22
22
Liam
Sitting in the booth with a glass of whiskey in front of me, I wished like hell I had a cigarette. The shit with Diamond’s death had been heavy. Blaise had just left with Huck and Gage. They’d traced it back to the Vipers and identified the man who had been here with her that night. The detectives assigned to the case were turning a blind eye to the family’s interference. But they always did.
Tex walked up and sat down across from me. He’d been in Miami the past four days. I hadn’t expected him to return until tomorrow.
I took a drink.
“You’re back early,” I said, setting the glass back on the table.
He sighed and leaned back. “Yeah, thought you might need me here. With the Viper shit. Saw Blaise and his men leaving.”
I nodded. “Yeah. Per usual, my son-in-law found them before the cops.”
Tex chuckled. “There is a reason why the Mafia is powerful.”
I still hadn’t spoken to Madeline about Liberty. Blaise had brought that up, too, and given me a deadline. I wanted to tell him to stay the fuck out of it, but I also respected that he didn’t like keeping shit from my daughter.
“He demanded that I tell Madeline before Saturday, or he’s doing it.”
Tex raised an eyebrow. “About the baby?”
I nodded.
Tex smirked. “I wouldn’t worry about it. From what I’ve witnessed this week, you let Madeline spend a little time with Liberty, and she’ll be fucking tickled pink.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
He ran his thumb over his bottom lip as his expression bordered on amused. “You might not like your baby momma, but the club, she’s got them all wrapped around her pretty little finger. Eating out of her hands. There might be a riot when the baby comes and you move her out of there.”
I straightened in the booth and narrowed my eyes as I watched him fight back a smile. “You telling me she’s flirting with my men down there and they are letting her?”
Tex shook his head. “Fuck no. The guys know better. Well, all but one,” he said, then winced as if he’d not said it.
Her appointment had been a week ago, and it had taken me days after getting back here to get over the shit it had stirred in me. I hadn’t wanted to leave. Seeing her getting all fucking emotional when the baby came up on that screen had mirrored my own unexpected response. For that moment when we were in there, watching our unborn child, I had felt connected to her in a way I’d never experienced with a soul in my life.
She had given me one of the ultrasound photos to keep and then thanked me for going with her and paying for it. I was so damn confused with how I felt that I didn’t say much on the way back to the clubhouse. She went to show Nina and Goldie the pictures out at the pool, and I went to church. After that, most of us headed to Pepper’s bar for some drinks.
Then, I had left and driven back here.
But every time I looked at that ultrasound picture, I remembered how seeing the baby and hearing its heartbeat had felt. With her hand in mine and the way she’d sobbed and laughed at the same time, looking at the screen. It was hard to see that woman as the one Selena seemed to know.
“Who’s she flirting with?” I asked, feeling rage spark deep in my chest.
He shook his head. “She isn’t flirting. I didn’t say it was her. And he isn’t either. Not really. But the boy is sunk. He can’t take his eyes off her. From what I can see, she has no fucking clue.”
My jaw was clenched so tightly that my molars ached. “Who?” I demanded.
Tex held up his hands. “Easy, Prez. I didn’t come in here, meaning to stir up shit. No one has done a damn thing wrong. Liberty helps cook; she’s making these fried pies and some chocolate pie that has fucking caramel in it regularly. She’s got the back of the place looking like the damn botanical gardens, and everyone loves her.”
“WHO?” I shouted, hating every word that was coming out of his mouth.
He took in a deep breath and muttered a curse. “If you care this much, why did you drop her off at the club?”
So I wouldn’t fuck her every chance I got.
“Who?” I repeated.
He looked like he’d rather go eat a bucket of nails. “Country,” he muttered. “But he’s young. She’s gorgeous and about his age. He knows she is carrying your baby, but you don’t seem to give a shit about her. The guys talk about it. They can’t understand why you’d drop her off like that.”
I’d known that was who he was going to say. I stood up, taking my glass and drinking down the rest of it, then slammed it on the table.
“Come on, Prez. He’s not done shit,” Tex said. “And unless you gave your blessing, he won’t.”
I wasn’t giving my fucking blessing. I couldn’t even leave her at the goddamn Sanctuary with my people and know she was safe. My own men were lusting over her. Fuck!
“Where are you going?” Tex called out as I stalked toward the back door. “Don’t kill him for doing nothing!”
I wasn’t killing anyone. I was going to get what belonged to me. Guessed the only place I could be sure she was safe was my house. The idea of her being there didn’t seem to bother me so much anymore. She wouldn’t be around horny men. I’d stay here at the club. No temptation. We’d be fine.
Drifter was coming inside as I reached the door.
“Whoa,” he said, stepping out of my way. “Who pissed you off?”
That was a list I didn’t have time to give him.
I shook my head and stormed out the door. “I’ll be back tonight late.”
“All right,” he drawled.
Unlocking my car, I climbed inside. I was doing this to save Country’s ass. She’d only been there two weeks, and if he was this far gone already, then he’d do something stupid within a month. I knew her appeal. I just hadn’t realized she’d still have that pull on a man once she was pregnant. I’d underestimated her.