Maverick
I grimaced, my side on fire from where Brick had kicked it repeatedly. I was pretty sure I had a couple of broken ribs.
"Mav?" Tillie whispered, her frightened voice breaking my heart.
We were in so kind of basent. I wasn’t sure if it was a house or comrcial space, but it was moldy and damp and had only one small window that didn’t appear to open. I was sitting on a soiled mattress pushed up against the wall, and Tillie was next to .
"I’m okay, Till," I lied.
She took my hand and studied . "I’m really sorry."
I swallowed and took a shallow breath. "For what?"
"This is all my fault."
My blood ran cold. "How is it your fault, Tillie?"
"I just wanted to hang out with Chloe before her bus ca." She squeezed her eyes shut, tears streaming down her face. "I kind of ditched Rooster."
"Shit, Tillie."
"I know, I know," she rushed to say.
"No, Till, you don’t know," I snapped. "When they took you, they texted Lily! It was a trap to get her here."
"They did?"
"Yeah, sis, they did." I scowled. "You have no idea what these assholes are capable of."
"I’m really sorry," she whispered.
"I’m gonna let Dad deal with you when we get out of here, Till, but when we tell you to stay with a recruit, you fuckin’ stay with a recruit. Got it?"
She released my hand, gripping hers in her lap. "Got it," she rasped.
I shifted, knocking the wind out of myself. I forced back a groan, not wanting to scare my sister any more than she already was. "I need you to do sothing for ."
She sat up on her knees. "Anything."
"They took my gun, but I’m hoping that’s all they took. Check my boot for my knife. I can’t reach it." I’d been knocked out for a bit, but I didn’t know how long.
Tillie scooted to my feet. "Which one?"
"Right."
She pushed my right pant leg up and slid her hand inside my boot, pulling out my blade and holding it up with a grin. I grabbed it and relaxed slightly. "Say nothing."
Tillie bobbed her head and sat next to again.
The creak of a rusty door echoed in the empty space, and Jenny walked in with a tray. "Well, look who’s awake," she said and set the tray on the ground.
I scowled. Lily’s egg donor was dressed like a hooker, and the way she sauntered and batted her eyelashes, it was obvious she was trying to get my attention.
"What do you want, Jenny?" I demanded. Every breath elicited agonizing pain.
"I just want to spend ti with my daughter." She crossed her arms, pushing her fake tits up higher.
I forced back the puke threatening to co up. "You’re never gonna get near her, Jenny."
"She’ll find a way," she said.
I chuckled, regretting it imdiately. I shifted again, trying to take pressure off my ribs. "Listen, bitch. Lily will not go against Hawk, and if you think she will, you’re fuckin’ delusional."
"Then she’ll need more incentive." Jenny studied Tillie, who scooted closer to .
"Co closer, Jenny. I dare you."
"Oh, I’m not gonna do anything... but he"—she nodded behind her, and Brick ca into view—" is gonna do it for ."
Tillie whimpered and slid even closer to . I wrapped an arm around her waist and tucked her tight to the protection of my body.
Brick stepped forward and sneered. "Don’t get comfortable, little bitch. Your ti’s comin’."
Tillie dropped her face against my arm and squeezed her eyes shut, her body shaking. I scowled up at Brick. "You even think of touching my sister, and I will fucking kill you."
"Big words from the little shit who couldn’t take a beat down."
I scoffed. "Next ti, try one-on-one, or even two-on-one, asshole. Only a pussy needs four guys to hold one back so you can deliver a beat down."
Brick inched closer again. I just needed him close enough to get one good jab in, but I had to be careful not to hurt my sister.
"How’s your side?" Brick taunted.
"Why don’t you co have a look?" I challenged.
Brick cackled and walked away, followed by Jenny. The door closed again, and Tillie stared up at . "Is he going to hurt ?"
"Over my dead body." I nodded to the tray. "You need to eat, Till. And grab that water, would ya?"
She stood and walked toward the tray. Gasping, she rushed behind the stairs.
"Till, what the hell are you doing?" I hissed.
She returned, her backpack hanging from her hand. "They left it down here."
"So?"
"So I have another phone." She flopped down and rifled through the bag, pulling out the old Nokia phone. "Dad insisted I have it just in case."
"Way to fuckin’ bury the lead, little sister," I admonished. "Why the hell didn’t you use it before?"
"They were hurting you," she whispered. "I forgot."
I regretted my harshness imdiately. "Okay, Till, it’s okay."
She powered it up and handed it to . "Do you rember anyone’s number?"
I nodded and dialed our dad.
"Tillie?" Dad answered imdiately.
"It’s Mav," I whispered. "We’re together, and she’s okay."
"What about you?"
"Couple of broken ribs... was knocked out for a few, probably have a concussion."
"Okay, buddy. Ryder thinks he knows where you are, but we’ll track this phone. We’re comin’. Tell what you see."
I gave him a detailed report of everything in the room down to the brand of mattress on the floor.
"Got it," he said.
"How’s Lily?" I asked.
"She’s freaked... and a little pissed at Hawk right now."
"Who’s she with?"
"Your mom."
"I’m gonna call her," I said.
"Don’t get caught. Keep the phone with you, but on silent."
"I will."
"Your sister good?"
"Yeah, Dad, Tillie’s safe. She’ll stay that way."
Dad sighed. "Thanks, bud."
"Gonna call my girl now."
"Okay. We’ll talk soon."
I hung up and dialed my mother’s phone number.
"Tillie?" Cassidy answered in a whisper.
"Maverick."
"Oh, honey, are you guys okay?"
"Yeah, Mom, we’re good. Is Lily with you?" I asked.
"I want to talk to Tillie."
I sighed and handed the phone to my sister, my finger against my lip to remind her to stay quiet.
"Hi, Mom. I’m okay. Maverick’s really hurt—"
"Tillie," I admonished.
"Well, you are," she argued.
"I want to talk to Lily," I demanded.
"Can you please put Lily on, Mom?" Tillie nodded. "I will. I love you, Mama." She handed the phone to .
I put it to my ear in ti to hear Lily say, "What the hell is going on?"
"I don’t have ti to go into that, baby. I just needed to hear your voice."
"God, Möosh, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I’m good."
I heard her teary voice. "Do you know where you are? I’ll co and get you."
"No, baby. Dad’s workin’ on it. Ryder thinks he knows where we are. They’re comin’. I need you to stay calm, yeah?"
"How can I stay calm when I don’t know if you’re okay?"
"I’m okay, baby doll."
"Please stay that way," she begged, sobbing openly.
"I will. I have to go. We don’t want them to find this phone," I whispered.
She was still sobbing, and it broke my heart. "I love you, Möosh. Co ho to . Promise."
"I promise. I love you, too."
I hung up before I could stop myself and shoved the phone in my back pocket. "Drink, Tillie. You need to stay hydrated. But first, put the bag back where you found it. We’re gonna play dumb."
She nodded and returned the bag. Then she opened the bottled water, took a swig, and handed it to . We ate in silence, and I hoped Ryder would figure out where we were before I was forced to kill soone.
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