Page 19 of Victorious: Part 3

Clover is here, with him.

Then his eyes find mine, hesitation in them as he looks at me for a moment, then turns back to Alpha.

Alpha clears his throat, but signals him in. “Come on in, Phoenix. It’s good to have you back. Clover’s with you?”

He opens the door wider to show my sister behind him on the stairs. I inhale sharply, not realizing I was holding my breath when I see her. She looks tired, but the small smile that crosses her face when she sees me somehow makes the tight knot in my stomach ease a little.

She’s okay.

Thank fuck! She’s okay.

Chapter Five

MAVERICK

With my heart racing frantically, knowing the entire Chapel is watching me intently and how I react right now, I’m struck by how different they both look. Phoenix seems older somehow, more settled, but also more protective. He’s positioned himself slightly in front of Clover, ready to shield her from whatever reaction I might have.

“Both of you come in. I’m sure Maverick will feel better for seeing you,” Alpha states.

Phoenix reaches out, taking Clover’s hand in his, and they walk inside the Chapel. He leans into her ear, but because the room is so quiet, I hear him say, “Just let me do the talking first, okay?”

“He won’t kill you. I won’t let him,” Clover replies softly, but she sounds tired and uncertain.

My baby sister looks fragile in a way that makes my chest ache. The confidence and sparkle that usually radiates from her is dimmed, replaced by a timid uncertainty that reminds me of when she was little and thought she was in trouble.

The makeshift wedding ring on her finger catches the light, and I feel my jaw clench involuntarily. But then I see the fear in her eyes, the way she’s bracing herself for my anger, and my protective instincts override everything else.

“Hey,” she says quietly, her insecure, beautiful eyes finding mine.

With the entire Chapel full of brothers and one practical stranger watching, I can’t stay angry at her right now, especially with her looking at me like she will break if I unleash my unbridled anger at her.

“Come here,” I say, opening my arms, not only to comfort her, but because I need to hold my sister.

To make sure that she is safe.

To make sure she is okay right now.

And for my own sanity.

Relief floods her as she rushes across the room and throws herself against me. I wrap my arms around her, holding her tight and breathing in the familiar scent of her shampoo. Holding her helps me realize that she’s here and sheisokay.

She might be nineteen and married…

But she is okay.

“I’m sorry, Mav,” she whispers against my chest. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

Pulling back, I swipe some hair from her face and look right into her watering eyes. “We’ll figure it out,” I murmur. “We’ll figure all of it out.” I check over her face, seeing the bruises blooming and marks from her torture, my lip curling in anger. Over her head, I meet Phoenix’s eyes. He’s watching us with an expression that’s part relief, part apprehension, and part something else I can’t quite name.

“Phoenix,” I mumble, not letting go of Clover.

“Mav,” he simply replies.

“We’ll talk later. About…all of this,” I state, waving my hand across her battered body. “But right now, we’ve got bigger problems.”

He nods, understanding immediately. “The Cartel situation?”

“Among other things.” I finally release Clover but keep one arm around her shoulders. “Chase here has been filling us in on just how deep this rabbit hole goes.”