32. Mila
32
MILA
I let out a frustrated sigh when my phone rang again.
I didn’t pick up.
I didn’t have to. I knew who it was. A fucking creep who had taken to calling over the past few days, and anytime I answered, I heard nothing but breathing from the other line.
I should have told my men the first day this happened, but I didn’t. And now it had been three days, and it was still ongoing. I was going to tell them tonight.
My phone stopped ringing, and I let out a small sigh of relief, which was short-lived when it started right back up again.
I let out a frustrated groan and picked up. “What?”
There was no answer for a long pause, and I could feel my anger rising. I was about to say something when another voice came through, a voice I recognized and took away all of my irritation.
“Mila. Are you alone?”
My breath caught. “Mom?”
“Mila, are you alone?”
I looked around. I was in my bathroom, trying to get ready for my day. Rachel was downstairs, but my men were off doing things I probably didn’t want to know about. I was as alone as I could be.
“Yes, but what does that have to do?—”
“Sweetheart, why are you with the man who killed your father and his men?”
I worked hard not to make any sound. “How did you…?”
“Did you think I wasn’t going to find out? I mean, come on, Mila. Of all the men in the world?—”
“Wait.”
She said man. So she didn’t know I was with all three brothers.
“Who do you think I’m with?” I asked.
“Silas Tiernan.”
“And why do you think that?”
Why did she think I was with Silas and not Maverick or Killian?
She didn’t answer me right away.
“Who have you been talking to?” I asked. Perhaps it was far-fetched, but she wouldn’t have known what was happening in Chicago, or hell, New Orleans, where I had met the brothers the first time, unless she was talking to someone who was there.
“Sebastian?” I guessed.
I knew I had guessed right when she didn’t answer me. Sebastian’s men saw me in New Orleans with Silas. And Sebastian saw me at the club’s opening with Silas. They didn’t know my relationship had progressed more with Maverick and Killian.
“Mom, why are you talking with Sebastian?”
She scoffed. “He’s your father’s stepbrother. Why wouldn’t I talk to him?”
“He also wants to force me to marry him.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Mila. There’s no forcing. You and Sebastian make a good match.”
I shouldn’t be surprised by her words… or hurt. But I was both.
“What if I don’t want to marry him?” Didn’t it matter to her at all what I wanted and didn’t want?
“Why wouldn’t you want to marry him? Sebastian is handsome and capable. All the club whores want a piece of him. You should feel lucky that he wants you.”
“If he’s so good, why don’t you marry him?”
I wasn’t sure if the silence on the line was because Mom didn’t want to marry him or, worse, that she did.
“Besides,” I said, changing the subject. “He doesn’t want me. He wants my inheritance.”
Her sharp intake of breath told me she hadn’t expected me to say that.
“How did you know about that?”
“The important thing isn’t how I know. It’s that I know. And I’m not going to marry a man who only wants the inheritance Grandpa left me.”
“And you think Silas Tiernan wants to be with you because he loves you?”
I didn’t think, I knew, but I wasn’t going to tell Mom that. She wouldn’t understand.
“He’s using you. At least with the MC, you’ll be with people you know.”
“I don’t want to be with those people,” I said, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice.
“Mila.” I heard her take a deep breath before saying, “Okay. Let’s not talk about that. Let’s talk about us.”
“What about us?” I asked warily. Was it sad that I didn’t trust her? Perhaps so, but I still didn’t trust her.
“I miss my daughter. I want to see you.”
“You do?”
“Yes,” she said with a sort of hardness in her voice. As if she was offended that I might even question her. Could she blame me? “When can I see you?”
I didn't answer her right away. Alarm bells started to go off in my head, and there was a heavy feeling in my gut that told me something was wrong.
There was no reason for me not to trust her, except that in all the years since she’d abandoned me, never once had she initiated coming to see me or told me she missed me.
So why now?
“I don’t know…”
“Mila, please. I just want to see my daughter.”
“Okay,” I said softly. “I’ll set something up.”
“And make sure you don’t bring that man with you. I don’t want to see the man who destroyed your dad’s club, sweetheart. You understand, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I replied. “I understand.”
I set up the meeting at a park nearby.
Pulling the car to a stop in the parking lot, I looked around the deserted place, feeling my heart pound in tandem with every harsh breath I took.
I exited the car and looked around, feeling a prickling sensation all over my skin. I paused and took a deep breath before continuing over to a park bench that looked out to the Chicago River.
I closed my eyes as a slight breeze picked up and blew on my face. I didn’t react when I felt her sitting down next to me.
“You’re here,” she said quietly.
“Why do you sound so surprised? Did you expect me not to show up?”
I opened my eyes and took in my mom. She was in dark blue jean shorts that no woman her age should be wearing, a white T-shirt that showed her flat belly, and paired with a black leather jacket.
Her brown hair was tied up in a messy bun, and her face had barely any wrinkles or blemishes. My mom had me young. She was still pretty young, only in her mid-forties, but she was still as stunning as I remembered her to be.
It had only been a couple of months since I’d last seen her, yet there was something different about her, and I didn’t know why that was.
I was a mix of both my parents, though I knew I looked more like my dad. But it was easy to see I got my eyes from her. A unique blend of blue and green that my men seemed to love about me. How was I going to be able to look at myself in the mirror after this meeting?
“Hmm, just thinking now that you’re with the Tiernan Syndicate, you’d forgotten all about where you’ve come from.”
“Trust me,” I said, and even I couldn’t disguise the bitterness in my voice. “I could never forget.”
“I don’t understand where this animosity toward your father came from,” she said dismissively.
“You don’t? Then why did you leave him?”
“Our marriage wasn’t working. It hadn’t been for a while. You know I only married him because your grandfather forced my hand. We tried to make it work, but your father was, well, you know how he was. He was still your father, and you owed him loyalty.”
“Loyalty?”
Did she really not know all the shit I had to endure at the club? I pulled the collar of my shirt down to my shoulder and a part of my back. The scars caused by the lash of the whip were old, but they were still pretty noticeable.
“Is this the kind of loyalty you’re talking about?”
If I had expected her to be surprised or even disgusted on my behalf, I’d have been wrong. She barely glanced at them, and I tried not to show her how much that hurt me.
“I’m sure whatever the reason for those, you earned them.”
“ What ?”
“Oh, don’t look at me like that, Mila. You know how your father was.”
I shook my head and looked out at the water. “Why did you want to see me?”
“I told you, I missed you.”
I scoffed. “We both know that’s not true, Mother. You left me with Dad when I was eleven. Not once have you said those words to me.”
She let out a tired sigh as if I was exhausting to her. “It’s time you leave the Tiernan house and come with me. This tantrum you’re throwing is getting old, Mila.”
“Tantrum? I’m not throwing a tantrum, and I’m not coming with you.”
Mom’s eyes hardened, and any hope I might have had that she could love me the way a mother would love their daughter was dashed away, and in its place was an empty chasm. I pressed my hand down on my stomach, and Mom followed the movement. It took her a moment to figure it out, but I could see the disappointment and disgust in her eyes once she did.
“Oh, you stupid girl. What have you gotten yourself into?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t get myself into anything I can’t accept. We’re done here. Coming out here to see you was obviously a mistake.”
She grabbed my forearm, stopping me. I tried to pull away, but she only tightened her grip.
“We’re not done here. You’re coming with me.”
I laughed. Did she not realize I was no longer that eager-to-please girl who just wanted her mother to love her?
“I supposed you’re going to try to make me?”
She looked up at me, a strange look coming over her eyes. Then they brightened just as a shadow fell over us.
“No, but I am.”
I tensed, recognizing the voice. I turned to see Ramsy, my father’s former road captain, a mean, big motherfucker. He smiled nastily at me.
I stared back at him calmly. “Ramsy. Nice to see you again.”
He sneered at me, his face turning a strange red. “Wish I could say the same, but that wouldn’t be true. You’re nothing but a fucking traitor and coward who ran away when the club got attacked.”
“Like you didn’t do the same thing. I’m pretty sure that’s how you survived.”
His skin turned an even deeper red.
He raised his hand up, and I closed my eyes, waiting for the hit, knowing the second he made contact, he would regret it.
The hit never came.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Silas said.
I opened my eyes to see him standing next to Ramsy, a gun pointed at his temple.
Ramsy’s eyes widened with fear as he held his hand up. A look back at Mom told me Killian was already there, holding her back. She glared at me, and for the first time, I could see genuine hatred in her eyes.
I looked away from her.
“Are you okay?” Silas asked me. I could only nod.
“Of course, the little club traitor wouldn’t mind whoring herself out to the Tiernan bastard,” Ramsy spat.
“Careful,” Maverick said behind him. Ramsy tensed. “You’re in my territory now. And I can make your death quick, or I can prolong it. Depending on your cooperation… and my mood. Insulting her isn’t going to help improve my mood.”
Before Ramsy could reply, Silas pulled his gun back and hit him in the back of the head with it. The big man went down in a pathetic heap. I jumped back a little, afraid he might touch me, but Silas was already there pulling me away.
“You couldn’t even do this right. I asked you to meet me here alone,” Mom said harshly. Killian tightened his grip on her when it looked like she was about to come at me. I closed my eyes and turned into Silas’ chest. I could feel the tension in his body and knew he was close to breaking.
“Take them out of here,” Silas said roughly. I closed my eyes and tried not to listen to the way my mom cursed me out.
I pulled back when Maverick and Killian got them away.
“Was there anyone else?” I asked, lifting my head.
Silas nodded. “Marcus and a few of our men found a handful of men who looked like they belonged to the MC. We’ll question them, and hopefully, someone will know about Sebastian's whereabouts.”
I nodded but didn’t say anything.
“Are you okay?” Silas asked.
I looked away from him, my eyes burning. He frowned. I didn’t want to cry. I should be over this, considering the way she treated me wasn’t surprising or new. So then, why did it hurt?
“Why doesn’t she love me?” I asked.
Silas didn’t say anything. He probably didn’t know.
I shook my head, about to walk away, when he tightened his arms around me. “I don’t know, baby. I wish I had an answer for you that would be enough, but I don’t. I do know that I love you. Maverick and Killian love you. And our baby will love you. You know that, don’t you?”
I blinked, trying to will the tears away. He was right. My mom might not love me, but I had the brothers’ love. And my child. I was sure my child would love me as well.
“Yes,” I said, my lips trembling. “I know.”
He leaned down and kissed my lips. I wrapped my arms around his middle, clinging to him and trying to follow his lips when I felt him pull away.
He went back and gave me another kiss, his chest vibrating with a growl the longer we touched.
When he pulled back, we were both breathing hard. I looked at his lips, which were wet and slightly swollen.
He groaned. “Don’t look at me like that, angel.”
“Like what?”
With another growl, he hauled me back to him and kissed me a third time, this one rougher and much quicker than the first two.
“Come on,” he said, leading me along.
I stopped him. “I want to be there when you question my mom. And Ramsy.”
A warning glint entered his eyes. “Angel.”
“Not for the torture part,” I said quickly. I didn’t care how much I loved them—I would never get used to seeing them torture anyone, deserved or not.
“You’re not… you’re not going to torture my mom, are you?”
He didn’t answer me right away. “Do you want us to spare her?”
I hesitated. “Please.”
“Okay, angel. Come on, you can come with me then, but you’re going to let Liam and Conor take you home after, got me?”
I nodded and grabbed his hand. “Got you.”
Silas pulled to a stop in front of what looked like an abandoned factory.
I looked around the deserted place curiously.
“Is this where you bring…?”
Silas pulled away from the gearshift and grabbed my hand, squeezing it briefly.
“You don’t need to worry about this, sweetheart.”
Right. I’ll take that as a yes. It didn’t look like much. Or very secure, but I was sure my men never did anything without thinking things through completely.
“Stay here until I come get you,” Silas said. He was already out the door before I could answer. I stayed where I was, watching as Silas took in his surroundings.
The bruising on his face from when Sebastian’s men jumped him in the parking garage was getting better, though it was still visible.
Every time I looked at it, all I wanted was to pull him into my arms and kiss it all better.
He came to my door moments later and opened it for me. I took off my seatbelt and got out of the car, grabbing hold of Silas’ hand. He looked down at it, then at me.
“You don’t have to worry about anything. I’ll be here to protect you.”
I nodded. “I know.”
He let out a small grunt of satisfaction and led us to the dilapidated building.
Once inside, I could make out the distinct sound of someone screaming… beneath the building?
I looked at Silas.
He tightened his grip around my hand but didn’t say anything as we walked further into the building, toward the far back. An old, ripped curtain hung by a wall, and Silas pulled it back to reveal what looked like a hole big enough to fit even Maverick, I guessed.
“This leads down,” Silas said. I nodded, not sure if he wanted me to go in first. He gently pushed me toward the hole. He turned me around and grabbed my armpits, hoisting me down. I didn’t make a sound, though I wanted to. My feet hung off the ground for a while, and I was hoping I would feel the bottom soon when I felt hands grasping at my feet.
I did make a sound then.
I squealed.
“Shh, it’s okay, Mila. It’s me.”
“Killian.”
“Yes, baby. I’m going to help you down, okay?”
I nodded, even though he probably couldn’t see me. Both Silas and Killian got me to the underground section of the building, which was more spacious than I imagined it to be. It was like a whole other level. And there were lights. I didn’t know how they got electricity down here, or hell, even to this building, but I wasn’t going to question it.
Killian pulled me out of the way just as Silas jumped down.
Killian frowned at Silas. “Why did you bring her? You were supposed to get her home and come here.”
“Because she wants to be here,” I answered Killian.
He looked at me with a dark look in his eyes.
I shook my head. If he even thought about sending me back up… well, I didn’t know what I was going to do. He probably could make me, but I was going to be very angry at him.
Thankfully, all he did was shake his head and mutter something under his breath before grabbing my hand and leading me down the hall. Silas followed us. I looked back at him, and he winked at me.
We kept walking. It was hot outside, but down here, it was much worse than that. I could feel sweat dripping down the back of my neck, and I resisted the urge to wipe it away.
I tensed when I heard a man screaming.
I shuddered and moved in closer to Killian.
“This is why it’s not a good idea for you to be here,” Killian said, his lips close to my head.
“You’re here. And so is Silas, and I’m sure Maverick is here as well,” I said. If Maverick wasn’t the one making that man scream. “Nothing is going to happen to me.”
“That’s fucking right,” Killian responded gruffly. “But what about all that’s going on up here?” He pointed at my head. “I can’t protect you from what you see or hear.”
“But you’ll be here,” I answered softly.
He was quiet for a moment. Then he nodded.
I smiled and moved in a little closer to him.
We stopped by a red door at the end of the hallway. Killian hesitated for a beat before opening the door, revealing a dark room lit by a single lamp.
It took a second for my eyes to adjust, and I leaned in closer to Killian when I finally made sense of what was happening.
Maverick was standing by a wooden table, various tools laid out, and in the middle of the room was my mother, tied to a chair.
She was also gagged but not blindfolded. Her eyes widened when she saw me before they hardened, filled with hatred.
My mother actually hated me.
I never really thought that was the case, but she did. She really did.
I wanted to look away from her but couldn’t. It was like a part of me needed to see this to finally let go of the idea that she could be there for me.
Maverick turned to look at us, his eyes stopping on me. He didn’t say anything. I resisted the urge to squirm under his inquisitive stare.
Then, “What do you want to do?”
“Me?” I asked. I was taken aback. I had thought I would only be here to hear what she had to say.
He nodded. “Whatever you decide, baby. We’ll respect your decision.”
Mom made more noise from her gag, squirming on the chair like she thought if she moved a lot, she might be able to get out of her bind.
“Can you remove the tape from her mouth?” I asked quietly.
Maverick nodded and pulled the tape off. Mom started screaming as soon as her mouth was free.
“I was wrong. You’re not just with the youngest Tiernan bastard. You whore yourself out to all the brothers, don’t you?”
Her eyes were focused on Killian’s hand, still holding mine. And she must have picked it up when Maverick called me baby.
I didn’t answer her.
What I did and who I did it with wasn’t her concern. She lost the right to know about what went on in my life the day she abandoned me to my abusive asshole of a father.
I let go of Killian and took a step forward. He stopped me.
“She’s tied to the chair,” I said. “I don’t think she can hurt me.”
He hesitated before finally letting me go. But he and Silas followed close behind. I would have rolled my eyes at that had I not thought the action was pretty endearing.
“I just…” I wiped my palm on my jeans. “I just want to know why you left me. Did you ever love me?”
She laughed, the sound harsh. “Love you? You ruined my life. I would have aborted you had my father not threatened to cut me off. The old bastard always had a soft spot for children.”
She shook her head, and I blinked.
“And then what does he do once you’re here?” Mom asked, though it didn’t seem like she was looking for an answer. She shook her head in disgust. “He left you his entire fucking fortune.”
She scoffed. “That was supposed to be mine.”
“I didn’t ask for it.”
“And yet, it’s yours. For a while, things were bearable, especially when Daniel finally gained power in Chicago and took over the narcotics trade. But your useless bastard of a father had no idea how to stay on top. How to run things. The bastard nearly got us all killed from all his debts. You would think he’d learn his lesson the first time someone came for us. So I did the only thing I could do. I left.”
“You left me behind,” I said, trying not to sound hurt.
“I didn’t want to be a mom. And even if I did, do you really think Daniel would have let you go that easily? That he would let the heir of Stocken Isle go? The only reason why he let me go was that I still have standing with some of my father’s old friends, and he knew they would come for him if he did anything to me. Surprised the bastard lasted as long as he did.”
She smiled then, and I didn’t know why, but she just looked so… scary when she smiled.
Was that normal? To be so afraid of my own mother?
“He’s never going to give you up, you know.”
“You mean Sebastian?”
Her smile widened. “You’re his way out. The only way he can take back Chicago.”
I turned back to look at my men. They had been silent this whole time, letting me take the lead, but judging from the look in their eyes, I knew they were moments away from taking over and maybe… even getting rid of her for good.
Would I be able to get over it if they killed my mom?
My dad was one thing, but my mom?
I didn’t know.
“Too bad for him, he will never get to her,” Silas said, stepping up to my side.
I blinked.
Mom’s eyes hardened. “What do you want from me? If you’re hoping for Sebastian’s location, you’re not going to get it from me. He’s a paranoid bastard on a good day and has taken all the precautions to make sure he won’t be found.”
“Then we’re just going to have to make him come to us now, won’t we?” Maverick said, sounding so sure. I wished I had his confidence. I wished I could see a way out of this where we all came out unscathed.
I wasn’t so sure anymore.
Mom was right. Sebastian was never going to give me up.
Killian placed his hand on my shoulder. “I think she’s telling the truth—that she really doesn’t know where the bastard is. What do you want to do?”
I wasn’t sure if she was telling the truth or not. I bit my bottom lip, looking from one man to the next, and finally to my mom.
I knew we would know for sure whether or not Mom was lying if I let my men torture her.
My gut turned at the idea.
“Let her go,” I said softly.
The brothers shared a look. “Mila,” Silas began.
I looked at him. “Please. Just let her go. I don’t want to ever see her again.”
And with that, I walked away. The brothers followed me out, surrounding me, but even their presence couldn’t drown out her voice as she yelled at me.
“You were always a weak little girl. A fucking coward, like my dad. Don’t even have the guts to do anything big. I should have killed you when I had the chance. You?—”
Her voice was muffled when the door closed behind us.
My men surrounded me, a cross between anger and heartbreak for me on their faces.
Then I burst out in a loud sob.