Triple Dare (Sterling Shore 7)

He laughs humorlessly while leaning back, dropping his head to rest on the back of the couch as he stares at the ceiling.

“You’re right about deserving better from him,” he says, even though I don’t remember the from him part being in my little tirade. I deserve better in general. “And it’s not okay. I didn’t come here to try and help him out. He’s big enough to fight his own battles, and this is definitely his fuck-up to deal with.”

There won’t be any dealing with it, but I don’t mention that.

“Then why did you come?”

He brings his dark brown eyes down to meet mine. “He’s in a daze right now, Ruby. He’s not processing anything, and he’s holding it all back. He’s going to explode soon, and he needs someone to be there for him when he does. Someone has to shake him awake before he realizes the damage he’s causing and hates himself for it. If no one breaks him out of it, he’s going to stay stuck. I’ve seen it happen to Kode before. It has to be a damn Sterling thing.”

“I’m not the one to do it, Maverick. I’m tired of being the proverbial punching bag. And I’m sick of being hurt by him. I’m done.”

“And I told you I’m not here to ask you to do anything.”

He’s confusing me.

“Then why are you here?” I ask again.

“Because I’m about to wake Corbin up, and I wanted to warn you. I felt like you were owed that much.”

My brow furrows in confusion.

“Corbin has always messed up with you,” he goes on. “But he’s never fucked up like this. Hell, he’s never had to deal with anything like this. Knowing Aunt Lisa, she really fucked him up when he went straight to her. She’s bitter and she wants to make everyone else bitter. I’m pretty sure I have a vague idea of what I’m going to be walking into.”

“Maverick,” I groan, running a hand through my hair. “It sounds like you’re still trying to talk me into something.”

He smiles grimly while squeezing my shoulder. “You’re the only thing Corbin has ever truly given a damn about. You’re it for him, Ruby. I don’t expect you to understand him or forgive him for being the biggest douche guzzler in the world. Like I said, I just wanted to warn you.”

He stands and starts to walk away, confusing the ever loving hell out of me.

“Warn me about what?” I ask, standing up to follow him.

He turns while drawing in a long breath. “When I wake him up, the first place he’ll be coming is here.”

My stomach plummets, and sweat clams up my palms. He nods slowly, but I shake my head.

“Don’t let him,” I whisper, inwardly cursing how pathetic I sound.

“No one will be able to stop him, Ruby. He’s about to tear down the walls of the city. Be ready.”

CHAPTER 38

CORBIN

The sweat pours off me as I continue to lay punch after punch on the bag, shifting my feet as I circle it. I’m sore, exhausted, and still feel like I need to spend what’s left of my energy beating the hell out of something so that I might be able to sleep.

“Let’s go!” Maverick’s voice booms across the gym, and my eyes land on him as he stalks toward me with an expression that borders on angry. Maverick doesn’t do angry, and I don’t have time for whatever he wants to say.

He reaches me and shoves me away from the bag, coming at me like he’s ready to fight.

“I said let’s go. You and me. On the mats. Now.”

I look at him like he’s lost his mind before turning my back on him, but he jerks me around and shocks the fuck out of me when his fist collides with my jaw.

“The fuck!” I roar, shoving him away before rubbing the sore spot.

“You want to hit something, and I want to talk. Let’s do both. Come on.”

Glaring at him, I move to the private room, following behind him. I kick the door shut behind me as Maverick sheds his shirt.

“What’s your problem?” I snap.

“You are, dickhead. You think I’m going to watch you self-destruct like your dad does every time he gets something good? Think I’m going to watch you piss away the one thing that matters most to you? Tell me what is really going on.”

He takes a swing, and I dodge it, but I don’t dodge the one that connects with my right side. Fuck!

“Don’t push me, Mav,” I growl, standing up straight.

“Why?” he asks, looking more pissed and feral than I’ve ever seen him. “Because it’s uncomfortable? Because it’s wrong to face something? That’s the way you handle everything, isn’t it? You just pretend it doesn’t exist, and eventually there’s not really a problem anymore. You wait until it goes cold, then you finally apologize and face reality. It took you twelve fucking years to apologize for breaking my GI Joe.”