Chapter 173 Runway Hearts and Unfinished Escapes
POV Adrian:
As soon as I finish reading the letter, I look at David, wanting the only answer that matters.
“Where is she?”
“She made me promise not to tell you where she is,” he replies.
I take a step to grab him, but he raises his hand.
“But I’ll tell you. Because if you want her, this is your chance.”
“What are you talking about?”
It’s my mother who asks. My brothers are still staring at the letter in my hand, clearly shocked by Maya’s words. Because I am. Is she crazy for doing this?
“She’s not coming back. At least not for the next year,” he says, and something twists inside me.
“But what about the flower shop? She needs to be here so we can return—”
“She became my wife’s partner. Taylor will take over everything with her departure.” David hands the documents to my mother. “And as it says in the letter, there’s no way for you to return anything.”
“What are you waiting for to go after her?” my mother asks, looking at us. “Are you going to let her leave?”
“Mom, it won’t work. Maya isn’t Scarlett. We can’t share her. She deserves more,” Dominic says, and I agree with him.
“You’re right—she isn’t Scarlett.” We nod in agreement. “Because if she were, she wouldn’t have done what she did. That woman is crazy about you. Even before my trip, I saw the way she looked at you. And if she wrote in that letter that she loves you, I believe her. Who, these days, gives up that much money for the sake of people they don’t love?”
The money.
“She used that money?” Sebastian asks, looking at Burt, who nods.
“And she didn’t regret it for a single moment,” he says.
I sink onto the couch, not knowing what to do or think.
“You’re going to lose her forever,” our mother says again, and I look at her, stunned. “If she meets someone who gives her the family she wants so badly, she won’t allow anything to destroy that. And you’ll have to settle for watching her be happy in another man’s arms—and I’ll think you deserve it.”
“Norah, if they don’t want her, you can’t force them—”
“That’s the problem, Dane. I know the sons I brought into this world, and I’m sure they want her. They’re just too blind to see they’re letting the love of their lives walk away without fighting, without giving her a chance.”
“Mom, you don’t understand,” I say, and she hardens her expression.
“No, I really don’t. All I see are five men so afraid of repeating the past that they’re about to lose the best thing that could have ever happened to them.”
I fall silent, thinking about her words, and I know she’s right.
“I need to go. All the documents are in the folder. The key to the commercial building is here.” He extends the key to my mother, who takes it, shaking her head. “Maya will board tomorrow’s flight at fourteen oh-seven, headed to Hawaii. She’ll be at Fort Worth Airport. I hope you make the right choice.”
David says it and leaves, and we’re left not knowing what to say, much less what to think.
I look at my brothers—they’re still frozen, shocked by everything that’s been said. I lower my gaze to the letter in my hand and read its contents once more.
(...)
POV Maya:
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
Should I be horrified that this is happening to me, of all people? I probably should, but if it weren’t me, where would the fun be? I wait for the inspection of my suitcase to finish so I can put my metallic vibrator back inside. I shouldn’t have bought this model, but the moment my eyes landed on that metallic pink, I knew it had to be mine. Still, how was I supposed to know it would set off the alarm when my bag went through the metal detector?
“You’re cleared, miss,” the woman says, letting me go, unable to hide her smile.
I grab my suitcase and finally head to the terminal to wait for my flight to be announced. As soon as I get to Hawaii, I’m going to spend two days roasting under the sun. I need to find something to do, especially since for a while it’ll just be me. Remembering that I had to leave Louis with Tay makes my heart squeeze, but I couldn’t take him with me—not while I’m on a withdrawal mission.
In a few months, I’ll figure out a way to come back for him, and I hope by then the cowboys aren’t hunting me down. Going behind their backs wasn’t something I liked doing, but it had to be that way. Otherwise, they would’ve found a way to repay me for everything I did for them—and I did it all from the heart. I don’t want anything back. I just want them to be happy and to live their dreams.
I spot the terminal I need to enter and smile. I want to sit down. The time I spent standing there being searched wore me out. After I get to Hawaii, I need to call Tay and tell her what happened to me, and as sure as daylight, my friend will burst out laughing and say it was obvious something like this would happen to me. And I’ll have to admit she’s right, because I’m a magnet for—
“Maya!”
My feet freeze the instant I recognize that shout. I don’t want to turn around to make sure I heard correctly, because if this is really happening, Dominic is going to kill me before I can escape to Hawaii. Still, I’m smart enough to quicken my pace toward the terminal. He won’t be able to enter without a ticket.
But my plan dies the moment I see Adrian and Mikhail standing in front of the entrance, arms crossed.
“Not a chance, Red,” Adrian says.
I look around for another way out, but Luca and Sebastian are guarding the other side. These brothers came prepared to murder me. I sigh, knowing there’s nowhere to run. I’ll have to talk to them and make them understand my decision.
“All right. You got me,” I declare.
“We sure did,” Dominic says as he stops in front of me. “And you’re not going anywhere.”
I sigh, pouting.
“I’m not accepting anything back,” I snap, and Dominic growls. “And don’t even think about threatening me—it won’t change my mind. Since we’re not getting anywhere, just let me go. I can’t miss my flight.”
“I already told you. You’re not going anywhere,” Dominic repeats, and I roll my eyes. This is going to be harder than I thought. “The only place you’re going is back to the ranch, and that’s where you’ll stay for the rest of our lives.”
My eyes widen. I must’ve misunderstood something.
“W-what… did you say?”