Chapter 19 Beat a bitch up

Chapter 19 Beat a bitch up
Liam dropped the bomb. Or maybe I just don't like hearing that girl's name. I hate that she doesn't want to stay down after all the beating and humiliation she has gotten from me.
“What do you mean she escaped?”
The words came out sharper than I intended, slicing through the kitchen air. My head was already throbbing, a dull ache behind my eyes that pulsed in time with my heartbeat.
I forgot about her to be honest. And he didn't remind me that we were supposed to take care of that Roach. And the main reason why she is still alive is because of her father. Her father being a politician that has too many connections and is tied to Liam. I don't want to add more target to his back.

Liam was still standing near the counter, phone in his hand, his jaw tight.
“It means,” he said slowly, carefully, “that I have a traitor.”
The room spun.
“I—” I pressed my hand to the edge of the table. The marble felt cold, grounding. “I need to sit down.”
He was beside me instantly, a hand hovered at my back without touching, like he was afraid I might shatter if he did. He pulled the chair out for me, and I sank into it, my legs suddenly weak.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I will get her back.”
“It’s not that,” I murmured. My mouth felt dry. “Everything is just… loud and I am still hungover.”
He crouched in front of me, eyes searching my face. “Are you sure you are good?”
I looked at him then. Really looked. The tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers curled like he was already imagining blood on them.
"I am" he nodded "can I get a glass of water please" he poured one immediately. I thanked him and downed the water like a man stranded in a dessert.
“Don't catch her. I will do it myself” I said after I quenched my dying thirst. Sobering me a bit.
He frowned. “Luciana…”
“Let her escape,” I cut in. My voice surprised even me with how steady it sounded. “I am not disappointed. This is actually perfect. It is now time for her to get what she deserves in the way she will enjoy.She won’t last long. Cassandra never does. ” The image of her on her knees begging me and helpless slowly brought a smile to my face.
There was a beat of silence.
Liam smiled with me. “She’s yours"
“She’ll make a mistake,” I continued, quieter now. “She always needs to be seen. She’ll be caught again.”
Liam studied me, like he was trying to decide whether this was confidence or denial. “Are you okay?”
And just like that…
The memories crashed in fast.
Flashes of last night slammed into me with brutal clarity. The club. The music. Alyssa swinging. Gia crying. Me…God…me in his car. My mouth on his jaw. My body moving without permission. Oh God. I did that.
Heat flooded my face.
“Oh no,” I whispered. My hands covering my face immediately.
“What?” he asked, instantly alert.
I couldn’t look at him. I stared at my hands instead, suddenly fascinated by the faint scar on my knuckle. “I am so sorry”
" Why would you be sorry, pray tell” still looking at me. Looking for a sign of hurt in them.
" For yesterday night”
A corner of his mouth twitched. “Remember?”
I groaned softly and dropped my face into my palms. “I jumped you like an animal.”
There it was.
Silence.
Then, laughter.
A full bellied laughter. The one that is Warm but not small.
I peeked through my fingers. “You’re laughing?”
“You were very determined,” he said. “I was impressed.”
“I was drunk,” I muttered. “And inappropriate. And I said…” I stopped myself. “Actually, no. I’m not repeating it.”
He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek. Then the other. His lips lingered just long enough to make my stomach flip.
“You were cute,” he said.
“I was mortifying.”
He lowered his voice then, just for me, his mouth brushing my ear.
“Now that you’re sober,” he murmured, “I can really fuck you and make you forget about Batman.”
My entire soul left my body.
“Oh my God,” I gasped, jerking back. “You did not just say that.”
He straightened, completely unbothered, eyes bright with wicked amusement.
“I absolutely did.”
“I cannot believe I said that out loud,” I groaned. “I don’t even like Batman.” I silently cursed Gia’s obsession with batman.
“You asked Alfred if he knew where Batman was,” he reminded me.
“I hate you,” I said weakly.
“No, you don’t.”
Unfortunately, he was right.
He stood, smoothing his shirt, slipping back into work-mode like the devil himself hadn’t just whispered sin into my ear. “Go on a date with me tonight.”
I blinked. “What?”
“A real one,” he said. “No guns. No blood. No chaos. No kids. Just...us and food.”
My heart did something stupid. Something young.
“I…” I swallowed. Not thinking twice. Maybe I am still drunk“Okay.”
The smile he gave me then should have been illegal.
He leaned down, kissed me properly this time. It was slow, warm, unhurried. Then pulled away before my knees could give out.
“I’ll see you tonight,” he said, already heading for the door.
The moment it closed behind him, the air shifted.
I sat up straighter.
The softness drained from my bones.
I picked up my phone.
Gia answered first. “If you’re calling to nag, don’t. My head feels like it’s being stabbed.”
Alyssa came on the line immediately after. “Whoever invented alcohol deserves jail.”
“I need you both,” I said calmly.
There was a pause.
Gia sighed. “That tone means someone’s about to die.”
“Not die,” I corrected. “Suffer.”
Alyssa perked up. “Oh?”
“Cassandra escaped.”
The line went very, very quiet.
Then Alyssa spoke, sweet as poison. “Say less.”
Gia’s voice hardened. “Where?”
“I don’t know yet,” I replied. “But she won’t stay hidden for long.”
“And when we find her?” Alyssa asked.
I smiled.
“We go old school”