Page 39 of You Saw the Best In Me

“It’s worse than you think, Maverick. He hurt her badly and put her in the hospital with broken bones and brain issues. I’m no doctor, so you’ll have to ask her for specifics. He’s dangerous, and if you think he’s around, you need to help us protect her,” Adam stands, tossing his cigarette, and gets close to me before letting me say something.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. That’s not something you need to worry about with me. He’s hurt her, and he won’t be breathing if it happens again,” I assure him, and he takes me for my word.

I feel like I’m under a microscope, with Adam judging if I can be trusted or not. I don’t usually feel defensive, but right now, I know I fucked up and need to make it right.

“I have to bring my sister home, but once I’m done, I will talk to Karina,” I tell him as we get into our cars.

“Sounds good, but listen. Either you get with her, or you stop messing with her. I don’t need my girl texting me about your personal life at work,” he laughs, rolling up his window and driving away.

I’m floored. I never thought Karina’s situation was this bad, and I wish she had told me I worked with people who knew about her history.

Karina wasn’t home when I picked up Harper, and we went back to Gram’s house silently.

She’s still pissed at me for yelling at Karina yesterday, and I can’t argue with her right now, so I let us ride in silence.

“I’ll meet you after school in Principal Chambers's office tomorrow, okay?” I say, attempting to make peace before I go.

“Be nice to Karina. She likes you, Mav,” she hugs me and runs into the house before I can say anything else.

Apparently, Harper isn’t the only one who knows how Karina feels about me, and I wish I could take back everything that’s happened between us since I suggested we stay friends.

I don’t want to be friends with her, enemies, or whatever else has happened.

I want the vulnerable girl I held in my arms when I asked if I could kiss her.

I want the woman who wasn’t ashamed of having sex in the middle of the night and invited me over again afterward.

I can’t hide anymore, afraid of someone distracting me from my family.

Karina has already made her mark on Harper; I can’t take that for granted.

I have a feeling that she’s the one who would stay by my side if I told her everything about our past, and I’m done protecting myself from what could be the best thing that ever happened to me.

I know she’s mad at me, but I text her anyway, leaving no room for surprise when I knock on her door.

I prepare myself for a massacre when I knock on Karina’s door, ready for her to aim, shoot, and fire at me.

Instead, when she opens the door, I see a broken woman. Her eyes are swollen and red from crying, and she’s pale. The usual flush in her cheeks is gone, and she looks like she’s seen a ghost.

She doesn’t say a word, but invites me inside.

“Karina, I’m so sorry —” I start apologizing, but she cuts me off.

She walks to her kitchen counter and hands me a folded piece of paper.

I look into her eyes, and she nods, encouraging me to open it.

The fear radiates off her body. Usually, Karina is strong, standoffish, and ready for anything.

Right now, she’s a shell of herself. The emotions have taken control, and I can’t stand to see her this upset. I want to pull her close, hold her tightly, and promise that everything’s going to be okay.

I can’t do that.

After our last two encounters, I lost all right to touch her or give her an ounce of hope.

I’m lucky she’s allowed me to step back into her apartment again, and I can’t to do anything to jeopardize that.

I unfold the paper she handed me and take a deep breath. It’s time to unveil whatever hell this letter holds.