Page 80 of Relentless
Reid and JD’s stares are like lasers burning into my back. They don’t understand mine and Mav’s relationship. Hell, I don’t even think me and Mav totally understand it. All I know is that right now, I feel safer and more loved than I have in two weeks. I might be back in the basement, in this cell, but with his arms wrapped around me, I am home.
“I’m sorry, Mav.” I sniffle, my voice rough with emotion. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
His entire body tenses, letting me know that he’s more than aware of all the things I have to be sorry about.
“I know, babe. Not now though, yeah?”
“Okay,” I whisper, grateful for the reprieve. Although, I know it’s coming. He might be allowing me to keep the Band-Aid on for now, but I’m only going to get so far before I have to rip it off, no matter how much it hurts.
Finally, my uncontrollable sobs begin to fade and I unwrap my legs from around Mav’s waist, aware that he’s been holding me up for a very long time.
I might have lost some weight since he saw me last but that doesn’t mean he can hold me up forever.
Wish he could though.
Balancing on my tiptoes, I press a kiss to his neck, right above his thundering pulse. I want to do so much more, but now isn’t the time to go there, especially with our audience. So I allow myself to just indulge in the racing beat of his heart, reminding myself that he’s here, that he’s okay, and that we’re together again.
“Doll,” he breathes before swallowing thickly.
“I love you, Mav. Nothing has changed,” I promise him, before reluctantly releasing him and taking a step back.
The air in the cell is charged with tension and testosterone. It’s suffocating.
If I thought having Reid and JD inside this small space with me was intense then having all three of them watching me as if I’m about to turn to dust is seriously overwhelming.
As much as I’d love to know what they’re thinking right now, I don’t turn to look back at Reid and JD. My eyes are too focused on Mav. His skin has a grayness to it that I know all too well from my time down here. His cheekbones are a little more prominent than usual and he’s got dark rings around his eyes. His hair is a mess, the scruff on his jaw is longer than he likes, and his clothes are rumpled. This is not the version of my husband that I’m used to. And it’s all my fault.
Something tight and unforgiving wraps around my chest, making it almost impossible to breathe.
“I’m sorry. All of this is—”
“You motherfucker.” Mav growls and it echoes around me.
I was too focused on not meeting his gaze as my guilt swallowed me whole to remember what I looked like and the image the state of me paints.
One moment I’m standing there with my heart in my throat as my husband glares pure death over my head, and next, I’m being shoved out of the way as he flies forward.
“Mav, no,” I cry, managing to catch myself on the wall.
I watch in horror, everything happening in slow motion, as he cocks his fist back ready to plow it into Reid’s face.
There’s no hiding who’s been touching me; Reid’s hand is still dripping blood.
Thankfully, JD jumps between them, catching Mav off guard and halting the punch he was about to throw.
“I really don’t think that’s a good idea, man,” JD says as calmly as possible as he presses his palms against Mav’s chest and forces him to back up.
Despite the anger that’s coming off Mav in waves, he’s too weak to really fight.
“Like you’re any better,” Mav spits. Proving my previous thought totally wrong, Mav takes JD completely by surprise and throws his fist into his jaw.
“Ow, fuck.” JD moans as his head snaps to the side.
“Mav,” I cry, rushing forward and standing in front of him before he can make this situation any worse. “You need to stop,” I beg.
“Me?” he asks incredulously. “I need to stop?” A dark, bitter laugh spills from his mouth as he looks from me to the two men standing behind me. “So this is how it is now, huh?" he asks, making my brows pinch in confusion. “You’ve been here two weeks and now you’re siding with them?” he sneers, any relief he first had at seeing me seems to have vanished as if it never existed.
“What?” I shriek in disbelief. “Them?” I ask, pointing over my shoulder. “I’m not with them.”