CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Victor stood in the doorway of the kitchen, blocking it and fuming until he heard the door click behind his mate and baby sister. As soon as he knew they were out of the house, he advanced toward Brian and his movement broke the silent stand-off in the kitchen. Just as Victor was going after Brian, the blond hero was advancing on Maverick, rage in his eyes. Maverick remained leaning against the counter but Victor knew the merc was not as relaxed as he looked and Logan was moving around the table toward Victor.

They all converged somewhere near the coffee machine. Brian grabbing at Maverick's shirt but missing as the Merc suddenly moved backwards out of reach, Victor planted a clawed hand in Brian's chest and shoved him back, stepping between his friend and his future brother-in-law, demanding, "What the hell are you doing telling her not to hunt with me? Your last trip to Germany been to long ago?"

Brian's face was reddened in anger, "Get out of my way, I told him to stay away from my girlfriend!"

"And I told you to be nice to my baby sister!" Victor growled, hands clenching in a desperate need to rip Brian's heart out.

Brian glared back in hatred. "I am nice to Meagan. I love her and I'm not going to lose her to that lowlife asshole!"

Logan had been about to step in to try to push Victor back but, at Brian's words, he turned on the British superhero. "Watch your mouth, punk! Maverick's a friend."

Meanwhile, Maverick had moved toward the door and away from the growing crowd at the coffee pot. "Guys, appreciate the support but I can take care of myself."

Logan waved him off, "Yeah in a minute."

Victor decided to let the runt play with the rabid hero and strode out of the house, grabbing Maverick's arm as he passed and pulling the merc along with him. Maverick didn't resist until they were out in the hall when he muttered, "You don't have to drag me. I've got a lot of questions for you." He yanked his arm free but followed as Victor led him out of the house and deep into the forest.

Victor didn't want an audience for the conversation because the 'heroes' in the house wouldn't like or believe what he was going to say and would interfere and his family was none of the runt's business. He didn't stop until they were well away from the lighthouse along the cliffs where he could easily see anyone coming.

Only then did he stop and look at Maverick. The merc sat down on a boulder and looked back at Victor. "Ok, what the hell is going on here? I've figured out Meagan can't be your real sister but I can't figure out how you adopted her or—" Maverick cut off before finishing the thought, his eyes wary.

Victor looked back at him. "You're right that Meagan ain't my sister by blood but don't even think she ain't my real sister because of that. I'll kill anyone that messes with her or hurts her."

The brown haired mercenary took a long sip from the coffee mug he had somehow managed to keep a hold of through the whole incident and long trek. "Then what's Brian still doing alive?"

Victor grinned, pleased. "Ya noticed that, huh?"

"It's subtle but there's something going on there. How bad is it?"

"You like her?"

Maverick sighed. He should have known Victor wouldn't give him a straight answer, would play games. But why he asked this question…well, there was no telling what was going on in the blonde's twisted mind. He would have to play the game, so he shrugged. "She's nicer than you but if she's close enough to you to be called sister, then I'd like to know what kind of crazy I'm dealing with."

Surprisingly, Victor didn't growl though he became more intense, demanding, "No games, North. I gotta know. You spent time with her alone. Do you like her?"

Maverick was surprised. Victor loved to play games. However, he seemed in more in earnest than Maverick had ever seen him before. Still…this was Sabretooth but Meagan did need some kind of help, that much was obvious. Memory of Meagan's earlier misery decided him. "She seems really nice and sweet but there's something off. She seems afraid…like of small stuff. If you really mean no games, tell me what's going on."

Victor shook his head. "I will but ya gotta answer me first. Do you like her?"

David took a few minutes to think about it. "Yeah, I do…I think I could easily really like her…if she's really what she seems to be." He couldn't keep the suspicion out of his voice.

Victor nodded. "Meagan is exactly what she seems. I don't think she knows how to lie. That joke she pulled earlier is the closest I've ever seen her come…I'm guessing that was your idea?" He waited for Maverick to nod before continuing and then smiled. "Good, means she likes you too." He looked over the oceans, considering, before looking back at Maverick. "Look, Meagan is the sweetest most loving person you'll meet in your life. I only met her when Betsy brought me out here to meet her family but Meagan accepted me right away. No question, no hesitation, no holding back. I want her happy and safe."

"Understandable."

"The thing is, she's had a rotten life. I mean real bad. She don' talk about it much and never around the team…but she's talked about it some when we've been out in the woods and Betsy's told me some. This, right now, is the best life Meagan's ever had."

Maverick frowned, "So, is that why she gets so scared? She's afraid they'll kick her off the team?"

Victor shook his head. "It's more than that, North," He paused and stared at Maverick intently, "And that's part of why you're here."

"What?"

"You're clever. The thing is, from what I've picked up, her boyfriend over there, Brian, he didn't even want her around or look at her until she discovered she could change shape. She didn't know she was a shape shifter most of her life but she ain't like Mystique. Meagan changes based on the people and world around her so she spend most of her life ugly cause that's what everyone said she was. One day, though, she turned pretty for Brian and been pretty ever since. That's when Brian started paying attention. She stays blonde like that 'cause it's what he wants."

Maverick frowned. "So, she really has no self-esteem…no wonder she's scared. But, you'd think being on a hero team, she'd be getting help."

Victor snorted. "Oh, that's where it's getting real fucking cute. Brian beats her and cheats on her every chance he gets."

"He beats her?" Maverick stood up from the rock, hand immediately going to where he usually kept his gun.

"Yeah. She hides it with her shape shifting but I've heard it and I've smelled her blood on her and in that bedroom more than once. The others, they don' wanna believe a hero would do that shit but he gets drunk and he does. So, they're in denial and so's Betsy, which is where I need your help."

"Your fiancée is a telepath. How can she not know?"

"I told you, they're all in denial. They don' wanna see it, especially Betsy. He's the only family she's got left which is the only damn reason I haven't killed the bastard. But, I'm not letting him keep fucking up my baby sister."

"And you think I can help? How?"

Victor grinned. "You like her."

"What?"

"You're clever and a good looking guy. I never knew you to have time finding a date. You help me realize she's got other options than Brian. I can't kill him because of Betsy and I can't keep a fucking eye on him 24/7 to keep him from hurting her. I told him I could and threatened him but he's figured out I can't do that and I can't make him disappear long enough to give him the beating he deserves without Betsy getting suspicious. He's called my bluff. I've kept a human detective checking up on his last girlfriend and he started seeing her again while I was coming to get you. Beating him isn't the answer anyway. He don' deserve her. I want her free of him. So, I figure if he's happy with some bitch and Meagan falls out of love with him and starts dating some other guy, then my baby sister gets free and Betsy don' get hurt other than feeling a little sad that Meagan and her brother broke up." Victor grinned. "See, everyone wins."

"Except maybe Brian's new girlfriend," Maverick quipped, trying to buy time as he thought over what Victor had just said.

The blonde man shrugged, "I don't give a shit about Brian's slut. She wants a man like that, then that's her problem. But, I'm not letting him keep hurting Meagan."

David continued to think it over before finally answering. "Victor, she's sweet but…"

"I ain't asking you to marry her. I ain't even asking you to fall in love with her. I'm asking you to be hero and help me make her realize she's worth more than a being a fucking punching bag. I know you. You won't make her any promises you can't keep but you're smart enough to help her realize her own worth. Ya already got her to pull that joke on me tonight 'nd you have no clue how big of a step that was. I've been trying to help her for weeks now but there's only been so much I can do on my own especially when I gotta work around Betsy and Brian both."

"And what happens if the siblings decide I'm a problem?"

"Then I step in." Victor looked out over the ocean again. "Betsy's my mate 'nd I'd really like it if I can get Meagan loose without Betsy ever havin' t'find out just what her brother really is but…if it comes down to a choice…Betsy's strong. She'd live through it and heal. Meagan cain't keep living like this."

Maverick had already made his decision when he'd stopped to have coffee with Meagan. He just finally fully admitted it. "What're Brian's powers and weaknesses."