Page 84 of Savage Hearts

Maverick briefly turned toward me, a small frown marring his face, before he went back to the man. He grabbed him by the back of his shirt collar.

“Do you know who I am?”

The man trembled, and I wrinkled my nose a bit in disgust when I realized he had wet himself.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“Surely you thought this through before you decided to come here and attack what’s mine. Who do you work for?”

The man shook his head.

Maverick smiled.

I took a deep breath and tried to keep the nausea at bay.

This smile was nothing like any of the ones he shot me before.

This smile was different. So different.

“No? I’m sure I can find other creative ways to get you talking.”

I whimpered, drawing the attention of the men.

That seemed to get Maverick out of whatever dark thoughts he was thinking, because he pushed the man in front of me.

“I believe you need to apologize.” Maverick grabbed the man’s hair and pulled back, hard, until he looked up and met his dark eyes. Any harder and he might just rip away all the man’s hair. “And make sure you’re sincere. Why don’t you kiss the top of her shoes to show it?”

I shook my head.

Maverick cocked his head at me.

I licked my dry lips. “I don’t… I don’t want him to touch me.”

“I don’t blame you,” he said quietly. “And how am I supposed to ever deny you anything?”

I let out the small breath of air I was holding. He said it like it was true.

He said it like I was someone to be cherished.

I looked away.

I could hear Maverick kick the man.

“S-sorry,” the man muttered as the guard pulled him away.

I closed my eyes when I heard his screams, begging for mercy.

Large, warm hands cupped my cheeks.

I jumped.

“Shh, you’re safe,” Maverick said.

I opened my eyes.

He still looked angry, but his touch was so gentle when he used his thumb to swipe away a fallen tear.

I didn’t even realize I was crying.

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