“Your parents… Do you know why they hired Lone Star Security?” Maverick’s face is a sudden wall, suspicion shrouded behind his eyes.
“My parents?” I arch my eyebrows. “I have no clue, and honestly, I don’t care. They abandoned me long ago. Both of them. Anything they still want from me has to do with money. I can’t imagine anything else.”
“How can you be so sure?”
My nostrils flare, pulse spiking. “Don’t you get it? I’m not sure of anything right now.”
He scans the windows, head on a swivel. Always multi-tasking. “Maybe it had something to do with this concert? This location?”
“Your company’s the one they hired. Why not ask Grayson about it? I’m sure he knows more than I do.”
Maverick frowns, running his hand over his beard.
“Above my pay grade,” he says. “According to Grayson.”
If his mind could make noise, I’d hear gears grinding and pistons firing.
“What?” I ask, fear lodging in my throat for reasons I can’t name.
“Nothing,” he says, shaking his head and pacing.
I survey the room, a decision brewing. I have to leave this place. Before they bring Edwin here. Before I can’t escape again.
I bite my bottom lip, tasting salt and blood. “This morning, I heard you leave early. What were you doing?”
“Securing the perimeter. Making sure you’re safe.”
“Before dawn? Now, that’s dedication.”
“Always up that early.” He stares at the hands in my lap.
“What will happen? After?”
“After?”
I swallow hard. “Yeah, after … when Edwin finds out where I’m at.”
“Can’t tell the future, Princess.”
What he doesn’t know is that I can. Because the future proves the past. Always has in my case. One unending pattern.
I smile stiffly, pushing the mug away and rising. “I’m going to take a shower.”
He nods. “I’ll be outside, watching.”
It’s what I’m counting on.
Chapter
Seven
MAVERICK
“Don’t tell me you’re one of those hide-with-’em-and-leave-’em girls,” I murmur.
Mia startles at my words, jaw dropping, overnight bag clutched guiltily in her hand. I don’t know if she’s more shocked by my presence or my sudden wordiness.
“I—I—” She stands there awkwardly, eyes round, unmoving.
