Southern Secrets (Southern 7)

"How do you know I’m going to call my mother after this phone call?" she asks, and it’s me who laughs.

"This is the juiciest information that you have at the moment," I say. "And I know you will be dying to tell everyone that I confirmed it."

"Well, there is one person I’m not telling," she says. "You need to do that yourself."

"I’m going to call him tomorrow," I say and then hear the front door open. "I got to go. Talk to you later." I hang up the phone, looking at the door.

The man comes in wearing a tan suit, and I know right away he isn’t from here. "Sorry, we’re closed," I say, and he takes off his aviator glasses that he’s wearing, looks around, and then looks at me smiling.

"This place sure has changed," he says, walking in a bit, his black hair falling on his forehead. I watch him walk to the bar. "I used to come here when I was in school." He smiles at me. "Thought I would swing by before I left town again."

He sits on the stool right in front of me, and something about the way he looks at me makes my skin crawl. "I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name." I pretend that I’m not bothered by him.

He laughs, putting his hands on the bar and tapping his finger. "You are just like your mother."

"You know my mother?" I ask, and he smirks.

"We are somewhat related," he says, and I tilt my head.

"I’m sorry, I don’t know who you are?" I tell him, my heart sinking, and I wish I had a button that I could press to call someone. "But if you like, I can tell my mother and father that you stopped by." I pick up my phone and look at him.

He smirks at me, getting up. "Oh, you tell her, sugar," he says, and everything in me is telling me to run. "Tell them Liam stopped by." The minute he says his name, I know I’m in trouble. "Also, tell my boys I’ll be in touch," he says, turning and walking out.

The phone in my hand shakes as I call my father, who answers right away. "Hey, baby girl," he says, and I feel somewhat okay knowing I’m on the phone with him. Knowing that no matter what, he is going to make sure I’m safe.

"Dad," I say, my voice filled with fear. "Liam was just here."

"Truck!" he yells. "Lock the door," he says. I rush over to the door and lock it, looking out the window. “Don’t let anyone in until I get there.”

"He’s gone," I say, my heart beating in my chest as I turn and slide down to the floor. "Should I leave?"

"Hey.” I hear Asher’s voice come onto the phone, and I sob out. “I’m there in two minutes, you hear me." I nod my head, my whole body shaking. "I need to hear your voice."

I hear the sound of rocks flying, and I get up looking out the window, seeing my uncle Beau flying out of his car, not even closing the door. "Uncle Beau is here," I say, dropping my phone and opening the door. "Uncle Beau," I say, and I fly into his arms.

"I’m here," he says. "You’re okay." He rubs my head. "I’m here."

I hear the stop of a truck, and the door flies open, and Asher runs in. His eyes are on Beau and then me. "Are you okay?" he asks, and I nod.

My father and brother are the next ones in, followed by Casey and Quinn. "I have the feed," Casey says, walking in. "He looks just as slimy as he did back then." Then he looks at Beau. "Sorry."

Beau walks over to the phone in Casey’s hand as the guys watch the feed, and I feel Asher take me into his arm. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I say, looking up at him. "I’m okay."

"What the fuck is he doing here?" Ethan says, and I just look at him. "Like why come here for what?"

"I have no idea," Beau says. "Last I heard, he was signing his third divorce and had alimony payments up the ass." He looks at his phone.

My father comes over to me. "Did he say anything to you?"

I nod my head. "He said he used to come here back when he was growing up." I start to tell them. "He said he knew you and Mom. Then he said tell my boys I’ll be in touch."

"What the actual fuck?" Ethan says, and we all look at him. "What the fuck does that mean?"

My uncle Beau takes his phone out of his pocket. "I’m going to call him right now, and I’ll fucking kick his ass myself."

"It makes no sense," my father says. "No fucking sense."

"If he gets close to Gabriel or me," Ethan says, his voice so tight and so vicious. "I’ll fucking kill him with my bare hands." Something about his tone I know he isn’t kidding.