Mercy (Somerset University #3) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,57

midnight and gathered in the middle of the field. The entire time they were locked in an animated six-way conversation. I would’ve given anything to hear what they were saying, but Sofia and I stayed put. Whatever they wanted from Maverick, we were here to back him up.

But he will be fine. They have no reason to hurt him. And they have no escape if they do.

I peeked over the seats, gazing down at the guys. Aiden and Maverick looked to be talking. Suddenly, Maverick spun on his heels and walked away.

“Sofia, look,” I whispered. “I think Aiden laid out his offer and was shut down.”

“Course he was.” Our cheeks touched peering at the scene. “Maverick would never cheat on you.”

“You’re hilarious, but I didn’t bring you here for comic relief.”

“Seems like we didn’t need to come at all. Maverick is leav— Wait. Look.”

Aiden ran in front of him. I squinted as he got in my boyfriend’s face. “What’s going on?”

Maverick stepped back, and before our eyes, ripped off his shirt.

“Okay, no joking, Val. What’s going on here?”

Rowen, Nasir, Winston, Hayes, and Sawyer surrounded them. Confusion burned in my gut until Maverick raised his fist.

“Oh no. They’re going to fight!”

I shot to my feet. Sofia leaped and grabbed me, wrestling me back down. “Val, you can’t.”

“What do you mean I can’t?!”

“Maverick’s been throwing two-hundred-pound dudes across the field since high school. He can handle himself and he must think so too or he would’ve kept walking.”

“I don’t care. I’m not letting him get hurt over a situation he’s in because of me.”

She tightened her hold. “He’s in this situation because of Aiden and Sawyer and now he’s got a chance to find out what’s really going on with both of them. We came here to protect him. Not to blow that chance.”

“Sofia—”

“Maverick will be fine,” she said firmly. “Now duck down before they see you.”

I was torn between doing as she said and shoving her off and making a run for it. In the end, she was right about one thing. Maverick wouldn’t be down there squaring up to Aiden if he didn’t know he could take him.

“I’m stopping this the minute this goes too far,” I warned.

“I’ll be right there backing you up.”

Down below, Aiden lunged. My breath stuck in my throat as Maverick ducked the first punch. He stayed light on his feet, moving around Aiden to keep him twisting for his target. Aiden lunged again and Maverick pivoted, seized his wrist, and flipped him.

The onlooking guys remained motionless as their leader struck the ground.

I released a breath. “Let that be the end of—”

Aiden shot up and tackled him. Both guys fell, grappling in the dirt, and striking with a ferocity I physically felt. Maverick elbowed Aiden across the jaw and once again the boy went flying.

“Told you he could handle himself.” Sofia squeezed my hand. “What was Aiden thinking choosing a physical challenge for Maverick? Should’ve asked him to try to shove into those kiddy tunnels on the playground. Our boy would be straining to get his head and one shoulder in.”

I chuckled softly, tension loosening. Maverick was handing his ass to him. He was fine.

The boys squared up once more. I wished I could see Aiden’s face and if it was still twisted by that smirk.

Aiden broke the dance and ran straight at Maverick. My love crouched and used his opponent’s momentum to devastate his blow to the stomach. Aiden collapsed on top of him and was flipped once more, striking the ground behind him. He didn’t get up.

“Thank goodness,” I breathed. “It’s over. We can—”

Maverick stood to walk away. In the space of a blink, Aiden came to life, kicked out, and swiped him off his feet.

Maverick fell, and before he could rise, Aiden jumped on him, shoved him down, and punched him once, twice, three, four times in the face.

Sofia clamped down on my mouth as the scream ripped from my throat.

Aiden flipped him face-first in the dirt. Maverick didn’t move to fight while his arm was wrenched up his back and his head was ground even further into the mud.

Maverick didn’t move at all.

I wrenched free of her grip and raced through the stands, screaming his name.

Chapter Eight

Maverick

“Help him up, guys.”

Hands grabbed my shoulders and arms, dragging me off the ground and out of my daze. My face throbbed like a meat tenderizer had been taken to me. Wetness ran down my chin, nose, and lip. I had a chance to glimpse the