12. Maya

12

MAYA

I hold my hand out to him, waiting.

I'm afraid he's going to deny me. Out of all the times my brother could call, this was the absolute worst. I raise my hand a little higher. I feel so vulnerable sitting here naked, but I refuse to back down. "Legend… please."

He moves toward me, and my hands go to his waist. I suck in a deep breath and start to undo his button again. He covers my hand with his. "If you touch me, Maya, it won't end with you sucking me off. We'd make love."

I try not to react to him saying ‘love.' He could have said sex or any other thing, but he said love . "Okay." I nod.

He reaches for my chin, pulling my head up to look into his eyes. "I'm going to bury myself so deep inside you that you won't know where I end and you begin."

My body physically reacts. "Okay."

I'm pulling down his zipper when there's a loud boom and the whole house starts to shake. I'm stunned and trying to get my bearings as Legend grabs my clothes and starts putting them on me. As soon as I'm covered, he grabs his gun from the nightstand, throws me over his shoulder, and walks to the door of the bedroom. There's a huge hole in the front of my house, and so Legend goes the opposite direction, carrying me out the back door. He climbs my picket fence with me on his shoulder and then starts running down the road. We're blocks away before I get my bearings. "Legend, put me down."

He's barely out of breath. "You don't have any shoes on."

I twist my body so I can look at his feet. "Neither do you. Put me down."

He walks to someone's backyard and puts me down in the soft grass. "What was that?"

He puts his hands on the sides of my face. "Look at me. Walker's men are coming here to take you to a safehouse."

I grab his shirt. "You mean us. They're going to take us to a safehouse."

He's shaking his head, and he pulls me against him, burying my face into his chest. "Listen to me, Maya. This guy is out of control. I fucked up thinking I would protect you and let someone else find him and stop him. I should have had guards set up outside. I don't know how he got past the cameras." He blows out a breath, and I feel his body shudder. "This is what I'm trained to do, honey, and I need to do it."

I sniffle. "Well, let me go with you… or let them do it. I can't lose you, Legend. If something happens to you—"

He squeezes me harder. "Listen, I already sent the text with our location. They will be here any minute, and I need you to be strong, okay? You're doing so good, baby. I'm so proud of you.''

I start to cry, and once it starts, I can't stop. "Please?" I beg of him. "Please don't leave me."

He leans back just enough to look me in the face. "Maya, baby, I have to do this."

Before I can beg him not to leave me, a truck pulls up, and a man gets out of the driver's side. He's looking around as he walks toward us. "Walker," Legend says.

The man named Walker holds his hand out to Legend. "It's been a long time, brother."

Legend shakes his hand, but doesn't release me. He gestures to me. "You'll keep Maya safe until I get there?"

Walker nods. "Yes. We have a cabin on the compound. No one will be able to get to her. I'll have guards at every entrance." He holds a hand up. "The compound houses mercenaries and wounded veterans. Trust me, no one is getting by."

Legend clears his throat. "Can you give me a minute?"

Walker nods and walks over to the passenger side of the truck. I'm shaking my head. "I'm not doing it, Legend. I'm staying with you."

"Honey…"

I poke a finger in his chest, and I'm filled with anger. "No! You're supposed to be protecting me. You have to go with me."

He brushes the hair off my face. "He tried to kill you, Maya. I'm ending this now."

"Oh, God." I cry. "There's no talking you out of this, is there?"

He shakes his head. "No, baby. I have to do this. "

I suck in a deep breath and rest my forehead against his chest. I've only known Legend for a few days, but I know if anything happens to him, it will kill me. "Promise you'll come back to me." When he doesn't answer me immediately, I lean my head back and look him in the eye. "Promise me."

He sounds choked up. "I promise, Maya."

He leans down and seals his lips to mine. He still tastes like me, and he devours me with a kiss. As soon as he breaks it, he lifts me up and carries me to Walker's truck. "We had to leave in a hurry. Can you get her some clothes and shoes?"

Walker reassures him, "My wife is on standby to bring anything she needs. I'll send you the location in an encrypted email."

Legend nods as he leans in, pulls the seatbelt across my lap, and snaps me in. "I'll see you soon."

I snuff in a breath. "Okay. Please take care of yourself, Legend."

He smiles. "I will, honey."

He shuts the door, and I watch him as he says something to Walker and then takes off running barefoot back to my house.

It's not until he's out of sight that shock takes over.

The tears start again, and no matter how much I try to calm myself, I can't stop crying. If something happens to him, I don't know if I'll survive it.

"Honey, Legend will be fine."

I clench my fists. "How do you know?"

Walker is driving us through Whiskey Run, and he looks at me in the rearview mirror. "Because I've been in his shoes before. Nothing will keep him from you. A man in love is invincible. "

I lower my head. Love. The word hits me right in the gut. "He doesn't love me."

Walker chuckles. "Trust me, Maya. That is a man in love."

If anything, I cry harder. I cry because I'm worried about Legend. And I cry because even if he doesn't feel the same, I should have told him how I felt. I should have told him that I loved him.