Page 45 of Sanction

I twirled a piece of hair at the nape of his neck as he continues to speak. “Dad ended up with the flash drive and after that he informed me, I was not longer welcome. I was worthless to him and all I did was destroy everyone around me.”

The crack in his voice broke my heart. He was a kid. A teenage boy who needed guidance and love, not judgment and neglect.

“So, you left.” I said softly.

“I did. I didn’t want to hurt anyone else, and I thought if I started over, maybe it would break the cycle. Then I met your family.” He looked up at me and smiled. “Your mom and dad changed my life.”

I ran my hands through his hair as I studied his features. I smiled back, as he placed a kiss on my lips.

“Then I fell in love with you.” He murmured against my lips. “But I was scared…. I thought if I got too close, I would screw it up again. You were the last person in this world I would want to hurt.”

“You’re stuck with me Travis.” I said as I leaned back to look at him. “I will never give up on you.”

“Believe me Princess, I know. You are possibly the most stubborn woman I have ever met in my entire life.” He chuckled.

“Yeah…but you love me.” I shrugged.

His hands framed my jaw. “That I do. More than anything in the world.”

Chapter 27

Travis

I got Dani to lay back down and go to sleep after our heart to heart in the bathroom. I’ve never told anyone that stuff. Not even Maverick. It’s strange that I feel lighter. Like carrying that shit all these years was what stole my peace and the air in my lungs. But something else was tugging at me. Maverick’s phone call had my mind spinning. He thinks there’s a rat. I hate to admit it, but I may agree. I’ve been going through it in my head. Wondering how they knew Tanner and Dani would be away from us. It was a sporadic trip; it wasn’t planned and it was only minutes away. Someone tipped them off.

I jogged downstairs in search of Boston. I find him with Romeo and Widow at the bar.

“Boston,” I motion for him to meet me across the room.

He stands as he throws a wink at Roxy who prances by. “What’s up?” He asks.

“I need a favor.” I reach for my cigarettes in my pocket. “Maverick wants you to check some phone records.”

“Alright, no problem.” He shrugs.

I light the end of my cancer stick. “I need you to check everyone from the club.”

His eyes widen in surprise. “A rat?”

“I don’t know, we are trying to figure that out. They got to them too fast.”

He nods. “I got it.”

“Check for any connection to the Serpents. Check everyone, club girls too.”

“Okay, it might take a couple of days, but I can get it.”

“Thanks man.” I hold up my fist and he bumps it with his.

I saw Maverick coming down the staircase, so I pointed towards the meeting room. He followed me. I can tell he’s still tired as shit. I walked over to the whisky and grabbed two glasses.

“I talked to Boston. He’s looking into it now,” I told him as I poured.

“Good. I hope I’m wrong.” He sat down in his chair and pushed his palms to his eyes.

“Me to.”

We sipped our drinks, letting the quiet give our minds time to think. The silence was interrupted by Maverick’s phone. He frowned, but sat it on the table between us and tapped the speaker phone.

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