Page 134 of Never Started
Via sighs in defeat before continuing, “She was going to meet Maverick at his parents' cafe in New Orleans. It’s the one on Decatur Street.”
“Got it. Thank you, V. Are you guys close? Can you go check on her? I’m on my way but—”
Before I can finish, Ander cuts me off with, “Jett, what the fuck is going on?”
“Please, Ander. I don’t ask for much, but I need this from you. I’ll explain everything later,” I say quickly with a hurried sigh. “If you hear from Maverick, please call me.”
“Yeah, we will. We’re heading there now,” Via says right before I hang up the phone.
My stomach churns with regrets and fears I’ve never known. My heart is racing, and there’s nothing I can do to steady myself.
I just need to get to her.
I need to hold her.
I need her to be safe.
I knew the risks of going against them. I knew she was one of their targets, yet even then, I still took the chance. She wouldn’t have wanted me to let the fuckers ruin the ranch for her—it’s what I told myself time and time again.
But I should have.
She’s worth more than anything, and in this moment, I’d burn the whole fucking ranch down myself just to know she’s safe.
But it’s too late. I put her in harm's way. How could I let it get to this point?
This is all on me, and if anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself.
Chapter seventy
Izzy
December 2025
Blinking twice, my vision slowly begins to come into focus just as my hand shoots to the ground beneath me to push myself up. On unsteady feet, I rush to stand, searching around for Maverick.
There.
He’s lying across from me, bloody and unmoving. The men who previously surrounded us are nowhere to be found. Now, other strangers are running toward us.
In a rush, I make it to Maverick's side and fall to the ground beside him, pulling his stiff body onto my lap.
“HELP!” I call out in a hoarse shout, pleading for someone, anyone, to save him. “Please, help!”
Every second passes us, painful and slow, as if time no longer exists.
Holding on to Maverick, I look down at his face and see the fear in his eyes. He’s covered in blood, but somehow, he still manages to force a soft smile as our eyes meet.
This can’t be how his story ends. Panic rises up in my throat in the form of bile, and I push it down along with every ounce of anxiety that’s flooding my system. Maverick needs me to be present and with him; he needs all my emotions and focus on him. He deserves at least that.
“Just hold on, Mav. Help is coming,” I whisper in a rasp, begging for him to be okay, desperately pulling his body closer to me.
A life with him may not be what was written in the stars for me, but I refuse a world where he doesn’t exist. I need him to pull through.
“I love you, Iz. I’ll always love you.” His voice is low and weak, and the tears in his eyes slide down his cheek.
My eyes mirror them. “You can tell me all about how much you love me once you pull through this,” I say, each word trembling as it leaves my lips. “I justneedyou to pull through, Mav.”
“Pocket,” he murmurs low, barely audible. His hand pats his pocket, and my brain doesn’t register what he’s trying to say.
