Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 68538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Doors were opening and closing, and I could hear them getting closer and closer to where we were.
The bathroom door didn’t have a lock, and I knew damn well and good that he was coming our way.
However, I couldn’t stop.
I could feel the release I’d been desperately needing barreling straight for me, and the movements of Auden’s hips were becoming choppier and choppier.
His panting breaths mingled with mine, and soon we were both falling over the edge.
A curse left Auden’s lips as he said, “Say your name, sweetheart.”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Maven still, for now.”
He pulled away with a quiet chuckle.
I’d had a crisis in the car on the way home from learning how Brock Austin had kidnapped me.
The next day, I’d realized that, despite the disgustingness of the act Brock Austin had committed, my name was Maven. I wouldn’t be going by Marina, at least not yet, because I didn’t feel like a Marina.
All of my friends knew me as Maven.
My family didn’t care what they called me, as long as they had me.
And Auden rarely called me Maven.
It was always sunshine, baby, or cupcake.
“I know y’all are done. For the love of all that’s holy, hurry up. I have something to show you!” Garrett yelled out.
I pulled away and started to clean up, very aware of just how late I was.
I was also more than aware that I’d yet to have my period, and it was becoming more and more apparent that I might’ve gotten a little… pregnant.
With everything going on, though, I didn’t want to think about it just yet.
I would.
But not yet.
The moment we were both decent—me in the clothes I’d be wearing to the bakery, and Auden in a pair of sweatpants that rode dangerously low on his hips—we headed out to the main room to find Garrett and Boss helping themselves to our breakfast that I’d made.
“Hey!” I cried out. “That was my way of forcing myself to eat healthy today.”
Garrett shrugged. “You have pastries at work.”
“I know,” I groaned. “I was telling myself I needed to rein it in.”
Auden caught me around the hips as he pulled me into his lap at the head of the table.
I went willingly and pointedly looked at Garrett.
He shrugged then pulled out his phone and said, “There was some excitement at the precinct last night.”
My brows rose as I leaned over and checked out his phone.
“Scott was bailed out with a seventeen-million-dollar bond by Senator Wallace. He was then taken to his home in The Highlands in Houston where he will remain under house arrest until his trial,” Garrett said. “And this…”
That’s when we saw the newspaper article.
“Wow,” I said as I stared at Brock’s face.
The article itself ripped him a new one.
Turns out, the people of Dallas didn’t take kindly to their leader kidnapping a child and holding her hostage for the entirety of her childhood.
The article explained all the felony counts that he had against him. How he was in a maximum-security prison. And three attempts had already been made on his life.
“Why?” I asked curiously.
“One,” Garrett said, “the men of the prison don’t take kindly to cops.”
“And two?” I wondered.
“Two, they don’t take kindly to men who abuse children.”
Auden’s words behind me sent chills racing down my spine.
“Do you think he’ll make it to trial?” I wondered.
Auden didn’t mince words as he admitted, “There’s no telling.”
I shrugged, then stood.
“Well,” I said, not sure what to say to that. “He made his own bed, didn’t he?”
Auden stood up, too. “Yeah, baby. He did.”
I walked to the counter and collected all my crap sans breakfast that Garrett was still eating.
And, because he was sitting there, all unconcerned about what he’d interrupted, I said, “Hey, Garrett?”
I backed toward the door, a grin on my face.
“Yeah?” he asked, pausing with my avocado toast halfway to his lips.
“Since Auden is going to be sleeping all day, would you mind running to Walgreens and getting something for me?” I asked. “And dropping it by Pie Hard?”
“I guess,” he conceded.
“Cool,” I had my hand on the doorknob. “I need a couple of pregnancy tests.”
I closed the door on both men’s shocked faces.
I then giggled all the way to the car.
When I got in it, though, I sent Pepper a text saying I would be late.
She knew me well by now, and already had the open sign shining bright and the bakery lights blazing.
I switched from the text thread with Pepper to the group chat with the spouses of Carter men.
Me:
Bruh, just sayin’, but Garrett walked into our house today while I was getting some, and I have never been more embarrassed in my life.
Hollis:
Welcome to the club. Garnett walked in on Quincy and me. As did Germaine once. They both got onto me because we left the baby happily swinging in his swing, albeit awake, while we did it.