Richard nodded. “Yeah, I remember.”
“So, truth or dare?”
Richard looked over his shoulder, shooting questioning glances at his siblings, one after the next. “I’m starting to wonder what kind of meds they’re giving you, man,” Richard said with a laugh.
“Truthordare?”This time Maverick was much louder. His fingers started to thrum once more.
“Dare,” Richard hissed.
Maverick turned his head to the side to see him better. “I knew you’d wimp out and not say truth. Fine. Then Idareyou to tell me if you hit on the woman I like while I was freaking stuck in this bed.”
His words swarmed in the air like hornets circling a picnic.
Maverick thrummed faster. “I’m flat on my back, sleeping the month away so I don’t screw my body up for the rest of my life and you’re trying to scr—"
“Don’tfinish that sentence,” Richard growled. His hand fisted into a tight ball. “If you get crude about her, I’ll knock you out. I don’t care if you’re stuck in that bed.”
“Okay, guys,” Andie said, “that’s enough.”
Maverick propped himself up on his elbow and scowled at Richard. “I dare you to. Forget the other dare since you aren’t going to fess up to it anyway. I dare you to hit me right now.”
“Shut up, Maverick,” Emmitt warned.
But Maverick only motioned for Richard to lean in closer.
No, Richard, don’t do it.The words were screaming in Ava’s head as Richard hunched down, eyes locked on him.
“Last chance to tell me the truth,” Maverick hissed. “Did you or did you not hit on Ava?”
“I’m in love with her, Mav—”
Suddenly Maverick sprung. Ava barely saw the fist he made before he was ramming it smack into the side of Richard’s jaw.
Richard stumbled back from the blow. “Maverick, what the—”
“Made you flinch, idiot,” Maverick said, propping himself up with elbows and shaking out his fist.
“Made meflinch?” Richard asked, dragging the back of his hand along the bottom corner lip. A smear of blood streaked his skin. “Youhitme!”
“You should have seen it coming,” Maverick said. “Idid. I knew clear back from the start that you were into Ava. That’s what you get. Cheating, woman-stealing snakes get punched in their stupid face.”
Emmitt and Trenton rushed in between them with wide eyes, ready to intercede if Richard tried to retaliate. But Richard only shook his head and backed away. “Do you feel better now?”
“Yeah, I do, actually,” Maverick said. “But I’m not done yet.” He pointed a look at Ava. “Your turn. Truth or Dare.”
“Maverick, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I don’t want to split up your family. I’ll leave, if that’s—”
“Are you, or are you not, Wren Brandler’s girlfriend?”
Ava felt the blood drain from her face. Her breath hitched.
“What are you talking about?” Richard hissed.
“Wren Brandler, the CEO of Elite Lighting?” Emmitt asked.
Maverick nodded. “That’s the one. He put out a missing persons alert. It’s all over the web. He’s got a reward out there for anyone who can help him find hisgirl. Friend.” He put emphasis on those final two words.
No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening.
