Chapter 56 56
Lucas lifted Maverick into his arms with ease, settling the boy against his chest.
“How about this,” he said softly, brushing a thumb over Maverick’s damp cheek.
“Chocolate ice cream first… then we go hunt for Mommy. Deal?”
Maverick sniffed, eyes still shiny—but something lit up.
“Chocolate?” he asked weakly.
Lucas nodded. “Extra chocolate.”
Maverick wrapped his small arms around Lucas’ neck suddenly and a , voice cut through the crowd—
“MAVE!”
Lucas stiffened.
He turned at the same time Maverick did.
A woman was rushing toward them from across the street—slightly breathless, eyes wide with panic and relief tangled together.
“Maverick!” she cried.
Before Lucas could react, she reached them and took Maverick from his arms in one swift, practiced motion.
“Oh my God—oh my God—” she hugged the boy tightly.
“Don’t ever scare me like that again!”
Maverick clung to her. “Auntie—Mommy is gone.”
Her jaw tightened for half a second—just a flicker—but she forced a shaky laugh, rocking him.
“She just stepped away, sweetheart. She’ll be back.”
She lifted her head then, finally looking at Lucas.
Up close, her eyes sharpened with recognition—not of his face, but of what he represented.
Wealth. Power. Trouble.
“Thank you,” she said quickly, already turning Maverick away as if afraid Lucas might pull him back.
“I’m his… guardian.”
Lucas studied her, something uneasy settling in his chest.
“You know his mother?” he asked.
The woman’s grip on Maverick tightened.
“Unfortunately,” she answered in her mind.
Where the hell are you, Blair?
Why would you let your kid almost meet the traitor?
Outwardly, she forced a polite smile.
“Yes. I do.”
Lucas’ gaze flicked back to the road where the black car had vanished.
Her breath caught—just slightly.
“I’ll handle it,” she said too fast.
“We don’t need… complications.”
Lucas looked back at Maverick.
The boy was peeking over her shoulder now, eyes searching.
“You promised,” Maverick said softly.
“Chocolate… and finding Mommy.”
Something twisted hard in Lucas’ chest.
He straightened.
“I keep my promises,” Lucas said.
The woman stiffened.
“That won’t be necessary.”
Lucas met her eyes—really met them this time.
She turned and walked away quickly, Maverick held tight against her chest.
That was close, Blair.
Too close.
Her heart pounded as they moved farther from the crowd, from the flashing lights, from him.
I know you wouldn’t have forgiven yourself if you saw this.
Your son almost ran into traffic… almost fell into his father’s arms…
Her jaw clenched.
Where the hell are you, Blair?
Maverick squirmed in her hold.
“Auntie…” he whispered.
“Why didn’t Mommy come back yet?”
She swallowed, forcing calm into her voice.
“She will,” she said. “Soon.”
He twisted around, craning his neck to look back at the street.
“The man said we’d look for her,” Maverick said.
“He was nice. He smelled like… like soap.”
Her steps faltered for half a second.
Nice.
Soap.
She tightened her grip.
“Don’t talk to strangers,” she said a little too sharply.
Maverick frowned. “But he wasn’t scary.”
Her chest ached.
“Scary people don’t always look scary,” she murmured, more to herself than to him.
They reached the sidewalk, the noise of the scene fading behind them.
Maverick rested his head on her shoulder, exhaustion finally weighing him down—but his questions kept coming.
“Did Mommy really go to get ice cream?”
“…Yes.”
“Chocolate?”
“Yes.”
“With sprinkles?”
She closed her eyes briefly.
“Yes, baby.”
Maverick sighed, small fingers curling into her jacket.
“When she comes back,” he whispered, “can we all eat together?”
Her throat tightened painfully.
“All of us?”
“Me… Mommy… and the man.”
Her breath hitched.
“We’ll see,” she said, voice barely steady.
She got home on shaking legs, locking the door behind her like the world might break in if she didn’t.
“Maverick, sit here,” she said gently, guiding him to the couch. “I’ll be right back.”
He nodded, clutching his backpack, eyes still too big for his little face.
She turned away and pulled out her phone.
Dial.
No answer.
She paced the living room, nails biting into her palm.
Dial again.
Straight to voicemail.
“Pick up,” she whispered. “Blair, please—pick up.”
Maverick’s voice floated over. “Auntie… did Mommy get lost?”
Her chest tightened.
“She’s just busy,” she lied, pressing the phone harder to her ear as it rang again.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
Nothing.
She stopped pacing, staring at the wall as dread crept in deeper with every unanswered call.
This isn’t like her.
Dial.
Voicemail.
Her breath grew shallow.
“Blair,” she said into the phone this time, voice cracking despite herself, “where are you? Mave is safe. He’s with me. Please call me back—please.”
She ended the call, hands trembling, then immediately redialed.
Again.
And again.
And again.
The phone stayed silent.
From the couch, Maverick hugged a pillow to his chest.
“Auntie,” he asked softly, “is Mommy mad at me?”
She turned quickly, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“No, sweetheart. Never.”
She walked over, kneeling in front of him, brushing his hair back.
“She loves you more than anything.”
Maverick nodded slowly, trusting her completely.
She pulled him into a tight hug, closing her eyes as fear finally took shape.
Maverick slipped off the couch and padded toward his little backpack.
“Auntie,” he said softly, rummaging inside. “I wanna show you something.”
She turned, phone still clutched in her hand.
He pulled out a folded sheet of paper, edges worn from being opened too many times. He climbed back onto the couch and carefully spread it out like it was something precious.
It was a painting.
Stick figures, clumsy lines, too much blue crayon.
“This is Mommy,” he said, pointing proudly.
“And this is me.”
Her lips curved automatically. “It’s beautiful, Mave.”
He hesitated, then tapped the third figure.
“And this is my daddy.”
Her breath caught.
The figure was taller. Broader shoulders. Dark scribbles for hair. No face—just a big heart drawn in the chest.
“He’s very strong,” Maverick went on, eyes shining.
“And kind. The fairy mother says he watches me sometimes. And that one day he’ll come.”
Her vision blurred.
“I think he’d like you,” Maverick added innocently. “You’re nice too.”
She looked away quickly, throat burning.
I was selfish, Mave.
She swallowed hard.
I would’ve let you spend some time with your daddy.
Even just a little.
Her chest tightened painfully as another thought followed, sharp and accusing.
Why didn’t you just go, Eliana?
Why didn’t you stop him?
Her gaze drifted to the door… then to her phone… then back to the street outside, where everything had almost unraveled.
Her mind raced.
Hold on…
Mr. Brooks.
Lucas Brooks.
The way he’d held Maverick.
The
way Maverick had leaned into him without fear.
The way her heart had nearly stopped.
This is your son.
The thought hit her so hard she had to sit down.
I could go back.
I could tell him everything.
Right now.
Her pulse thundered.
Blair might not forgive me.
She might hate me for it.