Chapter Sixteen
Beth
Beth sat at the kitchen table listening to the conversation Devin was having with her father. He found her. She knew it. How could she have ever thought she would be safe here, or anywhere. Her father’s reach was too far and wide. What was she going to do? Stay or leave?
After saying goodbye to Devin and the guys, all Beth wanted to do was run and hide. But where could she go? She and Derek could leave. But, she knew she couldn’t do that. She couldn’t take Derek away from his father. It would rip both of their hearts out. And how could she leave either one of them?
Frustrated, Beth stood from the table, “Let’s go to the room, Derek.”
She watched as Derek got up from his seat and carried his trash to the garbage can.
“Everything will be okay, Beth,” Amber told her.
“No it won’t, Amber! If my father can find me here, he can find me anywhere.” Beth was close to hysterics.
Amber grabbed her by the arm and walked with her and Derek to their room. Opening the door, she ushered them inside. After putting a movie on for Derek, Amber pulled Beth to the side.
“Beth, you need to calm down.”
“That is easier said than done, Amber! You didn’t see my father shoot that man in cold blood!”
“I realize that, but Derek will freak out if you don’t calm the fuck down!”
Beth knew she was right. Taking a deep breath, she tried to control her emotions. Over and over again. She knew she needed to think. She had to figure out a way to keep Derek safe.
“Maybe I should leave,” she thought out loud.
“What? Are you crazy?” Amber demanded, “You cannot take Derek and run! What about Devin? You would gut him!”
“I know,” Beth sat on the bed, feeling completely defeated.
What the hell was she going to do? Looking at Derek sitting on the floor watching television, she knew she could never take him away from Devin. The only other option was to leave him here. She knew Devin and the club would keep him safe. It would be easier for Beth to hide if she was alone. Nobody would be looking for a woman alone.
“Beth, listen to me. Devin will protect both of you. He would die before he let anything happen to either of you.”
“I know Amber, that’s what scares me. I would never survive if something happened to Devin or Derek.”
“Let Devin handle this. It’s what he’s good at,” Amber begged.
“Okay,” Beth agreed. She would wait to see what Devin could figure out before she made a decision.
Walking over to Derek, she sat down beside him and pulled him close. If she was going to have to run, she at least wanted him to have a good last memory of her. Silently, Beth let the tears fall, knowing Amber was watching her break, but unable to do anything about it.
After the movie, Beth, Derek, and Amber left the room and headed for the pool. Maybe a little sun would help to lift her spirits? Beth was feeling as if her world was closing in around her. She needed fresh air, but didn’t want to leave Derek. Stepping outside, she watched as her son ran for the pool and cannonballed into the water. Derek popped back to the surface with a high-pitched laugh. Yep, this was exactly what Beth needed. Hearing her son’s laughter lightened the load on her heart. If she had to run, she would carry that sound with her always.
“Feeling better?” Amber asked, seeing the smile on Beth’s face.
“Better? No. But hearing Derek’s laughter warms my heart.” All she could do was be honest. There was no way she would lie to Amber, even if it meant she would tell Devin.
“Beth, you and Derek cannot...” but Beth interrupted her before she could finish.
“If I have to run, I won’t be taking Derek, Amber,” she said turning to face her friend. She would miss Amber too. “Promise me, if I have to leave, you will watch over him. Keep him safe and let him know every day how much I love him. Please!” Beth’s heart was already breaking. She knew what her father was capable of.
“Beth, please!” Now it was Amber’s turn to freak out.
“Promise me!” Beth demanded. “Derek would be safer here. My father wants me. Not him. Plus, leaving alone would keep me safer. Nobody would be looking for a woman alone. Now, promise me Amber!”
“I promise,” her friend whispered.
The day continued but with a depressing tone to it. The call from Beth’s father had shattered the carefree atmosphere that was once present in the clubhouse. So many people came and went, each feeling the knife-sharp edge that seemed all to present.
Beth hadn’t seen Devin since breakfast. Once, Reaper came out by the pool to remind Amber that it was lunch and she needed to eat. Since becoming pregnant, Reaper’s protectiveness over his wife had only grown.
Sitting in the kitchen, Beth could barely touch her sandwich. Her nerves were shot. She was constantly on edge; every noise would make her jump.
“Oh look, if it isn’t the princess herself,” Beth looked up to see Candy sneering at her. “Because of you, the clubhouse is on lockdown!”
“Because of me? What the hell are you talking about, Candy?” Beth asked. Something about this woman irritated the fuck out of her.
Before she could answer, Diesel stepped into the room. “Back the fuck off, Candy!” his voice rumbled across the room, deep and deadly.
Candy froze midway across the room. “But D, the girls and I were supposed to go shopping today. But since princess here has daddy issues, we’re all stuck here,” she pouted.
“Shut the fuck up, Candy!” Diesel replied.
Beth could tell by his tone and the way he spoke that he was pissed. Diesel never cussed at a woman. He was always full of charm and smiles. This was a side Beth had never seen before; and if the look on Amber’s face was anything to go by, neither had she.
“I’m going to say this one time Candy, and one time only. So listen closely. If you ever speak to Beth like that again, I will personally throw your ass out of here. Your free ride will be over. Am. I. Understood?” he punctuated each word by taking a step closer to her.
“Yes,” she whispered, clearly scared.
“Good. Now get lost,” Diesel was at the end of his patience. “Oh and Candy,” he called as she started to leave the room.
“Yeah?” she replied.
“You and the girls are welcome to leave at any time. However, once you cross through the fence, you are not allowed to re-enter the property until the lockdown has been lifted.”
“Oh. I... I think we will just go... go watch some TV,” she stammered.
Diesel ignored her and walked over to the fridge. Leaning in, he grabbed a beer. Beth almost felt sorry for the club whore, almost. Being on the receiving end of Diesel’s temper was scary as fuck, and not a place Beth ever wanted to be. But she was also concerned about what caused the flare up to begin with.
“Diesel, what’s wrong?” she needed to know if it was something about her father and the meetings he’d been in with Devin and Reaper.
Beth watched as Diesel walked over to her, then placed a kiss on the top of her head, then on Amber’s. The gesture was a total one-eighty from his previous mood when dealing with Candy.
“Nothing is wrong; however, I will not tolerate a club whore making you, Amber, or Derek feel as if you don’t belong here. You’re more important than they are. They will either understand their place, or leave. There is no ‘in-between’,” he told her. Ruffling Derek’s hair, he walked back out of the door.
“Well, that was interesting.” Amber’s voice broke the silence that filled the room after Diesel’s exit.
It was definitely interesting, but Candy did have a point. By being here, Beth was disrupting the flow of the clubhouse. Maybe she was right and Diesel was wrong. Maybe Beth really did need to leave so life could go back to normal for everyone. So Devin and Derek could be safe.