Page 96 of Road to Absolution

CHAPTER 20

Blazing Terrors To See

DELILAH

Not until I loved someone as much as I loved Maverick did I understand how devastating it must have been for my mother to know she was dying, leaving her soulmate and children behind. Maverick was so incredibly dear to me that his pain was my pain. Watching him ride his bike into the sunset was so bittersweet I would never forget the chills that raced through my body.

He was glory.

He was tragedy.

He was Maverick Hutton.

Tucker had returned me to the room and stayed until I threatened his life. There were so many men in the compound, I knew there was nothing to fear. Eventually, he came back in, but since he had a tray of food, I didn’t yell at him.

Maneuvering the door with his feet, since his hands were full, my brother grinned. “Rogue just told me that Mav, Diesel, and Scorch are grabbing a bite to eat while out. So, I thought you could put that book down and have dinner with your bro.” He placed the tray on the bed. “I mean, really, there’re so many movies on Netflix and Hulu, why you insist on reading is a mindblower.”

I practically tossed the book aside after eyeing the tray. “Is that a bacon cheeseburger?”

“Oh, not going to be a snot and yell at me some more? Bring you a little cow and you’re back to being nice?”

Full of regret, I said, “I’m sorry. I don’t complain to Maverick because he has so much to contend with, but these walls are closing in on me.”

He chuckled. “I figured that after you texted V, begging her to come pick up some towel off the floor.”

Shameful, I slammed my hands over my face. “He’s right. I’m a neat freak.”

Tucker burst out laughing. “You’re just now figuring this out?”

The bed adjusted to his weight as he sat in Maverick’s spot, then sung out, “I put extra mayo on this.”

I peeked through a couple of fingers. “And pickles?”

“Fuck yeah! Think I’m an idiot? Daring to enter this dungeon to visit a pregnant woman without a sour ass cucumber?”

I let my body fall into his arm. “We’re going to be okay, right?”

His head leaned to mine. “Do you truly understand why I call you Light?”

I exhaled, not sure of anything at the moment.

After kissing my hair, he twisted slightly to fluff my pillows. “There are all kinds of people in this world. Some dark and cruel. Some just assholes and mean for no good reason other than thinking they are always right.” He got up from the bed and set his plate on Maverick’s nightstand. “Then there are the kind ones, always trying to help others—always putting others before themselves.” He walked around the end of the bed and placed the tray in my lap. “That’s you.” I was surprised to hear his voice crack. “To a fault.” His eyes met mine. “To a fault.” He sat on the bed, facing me. “I never thanked you for trying to protect me—” he swallowed, “from what Kenny was going through.”

I burst into tears.

He looked to the ceiling, fighting his own. “Knowing what I know now,” he bit his lip, “I’ve replayed so many times in my head.” His exhale trembled as he kept staring up. “There was a morning you came to my bedroom—to me, asking if we could talk.”

I grabbed a napkin from the tray and tried to collect my broken heart as that memory shot through me.

“Now, seeing it with new eyes,” his head fell forward, “I know you wanted to tell me what was happening—”

I cried, “It’s not your fault.”

“—But when he came into my room, smiling so big to see you and held you so tight, his happiness blinded me.” He finally broke into tears. “My friend was smiling so big.”

I rushed to set the tray aside and pulled Tucker to me. “I’m so sorry. I wanted him to smile, too.”

He cried into my shoulder. “I’m so sorry he hurt you.”