Tainted Souls

Chapter Twenty-Two

It was the middle of April. After there were several testimonies given, Henry Valentine was officially found guilty and put in jail as a verdict. Taj had no clemency towards Henry at that moment. I could see the unmistakable anger in his eyes as he explained everything with logic and a lack of emotion.

My parents were more protective of me than ever after what happened, but they forgave Maverick for sleeping with me after they found out that he contributed to me becoming the person that I currently was. Ginerva gave Maverick, and I a strong hug, even for a seventy-eight year old. I was lucky that I could breathe by the time that I got out of that hug.

The plot twist was that Sasha was forced to give community service after her parents found out about her being the main creator of Gossip Con. She was banned from going shopping for a few months. The website was taken down after people realized how many serious problems the Valentine family caused at SFCU, with Henry just being one of them.

I wanted to feel slightly sorry for Sasha, but it was just community service. I had done that willingly since high school. I knew that for Sasha, something like that was her own personal prison. However, after all of the online cyber bullying and the verbal bullying she had done to people to their face, she deserved it. Plus, she was still able to graduate, so there was no real harm to that.

My thoughts were interrupted when Maverick spoke to me. Lately, he seemed happier and carefree than usual. And by that, I meant that he was still the same mischievous trickster I had grown to love. My soulmate. My forever.

"You know, you never really dispelled the No Dick Medici rumors. Why don't you tell people that the rumor is false yourself? You never actually ended up doing that at that party a while back," Maverick smirked.

"And why would they believe me–no, wait. Don't respond to what I said," I blushed, seeing him raise a brow.

"Everyone knows that we've been together for at least a week now. Taj's the one that actually brought it up, seeing how he's the expert at evading scandals and restoring his reputation," Maverick explained. "Plus, it's obvious to them that we've already–"

"Seriously, don't finish that sentence. I'm about to be as red as a tomato. People are going to know that you're about to say something dirty," I blushed again.

"Who cares? Let them think that. At least that will be proof that the rumors are false. I think you and I both know that," Maverick continued to say.

"Maverick, I think that everyone knows by now that Keisha and I made up that rumor to get back at you. No one actually took it seriously, considering that there was no proof. I'll post on Gossip Con tonight, telling people that the rumor is just something we made up to get revenge on you and that I, myself, know that the rumor is false," I sighed.

"Finally. You know, that was something I was waiting for. What class do you have next?" he asked me.

I was about to respond, but Maverick shook his head. "I already know what class you have next. I memorized your entire schedule. Trick question. I know that you have no class at this time, and neither do I."

"That explains why you're able to appear at the right moments throughout the day when I'm less occupied," I realized.

"You're going to have to make up for that time you were topless at the pool, practically asking me to be your human shield. I still feel like I'm going insane just thinking about that day." Maverick's eyes darkened with lust.

"Still? I thought you were over that." I looked over at him in astonishment. "And hey! I wasn't asking you to be my human shield. You offered."

"I could never be over that. You were all pressed up against me, being so damn tempting. Let's get the hell out of here. Now," Maverick ordered me.