Chapter 84 You ready for all their crazy parties?
Lia
When I finished, I just stood there. My eyes on the floor. I couldn't look at anyone. Then I felt warmth at my back, and strong arms lifted me right off my feet. He held me like something precious, settling back into the chair with me cradled against him. That smell, clean, like wood and something deep, told me it was Beast.
“You told us everything,” he said, his voice rough right by my ear. “That was brave. I am so proud of you.”
I pulled back to look at his face. “You are?”
“I am.” He kissed me then, so soft it made my chest ache. He held me close, breathing me in. His whole body was a tense line, and I could feel a fine, constant shake moving through him.
“Are you okay?” I asked into his shoulder.
“Mmmhmm,” was all he said, but I didn’t believe him. Not for a second. He just held me tighter, and I let myself curl into him, my head under his chin.
“Lia.” Butcher’s voice cut in, calm and too controlled. “Thank you for telling us. Now I need his full name.”
“Liam Carpenter.”
The room erupted into fast, sharp Italian from Catalina, Jenna, and Mr. Morelli. It was a storm of words I couldn’t catch. Butcher was already typing, keys clicking hard. Beast just started to rock me, a slow back and forth, and he began to hum. It was a low, tuneless sound that somehow settled the panic in my ribs.
Butcher cursed, a single harsh word. He waved Catalina to his chair and got up. She took over, her fingers flying across the keyboard.
I looked past Beast. On the couch, Hex had his hand in Owen’s hair, his fingers threading through those tight curls. Owen had his head in Hex’s lap, his face turned toward Hex’s stomach. His shoulders were moving, shaking. He was crying. Hex caught my eye. He gave me a small, tired smile, then blew a tiny, silent kiss my way. He loves you, he mouthed. I nodded. I knew.
“He’s in the wind,” Catalina announced, not looking up from the screen.
“How?” Butcher demanded.
“It says here he took a sabbatical. I checked his cards. Maxed out cash advances. I got into his bank accounts, he drained his savings, his checking. He cashed out his retirement. Stopped paying rent three months ago. There is no trail after that. Nothing under Liam Carpenter leads to him now.”
“What does that mean?” My voice sounded small.
Butcher answered, turning to face me. “It means, baby girl, that Liam has vanished. Which means you are staying right here until we find him.”
“But he doesn’t know where I am.”
“We don’t know that. And even if he doesn’t, I am not taking that chance.”
“But why?” I asked, confused.
“Because Lia,” Beast said, his voice leaving no room. He tipped my chin up so I had to look at him. “You are mine. No one else’s. I am claiming you. You will be my Old Lady.” He stared at me, fierce, like he was waiting for a fight.
“You can’t mean that. We hardly know each other.”
“Oh, I mean it. And we can get to know each other.”
“But what if you don’t like who I am?” The words tumbled out. “I could snore. I might sleepwalk. I could fart in my sleep.” I don’t know why I said that last part. My face went hot.
He let out a quiet laugh and kissed the tip of my nose. “I don’t care if you snore. Pretty sure I do. If you sleepwalk, I’ll just carry you back to bed. If you fart in your sleep, I’ll be asleep too. Won’t notice a thing.”
“Beast, be serious. I’m… I’m a mess. I’m not perfect. You deserve someone who matches you. Someone powerful and beautiful.”
“Lia.” He said my name like it was a whole sentence. “You are perfect for me. You are worthy. You match me. You’re stunning. You’re smart, and you’re kind. People want to be near you. You know how many of my brothers have asked about you? I told them all to back off. Told them you were mine. The Old Ladies think you’re sweet. They loved how you hustled Doc and Bear. Even the club girls like you, and trust me, some of them can be real bitches when one of us gets claimed.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Catalina muttered.
Jenna snorted in agreement.
“So get it through your gorgeous head,” Beast said, tapping my temple gently. “I am claiming you. You’re mine. And… I have some ideas. For your scars. If you want.”
“Really? What do you mean?”
“You ever think about tattoos? Torque does incredible work. We could design something. Cover them up, if that’s what you wanted.”
“I never thought about it. But… I’m not against it.”
“Good. We’ll talk about it later. So. Will you accept my claim?”
“Are you sure this is what you want?”
“I am sure you are what I want. I have never felt this way. Not about anyone. You take my breath away. Every time I see you. This little outfit you’re wearing?” He shifted me slightly on his lap. “It’s driving me crazy. Can you feel that?”
“Oh, I can feel you,” I whispered, a giggle escaping.
“That’s because he’s got a pierced ten-inch cock,” Catalina called out matter-of-factly.
“It’s not ten inches, it’s more like nine,” Beast corrected, without a hint of shame.
“Your… it’s pierced?” I asked, my eyes wide. “Did that hurt?”
“Yes. And yes, it did. But it was worth it.”
I squirmed on his lap, my mind suddenly, vividly elsewhere. He grinned a wide, knowing grin.
“Answer my question, Sunshine. Are you going to accept?”
“Yes, Beast. I accept.” I said it so quietly, almost to myself. It’ll just be until Liam is found, anyway, I thought.
Cheers exploded in the office, making me jump. Catalina was wiping at her face, tears streaking her makeup.
“Don’t mind me,” she sniffed. “It’s the damn hormones.”
“Let’s get you and Owen some food,” Beast said. “Then we’ll go to your place. I’ll help you pack tonight and tomorrow. You’re moving upstairs. With me.”
“Um. One thing. I need my paint supplies. My easel, my canvases. I have a commission. I need to paint Mrs. Simpson’s Yorkies. Where can I set all that up?”
Beast looked at Butcher. Both their brows were drawn down, thinking.
Hex leaned close, whispered something to Owen, who sat up. I slipped off Beast’s lap and went to my brother, sitting on his knees. He wrapped his arms around me.
“I have an idea,” Hex said. “I’ll be right back.” He left the room.
“Jenna and I are out of here,” Catalina said, standing. “Papa, come to the house. Cameron needs Grandpop time. Jenna’s bringing Narissa over, too.”
“Excellent,” Mr. Morelli said, his face softening. “I love my grandkid time.”
Everyone else filed out, leaving us in the quieter space.
“You’re a brave one, Cupcake,” Owen murmured into my hair.
“Thank you. Owen… we’re claimed. How do you feel about that?”
“To tell you the truth? Like I finally belong somewhere. Misfit belongs with the other Queens, but Owen… Owen never really fit. Here, I feel like someone actually wants me. I’m… I’m really happy.”
“Me too.”
“You ready for all their crazy parties?”
“Well, it’ll be an education.” I dropped my voice to a whisper. “And honestly, I kind of want to experiment on some things.”
I thought I’d said it quietly enough. But from the corner of my eye, I saw Beast’s head snap toward us. I refused to look at him. My cheeks were on fire, I knew it. I could see the glitter in Owen’s eyes as he tried not to laugh.
“I know what you mean, Cupcake,” he whispered back, a grin playing on his lips. “I think it’s time to shake some things up around here. I’m going to push these brothers’ buttons. Misfit is going to have a grand old time.”
I giggled and buried my face in his chest.
The door opened and Hex came back in. “We’ve got extra lumber, drywall, screens, a door. Me, Rockstar, River, and Bane can build you a small studio out back. Will that work for your art?”
“Oh my God, really? Yes. That would be amazing. I can manage the humidity for the paint. I can bring the tubes inside when I’m done for the day so they don’t dry out.”
“No, Angel,” Beast said. “I’ll go to the hardware store tomorrow. We’ll get a proper window, a portable air conditioner. I’ll help build it. It’ll be up in no time.”
“You guys are amazing.” I jumped up, hugged Hex quickly, then went back to where I belonged, settling onto Beast’s lap.
“Dinner?” Owen asked, just as his stomach let out a long, loud growl.
Everyone chuckled.
“Come on,” Beast said, standing and setting me on my feet. “I’m craving fried chicken. Let’s go to Loretta’s Diner.”
“Perfect,” I said. “I love Loretta’s.”
We said goodbye to Butcher. Walking back through the clubhouse was like stepping into another world. It was wilder now, the energy turned up. Two couples were going at it on a couch. Over by the pool tables, someone who looked like Doc was braced against a wall, holding a naked redhead upside down, her legs over his shoulders. My mouth actually fell open.
“See something you might want to try, Sunshine?” Beast’s whisper was hot against my ear.
I snapped my mouth shut, turned to him, and gave him a look. A mischievous, answering look. And I nodded.
He groaned, adjusting himself in his jeans. I laughed as he pulled me through the door and out into the night.