Page 24 of Cursed Fox

First, I needed to get back to my house so I could once again pack clothes since my suitcase was still at Jimmy's. I was getting sick of wearing other people's clothes and using their products. I wanted to smell like vanilla again, dammit.

"You're awfully quiet over there."

One side of my lips turned up in a smirk as I thought about Lex. "I guess I just got used to the silence while in a vehicle."

Maverick chuckled. "Yeah, Lex isn't much of a talker." Not much? That was an understatement. "Besides, it's a little hard to have a conversation when the wind is constantly blowing through the Jeep."

This time I laughed. "It was a little hard to hear unless Lex yelled. I can't imagine why he would want to ride around like that every day."

"The guys and I like to tease him that it was his midlife crisis purchase. Most men go for sports cars, but not Lex." Maverickcleared his throat. "But the truth is, I think it's more than that. I think he purchased the Jeep because he couldn't be confined inside a regular vehicle after everything that's happened to him."

That made sense. I couldn't imagine how much it changed a person to be tortured. "You don't seem to mind."

We stopped at a stop sign just outside of Divot and Maverick turned to look at me. "Lex had it worse than the rest of us, and I don't just mean being forced to kill that woman. For some reason, they tortured him more than the rest of us. I think that, paired with the death of his parents at a young age, just broke him."

I looked down at my hands in my lap. "Do you think he can eventually heal?"

"I think with the right woman in your corner, any man can heal."

I wasn't sure if Maverick was still talking about Lex or himself at that point. And it wasn't my place to ask, so I kept my thoughts to myself and waited until we pulled into the driveway of my house.

"I don't need long. Just a quick shower and to pack another bag." I wanted to make this quick just in case Lex came back while I was gone.

Unlike when I came here with Lex, I wasn't worried about how my place looked. I wasn't trying to impress Maverick. He was a means to an end while Lex was being stubborn.

"Take your time. I'll just work from the couch if you don't mind."

"I don't mind at all," I hollered on my way up the stairs.

I rushed through a quick shower, then pulled out the matching suitcase to the one that was at my son's apartment. This time I took care to pick out my outfits, even stuffing a few of my nicer pair of undies into the bottom. I’d learned my lessonfrom the last time. There was no way I was going to accidentally let Maverick or anyone else see what I wore under my clothes.

I glanced around my bedroom and made sure I didn't miss anything before heading back downstairs to find Maverick in the same spot I’d left him.

"Is that everything?" Maverick looked up from his phone when I hit the bottom of the stairs.

"I think so. Let me just take a look around."

I didn't make it very far before I saw the messenger bag on the floor. I’d forgotten I brought it home. I’d been in such a rush after meeting Lex, I’d completely forgotten I wanted to work while I was away. It was a good thing I hadn't brought it to Oklahoma. Otherwise it would still be there.

Picking the bag up off the floor, I started to bring it over to the couch. "I need this as well." Unfortunately, the old bag had seen its last day and the bottom fell apart, allowing everything inside to tumble straight onto the couch next to Maverick.

"Shit!" I scrambled to clean up the mess when a particular envelope caught my attention. "What the . . ."

There was no return address, and while the white envelope was addressed to me, it was sent to my place of employment. I wasn't sure why this particular piece of mail set off every one of my alarm bells, but something about it was off.

"What's wrong?" Maverick was off the couch and leaning over my shoulder in a heartbeat.

"I'm not sure."

Flipping the envelope around, my hand shook as I ripped the flap open and took the piece of paper out.

You should never have given birth to such a worthless piece of shit.

I read the words over and over again. Each time becoming more and more angry at whoever had the audacity to send such a nasty note.

"What the fuck?" Maverick snatched the letter out of my hand. I didn't even have it in me to argue because I didn't want to be holding the garbage anymore.

I watched on as Maverick pulled out his phone and began to make a call. I didn't have to wait long to know who.

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