Chapter 7

"Momma, where are we goin'?"

Denise sighed. It was moments like these that she wished there was someone else to help answer the children's questions. "To a friend's house, Mandy. Like I've already told you three times."

Her patience was beginning to run thin. She had no idea where Liam was taking her, only knew it was her job to follow. Gripping the steering wheel, she thought back on the choices she had made. No matter what happened here this afternoon, they had been the right ones. The only ones she felt that she could make. It wouldn't do to second guess herself now.

"We don't know anybody who lives out here," Mandy argued.

"Amanda Cunningham, I'm going to say this one time and one time only. We are going to a friend's house, and if you open your mouth again you'll wish you hadn't."

Properly scolded, Mandy sat back in her seat and began picking at the nail polish on her fingers. Every once in a while, she glanced up at her mother in the rearview mirror and rolled her eyes.

"You're pushin' it, little girl."

It struck her at that moment – the differences in her children. Mandy back talked when she was scared and wanted to know exactly what was going on. Drew, on the other hand, reminded her a lot of Liam. He sat with his eyes straight ahead, taking in their surroundings. She could almost see his mind working through all of this, and she had a sneaking suspicion her son knew it all.

Liam had gotten further ahead of them on the road as the battle of wills with her daughter ensued. Denise pressed the accelerator to catch up. She questioned why she suddenly seemed so willing to follow him anywhere he might lead her. As far as she was concerned, he was as much to blame for this as she was. As they traveled down Porter Pike, he took her further out in to the county than she had ever been before. They passed a volunteer fire department, and she noticed a highway number. If she wasn't mistaken, they weren't too far away from the eastern boundary of the county. Up ahead, his brake lights flickered, and he pulled onto a gravel road. Signaling, she followed him, and they drove for what seemed like miles before they crested a hill. There sat the largest garage-like building she'd ever seen, surrounded by motorcycles.

"Mom? When did these people become your friends?" Drew asked, his mouth agape at the scene.

"I'll tell you just like I told your sister. Hush."

Liam parked his bike beside those that lined the drive and motioned for her to park her car. Her heart pounded as she put the car in park and instructed the kids to get out.

"They can go hang out with Roni. She usually keeps the kids preoccupied." He pointed to where Roni stood observing a group of kids playing basketball and riding bikes.

"I'm not leaving my mom alone with you," Drew lifted his chin in defiance.

Liam respected what the boy was trying to do but knew that he couldn't let him get in the way. He stepped in front of Denise and put his hands on the boy's shoulders.

"We need to take care of some adult business."

The two males sized one another up. Finally, Drew gave in and followed his sister to where the other kids hung out.

"Let's get inside. William wants to talk to you."

It might have been false, but she felt a sense of protection as she walked in with Liam at her side. He placed a hand at the small of her back, leading her into the main room of the clubhouse. It was dark to her, miscellaneous posters hung on the walls along with pictures of different men. She assumed they had something do with the history of the club, but she really didn't know. A row of couches sat in the corner, a pool table beside them. In the other corner, a large table had been set up that was obviously used as a kitchen table, and there were a group of recliners. It looked comfortable, but not at all welcoming. Conversation ceased when they arrived. Liam watched, his eyes taking in everything as his father walked over to where they stood. He didn't like the look in the older man's eyes.

"I take it you're Denise?"

Shyly, she nodded. This man's demeanor was completely different than the younger one standing next to her. It could be seen by the tick in his jaw as he looked at her. He didn't have a relaxed air about him like Liam did. This man wanted to intimidate her.

"What did that reporter want with you?" he asked gruffly. She knew that his tone of voice was meant to scare her, but instead it made her angry.

"She wants to use me to get to you. Somehow she knows that you've recruited me."

His face flushed red. "Well then you must have told her"

"I didn't tell anyone anything. She came to me!" Her voice shook with fear and anger. She didn't appreciate being put in this situation.

This wasn't going to end well, Liam could tell. Emotions were running high, Denise was scared to death, and William was pissed beyond belief. Neither one of them appeared to want to listen to what the other had to say.

"And just how did she know to come to you?" he questioned.

She wanted to cry. Throwing her hands up in the air, she deflated, "I don't know."

"You did one job for us and she's already on to you?"

"I don't know how."

"What did you say to her to give yourself away?"

"I don't know." she screamed. "I didn't talk to her about this. I am just a single mother minding my own business, you came to me. Not the other way around."

William Walker did not allow anyone to yell at him. Denise, in her frustration, was beginning to get louder. Liam stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. Irritated, she shrugged it off.

"I'd watch your tone if I was you," William warned her, sticking a finger in her face.

"If you were me, you wouldn't be in this situation. I got bullied by you to do a job that you knew would put a bull's-eye on my back. If you're wondering how she knew about me, maybe you should look at your own people. They are the only people who knew about it."

"Are you tellin' me you think my people have loose lips?"

She crossed her arms over her chest, put off by the questions being asked. "I think you know exactly what I'm saying."

Without warning, the bigger man leaned back and clocked her across the face. With a gasp, she fell to the floor, holding her cheek. Blood poured from her nose, and her cheek started to bruise almost immediately. Liam reached down to help her up. He shook with fury, none of them liked to see women hurt, and he had told this woman's son that she wouldn't be. In the span of minutes, he'd managed to break a promise. That was just great, and his own father was the one to thank for that. Sometimes he wished they didn't share the same name or the same blood.

"Was that really necessary, Dad?"

"She questioned me and this club. We all know the rules here."

"Yeah, but she doesn't."

"Are you starting to question me now? I'll do ten times worse to you."

Liam swallowed hard. He knew what was coming if he dared say the things he wanted to. He felt that most of this was his fault. Had he spoken up louder, sooner, maybe he could have kept her from this. Now was the time to take the stand he hadn't taken before.

"I'm not questioning you. I'm telling you if you touch her again, you'll deal with me."

Shock was evident on William's face as the words came out of his son's mouth. "You do realize what you're saying, right?"

"I do. This won't be happening here, Dad. You won't be touching her again."

Denise wondered just what in the hell he meant. This time, however, she did leave her mouth shut. The Native American, whom she recognized from the news as the one arrested with Liam, approached them and pressed a towel to her face. It must have held ice because it felt blessedly cool.

"In case anyone missed what went down here, this woman is now my property," Liam announced loudly. "You got something to say? You say it to me," he looked directly into his father's eyes as he spoke.

Denise wanted to scream at him. She, out of everyone, had missed what went down. She didn't know what being his property entailed, and she sure as hell didn't want to find out right this instant.

The crowd was silent as the two of them left, Tyler watching their backs as they exited the building. Once outside, Denise yelled for the kids. Disappointment and fear was plain on Andrew's face as he looked from Liam to his mom.

"Who hit her?" he demanded.

Realizing for the first time just how dangerous this situation could be, Denise herded him to the car along with Mandy as she threw the towel down on the ground. She wanted absolutely nothing to remind her of this place. Not even waiting for Liam, she got in her car and drove off as fast as she could. The kids screamed questions at her as her car kicked up dust in her wake.

"Damnit!"

Liam knew he couldn't leave her alone. He had claimed her now in front of everyone. She was his property, whether she wanted to be or not.