Chapter 102 I told her to take the deal
Lia
“So, what’s your story, Amber?” I asked. I really liked how Rockstar acted with her. All that easy charm had turned into something real, something serious. He was focused on her, the same way Beast is with me. Getting her food, refilling her drink, introducing her to everybody with a look that said clear as day, ‘she’s mine.
Naturally, the other guys, Beast, Viper, Torque, started giving him hell for it, flirting with Amber just to mess with him. Good thing Catalina, Jenna, and I know our men are ours. We weren’t bothered. Catalina and Jenna had a free night since Papa Leonardo had the kids, so they were here for the weekly dinner. They’d heard Rockstar was bringing someone.
“Well, I’m twenty-eight. I teach fitness classes at Girl Power, the gym over on 20th Street?”
“I know that place,” Jenna said.
“I love animals and kids. Little kids, especially. They’re so honest. They’ll ask anything. If you want the real story about something, just ask a kid.”
We all laughed with her. I caught Rockstar smiling, and I shared a look with Catalina and Jenna. We saw it too.
“My favorite color is peach. I love avocado toast with a poached egg, hot wings, and beer.”
“You know you’re older than Rockstar, right?” Catalina asked.
“Oh, yeah. When we met, he made a joke about me robbing the cradle,” she said, rolling her eyes.
I giggled. Beast looked over and gave me a look that heated my skin. I felt myself blush, which made Catalina and Jenna laugh.
“You are not blushing after last night,” Catalina said.
“I never should have told you,” I shot back.
“What happened last night?” Amber asked.
I looked at Catalina and Jenna and nodded. I could not say it out loud.
“Our dear, sweet Lia gave her very first blow job last night,” Catalina said, not even trying to be quiet.
Amber laughed, then stopped when she saw Catalina was not joking.
“Seriously? Like, the first one ever?”
“Yeah. I was with a guy before who said only whores do that. So I never did it for him. I never even wanted to.”
“What a dick,” she said.
“A huge one,” I agreed.
I saw Butcher walk over to the group of guys. He said something and they all turned to look at us. Beast nodded and came over to me.
“Hey, Sunshine. Butcher needs us for an emergency meeting. I will be right back. I love you,” he said, pulling me in for a kiss.
I heard Viper and Torque saying the same to Catalina and Jenna.
“I love you, too. Come back soon.”
After they left, I looked at Catalina.
“Do you know what that’s about?”
“Sort of. But I do not know if I should say anything. Beast should probably tell you.”
I stared at her. She looked guilty.
“What are you keeping from me, Catalina?”
“Okay, but do not get mad. We did not tell Beast, either. Once Butcher does, all hell is going to break loose.”
“Hey, Hex just said there’s an emergency meeting. What’s going on?” Owen asked, walking up to us.
“I am about to find out,” I told him. We all looked at Catalina.
“Catalina, what is it?” Jenna asked.
It had to be bad if Catalina had not told her, too.
“Liam is in New York City,” she said in a rush.
My whole world stopped. I heard Jenna and Owen yelling at Catalina, and Amber asking who Liam was, but it all sounded far away, like I was underwater. Then a loud buzzing filled my ears. The ground moved under my feet and everything started to go dark.
“Lia, breathe!” Catalina shouted. She grabbed my shoulders and shook me.
“God, she’s turning purple,” I think I heard Amber say.
“Cupcake, come on, you have to breathe. Deep breaths for me, Lia. In and out. You can do this.”
But I could not. My skin got cold and clammy. Then I just broke. I fell to the ground and curled into a ball.
“He can not get me. I will not go. I would rather die. He can not get me, I will not go, I would rather die.” I kept saying it, over and over. I pulled myself into a tighter ball, arms wrapped around my knees, crying so hard I could not stop saying the words.
“Owen, go get Beast, now!” Jenna yelled.
I felt arms around me. Someone lifted me into their lap and started to rock me. A beautiful voice started to sing, and it soothed me. I felt myself begin to calm. I recognized the song—Little Do You Know. I started to sing along with the voice.
“Let me take her, Amber, please,” Beast said. He was kneeling in front of us.
She let me go and Beast’s strong arms picked me up. I cried into his chest as he walked away, shushing me gently, telling me how much he loved me and that he would keep me safe.
“I have you, baby. He will never touch you as long as I am alive. You are my light, my sunshine, my everything.” Then he started to hum You Are My Sunshine. I love when he hums that song to me.
“I really like her,” I hiccupped against his chest.
“Who?”
“Amber. I think she’s good for Rockstar.”
“Yeah? That’s good. Hope it works out for them.” He held me closer. “Hey, you know I won’t let anything happen to you, right?”
“Yes,” I said. I pulled back just enough to kiss him.
“She’s beautiful, man,” Bane said to Rockstar.
“She fits right in with our women,” I told him.
“I really like her. I want to see how the next few weeks go. We have Owen’s and Lia’s birthdays next week. Big party. We’ll see how she handles that. I asked her to come to Slick Willies with us. She said she could go Wednesday and Thursday, but then she’s leaving for Bora Bora with her parents. She won’t be back until next Thursday.”
“Well, the party is Friday, so that’s perfect. Hex said he booked male and female stVipers,” I said.
“You’re allowing male stVipers at a party for Lia?” he asked.
“Technically, it’s for Owen. But since it’s Lia’s birthday too, I can’t say no. He already paid for them.” I was not thrilled about some stranger waving his dick around my girl.
“Butcher invited the Vengeful Angels. They’re coming to New York to start a chapter here. Looks like Bull will be President,” Doc said.
“You’re fucking kidding me. That’s great,” Viper said.
“Great, so you can watch Bull with Catalina again?” I asked.
“Come on, man. She’s carrying my little girl. We don’t do that anymore. That thing with him and Tami was one time, and you know it. If it’s not you, it’s no one. Ever again.”
I smiled at that. We had our fun, but that’s over. Not just because I have Lia now, but because Cameron is my namesake. I can’t disrespect his mother like that anymore.
“Emergency church meeting. Now,” Butcher said, walking up to us.
I went over, kissed Lia, and told her I’d be back.
We filed into church. All the ranked members and lieutenants took their seats.
“Kiki got a call tonight. We were in my office when it came. It was from Jake. I had her put it on speaker. He didn’t know I was listening. Before I tell you what was said, Beast, you should know Bear and I found something out on Friday. I didn’t tell you right away because I wanted more information. On Friday, while Bear and I were at the bar, Jake’s phone rang. He wasn’t around, so Max answered. The man on the line said a few words and hung up. Max told us the man said he was Professor Carpenter.”
My whole body locked up at Liam’s name.
“I had Catalina trace the number yesterday to try and find him. She got a location within twenty-five miles. Bear and I went to look, but there were too many places he could be. We wanted to be heroes, I guess. But after the call tonight, I decided not to be the hero. You’re like a son to me. I wanted to end this for you and Lia. I am sorry.”
What could I say? He is like a father to me, and he’s my President. I just nodded, even though I was burning up with anger inside.
“On the phone, Jake wanted Kiki to watch Lia and tell him her every move. He offered her two thousand dollars. I nodded to her. I told her to take the deal.”
“What the fuck?” I yelled.
“Listen to me. We can use this. We can use her as bait to draw him out,” he said, trying to calm me down.
Before I could answer, I heard yelling and then someone pounding on the church door.
Max stuck his head in. “Owen is out here losing his mind, screaming for Beast. Says Lia collapsed.”
I was out of my chair. I shoved past Max and Owen, running through the common room, past the kitchen, and out the back door to where my girl was. Once I had her in my arms, I could calm her the rest of the way down. Seeing her in Amber’s arms like that, with Amber singing to her, had shocked me.
I hummed to her and promised to keep her safe. I carried her inside, up to our room, and laid down with her, just holding her. I ran my fingers through her hair until she fell asleep. ‘I will find you, Liam Carpenter. And I will tear you apart with my own hands.’