Maverick by Ashers, LeAnn (read dune TXT) 📕

forward, pointing. There’s a bunch of girls I knew as kids outside working in the garden.

They had the same fate as me. I wonder if their lives were better. I think I would like to speak to them and maybe see if I can help them in any way.

Butcher parks the SUV in front. I look at the house and it looks the same but more run-down.

“We don't have to do this,” Maverick says, holding my hand tighter.

I lick my lips, breathing in and out, trying to calm my nerves as best as I can. I’m terrified to see them, but I’m also so angry for the way they treated Anna.

“Just stay with me?”

His face softens. “I would never leave you, baby, ever.” He takes my hand and steps out of the SUV with me behind him.

Shaylin takes my other side. Smiley stayed back with Adeline to help the kids.

The door swings open before we can even step on the porch. My father’s face comes into view as he steps out.

He looks older. Time has not treated him well.

I can tell he’s shocked. His eyes go from Maverick to Butcher before settling on me.

“Isabella?” he questions.

“It’s me,” I confirm, my body shaking at seeing him after so long and so many memories coming to the surface, not good ones.

I close my eyes as the images of him beating me for spilling my food rush through my head. I wasn’t allowed to eat for a couple of days after that in punishment.

I had no peace. I had to walk on eggshells. God forbid I would get sick; it was left up to me and if I made a mess, I was in deep trouble.

No one cared for me.

I’m not even sure how I’m even alive.

Maverick steps in front of me, walking up the porch and pushing me farther inside. Shaylin takes my hand, holding it tightly as we follow Maverick inside.

I bite my lip to stop the trembling, I feel like I’m thirteen years old again and scared of my parents.

I look around the house. It’s exactly the same, just much older and everything is worn down.

I spot a Barbie doll in the corner of the room. The scared little girl is gone and is replaced by anger at what happened to Anna.

My mother gasps when she sees me. “Isabella, why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be with your husband?”

That sends a chill right down my spine. “We are not here to talk about me. We are here to talk about how fucking disgusting you are.”

Her face shows her shock at my language, oh yes. “What?” she says, so dramatically I want to puke.

My father stands beside her, his hand on her shoulder. “What is the meaning of this, Isabella? I taught you better than that,” he scolds me like I’m a child.

I laugh. “Are you kidding me? You didn’t teach me anything! You gave me away as a kid. I was engaged at thirteen years old and married at fourteen! I was groomed.” I stop myself from calling him “Dad”—he doesn’t deserve the title.

His face shows his anger. “You have embarrassed this family, you and your sister!” he hisses.

That pisses me right the fuck off. “Anna? She is a baby!”

His face changes to confusion. “No, Daniella.”

What? What is he talking about?

“After you got married, your Mom got pregnant again with Daniella. Daniella died soon after she gave birth to Anna.

I am floored, FLOORED. Anna isn’t my sister, she is my niece…

Maverick’s looks shocked too. “What happened to her?”

He shrugs his shoulders. He fucking shrugs his shoulders. “Daniella's husband said she was misbehaving and she was taken to the church to correct the problem, which was the right thing to do. The next thing we knew Anna was at our door. Daniella died, leaving us to raise Anna.”

What the ever-loving fuck?

My head is spinning, “What is her husband’s name?” I urge.

“Randy McCormick.”

I know exactly who that is. I rush out of the house so I can breathe. I have a sister who is dead, or is she dead?

Maverick

Bell’s face shows complete horror. I nod to Butcher and Shaylin, giving them the go-ahead to do as they please.

My girl needs me more than I need justice.

“Baby.” I take a hold of her arms, trying to get her attention.

She tilts her head up, eyes filled with tears. “They are horrible people, Maverick. They’re known for it. We need to confirm she’s dead.”

“We will, baby. Let me call River.” I open the SUV door, helping her inside so she’s not out in this heat.

I stay on the phone while she searches. She is the best and the club has been using her a lot lately with things like this.

I can hear my brother in the background laughing his ass off, probably at something completely stupid

“Found her. I don’t think she’s dead. I hacked the fucker’s—aka the husband’s—phone and he texted his father a few days ago letting him now that she should be ready soon.”

Fuck.

I don't know if I’m relieved or not to hear she is alive. I cannot imagine the things she has been through if it’s true.

I open the door, and Bell sits forward, ready to find out the truth. “River doesn’t think she’s dead. We have the address.”

“I’m on my way down there. Don’t fucking start without me. Gage, get your ass up. We’re going to Kentucky!” River yells, then hangs up. I put my phone in my pocket, gathering Bell in my arms.

Bell is horrified. “Maverick, I’m scared to see how she is.” She’s shaking. If it’s worse than the horrors she has faced…

“I’ll be back.” I shut the door and lock it so no one can try to get in. Inside the house, Butcher has the dad on the ground in a ball, crying, with knife cuts covering him.

Shaylin is cackling as she cuts Bell’s mom’s hair, leaving her completely bald with a few strands here and there.

“We need to leave them tied up for the