Page 19 of Suspicious

Haven takes a step back, giving Alpha and Livvy their space while I keep to myself on the opposite side of the table. Alpha reaches for the black box, sliding it in front of Livvy. She glances at it, her muscles tensing as she stares at it. “What the fuck is this, Alpha?” Her voice stern, serious, and a little dubious.

He licks his lips, then reaches out, taking her hand in his. “When we lost Poppy, or at least we thought we did, our entire world imploded.”

Livvy blinks rapidly, her eyes welling as the memory of that time obviously slams into her mind. “I know… I was there… but what does that have to do with anything? We have her back. That’s all that matters,right?”

Alpha tightens his grip on her hand, his desperate eyes meeting hers. “It wasn’t enough for me, Liv. Having Poppy back is thebestthing that has ever happened to me, and the moment she walked through those clubhouse doors… fuck! I don’t think I willeverforget it. But… it started something inside of me I couldn’t control.”

Livvy’s chin drops to her chest, her bottom lip trembling. “You wanted revenge? Justice for Poppy?” she whispers.

Alpha’s hand slides up, his fingers under Livvy’s chin, forcing her to look at him. Her eyes watering as she glances at himhesitantly. “No, Livvy. I didn’t want revenge.I craved it.I thirsted for it like it was a part of my soul. It took time and meticulous planning, but Ricco Rojas stole years of Poppy’s life from us. He made us believe she was burned to death. He sent her to The Nest to be trained as an assassin. Liv, I know you and I would have ended up where we are today…” He looks at his Old Lady. “I’m supposed to be with Haven. But I love you.I always will.You’re the mother of my child, andnothingcan take that away from us. But Ricco… he took our family and tore it apart for his own personal gain.”

Livvy sniffles back to try and stop her tears from falling. “I… I don’t understand what you’re trying to tell me, Alpha.”

Alpha cranes his neck to the side, drawing the black box to the edge of the table. “I’m trying to tell you that Ifinallygot my revenge.Our revenge, Livvy,” he states, then slowly opens the lid to the box.

I tense as Livvy hesitates, holds her breath, and then cautiously peers inside the box at Ricco’s severed head. Instantly, her skin turns pale white, and her hand shoots straight to her mouth to capture her gasp as she frantically backs up, hurrying for the wall, scurrying to get as far away from the decapitated body piece as she can.

She’s freaking out.

Before Alpha or I can make the move to get to her, she begins to collapse to the floor.

CHAPTER SIX

Loki

“I got you,” Haven reassures, making sure she’s there to capture Livvy before she completely falls apart.

Haven wraps her arms around Livvy, pulling her tight to her body while Livvy hyperventilates.

Alpha moves to step forward, but Haven holds out her hand to stop him, then spins Livvy to face her, holding Livvy by her arms, forcing her to look right at Haven. “Liv, I know this is scary. I know how the club handles things isn’t the way you want your life to be. I mean, let’s be honest, you took an oath in your job to ‘do no harm,’ to help people, not hurt them…right?”

Livvy’s tears stream down her face, and she slowly nods. Alpha’s watching every move his Old Lady is making with his ex-wife, though Haven continues, “But Livvy, think about it. This guy, Ricco, he’s not just any guy,is he?”

Livvy’s breathing begins to slow, and she hesitantly glances over her shoulder at the box again, then back to Haven. “H-he took my daughter.”

A slow smile crosses Haven’s face. “Yes. This asshole is the man who stole Poppy from you and Alpha. Who sent her to The Nest to be a bird like me? So think about it, Livvy…thisis what you’ve been waiting for.”

Suddenly, it’s like the tension in the air evaporates, and calmness washes over Livvy’s face. Her tears stop, her shaking ceases, and she turns slowly, stepping back up to the box on the table, really looking at the severed head.

Her left eye twitches and something flicks through her mind when I see her eyes narrow. Her muscles tense again, her cheeks flush a shade of crimson as her breathing increases again. Butthis time, it’s not out of fear.

She’s angry.

I’d say she’s fucking furious and about ready to snap.

Without a second’s notice, Livvy turns, reaching for the blade attached to Haven’s belt, and yanks it clear. Alpha moves to stop Livvy as I stand, unsure of what her intentions are, but Haven blocks Alpha as Livvy rushes for the box and slams the blade straight down into Ricco’s eye, letting out a guttural scream as she does.

My stomach clenches, watching the anguish in her face. She clearly needs this outlet as she takes out the years of pain.

I sit back down in my seat as Haven keeps her grip on Alpha, even though all he wants to do is rush to Livvy.

Though we all know Livvy needs this—just like Alpha did.

Livvy lets out the biggest scream, tears flooding her eyes again, her emotions overwhelming her now as she stabs Ricco a second time, letting all her frustration out.

Haven finally lets Alpha go, and he cautiously steps up to Livvy’s side, placing his hand on her shoulder. In her fit of rage, she lifts the blade up to him, but he simply stares at her with a weak smile. “It’s okay, Liv… we’re all going to be okay now,” he whispers to her.

With shaky hands, she drops the blade to the floor and lunges into Alpha’s arms, tears streaming down her face. He holds her tight while she gathers the strength to compose herself.

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