Page 60 of Insidious Heart
And with that, Beau lets go of me with another shove that causes me to grab onto the banister so I don’t fall, leaving me gaping after him.
If I ever questioned whether or not my father has ever loved me, I do believe I have my answer.
Beau Williams never wanted me, let alone loved me, and hearing him not only talk about my mother that way but threaten me while doing so absolutely confirms it.
If I’m not careful, it will only be a matter of time before his hate and regret lead to more than a brutal lecture.
They’re going to kill me, too.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
STEVIE
When Beau saidhis party was going to be at a strip club, this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.
The outside isn’t much to look at, and it has me questioning things further than I already was, but as soon as we get through the ridiculously intimidating security at the door and follow the bouncer past the coat check down a short hallway, I’m even more surprised.
Not that I’ve been to many strip clubs, just the ones my father is affiliated with in some way, and those are hardly anything more than modern day brothels, but The Dollhouse is beautiful. With its Victorian steampunk vibes and rich dark colors it’s actually kind of inviting, and I really like the overall aesthetic and the way it makes you feel like you’ve been transported back to another time.
Is it still surprising that Beau agreed to have his birthday party here, especially since he is literally the least classy human on the planet, an overall asshole, and absolutely disgusting? Definitely. And the fact I just learned from Ember—sincethisis the club she manages—that this business belongs to the Wulven Kings who happen to be my father’s mortal enemies and biggest competition, is the icing on the weirdest cake in the history of pastries.
“I had no idea you were connected to an MC,” Ember says as she slides a glass of cucumber water my way. “Linnie hasn’t ever mentioned it.”
I take a deep breath and try not to push my hair out of my eyes. “She… Linnie doesn’t know.”
“I thought the two of you have been besties for years? How doesn’t she know?”
“We, well, it just hasn’t come up.”
Ember frowns. “It hasn’t come up…” Then one brow lifts and she gives me a knowing look. “Which actually means you haven't told her.”
I nod as my cheeks heat.
The only people I talk to outside of the club are at the nursing home, and I keep everyone there at arms length, but Linnie has been the closest thing to a best friend that I’ve ever had so, if I were to tell anyone that I’m the daughter of the president of the Demon Seeds MC, it would be her. I just haven’t because I’m not really supposed to talk about it, and it’s both embarrassing—only because Beau has a less than stellar reputation in Rolling Meadows—and frustrating.
Frustrating and exhausting, to be honest.
When I first started at the nursing home there was a guy there, a cute guy named Mike that seemed to be a little bit interested in me despite how standoffish I am and the fact that half of my face is always covered. After a few months, he started flirting with me, and eventually I got comfortable enough to try to do it back. This led to the two of us actually talking about ourselves a bit, and for some reason, I decided to tell him about the Demon Seeds.
I didn’t outright say Beau was my dad, and I definitely avoided any conversation about what went on at my house, but as soon as the information was out, Mike hit me with a slew of questions that made me extremely paranoid. Sort of, anyway. He asked about club politics, the illegal side of things, stuff I refused to tell him and mostly danced around but then he started asking about the way club members treat their women. Things like:Do they beat them? Do they consider them property? Is it true they share women and don’t practice monogamy?And my personal favorite:A biker’s old lady doesn’t have any say in anything, right? So they’re basically sex slaves who take care of the clubhouse?
Talk about a red flag.
Needless to say, any and all flirtation ended there, and not just because Beau would have lost his shit if he knew I said anything at all about the Seeds at work.
Mike was only around for another two very awkward months after that, and he is absolutely why I haven’t even told Linnie about my affiliation.
I don’t really think she would act like that guy did, especially when it came to the specifics on how women are treated in the club, but I decided to avoid it altogether by keeping my mouth shut; and as time went on, as Linnie showed she was as true a friend as I would allow, not telling her became more for her safety than anything else.
“I get it.” Ember leans her hip against the bar as she pushes a hand back through her periwinkle hair. “Tate was pretty quiet about things when we first met.” Then she giggles a little. “I mean, literally the first time we met and maybe the next one or two after, but eventually the club life makes itself known in one way or another because it doesn’t stay hidden forever.”
“Sounds like you’re speaking from experience…” I look up at her through a few strands of hair that have fallen over the untainted side of my face before pushing it over my shoulder, even more curious about the very friendly woman I first met at a coffee shop and her own ties to an MC.
Ember shrugs. “Not directly. Not really, anyway. It wasn’t long before Tate’s situation ended up outting her connection to the Kings and when it did, well, that’s when everything changed.”
I blink at her before furrowing my brow.
“Lost you, didn’t I?” With a nod, I take a sip of my water and smile as Ember starts to laugh. “Ok, let me give you a little bit of a rundown. I’m not going to tell you all about Tate and her baggage, I’m sure she’ll gladly share when you come to a girls’ night with us but I can give you a little info.” She turns to face me, reaches across the bar then gently spins my stool toward the stage. “You see that group of dudes over there? The ones flying Wulven Kings’ colors?”
