MAVERICK
Another two dayshave passed and Ember still won’t see me. I’ve been patient but something’s gotta give soon. Bianca is settling in at the compound and so far, there haven’t been any more threats from Blade. She told me she’s tried to leave him several times, but he always found her before she could get past the county line. The last time though, a friend helped her escape. Blade’s weakness is women and despite being with Bianca, he cheated on her constantly. One night, during one of his drunken rages, she took a gamble… spiked his drink with enough crushed oxy to knock a horse out, courtesy of her friend. It was a dangerous move, but it worked, and she finally got away. That’s all that matters now.
We don’t know how Blade figured out she was here in Atlanta, but as long as Bianca’s working at Peaches, the Royal Bastards will make sure she’s protected. My phone buzzes on the kitchen counter and when I glance at the screen, Elijah’s name flashes across the top. My gut tightens as I open the message knowing it can only be news about Ember.
Elijah: Ember’s being discharged. She didn’t want me to tell you, but I thought you should know. I’m bringing her home now and you guys can talk.
Staring at the screen, a mix of emotions twist inside me. Relief that she’s well enough to leave the hospital, but a sharp ache knowing that she didn’t want me to know. I try not to let it get to me, but this feels like a sucker punch to the gut. This isn’t going to be easy and with every day we spend apart, the hope of her forgiveness slips further away. Maybe she’ll be more open in time, but right now, it feels like I’m losing her. Deciding to spend a few days here at home was a good idea after all. It means that she can’t keep avoiding me or the conversation we both know we need to have.
They should be here in about two hours so I move through the house, making sure that everything is back where it belongs. The thought of Fury being in my home still makes my stomach churn, making me want to dig him up just to kill him all over again. Unfortunately, Piper has to stay in the animal hospital for another two weeks. Her injuries were severe but the vet’s hopeful for a full recovery. The moment I called her name, she lifted her little head and let out a whine, licking my face when I kissed her. Ember will be relieved to hear that Piper’s healing and should be home soon.
The security camera pings, alerting me to movement outside. It’s Ember and Elijah pulling into the driveaway. He parks next to my Harley and I can’t help but wonder what Ember’s reaction will be when she sees it. I’d given Elijah some clothes for her to wear home and they barely fit her slender frame. Ember runs her hand along the leather seat of my bike and for a second, I almost smile. But then she pulls her hand back abruptly and continuestoward the house. She has a slight limp but the doctor said once her leg fully heals, she should walk normally again.
Meeting them at the door, I hold it open as Ember walks slowly up the stairs.
“Here, let me help you, baby,” I offer, holding out my hand, but to my disappointment, she ignores me and reaches for her father’s arm to assist her.
“I made us dinner. I figured after eating hospital food, you would be hungry,” I mention, keeping my tone light.
“I’m not hungry,” she replies, voice low, heading toward our bedroom. She doesn’t even look my way.
“Give her a little time, Mav,” Elijah advises patting me on the shoulder, but I’ve given her space to think and it feels like she’s given up on us. “I booked a room at a hotel downtown. I’d like to stay close just in case Ember needs me,” he remarks. But why would she need him when she has me? I know she’s angry but treating me like I mean nothing makes me feel like shit.
“I promise I won’t push her. Above all else, she needs to heal. You have my word.”
“That’s good enough for me,” Elijah says, turning to leave. After shaking hands, he heads out and I’m left feeling uncertain about what to do. Resting my head against the door, I’m slightly startled when I hear Ember’s voice, saying we should talk. Taking a deep breath, I turn, following her into the kitchen where she starts making tea. Grabbing a beer out of the fridge, I take a seat at the table and down half the bottle, needing a little liquid courage. I’m not sure I’m ready to have this conversation but it’s now or never. Ember’s voice is soft, the weight of her words hit me like a sledgehammer. Sitting across from me, her eyes are clouded with exhaustion, both physical and emotional.
“I can’t do this Silas,” she says, her voice cracking. “You’ve kept so much from me, and no matter how hard I try, I just… I can’t get past the lies. The double life, all of it.”
Reaching across the table, I gently hold her hand in mine. She pulls it back, shaking her head. Her arms wrap around herself, as if she needs protection from the very thing she once thought was her safe place… me.
“Ember, I…” I start to say, but she won’t look at me.
“I want you to leave,” she says, her tone final. “I need space. I need to heal… and I can’t do that with you here.”
“Ember, please… don’t do this. I love you,” I plead, but it’s like my words don’t even reach her.
“After my mother was murdered by one of the Savage Knights, I never looked at the MC life the same. The false sense of family made it unbearable. I was suffocating, living in a world I wanted nothing to do with.” Her words cut through me like a knife, slicing away at what’s left of my heart. “It was hard just being around the people responsible for her death, all because they had this stupid rivalry that meant nothing.”
Downing the remainder of my beer, I slump back in the chair, the weight of her pain making it impossible to hold myself upright.
“I fought so hard to escape that life and your lies made me believe I had finally done it. Here I am thinking I was betraying you by not telling you about my past when all along, you were the demon in the shadows.”
“Our marriage is real, Ember. My love for you is real. If you can’t believe anything else, believe that,” I plead, desperate for her to look at me and see the truth in my eyes.
“You took my choice from me the day my father came to you, asking you to protect me and you accepted.”
“I had to honor a promise, my father made to Elijah.…and”
“What about the vow you made to honor me, to cherish me? How can you claim to love me while lying to me the entire time?” She interrupts, her voice rising.
“So that’s it? Just like that, it’s over? You don’t love me enough to try to work this out?”
Her eyes finally meet mine, but the emptiness there guts me. I almost wish she hadn’t looked at me at all.
“You’re right,” she admits softly, her voice barely above a whisper and filled with pain. “I do love you, Silas… but I can never love Maverick and as far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing to work out.”
“But don’t you see? You brought out the best parts of me. The parts that love you from the depths of my soul.”
