Chapter 15

Maverick

Icould barely sleep because my thoughts kept going back to Ruby and the sadness in her eyes. Sadness that I put there, however unintentionally. Mabel was still furious with me because, according to her, I hadn't done enough to convince Ruby to stay. She wasn't wrong, I hadn't because I still wasn't sure that her staying was the right thing.

No, that's wrong, I knew it wasn't. But that didn't mean I felt good about it.

I didn't want to think about Ruby out there running from someone who hurt her, Sophie either, but I had to think about Mabel first and foremost. She was getting older, and though she was a tough old bird, she wasn't as strong as she used to be. I couldn't worry about all of them at once while also dealing with the threat to my MC.

Something had to give.

Hell, if I knew what, and no matter how elusive sleep proved to be, no answers came. So I just lay there in my bed and let thoughts of Ruby fill my mind even though they shouldn't. She was a liar, regardless of her reasons. She'd lied to me, and that wasn't something I could easily forgive.

My cell phone buzzed on the nightstand beside me and I sat straight up, immediately on alert as I answered. "Yeah?"

"Maverick?" It was Ruby's voice, quiet, shaky, and definitely afraid. "Someone tried to break in. No one got in the house, but a few of the panes on the front door are broken. You should come now." She ended the call before I could ask one damn question.

I was on my feet, stepping into a pair of jeans and grabbing a t-shirt on autopilot. Every one of my fears coalesced as I got on my bike and hauled ass to Mabel's house.

***

I rode to my grandmother's house in record time and ten minutes later I stomped up the steps and the door opened instantly.

My gaze landed on Ruby, who was shaking like a leaf, pale and frightened. "Mabel's upstairs in her room," she said, pointing over her shoulder as she stepped aside.

"Are you all right?" I got in her personal space and put my hands on her shoulders, but the stubborn woman shrugged me off. "I'm fine. Worry about Mabel. She's in the walk-in closet with Sophie."

"What?" I hadn't meant to yell at her, but what the fuck? "Why aren't you up there with them?"

"Because I had to make sure no one got in before they were safe." She took another step back, her gaze refused to meet mine. "No one got in and I'm not sure they tried. I think the point was just to give us a fright."

"Which it clearly did." I tried to comfort her again, and again she rejected the offer, stepping far enough away that she was out of reach.

"I'm fine," she assured me as she wrapped her arms around her waist. "Nobody was hurt. This time."

"Ruby," I groaned, and grabbed her arm, which was ice cold.

"You were right, Maverick. Is that what you want to hear? Because you were right, I shouldn't be here. We shouldn't be here. Just go check on your grandmother."

It was clear that Ruby didn't want to be comforted right now. She was too busy beating herself up about the broken glass and a long string of what-ifs, so I left her downstairs and went upstairs to check on Mabel. I was in two minds whether to call the cops, from what I could see it was just damage to the door. After what Mabel told me about the abuse, I wasn't sure that Ruby would thank me for getting the police involved. They'd want statements—and statements were another way she might get noticed.

I decided to check on my grandmother first, her bedroom was to the left of the staircase, taking up almost the entire front half of the second story. Her room smelled exactly the same, and I smiled as I tapped on the closet door. "It's me, Dylan."

A few seconds later, the slide lock made a sound and the door opened. "Are you here for a sleepover, Mr. Maverick?" Sophie asked the question and scrambled back to my grandmother and their card game before I could answer.

"Is everyone all right in here?"

"Sure are," Mabel answered in a bright voice. "Just getting my butt kicked at Go Fish."

Sophie giggled. "Sorry, Grandma."

"Meh, it's all right, honey. We've all gotta be bad at something." Mabel smiled and ruffed Sophie's hair, affection radiating from her. It was clear how much she loved having Sophie and Ruby around, and it was going to break her heart when they left.

"So, are you staying, Mr. Maverick?"

I hadn't thought that far ahead, but now that the little girl mentioned it, that was the exact right move. "I am. Can I borrow your bed?"

"Yeah," she said easily. "But you're too big for it."

"Then I guess you can keep sleeping there." I flashed a smile and she giggled, looking up at me like I was some kind of hero instead of the man forcing her to leave her new home.

"Need some help getting up?"

Mabel cocked a brow at me. "You callin' me old, boy?"

"I wouldn't dream of it," I laughed. "Just want to see if you need my help. That floor isn't as comfortable as it used to be."

"Good save, and yeah, I could use a hand."

I helped her to her feet with a grunt, and Sophie and I guided Mabel down the stairs. It was slow going with her muscles tense from sleep, and likely the stress of a potential burglar. "Want something warm to drink?"

"I want you to take care of that," she shot back as her gaze settled on two bags that rested beside the front door. Bags that weren't there a few minutes ago. "I'll get Sophie and me some warm milk with a dash of chocolate in it." Mabel gave my arm a squeeze and she guided Sophie into the kitchen just as Ruby descended the stairs with a backpack slung over one shoulder.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

She frowned at me as if I was the crazy fucker trying to leave in the middle of the night. "Leaving. Now. Tonight." She shook her head and, again, her gaze wouldn't meet mine. "I can't risk it. Mabel's been good to my daughter and me, and she doesn't deserve this. If that was…my trouble, I just can't. No."

"It's the middle of the night," I insisted, feeling helpless as fuck in the face of Ruby's tender emotions.

"The perfect time to leave. No one will be expecting that." She checked each bag, doing a silent inventory of her worldly possessions. "It's fine. We'll be fine and out of your hair soon enough."

A grunt sounded behind me. "Don't you think I should get to decide what I do and don't deserve?" Mabel asked, arms folded and her body radiating with attitude. "I didn't live all these years to let other people make decisions for me."

Ruby stopped what she was doing and turned her gaze to Mabel. Eyes shining with unshed tears, she rushed to the older woman and wrapped her in a tight hug. "Thank you, Mabel. Thank you for giving us a soft place to land for a while. Thank you for giving Sophie a dose of family. Just…thank you for everything."

"That sounds like goodbye."

"It is," she said as she stepped back. "It has to be."

"You're not safer on your own. He'll use Sophie against you."

Ruby nodded. "As long as she's safe."

"Will she be safe?" Mabel asked kindly. "If something happens to you and he takes her, will she be safe?"

"I can't leave her," Ruby whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "If we keep moving, she'll be safe."

Mabel gripped her arms and a long moment of communication passed between them, unspoken words that they both seemed to understand. "You can't run forever."

"Just long enough that he stops looking. That's it, and then we'll be safe."

"Stay," my grandmother pleaded.

"I can't, Mabel. I can't risk that he'll hurt you just to hurt me. I won't."

"Stay with me." The words flew out of my mouth before the thought had clearly formed in my mind, but they were out now. "You and Sophie can stay with me. I can keep you safe, I promise. You too, Grandma. I'm not leaving you here tonight."

Ruby shook her head. "That doesn't change anything. Same problem, different location."

"Except I can protect you. I'm armed and I know how to use my weapons." And men who beat women never fought back against other men. If he did, I would be ready.

Hell, more than ready.

"You'd be a fool to leave," my grandmother chimed in. Though she didn't look like she was going anywhere, herself.

"Mabel, I was serious. I want you at my place tonight too." I said.

"It takes more than an attempted break in to scare an old coot like me, but if it'll keep you happy, Dylan."

"What about you?" I asked Ruby.

"That's a kind offer," she said in a monotone voice, "but I can't. It's time for us to go. We've already stayed here too long, I think."

"Stay," I said a little too gruffly. "I still haven't found anyone to replace you. Stay with me until your week is up, and we'll talk again then."

Ruby nibbled her bottom lip and she thought about it. "Just until the end of the week and then we're gone."

"You got it," I agreed easily, because a lot could happen in a week.

Ruby put my grandmother first. She kept her safe and now I owed her that same safety in return.

And I was a man who always paid his debts.