Ashers, LeAnn (read dune TXT) 📕

“This is our reward?”

I look at the little girl, who is staring at me like I’m her lifeline. She could be Bell’s twin.

I turn my attention to the guys, trying not to show how much that just affected me. “She can be your daughter, your whatever the fuck you want.”

“She looks like her,” I say.

Michael grins and run his hand down her hair. She flinches and looks down at the ground again. “She is Isabella’s sister. Her parents have been shamed because their daughter decided to run away to lead a whore’s wife.”

This is the most fucked up thing. “She’s a virgin, never been touched,” the older fucker from the back pipes in. “She is perfect.”

I almost throw the fuck up.

He turns to look at me, the stupid fucker from earlier. “Do I get her this week?”

I laugh. I fucking laugh, holding-my-stomach, leaned-over kind of laugh. They stare at me like I’m crazy.

“You’re all so fucking stupid,” I tell them all, and their faces change to show their confusion.

The door opens and all of my brothers walk into the warehouse. Lane walks up to me and hands me my vest.

“Bell is my woman. You think I would hand her over?” I smirk at Michael, stepping up to him. “Oh, the fun I’m going to have with you, Michael. You will grow to love it.”

I throw his words right back to him, the ones that he said to Bell to get her to accept her fate.

His face pales. The old fucker tries to run for the door, but Wilder pushes him back and he falls to the ground.

“You fucking set me up!” he screams.

“No, you set yourself up,” I deadpan, my eyes moving back to Michael. “Tell me, Michael, what’s your worst fear? Hmm?” I taunt. “I know losing Bell was a big one—she is mine now.” I smirk, loving the slight anger on his face.

“But right now, my brothers are going to take you to the clubhouse, where you’re going to wait for me. You are going to think of all the ways I am going to torture you, for weeks, for days, for months if I want to. Just know, no matter the begging, the pleading.” I step right in his face, lowering my voice. “I will never stop.”

He stumbles and I grin, satisfied that he is terrified. “I need to take her to Bell.”

“I was thinking the same shit, brother.” Lane grabs my shoulder, hugging me. I watched him grow up and I have never been prouder of the man he has turned into.

I approach the girl, lowering my body so I don’t seem as intimidating. “Hey sweetheart, my name is Maverick.”

She looks up from the floor. “My name is Anna.”

I smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Anna. Do you know your sister Bell?” I ask.

Her beautiful eyes widen. “I do, I’m here to rescue her, aren’t I?”

My anger doubles. What the fuck have they told her? “Want me to take you to her? Bell is my girlfriend.”

She looks behind me at the men. “I think I want to.”

I hold out my hand for her to take and she does. “Let’s go see her. She has a little boy named Ronny. He is eight years old—how old are you?” I ask.

“I’m seven years old.”

It pisses me off even more. I hold open the door and let her walk through. “I’m scared,” she whispers so softly.

That shit tearing a hole through me, I open the truck door and set her inside in Ronny’s booster seat. “What are you scared of, honey?” I ask.

She tugs on the bottom of her very torn and threadbare shirt, which is three times too big for her. “I don't know what’s happening.”

“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry you’re scared. You are safe with me. Bell is going to be so happy to see you!” I try to lighten my voice. My throat is so thick from all of these fucked-up emotions I’m feeling. I’m fucking hurt for this baby.

“Safe,” she whispers and gives me a little smile.

“Safe, angel.” I help buckle her in. “We’ll be there soon.”

I shut the door and walk around the truck, giving myself a few seconds to breathe before I get inside.

I look into the mirror. She’s looking out the window. Her world has been turned upside down. Her parents gave her away to settle a debt.

I know one thing—she is not going anywhere.

* * *

I help Anna out of her seat and she puts her hand in mine firmly, not wanting me to let her go.

I walk inside the clubhouse and Bell jumps off of the couch. She walks over to me but slows down when she sees the little girl.

“What?” she asks confused, smiling at her.

“Darlin’, this is your sister. I’ll tell you everything later, but the most important thing is she’s your sister.”

She looks at me, then at the little girl before her head starts wrapping around the idea.

Mom mode clicks. “Hi sweetheart, I’m Bell.” She smiles and I swear I can see the little girl sigh in relief.

Me too, kid.

Ronny runs over to us, “Hi Maverick, who is she?” he asks.

I wrap my arm around him. “She is Bell’s sister.” He looks confused. I pull him to the side so I can speak to him.

“Do you know how before you met us, things were hard for you?” I ask.

He nods. “The same thing happened to her. Her mom and dad gave her away, but she is Bell’s biological sister. Bell didn’t know about her,” I explain to him as best as I can so he can understand without going into details.

His little eyes fill with tears as he looks over at her. “We are keeping her, right?” he asks me.

“I think if you're okay with that and she is, then probably yes.”

He smiles. “We have to take care of her, like you guys did me.”

What a way to break my heart, kid. I lean down and hug him tightly. “We will.”

He hugs me back just as