Liam also had a landline. I wondered if he'd forgotten about that. I'd found it earlier when I'd finally stopped hiding in Rome's room. The fact I'd found comfort in there when Rome, like every single one of the others, had held their silence about this so-called relationship between me and Raptor, hit me as hypocritical. But then I didn’t know what the hell to think.
I closed my eyes and pressed my forehead to the cool glass. No matter how I tried to wrap my mind around it, I couldn't reconcile the idea that this guy they all talked about in somewhat reverential tones, when they mentioned him at all, was supposed to be related to me.
How?
Had my parents gotten rid of him before I came along? Why? The Sharpe name meant everything to them.
It just didn't make sense. I'd almost called Lainey.
Almost.
Glancing down at the phone in my hand, all I wanted to do was call her right now. But not on Liam's phone. No, I'd wait until the next time he locked me up in here alone since, apparently, I'd just earned an upgrade on cells, and then I'd call her.
I had a thousand questions and no answers. Maybe she could help me get access to my money. Money as often as not—
"Come on, Hellspawn, put on your shoes and grab a jacket." Liam strode back into the living room, dressed this time, and a faint sneer souring his smile.
"Why?"
I didn't turn to face him, just watched his reflection in the glass. He'd turned on a light and he was as visible as if I stood in front of a mirror.
"Because we're going out." He moved to me and plucked the phone from my hand. "Don't worry, you can have this back." Then, with care, he turned me toward the hallway. "Now go. Get shoes on and a jacket. It's cold."
"I don't want to go."
"Don't recall asking," he said. "I'm going to put together another cup of coffee. Don't make me ask you a third time and I'll make you one too."
"You haven't asked a first time," I retorted and yet despite my protest, I headed down the hallway. I didn't have much with me. They hadn't given me a chance to even get my bags before Liam dragged me out.
The weirdest thing of all, the guys were clearly furious. Their argument echoed behind us as Liam hauled me toward his bike and only the closing of the door had cut it off. Yet none of them stopped us and yeah, that stung. A little.
Don't rely on others. I knew better, and yet—
I closed my eyes again before snagging the hoodie from the end of the bed and pulling it on. After I jammed my feet into shoes, I glanced at myself in the mirror of the bathroom. My hair had been pulled back with a scrunchie. The glow I'd had when Jasper and I returned to the clubhouse was gone.
Had that really only been twelve hours earlier?
I'd been in this—wildly good mood. It had been an amazing night. And I swore we'd connected. Really connected.
Then guilt.
"You'd think you'd know better by now," I reminded myself then turned away and followed the scent of coffee to the kitchen where Liam stood, studying his phone with an unreadable expression.
"Coffee's right there, Hellspawn. Two minutes and we're moving. Did you eat?"
"Nope. I starved." I picked up the travel mug with a frown. Was I supposed to carry this on the bike? One swallow had me sighing though. It was—perfect. The perfect sweetness. The perfect blend. It even had a splash of cream, and I hadn't really been adding that at the clubhouse, mostly because they were almost always out.
"Fine. We'll get kabobs while we're out. There's a great little Indian place near where we're going, and they have the best garlic naan bread." He clicked his screen off decisively then shoved it in his back pocket. The Henley he'd dressed in stretched across his chest like someone had shrunk it, and he grinned. "The boho look suits you. But I think we can do better than bag lady."
Eyebrows raised, I skimmed a look over him from his booted feet to his jeans pulling tight over his thighs to his long-sleeved Henley. I didn't miss the watch. They retailed for five thousand. His had a platinum band. It probably went for more.
"Whatever." I didn't even have it in me to argue with him. "Can we just go? I'm sure you need to pick up the ball and shackle to put on me, so I'm properly secured for the freak show."
His soft snort followed me as I turned my back and headed for the door. I wanted to know how he opened it, but he didn't even slow down, reaching around me to just twist the handle and open it.
What.
A.
Dick.
I swore the fucker laughed at me too, but I lifted my chin and headed for the elevator. Ignoring asshats was an art.
I had a decade or more of experience.
I had long since achieved prima status.
Sipping the coffee, I followed him into the elevator and took the far side, away from him. Amusement curved his lips and I could practically feel him staring at me as the elevator glided down. An eerie silence populated the empty parking garage. Despite the other vehicles present, it seemed barren of life.
Liam bypassed the beautiful dark blue bike, even as he pulled keys from his pocket and clicked a little remote. The temperatures seemed to have plummeted even lower than they'd been earlier. I had to wonder if I'd missed summer at some point here or if it was just always cold and miserable.
That would explain a lot.
Arms folded, I slowed my pace as a roll up door in the corner of the garage lifted to reveal a very fucking expensive sports car.
I didn't know cars for shit, but I knew for a fact that Lainey's nemesis, Adam, drove one of these and according to her, his investments in expensive luxuries was legendary.
The vehicle's lights turned on and the engine purred to life. Frowning, I glanced at the bike then at the car housed in the private garage. "I didn't know you had a car."
"You didn't ask, Hellspawn. Hop in, she doesn't bite." He motioned me ahead of him and then opened the door for me. The space between us seemed littered with the shards of contradictions between his behavior and his words. Even more between the image he presented, and the wealth he was clearly used to.
Sliding onto the buttery softness of the leather seat, I let out an inadvertent groan. One I failed to smother fast enough if Liam's faint smirk was any indication. The heat was on, and it chased the chill from my bones almost as effectively as if I'd sunk into a hot bath.
After he shut my door, Liam circled the vehicle and slid into the driver's seat. "You half froze on the way here," he commented as though picking up a thread of an abandoned conversation. "It's colder out there tonight. Rome said you liked the bike. Maybe we wait until it's summer and I'll give you all the rides you want."
I snorted and folded my arms again, after I'd settled my seat belt in place. The car all but prowled out of its private stall and the door closed behind us as Liam navigated through the garage to the exit. The gates to come and go were all down, but the one we needed rolled up even before we got there.
Liam didn't even slow at the corner to get onto the street, he just glided out into traffic and over two lanes, like people would get out of the way for him. Maybe he was right. The car was definitely a smooth ride, I could barely feel the vibration of the engine. Five minutes into the drive, however, Liam punctured the silence between us.