Love Betrayal

Chapter Eight

River

“You bringing Bella to the party?” Corey asks. She’s sitting on the countertop in the clubhouse kitchen, eating toast and drinking coffee.

“What party?” I ask, yawning. I didn’t sleep as well last night without Bella in bed next to me, and I plan on rectifying that tonight.

“Jeremiah’s birthday.”

Ah, shit. I’d forgotten all about that. “I’ll see if she’s free,” I comment, pouring myself some coffee.

“Cool. Especially now that there’s no man hidden in the garage,” Corey says, in a chirpy tone that doesn’t match her words one bit.

My lips tighten. I guess everyone has fucking heard about that, then. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

“Nope, no classes today,” she replies, dusting crumbs off her fingers. “And I’m helping Julianna get everything ready for tomorrow. You guys eat a lot of food, you know that? And don’t get me started on the amount of alcohol we are going to need. Even though there have been a few parties, I still can’t get used to the Angels coming around. Will be interesting to see how that goes down.” She jumps off and lands easily on her feet, and leaves without another word.

I send Bella a text before I forget, because I would love to have her here for the party. Corey is right—without our captive here, I can now relax. It turned out that he was a hired hit man coming after Romeo. He didn’t know who put the hit out. All he knew was that it was a woman, and she was paying him fifty thousand dollars. Unfortunately, Roger is not going to get a chance to use that fifty thousand. Unless being buried in the middle of the desert counts.

As sad as it is, our first thought is that it’s our grandmother Cathy.

And ain’t that a hard pill to swallow.

Cathy was basically kicked out of the family for her betrayal and alliance with Victor, who also ended up being her grandson. She went against all of us, planning to have Victor take over the Devils and Angels, and we thought she was in our past. But now we have to wonder if she’s capable of wanting Romeo dead.

There is a small part of me that wants to believe that it’s not her at all. She’s my blood and the woman I ran to when my father was too much when I was a kid. She used to be a comfort to me and I have to think that there is still some good in her.

River: There’s a party here tomorrow night for Jeremiah’s birthday. You in?

Bella: Yes, I’d love to. I’ll pick up a gift for him.

River: It’s okay, don’t worry about it.

Bella: Can’t show up empty-handed.

She’s so fucking cute.

River: Don’t waste your money on him.

Knowing her, she’ll bring something anyway, but I don’t want her to feel like she has to. Corey is right, though, this will be the first party with our MCs united. Although we are now one MC, they’ve stuck to their clubhouse and we’ve stuck to ours—it’s what we know, and we’ve all been comfortable with that. But of course everyone has been invited tonight, and although it might be awkward, I think the more events we do like this the more comfortable everyone will get with each other. At the end of the day, we want the same thing, and we care about the same people. And that’s all it comes down to. We will all be able to thrive, financially and in power, and what more could an MC want?

We are now untouchable.

Except from my grandmother, apparently.

Maybe.

Shit.

After staying the night at Bella’s, I leave early morning, get in a workout in our gym, shower and then get ready to be bossed around by Julianna to make sure the clubhouse is ready for the influx of people. I’m not the most social person in the world, but even I’m looking forward to tonight, and seeing the whole family together.

I invited my mom, but she doesn’t want to come. I’d say the reason she doesn’t come here anymore is because we lost Matthew, but really that’s not true. She turned her back on MC life a long time ago, right when she lost the sight in her eye, and when my father went missing. Her life changed when she walked away from him, and I think for her that meant leaving the MC behind, too. I don’t blame her at all either.

Once upon a time it was a different story. Mom was very involved with her family, and helped raise Romeo when her sister, Romeo’s mother, Victoria, wasn’t doing too much of a good job of it. But no one had my mother’s back when my father started beating on her, because he was the son of an MC president, and she was just a woman. I guess everyone has their limits, even people you see as the strongest.

Especially those people.

When the sun starts to set people start arriving. Corey does help out a lot, and I appreciate seeing that sparkle back in her eyes, even if bossing people around is what brings that back. Losing Matthew hit us all, but it hurt her the most. Matthew was the best brother. He was kind, patient and emotionally intelligent. I can protect her, and be there for her, but I will never be what Matthew was.

It should have been me that died. We all know it, and the guilt that I’m burying beneath my feet still tries to trip me over whenever it can.

I try not to think about it, and him, and although that’s not the best coping mechanism, it’s the only one I have right now.

I wait out front until Bella arrives in her BMW, and open the door for her. She pulls out a present wrapped in fancy black paper and a gold bow and gets out of the car with a red-lipped smile.

“You look beautiful,” I comment, taking in her black dress and heels. She smells like heaven, her perfume fruity and sweet, and I don’t know how the fuck she’s mine, but I’m glad that she is. “I knew you’d get him a present anyway.” I smirk, taking her hand and leading her inside.

“It’s rude to show up somewhere empty-handed,” she reminds me, smiling at Romeo and Julianna, who approach us first.

Julianna hugs her and drags her away from me before I can say anything. I see her wish Jeremiah a happy birthday and give him the gift from the living room.

“Did you locate her?” Romeo asks, while keeping his eyes on his wife.

“Not yet.”

He sighs. “Well, tonight is for fun, so let’s not worry about all of that until tomorrow.”

My eyes narrow as I see Jeremiah hugging Bella, and lingering a little too long. “Someone wants to die on their birthday.”

Romeo follows my line of sight and laughs, slapping me on the shoulder. “Never thought I’d see you fall in love. Please, don’t start any fights. Wow, did his hand just touch her ass?” I growl and he pulls me back. “Shit, I’m just joking. Calm down.”

Leaving him behind, I pull Bella away from my cousin. “Do you want something to drink?”

“Sure,” she replies, smiling up at me. “Why do you look so angry? It’s a party!” She does a little dance and winks.

She’s so damn cute.

I get a beer, while Bella opts for a red wine. We head outside in the backyard, the music getting louder with each step. I see Corey sitting on one of the big speakers, drink in hand, a hot dog in the other. I’m about to go over to her when a man approaches her. The two of them speak, and she laughs.

Damon.

He’s one of the Angels and Julianna’s friend, and I don’t know how he knows my sister or how well, but I’m going to go and find out.

Bella pulls me back, brow furrowing. “Let her have some fun. She’s an adult.”

“Barely.”

“We’re right here, we can see what they are up to. Everyone can,” she says with a shrug, pulling me to the dance floor. “Come on, dance with me.”

Pressing her body against mine, she wraps her arms around me and rotates her hips seductively. If she wants to distract me, it’s working.

She smiles, and I follow suit.

Fuck.

I guess it is a party, right?