MAVERICKI washed my face and took a breath. I was still waiting for the address to be sent, and I had no idea where to get that amount. When the caller said to bring that kind of amount, he must have known my relationship with Lake, and he knew I could make it possible.I stared at the two cards in my hand. There was cash in the debit card, but it wasn’t enough. Then I remembered what he told me this morning. My hopes rose beyond the stratosphere.I was about to cry again at the thought of what I was about to do, and I couldn’t tell him the reason why I did what I did. My heart was bleeding, thinking of betraying Lake and stealing his money. I was like telling his father, yeah, I was after his son’s money. But I would deal with Lake later once I saved my grandmother.I went inside the room with dread and terror rocking my body. I was so scared. My hands were shaky and cold as iced. I’d never stole from anyone, let alone from the people I cared about.I opened the closet door and pres
MAVERICK“I don’t think you realize who has your grandmother, bitch. Her life depends on how you can follow my order, or I will kill her.”I wiped my tears. “Fine. Just don’t harm her. If you do, I will do everything I can to find you—” The line was cut. He hung up on me. “Son of a bitch!”When the traffic lights went red, I cried harder alone. These people seemed to know me better. My mind went to the man pretending to be smoking in the alley, but if he wasn’t Linden’s man, then who was he? Were these people involved with the mafia?I was so confused and terrified at the same time. I sped up towards my grandmother’s house when the lights turned green.Forty minutes later, I parked in front of the house. I knocked, and the door slightly opened.The man in the ski mask gestured for me to drop the bag. He wasn’t that tall, and his eyes were brown.“Where’s my grandmother?”“You will get your direction.” His voice was deep, but I definitely had not met him before. So they were not workin
LAKETen minutes to take off, and I was already buckled up on the jet when my phone notified me that someone had broken into my safe. I opened the app, and my wife’s face showed on the hidden camera inside the safe.“What the hell is she doing?” I trusted her, and she was not the kind of person who stole some cash from me, knowing that she had cards with her. Something was wrong. “OB?”“Yes, boss.” He quickly came to me.“Tell the captain to cancel the flight.”“Why, what’s wrong?”“Maverick is in trouble.” My heart raced so fast as I unbuckled and rose from the seat. “Call Homer. I need to talk to him. It’s urgent.” I grabbed my hand-carry and dialed Linden.Owen went to the cockpit to inform the captain.“I need backup. Trace my car and tell them to follow me.”“What’s wrong?” he asked in urgency.“I’m about to find out, but this is not good. I’ll call you back.” I hang up the call.A few moments later, the captain came. “What’s wrong, Mr. Winston?”“I need to get off this plane rig
MAVERICKI’d never been so happy to see a familiar face, but how did Terzo find me? What was he doing here? From what Lake had told me about Terzo, it just terrified me even more. Every time I was in trouble, he seemed there like Superman, saving the day.My arms tightened around Nana.“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” When I was still shocked, he stepped closer and asked my grandmother to reply, “Mrs. Bates, are you hurt?”“No. I’m fine. Thank you,” Nana replied.“I can’t stay long.” He kicked the gun away from the man who pointed at me earlier. “Maverick?”“Y-yeah.” I swallowed hard and blinked rapidly. “Is— is he dead?”“Nope, but he will be if he loses too much blood. Osmium men will be here shortly. Your husband is on the way.”“What? I thought— how?” I had so many questions that needed answers, but our time was limited, and he was ready to bolt out.I did my best to get up. My limbs were still shaky. I could be dead by now if it weren’t for Terzo. How did he get in here so fast? It
MAVERICK“Yes.”Nana didn’t look surprised by Lake’s answer but nodded. “You, two, have a lot to talk about.”“It’s okay if I borrow Maverick for a while?”“Take her. I’m fine. Thank you, Lake.”“Of course.” Lake squeezed my hand and took me out of the clinic. We got into the elevator, lot letting go of my hand.“How did you know I was in trouble? I thought you were on the way to Toronto.”“I received a notification when you unlocked the safe. There’s a hidden camera inside. You looked terrified and disturbed. If you were going to run away with the money. You could have taken them all, and I trust you. You’re not that person.”“Your money saved our lives, but we can’t take it back.”“Don’t be so sure about that.” He wrapped his arm around me, kissing my temple. “I’d never been so terrified in my life and useless at the same time. I have everything money can buy, but I can’t even keep my wife safe, and I failed you, baby.”I faced him and cupped his face so he could look at me. “This i
LAKEThere was that one moment when you wished you could pause your life and return just five seconds. But that fact was impossible— it made you question your purpose in life. You could not even make it worthwhile.Looking at Maverick so terrified made me question whether I was worth being that man— her husband. I knew she was tough, but even a tough person could break.And I didn’t know how to make her forget what happened two hours ago. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how terrified she was for her life and her grandmother. But what I was sure of was that whoever these people were behind this atrocity would pay with their lives.The door swung open. Terzo walked in with his arrogance and overconfident gait. His gaze first found Maverick, and I saw somewhat of a pain, then shifted it at me.Before I could say something, in the blink of an eye, he grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and punched me in the nose. I heard a sickening crack, and then the intense pain followed.Maverick ye
MAVERICKMy life was just getting better and better. My father was a notorious criminal, and my brother just shot a human being like a target practice. What could be better than that? Maybe that was why secrets should just be kept buried.“When are you going to leave this house?” Nana had her hand on her hip, leaning against the doorjamb, wearing an annoying look.“I’ll be out of your hair sooner, Nana. Jeez. It’s only been three days.” I scrubbed the sink and poured a generous amount of liquid soap into it.“Three days? It’s been a week, Ricky. If you are scared someone will come and kidnap me again, don’t worry about it. Your ex and those guys involved are already locked up behind bars. You’re safe now, and I’m sure your husband has ordered some people to watch this house. And Terzo is probably keeping tabs on you.”“Since when did you become Team Lake?”“You cleaned that thrice today, Ricky. What you’re doing is not healthy. You kept cleaning the house, but you barely took care of
MAVERICKThat was the first time I heard his voice in days. “If she will not show herself in the penthouse, I will call my attorney to file the divorce and let her suffer the consequences.”“Did he just give me an ultimatum?”Cooper shrugged. “I think so. And it’s been a week, Mave. You should go home, and I missed the funny, outgoing friend I have. I don’t like this person. You’re like her evil twin. A nasty and stinky evil twin.”I glared at him. Since it was Saturday, it may be the time to go out. “Let’s grab a coffee.”“First and foremost, shower and change. You stink.” He crunched his nose as I rose to my feet.I did as he told me to. I showered and changed into a white top and denim shorts. We used his car since I didn’t have mine.We went to the nearest coffee shop, where Terzo and I had coffee. I ignored his calls, too, but at the same time, I wanted to know more about him.Our coffee arrived, and I ordered a slice of Tiramisu. The fork was halfway to my mouth when Terzo walke
TERZOThe thick wooden doubled-door swung open to my father’s office. It was one of the biggest rooms in the house where business was discussed and where the most secured safe and panic room were situated, where he kept his most valuables.I was assaulted by the scents of cedar wood and expensive cigars hung thick in the air.I let go of a shuddering breath as I stepped inside. Gaetano Siciliano, the patriarch of the family, the Don— one of the most powerful and feared heads of the mafias in Italian history— my father was sitting in his chair before his massive desk. His thick brows knitted together, hanging low over his dark caramel eyes and gray hair cut stylishly. In his sixties, he was still fit, strong, and could beat me in the ring if he desired to, but he always humbly said his prime was over.“Figlio.”“Come va, papa?”Papa nodded in acknowledgment. “Come in. How’s your sister?”Standing in the left corner that caught my eye was Celestina, my other beautiful sister who had bee
MAVERICKI smiled as we finally had time for each other. Atlas just fell asleep.Lake cupped my face and traced my lips with his thumb. “Thank you for making me complete, the happiest man on this planet, and for being my wife.”My heart exploded with his words with so much joy. “Ditto. Now, no more talking. Just get rid of your clothes.”He held his laugh, shaking his head as we began taking our clothes off. There was nothing much to strip off. I was in my sexy red lingerie, and he was in his pants.To be honest, our only problem was our time for both of us— most of the time while we were naked in bed, Atlas began waking up and started to cry.“I love you, baby.”I parted my lips as I watched the desire flicker in his eyes. He then dipped down, tagging my bottom lip between his teeth. He groaned as he pressed his hard cock against my lower belly and then cupped my ass as he finally captured my mouth in a passionate kiss, gliding his tongue inside, dominating me.Moaning, I instantly w
MAVERICKEight months later, Southampton I had a teary-eyed earlier as Cooper carried the precious angel I’d never thought I could love beyond anything in this world. He was five months old today and became the center of our universe. He was our ringbearer, and everyone, oh and ah, as he put on a cute little suit, while Nana and Beatreigh had been giggling since I walked down the aisle with my father, Gaetano.Like what he promised to my husband when Lake asked for the blessings he would be here, my friends and family, everyone I loved, including Terzo and Celestina. Lake did his luck inviting my mother. Surprisingly, she was here alone.“What’s in your head, baby?” the most handsome groom I’d ever seen smiled. He still took my breath away when he did that.After all these years of finding my perfect one, he came to me at the right time, even for the wrong reason.Then, our whole universe, Atlas Sawyer Bates Winston, came into our world, adding more colors to our lives. Sawyer was my
LAKE“Oh, my God!” My mother was the first to react, seeing the golf ball pop into blue smoke as soon as my uncle executed a stroke.“I knew it. Look at her abdomen,” Augustine said to my mother.“I told you, remember?” Mom seemed to find a new good friend in Augustine. They went to coffee or shopping together and sometimes baked at home. I was glad they got along so well. They were going to be excellent guides in raising our child.When we held our gender reveal party, Maverick was already six months pregnant. It was worth the wait. Everyone was here— our families, close friends, her friends from the Bazz, and, of course, our extended family.“You should promote my baby products, Maverick.”Amused, I shook my head at Estelle. “Give my wife a break.”“You’re the one who’s not giving her a break,” London replied. “She’s going to wear LH maternity dress for the photoshoots.“Congratulations, cuz.” Striker came to me.“Thanks.” We hugged each other.“Are you ready to be a father?”“I don
MAVERICK“Whoa. Why the long face?” I shoved a spoonful of butter pecan ice cream into my mouth as I watched Lake’s face seemingly in deep, miserable thoughts. “Babe?”“Yeah?” He looked at me, looking guilty.“Did you just cheat on me in that four hours?”“Baby, why do you always think like that?”“Lake, cheating doesn’t only mean you’re sleeping or kissing the other woman. Could be lying, keeping something important from me.”“I know.” He rose from the chair to join me on the couch. Then he pulled me close to him so he could hug me. “You like that?”“Yeah. You want some?” I scooped and offered, but he shook his head.“I want to tell you something.” I could feel the heaviness of guilt in his voice. Whatever he was about to say, I was sure he had reasons.“Shoot.”“I went to Nana.” It lightened up my chest when he called my grandmother Nana. One time, when he talked about my father, he called him Papa even though I still called Gaetano by his name.“And?” I met his gaze.“Your mother w
LAKE“She did not ruin your life. You ruined your own life by sleeping with the most dangerous man,” Augustine spat her anger out.I felt her anger towards her daughter was decades long, and she just had time to let it out of her chest.“You were only eighteen,” she added. “I had high hopes for you, but you disappointed your father. You were reckless and stupid and slept with a married man. You didn’t even know what care and love meant, and after you were gone for months, you came to me five months pregnant. Don’t blame your miserable life and poor choices on the poor, innocent child. She’s been through enough and all of that because you caused her so much pain.”“What do you want from my wife, Florence?”She lifted her chin. “I just wanted to meet her.”“Why now? Why not before when she didn’t have a mother at her first school recital? On her first time having a period? I’m your last to get out of here without being dragged into a van. Terzo is still in town, Florence.”She blinked t
LAKE“Are you okay?” I glanced down at Maverick working on her tan beside the pool.She looked pretty satisfied and comfortable in her yellow two-piece swimsuit and sunglasses, which shielded her eyes from the blazing sun.“Why do you keep asking me that?” She slightly lifted her chin.“Did you put enough sunscreen on?” I wanted to see her eyes but was disappointed that she kept her sunglasses on.“Don’t worry. I need more Vitamin D.” She strolled her gaze at me.“My Vitamin D isn’t enough for you?”When she saw me smirking, she slightly tipped her head down, glaring. “Not everything is about your dick, Lake. Going somewhere?”“Yeah. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”“A date?”“Yes, Maverick. I have a date. You might as well put Airtag on me.”“Can you buy butter pecan ice cream for me?”“Of course. Anything else?”“Bring your cock back untouched.”I laughed, making her frown. “My cock is exclusively yours, baby.” I bent down to cup her face and kissed her on the lips. “I promise yo
MAVERICK“Linden made fun of me. He sent me every copy of the books he read while Estelle had their first baby, Gabrielle. I’m done reading the first two books.”“Is that why you’re so calmer than me because of these books?”“You may be stubborn, but when it comes to our unborn child, you’re very responsible. Hence, we never argued about it. We most argued about money and my spending on you.”“I did not tell you that I love the ring.” I raised my hand. It was a Marquise cut, the same size as my first engagement ring.“Thank you, baby. I have good taste, you know.” I found some meaning in his words.“I bet.”Once he was done eating, he went to a small fridge and brought two bottled water. He opened one and gave it to me.“Thank you.” I drank it.“Can you stay a little longer?”“Why? Isn’t a chairman and CEO has a lot of work to do?”“That can wait.” He stood before me, cupped my head, and kissed me hard.My hands came to his arms, gripping them as he deepened the kiss and shoved his to
MAVERICKWe finally found out the gender of our baby this morning. I could see the joy in Lake’s eyes as the doctor told us. He was excited and couldn’t wait to meet our baby. He was even teary-eyed as he kissed my tummy.One thing he assured me was that he didn’t care about either a boy or a girl as long as our child was healthy, and I couldn’t agree more.On the other hand, I was a little bit scared of a lot of things, including labor and the pressure of being a first-time mother.I was still astounded at how lucky I was to be his wife. Aside from being overprotective and bossy, he was also thoughtful and loving.After Beatreigh, Nana, and I visited a bridal boutique, we had a late lunch, and then I decided to pay a visit to my husband, who was never invited to the Chairman and CEO’s office. The last time I planned on walking into this building was my confrontation with Wallace, but it didn’t happen.So, I thought I would surprise Lake.I knocked on his office door when Venus told m