“Saysomething,” I urge.
At my request, the expression on his face morphs to one of pure rage again.
Fuck me.
“Oh, so you’re expecting me tosaysomethingafter you’ve gone and literallyfuckedeverythingup?!” He practically yells the last three words, making me cringe.
“That’s what I’ve been sayin’,” Solo mumbles from next to him, earning a kick in the shin from Varsha, who is sitting to his left.
Dorran shifts and leans forward, bringing his body closer to mine. “Watch your tone, Maverick,” he warns in that signature spine-chilling voice of his.
“Or what, fuck-face?” Mave challenges.
Within seconds, the crew is on their feet. “The fuck did you call him?” Jayce says, and starts to walk towards Mave, but Dorran rises and pushes him back.
“Don’t.” He shakes his head to emphasize his point, to which Jayce’s jaw hardens, but he does step back.
Solo is keeping Alex and Varsha in line, who look about ready to tackle Mave to the floor.
Mave stands – seemingly shocked by what he sees – and I follow suit.
“You’ve doomed me to hell by telling me everything,” he addresses me, then puts his gun away. “You could have just kept me in the fucking dark.”
My throat tightens as I watch the struggle on his face. “I didn’t wanna keep lying to you. I didn’t want to have to come up with names and scenarios just to put you at ease about my safety,” I say. “Because, Mave, I know you care, and I’d feel so fuckingguiltyif I’d have to put up a façade every time I needed to get away from the estate. It wouldn’t have been fair – to either of us.”
“What’s not fair, Nettie, is you making me choose, because that’sexactlywhat I’ll have to do.” He scoffs and runs a hand over his hair. “I’ve been working for Chase since I was your age. Hell,youngerthan you, probably. And I’vealwaysbeen loyal to him; always followed his orders. I just…” He closes his eyes and exhales heavily. “You’re making mechoose,” he says again – quietly – then looks at me. “And Christ damn me, but I’m going to have to pick you. I’ll always fucking pickyouover Chase.”
My heart beats in my throat as I stare at Mave. Because right there, in his clear grey eyes, I see the one thing I was scared I’d find; the one thing Dorran had so confidently assumed would be there.
Love.
I seelovein Mave’s eyes. For...forme.
I wanna say that I know how this emotion feels, but that’d be a complete lie. Experiencing it and having it directed towards me are two very different things, and despite being uneducated in the former, I can sense it being projected at me through Mave, and that’s something I don’t need experience for. That’s something I simplyknow.
“So, what, you called me a fuck-face just for the sake of it, then?” Dorran says, and his voice pulls me out of my thoughts.
Mave clicks his tongue. “To be honest, I’ve wanted to call you that for a long time now.”
Jayce folds his arms across his chest, whereas Alex and Varsha scowl. Solo, on the other hand, coughs behind a fist, making me shoot daggers at him.
Dorran chuckles. “Man, I kinda wanna stab you right now,” he tells Mave, who smirks.
“Go ahead and give it a shot…fuck-face.”
I groan. “For the love ofGod,” I mutter.
“So you’re part of the team now?” Alex asks Mave. “Do we hug or high-five or somethin’?”
“I wouldn’t gothatfar,” Mave responds. “I’m only risking my neck for Nettie. The rest of you are a…” He purses his lips as he looks for a term.
“Necessary bargain?” I provide.
He shrugs. “Yeah, that.”
“Jeez, don’t treat us with so much respect, man,” Jayce voices. “Gives me acidity just watching youtry.”
“I, for one, am glad there’s someone in this band of misfits who sees sense in the fucked-upness of this entire situation – like myself,” adds Solo, earning simultaneous glares from me and the crew.
