Chapter Nine
LIAM
THE PREVIOUS DAY
After running errands on Tuesday afternoon, I’m relieved to go home and relax for the rest of the night.
It’s been a couple of months since I bailed on JJ and left Vegas for good.
While things are starting to feel normal again, I hate that I’m still constantly looking over my shoulder.
He’s texted and called me dozens of times, but I’ve ignored them all.
It’s what I need to do while I save money to pay them back.
If I return with anything less than I owe, they’ll undoubtedly kill me.
I take a shower and grab something to eat before I see a text from Hunter.
Hunter
Don’t forget to pick up your tux! Black socks and black shoes.
Liam
Oh fuck. I thought we were doing navy blue?
Hunter
Don’t make me come over there and smack you around, Evans. Lennon’s already driving me crazy. I don’t need any more reason to vent my frustrations out on you.
Liam
You’re too easy, man. Relax! I got this.
Hunter
Still gonna punch you.
Liam
Yeah, yeah. You wouldn’t let your favorite groomsman be photographed with a black eye. Lennon would really kill you then.
Hunter
I’ll get you back after.
Liam
Mm-hmm, Manning. If it makes you feel better, I’ll even let you swing first.
Hunter
Anyone ever tell you that you’re an asshole?
Liam
A few chicks, but then they’re usually screaming my name while I bend them over.
Hunter
BYE.
I laugh, tossing my phone on the coffee table.
Poor guy has been knee-deep in wedding planning, and considering baby Aaron was born a couple of months ago, we haven’t gotten the chance to hang out much.
Between him being a dad, our work schedules, and life in general, this weekend is a much-needed escape although it’ll be short.
Lounging on the couch, I enjoy the solace as I watch TV. It’s short-lived because the front door soon whips open, and everyone crowds inside, being loud and energetic as fuck.
Sophie picked up Maddie from school, and Mason must’ve gotten off work at the same time.
“Hey, Hulk,” Maddie singsongs, dropping her heavy bag on the couch as she sits next to me.
“Got the mail.” She hands me a small pile, and I thank her with a curt nod.
“Don’t forget to pack for the wedding. I saw your mountain of dirty clothes, and I’m not getting tricked into doing your laundry again. ”
I snicker at the few times I’ve added my clothes to her wash when she wasn’t looking. Then she stuffed them in the dryer, and once she started folding everything and realized what I did, she whacked me across the head and cussed me out.
“C’mon, I’ll pay you five bucks.”
“Hard fucking pass.” She glowers at me.
“I thought you wanted to save money for a car?” I taunt, knowing that’ll grab her attention.
“Five bucks won’t do shit unless that’s per item. In that case, I might entertain the idea.”
I grimace, crossing my ankles. “No, babe. Five bucks per load.”
“Five bucks per load…” Maddie repeats, snickering before standing and taking her bag. “Is that in your Tinder bio?”
I roll my eyes. “Whatever, your loss!”
“Not really. Keep your gross underwear away from my clothes!” she calls out, walking to her bedroom.
“You two fighting already?” Mason asks, taking her seat and handing me a beer, then sips his.
“Nah, that’s how we communicate,” I quip.
“How was work today?” I ask as Sophie sits on his lap. These two lovebirds are inseparable, and though I’m happy for them, I could go without seeing all their PDA.
“Eventful and busy as usual.” He shrugs, wrapping his arms around Sophie and pulling her closer.
The moment she leans down and kisses him, I push myself up and stand. “Gonna get started packing.”
“Good idea,” Sophie calls out. “We leave in seventy-two hours!”
“I’ve packed for a seven-day trip with ten minutes’ notice. Pretty sure I can manage a weekend.”
“Yes, but bring nice things! Did you get your tux yet?” she asks.
“I will tomorrow. Anything else, Mom?”
“Clean socks and underwear too!”
“How about you worry about Mason, and I’ll worry about myself?”
“I have all my shit together already!” he brags.
“Of course,” I mutter, then take the steps two at a time.
Once I’m in my room, I go through my mail. Most of it’s junk since we pay the majority of our bills online, but on the bottom of the pile, there’s a manilla envelope with my name on it with no return address.
I slide out a single piece of paper and my heart stops.
It’s a five-by-seven glossy picture of Maddie and me leaving the house together.
Last weekend, she’d begged me to take her to a bakery for donuts, and we ended up leaving with two dozen.
In the shot, I look fucking smitten as we walk side by side to my truck.
I was teasing her about paying for gas since I drive her around all the time.
She retorted that being in her presence was payment enough.
However, the photo being taken outside our house isn’t what I’m most worried about. It’s the red target drawn over Maddie’s face.
I flip it over and see sloppy handwriting.
Pay up or she’ll be the one paying.
The clock is ticking.
-JJ
PS—You really didn’t think we’d use every resource to find you? Boss wants your head mounted on the wall, so you better get your ass back here immediately.
Or he’ll come get you himself.
My fingers ball into fists, the nails digging into my palms as I swallow hard.
I assumed they’d eventually find me, but I didn’t think they’d bring my friends into it, although JJ had warned me.
Who knows how long they’ve been following me.
Considering the picture is recent, there’s no telling when they found me or if they’re still watching.
On top of all this shit, now I have Maddie to worry about. Will they take her? Hurt her?
Fuck, I can’t even think about it, or I’m going to lose my goddamn mind.
There’s no way I can go there now, not with the wedding this weekend. I can’t risk missing one of the most important days in Hunter’s and Lennon’s lives. I have no other choice but to text JJ and plead for more time.
Liam
Stay the fuck away from her. I’ll come next week.
JJ
Tsk tsk. I wonder if your girlfriend knows all your dirty little secrets? Perhaps we should catch her up…
Liam
She’s my roommate, asshole. I swear, if you come near her, I’ll kill you.
JJ
You’re not very smart, are you, Liam? Threaten me again and we’ll come for all your friends.
Liam
I give you my word that I’ll be there next week. I can’t come any earlier.
JJ
The boys are camped out watching you. If you fuck with me, Liam, you’ll be sorry, trust me. I’ve given you plenty of time.
Liam
I have a wedding in Utah this weekend. Leaving Friday and coming back Sunday. I’ll fly to Vegas right after.
JJ
Boss is getting impatient and is ready to put a hit out on you. I’m sick of the goddamn lip service.
Liam
I’ll be there if you stay away from my friends. Don’t get them involved. They don’t know a damn thing about this.
JJ
You owe $100k to my family and have ignored me for weeks. You have no right to demand shit.
Somehow, I resist the urge to send him the middle finger emoji. My blood boils with rage, wanting to throw everything in sight. But hell, they’re probably watching me through the window. The thought makes me want to vomit.
I can’t tell Maddie or any of them. They’ll get involved and want to help, but I need them to stay as far away from this shitshow as possible. This is my goddamn mess, and I’m the one who needs to clean it up.
Liam
I’ll let you know when my flight is. Don’t contact me till then.
He responds with a winking emoji, which only makes my stomach turn. Control is slipping through my fingers, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about this right now. This will inevitably eat at me every day until it’s resolved, and my friends are no longer targets.
I sleep with one eye open and keep Maddie as close to me as possible without setting off any alarm bells.
She’s already suspicious and has mentioned I’m acting weird, but I ignore her.
I can’t risk any of the O’Leary men getting close to her.
Though he gave me a week to return, I understand what his family is capable of, so I’m not taking any chances.
Maddie, Mason, Sophie, and I flew out to Utah Friday morning and spent the weekend celebrating Hunter and Lennon’s nuptials.
The wedding was small and intimate with only close friends and family in attendance.
I met Mr. and Mrs. Corrigan and tried to keep my mind busy helping where I could.
I played with Alison and held Aaron while they cut the cake and had their first dance.
I smile, thinking about how Maddie looked as though I’d grown a second head.
“What?” I asked, cradling the baby to my chest. He was only two months old and mostly slept and ate.
“You sure you aren’t gonna drop him?” Maddie teased. “Should I take him just in case you get a hint of commitment?” She held out her arms, but I shifted my body so she couldn’t take Aaron.
“Commitment?” I mused, arching a brow.
“Yeah, you might catch it or something. A wedding, babies, true love. Watch out,” she taunted, and while her bitterness stemmed from my rejection, I still thought it was adorable when she tried to get under my skin.
“I’m immune, so don’t worry about me.” I flashed a slow, smug grin, which caused her to roll her eyes.
Watching Hunter and Lennon dance as husband and wife had me thinking about how far they’d come.
This was their second chance at love, and they deserved all the happiness in the world after the loss they’d endured.
It was hard to think about Brandon at times and everything he was missing, but a part of him still lived on in Alison.
I knew he’d be glad to see his best friend and the love of his life find comfort in each other.