Chapter Fifteen
LIAM
It’s finally Friday, and when I crawl out of bed after five, the house is still quiet. I get dressed, then leave before Mason’s alarm goes off.
My Mercedes is parked in, so I take my truck, which I prefer anyway.
After Victoria went back to Vegas two days ago, I’ve been avoiding my roommates.
I’ll no doubt be bombarded with more questions about my sudden relationship.
Considering all the side glances and shifty eyes that were thrown my way the entire time she was here, I’m not sure they’re convinced.
Sophie’s already confronted me once and is ready to knock my teeth out. I can’t blame her, though. It’s more than deserved because I hurt Maddie.
Mason’s been busy working his ass off, still trying to make a good impression at his job as a forensics investigator, so we’ve barely crossed paths.
While I realize how ridiculous the whole thing is, considering my reputation, I desperately need them to accept my marriage to Victoria.
I can smile and deny their accusations all day long, but it doesn’t mean it’s easy.
I’ve never had to keep anything from them, especially something of this magnitude.
Mason’s been in my life for a long time.
Sophie made it very clear she disapproves and seeing Maddie’s hurt face guts me, so being around them won’t be easy, but living together means I can only run from their questions for so long.
I drive around for a while, trying to wake up, but it’s no use.
Instead of wasting time, I stop and order some food and coffee while I check my emails and social media notifications.
I’ve been tracking a woman named Chantal, and she left a message saying she’s back in Sacramento and wants to meet up.
Unfortunately for her, she doesn’t realize who she’s been chatting with on Instagram.
Often I’ll use dating apps or other platforms to build a solid foundation with these women who commit heinous crimes.
I have fake profiles set up everywhere with different names but still use pictures of myself so I’m recognizable when I show up to hook up with them.
Pretending to be interested isn’t always a quick solution, and there have been times when I’ve chatted for over a month before they trust me, but it usually pays off.
When a woman sends their address, which is typically a hotel, they think it’s for a booty call.
While I’m aware it’s wrong as hell to catfish someone, they should be smarter, considering they’re on the run.
As the waitress refills my coffee for the second time, I send Chantal a message: Good morning, beautiful. Thinking about you.
I lay it on thick as always. It’s nearly seven in the morning, but she’s up at all hours of the day and night scheming. The girl isn’t smart and continues to commit massive amounts of credit card fraud, the same crime she was initially arrested for, but is going at it with a vengeance this time.
It’s a shame she has no morals because she’s a pretty girl, which only helps her manipulate people.
The life of luxury she’s living was stolen from innocent people, and Chantal deserves to be behind bars for a handful of years.
She has zero remorse or issues stealing from those who can’t afford it.
What’s even more disgusting is she shares pictures of her brand-new Louis Vuitton bags and Gucci everything on her Instagram.
My food arrives, and I take my time eating the egg sandwich I ordered. The waitress keeps my mug full, and I lose track of time playing on my phone. I’ve been so preoccupied with Victoria and Vegas that I’ve missed out on a handful of high-paying bounties, which is frustrating as fuck.
If only I had had enough money to pay off my debt. The thought weighs heavy on me. The waitress brings my check, and I pay once I’m done. When my phone vibrates in my pocket, a mischievous grin covers my face.
Chantal
Hey, babe. Got in late last night. Want to meet up for breakfast and see where things go?
I’m overly full, but this is all pretend anyway, so I reply, only if you’re the main course. Then I send her a winking emoji.
Chantal
I’d love that! Want to come to my place?
I gag at the thought but send her a response: Thought you’d never ask.
She sends her address, and I head out the door. As soon as I’m in my truck, I program Chantal’s address into the GPS. It shouldn’t be this easy to detain her, but sometimes things work out. Though my luck has been terrible lately.
I’m on the highway, driving across town when I notice a black Suburban riding my ass. Needing to know for sure if it’s intentional or not, I take a random exit and watch as they stay close by. Gritting my teeth, I’m ready to pull over and beat the fuck out of this guy when I call Victoria.
“Good morning, hubby,” she coos.
“Morning. So, here’s a question for you…”
“Yes?”
“Why the fuck am I still being followed?” I continue making last-minute turns, but I’m unable to lose the bastard behind me. I’ve increased speed, slowed down, taken streets I’ve never driven in my life, and it’s no use.
“I’m not sure what you mean. You knew my dad would check up on you from time to time. It’s why you always have to be on your best behavior. If he suspects we’re lying, he won’t think twice about coming after you.”
I see red as I make my way through a cookie-cutter neighborhood.
“Check up on me for what?”
I’ve only noticed them a couple of times since we got hitched, but nothing this aggressive before. They were usually near the house or followed me while I was running errands. Now they’re being fucking obnoxious.
“You’re still new to the family,” she explains. “Trust doesn’t come easy to the O’Learys.”
I roll my eyes although she can’t see me.
“Can’t you ask your dad to call them off?
I thought once we were married, this would stop.
Don’t you think my roommates will get suspicious if they see them?
I especially can’t be trailed while I’m working.
I’m currently on my way to meet up with a woman to arrest her.
The last thing we need is your father believing I’m a cheater.
He wanted to kill me for much less. This is fucking ridiculous. ”
“My father’s extremely protective of me and has no reason to believe you’re not after the family money, considering your gambling problem.
As long as you behave, you have nothing to worry about, because there’ll be nothing to report back.
They’ll understand what’s going on between you and that woman when you take her to jail.
” I can tell she’s enjoying this. Maybe a little too much.
“You’re a part of the O’Learys, Liam. If you do anything to hurt me, everyone will know. ”
“This is bullshit,” I say between clenched teeth.
I thought I had to look over my shoulder because of Johnny, but maybe now the game has changed, and Victoria’s the one holding my life in her hands.
She doesn’t seem to care that being trailed is a huge inconvenience for me, but she’ll do whatever the fuck she wants.
She stops me before I can continue. “Also, if I ask him to back off, it’ll sound suspicious, and he’ll think we’re trying to cover up something.
The last thing I need is him in our business more than he already is.
We don’t want him prying any deeper. A couple of pairs of eyes on you is nothing. You can deal with it.”
I pull into a random parking lot and stop driving, and the assholes who’ve acted as my shadow all morning do the same. As I look in the rearview, I notice two men in the vehicle. I look around to see if they’re the only ones stalking my ass.
“The bottom line is I need space when I’m on a job. I can’t have Tweedledee and Tweedledum messing up anything or blowing my cover when I’m on a stakeout. We need to work out something, Victoria.”
“Okay, I’ll see what I can do,” she says, blowing off everything I’ve said. “Anyway, I spoke with my grandmother yesterday, and she was extremely excited about us starting a family,” she singsongs. “She can’t wait for her first grandchild.”
“What? A family?”
“Yes, a family. She adored you, and I’d love to be able to give her a grandbaby after hearing how excited she was about the idea. I’d be the first granddaughter to have one, which means I’d get more than my trust fund. It’d be worth it.”
I try to find my words, but I’m speechless.
After I regain my composure, the first thing that comes to mind slips out, and I’m unable to walk on eggshells any longer.
“What the fuck? No. Not happening. We had a deal, Victoria. Six months is all I agreed to. Six months and that was it. There was no talk about a goddamn baby.”
“Let me remind you that you will do whatever I need you to do until I have what I ultimately want. What is your life really worth, Liam? Or your friends’ lives?
” Her words are full of venom, but her tone is light, as if she didn’t just passive-aggressively threaten me—confirming everything I thought.
Victoria might be more evil than her father.
“This is total and utter bullshit. Children are a hard limit for me, Victoria. It’s not something that can ever be negotiated between us. It’s not fucking happening, ever. I would never make a child for money. The thought is utterly disgusting, and I can’t believe you’re suggesting this.”
The silence draws on, and I don’t have anything else to say.
I don’t give two shits if she’s upset, because having a baby with her is not something I’ll ever do.
It wasn’t a part of our deal, and it never will be.
At some point, I have to put my foot down or she’ll walk all over me because she knows she has control.
This whole thing is a sham. Of course, I owe her for saving my life, but to have a kid because more money is involved? It’s irresponsible and sickening.