LAKE“This is intimidation! I will sue your asses. I know who you are!”I shook my head in annoyance as I watched Leah through the one-way mirror in the room before I turned to Maverick. “Are you sure you want to talk to this woman? She’s out of control.”“I think I’ve had enough threats in my life that an angry woman could put me down easily,” she said, making me proud of her and feeling guilty at the same time.“I’ll come with you.”“No, babe. I want to do this alone. If I say banana, that’s my signal that I need help.”I couldn’t help but smile even if I were worried about her. “Okay, banana.”Kye assisted her out of the room to the interrogation room. I watched her walk inside calmly.“I know it. It was you because you’re banging a billionaire, and now you can do this to me. I still have rights. You can’t hurt or intimidate me.”“I’m maybe banging a billionaire, but it doesn’t give me the right to slap people because you’re angry or because my husband is rich. Do I look like that
MAVERICK“Augustine Maverick Bates II, we need to talk,” said the woman in her authoritative tone, who blocked my way in her fine suit.I didn’t have to ask what kind of work she did— it gave it away— it was a white-collar job. But what did she want with me?“Excuse me?”“We need to talk in private.” She looked at Cooper and then back to me.“Look, lady, whoever you are, you can tell whatever you want in front of me because I’m not leaving by her side.”“I don’t think so, Cooper Greene.”“Gee. You know my name.” Cooper laughed nervously.“I know more than your name,” said the woman flatly, no humor in her voice.“It’s fine, Coop.” I walked away from Cooper. Once we were far enough, I stopped and looked at the woman. “Who are you? What do you want from me? If this is about that incident, I already told them everything I could remember.”“This is not about what happened at your grandmother’s house and apartment.”“Who are you? How do you know that?” I strolled my gaze.She put on a good
LAKE“This is a damn good pizza, Mrs. Winston.”“Thank you, Owen. I hope you’re not only complimenting me because you don’t want to hurt my feelings.”I saw a little tinge of pink on her cheeks. “It’s really good, baby.”“Yeah. I like classic pizza without too much cheese and toppings,” Homer seconded.“Do you believe us now?”She smiled at me. “I want to cook if I have time and always love cooking.”“Hold that thought. I need to answer this.” My phone just vibrated in my pocket. I’d been waiting for a call from the owner of the company I wanted to buy. My offer was so solid that there was no way he would turn it down, and I considered his demand. I fished out my phone; surprisingly, it was from Venus.I answered the call.“Mr. Winston, check the link I just sent to you.” I instantly knew it was bad news. I could feel it in her voice.”“Thanks, Venus.” I hung up the call and clicked the link she sent. It redirected me to a local online news. The headline alone made my blood boil. The
MAVERICK“Oh, my God. Are we trespassing? Whose house is this?” I pulled him on the back of his shirt as he tried to climb off the wall.I mean, we could just go by the gate, talk to the guard or something. It was just a few yards away. Yet here we were, doing something illegal that could get us arrested.My heart began pumping hard as I watched the street so people and cars could pass by like some delinquent kids.“I just want to test the theory,” he said casually as he made it to the top, and then the alarm just went off. “Fuck.” He laughed like a lunatic.When he told me earlier we were going for a ride, I was excited because I couldn’t remember we’d done that before. Right now, I might have just regretted coming with him.“Just jump, Lake. What the hell are you doing?” I groaned in a whisper but was already gritting my teeth in annoyance.“Why are you whispering?” he asked me, laughing.A few moments later, he was still sitting on top, and a guard and an old man just saw me, and j
LAKEI groaned as I crawled into bed with my naked, beautiful wife. My cock was uncomfortably hard and aching as I walked into the room not so moment ago.“I’m going to make you come so hard tonight, and you will see stars behind your eyes.”“Talk, talk, and talk, and less working.” Her hands came to her gorgeous tits, cupping them. Her nipples puckered.“You want my dick, but let me feel good first with my mouth,” I smirked confidently as I took her hands away from her tits.I covered her tit with my mouth and growled at how sweet and ripe it was. She gasped and instantly bucked her hips. Her fingers dove into my hair, gripping it tight, her nails scraping my scalp, the other on my back.I loved it when she wasn’t afraid to show me how much she wanted me.I relished her sweet tit, cupping the other with my free hand, kneading it, and rolling the tiny hard bud with my fingers. I took her other nipple into my mouth, sucking it hard, and she began to grind her hips against my thigh.The
LAKE“Fuck. Are you okay?” Sex with Maverick had always been on a whole new level.We’d been married for three months and slept together many times, and I had slept with many women, but it always felt like discovering something new with her; the excitement, the anticipation, and the chasing of pleasure hit me differently.She always made me lose my control, breaking me free from all the barriers I put up with other women. And it always felt so fucking good with her.Finally, I was inside her, unmoving, as I cherished the feeling of her warmth.She did not reply, but I knew she was more than okay. She pushed her up, urging me to move.“You are fucking tight.” My breath was heavy as I let go of the breathing I was holding.“Your dick is just big.” Finally, she talked again.I grunted as I pulled out my cock, grabbed a handful of her hair, winded it, then slammed into her again. “Let me fuck you right now, then I will love you later.”I didn’t wait for her to reply. I thrust in and out,
MAVERICKAfter Lake hung up the call, I stared at him for a good minute while he simply kissed me on the lips, and we were not talking about millions of dollars.“Did you just say your wife?” I finally found my voice back, pointing at myself. “Me? Your wife?”“Yeah. Who else? Unless I married another woman that looked just like you.”“Will you stop being a smartass for a minute? We’re talking about money worth millions here, Lake, and I don’t want to be a part of this.”“You’re the only person I trust besides my mother. And you’re my wife. With whom else should I trust my assets?” He simply shrugged.“No. I won’t be a part of your revenge plot against your father. Just sell your share, then move on.”“Don’t worry. I put my money in your name with contracts and clauses.”“Like what?”“Like you can only withdraw a million dollars a year, or if you bear me an heir. Something like that.”I got up from bed and put on my clothes. “You are completely out of your mind.”“You’re upset.” He lo
MAVERICKI had no choice but to release his hand as he had to get out of the car. I took a deep breath as I followed him out. We posed as a couple before the backdrop, and then we entered the massive gallery.Prominent people, including celebrities, influencers, and, of course, Mykel’s family and friends.“I’m Glad you made it. Thank you for supporting my brother, Lake, Maverick.” Mykel was always wearing a confident smile. Adley was also a presence, so beautiful.This would be the first time I would meet Knox, an artist. He was handsome like his brother but more carefree.“Congratulations, Knox.” I shook his hand after Lake introduced me to him.“Thank you, and please, check out some pieces, and don’t go home empty-handed.”“You’re shameless, bro.” Mykel clapped his shoulder.“All proceeds will be donated for the cause, brother, and Lake is loaded. Don’t be shy to donate, man.”Mykel shook his head in amusement.“Well, I’ll go check out some paintings.” I grabbed a champagne flute wh
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