Page 34 of Max

“Brody, my other teammate will be your shadow today. So, don’t freak out if you see an unknown man following you. I’ll give you his picture so you would know who to look for.”

She indeed smiled and went upstairs. It was good that I called Stone. I dragged my feet, but it had to be done. For both of us. All that was left, before I made Skylar mine, was find out what the hell was going on with Barone and where he was hiding. I had my team at my back. Chace was at the front line right along with me. And if need be, Carter would not be far behind. Which meant Skylar was safe. At least for now. And I intended to keep it that way.

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Chapter Eleven

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Max

I was pacing up and down my living room and checking my phone with every turn I made. Where were they? Jason called and said they were two minutes out. That was ten minutes ago.

"Prepare, man."

Before he burst out laughing and ended the call. I couldn't believe I let it happen, not only that, I arranged it. After Skylar left to get ready for lunch with her aunt and uncle, without a second thought, I called Rory.

"What's up?" She answered as cheerfully as ever.

"I need a favor," I choked out.

I knew that was going to cost me in ways I couldn't even imagine. I just hoped it wouldn't end with me sitting in a cell. That was Rory's favorite pastime, getting her brothers arrested. She liked to torment us, and I was fully aware I was giving her ammunition to destroy me. I didn’t give a fuck. I wanted Skylar to have fun. To be carefree for one evening. I also wanted to have someone she could talk to. She wasn’t fully relaxed with me. Even though there was a pull between us, one I never felt before, we still had a lot to learn about each other. With Rory, she could unload without the pressure of needing to live up to some imaginary expectations. Living with a sister taught me that a girl got that when she was hanging with her girlfriends. With Melanie gone and her cousin in the wind, Rory was my only option. It was a good call. After she got home from her lunch, she was quiet and decided to go lay down for a bit. I wanted to have her near and be within my reach. I took the time while she was upstairs and called Brody to get a brief and to get Skylar’s background. With what he told me, I wished I didn’t. Every word he said, sliced me across the chest until I had to check and make sure I wasn’t breathing. Her life consisted of tragedy after tragedy.

And I got to see why she was willing to bury her head in the sand so deep she completely missed who she was sharing her life with. I couldn’t imagine the fear and loneliness that she forced herself through every single day. It had very little to do with Barone out in the wild and all with my need for her. She woke up, got downstairs, and beelined to me. Without a word, she climbed in my lap, pushed her face in my neck, and sighed.

“I missed you,” she muttered.

It was amazing to hear her say that.

"Max," she called into my skin...

"Right here, Bean."

"Thank you for letting me sleep with you last night," she whispered in a small voice.

"Never need to thank me for that."

"It's just that," she continued whispering. "I can't get the sight of those girls out of my head.

"I know," I couldn't either. It was fucked up.

After a few moments of silence, she called," Max? "

"Right here, Bean."

"I fell in love with you, too."

In the span of a day, she opened up and let me in. Sure, she still held some cards close to her chest, but in time I knew she would open up fully. I pivoted again, and walked the same path to the window.

“Hello, big brother,” Rory sing-songed, hanging off the door.

Fuck.

I was so much in my head. I didn’t even hear them come in. I stepped forward, a smile forming on my face, but it died a miserable death when Jason limped in while dragging Skylar behind.

“Please, help me,” he looked at me.

His lips were pinched, almost as he was in pain. I got to them in two large steps. Panicked that Skylar was hurt.