Chayton's Tempest (31 page)

calm lake.

Did you think everything would be okay because you said so?

Staring at the now rippling water, Maverick shrugged.

Part of him did assume she would hear what he said and be

okay. “Yes, but—”

But nothing! Listen to me. Yes, you feel betrayed but look at it

from her point of view. No one wanted her. Not your family, not her

family, and most of all, not the man she loved more than anything.

You.

“I’ve apologized for not being there over and over.”

Hands clenched into fists.

This woman,
Takoja
, is your future. I have seen it, and you

know it. She is lost. Beneath her cold and proud demeanor she is still

that scared little child. She wanted to die during childbirth, and it

took a lot to get her to find and accept the will to live.

“I can’t make up for that any more than I have!”

Maverick thundered. “I was a kid. I didn’t know.”

Now you do and
again
because of you she has to face her past

alone. Even her son didn’t want to listen.

Maverick was assuaged by shame. He wanted to help

but all he seemed to do was hurt her, and that was the last

thing he wanted to ever do again. “I should let her go, then? So

she can heal?”

There are times I wonder if you really are my grandson. This

would be one of those times, asking such questions. You stir up all

these bees and
now
you think it would be better if you left her alone!

The displeasure from his grandfather came across

strong. Maverick looked down at the rock, not wanting his

grandfather to see the shame in his eyes.

She’s been alone. What she needs is someone who will stick

around. Someone to put her faith and trust into. She still needs you,

Grandson, no matter what she says. She needs you to help her finish

her journey and come home safely. It is you or no one. If you don’t,

she will be lost forever.

An owl hooted across the lake and Maverick shivered.

An owl? Death.

“Grandpa? Is she in danger?” He received no answer.

“
Tunkašila
?” Nothing. Maverick was alone with an unsettling

feeling in his stomach.

The next morning, five angry faces stared at him.

Maverick didn’t give a shit. He’d brought them all here against

their will, but it was past time for him to care what they

thought.
Talli
had shown up last night, so her face was one of

the angry ones glaring at him.

Dakota sat close behind him in the conference room of

the hotel they used. Maverick wanted to be between him and

the others. It might have been unnecessary, but to him it was

important to keep his son safe.

“I know none of you want to be here, much less with the

other people in the room, so I’ll make it quick.” He glowered at

them all. “Not a word out of any of you. The time for you to

speak has passed; you will sit there and you
will
listen.”

Carol Whitehall opened her mouth and hissed, “You

have no right to—!”

BAM!
He slammed his palm down onto the brown

tabletop. “I
said
no talking!”

Maverick knew the image he portrayed. He wanted to

look fierce and intimidating. His shirt,
BDUs
, and boots were

all black. His face was expressionless. It worked, for the evil

woman shrank back and kept her mouth shut.

“Smart move. Now, listen up. This young man behind

me is your grandson. His name is Dakota Falcon
Burnell
. I

know that it was the fault of everyone here, except Dakota, on

how this has played out over the past twenty-one years.”

He took a deep breath and kept his eyes moving around

the room, making sure he connected with each of the five

facing him. “Mine for being an idiotic teen who neglected to

think of any ramifications the night I took Tempest’s virginity.”

A snort of disbelief filled the room along with a gasp of

something else. Horror, perhaps. Maverick glared at Mrs.

Whitehall, knowing full well the snort came from her. “Yes, she

was a virgin. It was also your fault as parents for ignoring her

pregnancy.”

He looked at his parents. “Partially yours for not telling

me she came by and yours,” he paused as his attention turned

toward the Whitehall’s, “for washing your hands of her.”

Maverick shook his head, fighting to remain calm. “I’ve

had enough of all this shit. The schemes, plans, meddling, and

viciousness.
Talli
, you know damn well I’m not the father of

your child. But I do believe you are carrying my half brother or

sister.” At the beginning of the protests, he crossed his arms

and silenced the room with his deadpan stare.

“Don’t bother denying it. I add very well and can also

see the little looks you share with my father.” Snapping his

gaze over to his father, he continued, “I went over to
Talli’s
last

night to talk with her and what do you know,
Aho
?
,
you were

there.” He ignored the looks of hatred and disgust that flew

around the room. “I don’t care about that. All I care about now

is Dakota and Tempest.”

Maverick looked at Mitchell Whitehall. The sorrow on

his old, weathered face saddened him, but he had to think of

Tempest and what was best for her. “I want everyone here to

leave her alone. Stop the harassing calls, stop showing up

where she works. Just let her be. You didn’t want her when you

tossed her out, so let her live her life in peace. I’m sorry if you

don’t think her life should include me, but it does.”

He stood tall, hands behind his back and looked at each

of them, assessing them as he made sure everyone understood

his message. “If you don’t, I’ll know.” His voice dropped to

arctic-chill temperature. “And you don’t want that.”

Maverick met Dakota’s gaze as he jerked his head to the

door. “We have a plane to catch.” He turned back to the five

faces that, right now, he would be fine without ever seeing

again. His eyes narrowed as they settled on his father. “Shame

on you for trying to pass your child off as mine. All that talk

about what’s best for the tribe and that is what you go and do.

You dishonored
Ina
and you dishonored me.” He was

disgusted.

James
Lonetree
followed his son out of the room without

a glance back. They were his past; now it was time for him to

get a hold of his future.

_

Maverick climbed out of the SUV that had returned the

Team from its latest deployment. He headed immediately for

his locker and grabbed his cell.

Three calls from his parents. One from Dakota. None

from Tempest. He listened to Dakota’s message. By the time it

was over, Maverick had a frown on his face; there was still no

sign of Tempest.

He grabbed his bag and went toward Scott’s office. The

Team’s leader was there writing up a report. Although back

with the Team, Scott had yet to accompany the men out on a

mission. His leg hadn’t fully healed yet.

“How long will you need to be gone?” Scott asked him

without looking up.

“How’d you know?”

Scott put down his pen, sat back, and looked at him with

those intense blue eyes. He smiled, the corners of his mouth

crinkling up. “You are the only single man left on the Team.

Everyone else went home.” The teasing smile changed to a

more serious expression. “How is she?”

Maverick shook his head. “Still gone. All I know is she

went home and left again. Dakota said she wrote him a note

apologizing again for not being a better mom and for treating

him like a baby.”

“And he doesn’t know where she is, either?”

“Doesn’t sound like it. I don’t know how long I need.”

Scott waved a hand. “Look, you do what you have to,

but quickly. I’ll try my best not to call you unless absolutely

necessary.” Those unwavering eyes met his. “You need this

worked out; I can’t have your personal life affecting your job.”

The reprimand was there, subtle, but there nonetheless.

Maverick knew Scott was right. He
did
need to be on his mark

for what he did.

“Yes, sir.” Maverick stood at attention briefly before he

did an about-face and left to head back to New Mexico.

Walking into B’s Quarry, Maverick looked around. The

place carried the same hectic and yet organized feel to it he’d

become used to experiencing there. Yet no matter how hard he

glanced around, Tempest never appeared before his eyes.

He saw Dakota behind the bar. The expression on his

son’s face was one of uncertainty and exhaustion. The young

man was obviously worried.

Maverick strode toward him. “Dakota?”

“Hello, Maverick.” The greeting was somewhat stiff.

The father in him wanted to reach out, hug Dakota, and

promise everything would be okay. He couldn’t do that. Not

yet. He didn’t know it would be okay, but he was going to do

his best to make it so.

“Where’s
Mili
?” Maverick asked.

“Paperwork.”

 
“I’ll be in there talking to her.” Maverick headed for the

office door and entered after a sharp knock. “Where is she,

Mili
?” he demanded by way of a greeting.

“I’m busy here, Mr.
Lonetree
.” She never looked up.

Instead of leaving, Maverick sat down. He rested his

forearms on his quads and stared at the Latina working behind

the desk. “I need to speak with her,
Mili
, please.”

Her dark head snapped up and their gazes locked.

“Please? I didn’t peg you as a ‘please’ kind of man.”
Mili’s
eyes

were still suspicious.

“I
need
her in my life,
Mili
. I love her. Please, I know you

know where she is.”

Maverick waited on pins and needles as she sat back in

the black leather chair and stared at him. Her long fingers

fiddled with the pen. He could see her weighing his request.

Mili
released a long sigh. She sat forward and grabbed a

sticky note. As she wrote on it, she said, “I’m sorry, I can’t tell

you. I promised her I wouldn’t unless it was an emergency.”

Reaching across the desk, she handed him the paper. “I wish I

could help, sorry.”

He stood as his eyes traveled over the words on the

small pink square. “I understand. Thank you for your time. If

there is anything I can do, let me know.” Maverick headed for

the door.

“Any of those hot-ass men who were here with you