Page 38 of Victorious: Part I

And if that is by being Blue Jay right now, then that is who I need to be.

Shifting Poppy to the edge of Livvy’s bed, I move a chair beside it. She slides up into it, her eyes never shifting from her mother. It’s clear to see she is trying to rationalize what is happening in her mind.

Lock’s still in his position on the other side. Poppy’s tears run freely down her face as she reaches out, touching Livvy’s hand. She hesitates, but her soft voice slowly breaks through the silence, deafening the room.

“She’s colder than she was?” Poppy whispers, glancing over her shoulder at Alpha.

Alpha nods, moving in behind her. “Yeah, Princess. Because Mama’s soul has left, and she’s gone off to become a bird. Like you and Haven.”

Maybe he understands more than his facial expressions say.

I smile at Alpha, leaning into his side, and he wraps his arm around me. Both of us need comfort right now.

Poppy sniffles, her eyes glancing across at Lock. “Did you love my mommy?” she asks.

Alpha and I widen our eyes but let this play out.

Lock continues to stroke Livvy’s hair, a genuine smile crossing his face. “Yes, Poppy, very much.”

Poppy reaches out across the bed, taking Lock’s hand in hers. “I think she loved you too.”

I cuddle into Alpha further as Lock tries to fight back his tears, looking at Poppy like this is a life he will miss out on. Lock lets out a small chuckle. “I think she did.” Lock glances up at Alpha, a knowing glance passing between the two men. “I’m so sorry, Stone,” Lock whispers, the words almost not making it out of his mouth.

Alpha’s face scrunches, trying to keep himself together. “Me, too, brother. This shit isn’t supposed to happen to people as beautiful and innocent as Livvy.”

Lock glances back at Livvy, his bottom lip trembling. He hesitates, then leans in, slowly kissing her one last time before standing and making his way over to us. “After working with Livvy for a while and seeing how this shit with the club works, I know she helped you guys out a lot. Like I said, I don’t want to know who or how, I just want to know that vengeance for Livvy has been taken care of. You do that for me…” He hesitates, dropping his eyes to the floor and letting out a long exhale. Then, with a steely determination, his gaze locks with Alpha’s. “I can be the doctor you turn to when you need medical advice, and a blind eye.”

Alpha raises his eyebrow as we both stare at Lock. But Alpha rubs the back of his neck. “Are you sure? Livvy knew the consequences but was willing to risk it because we’re family. Youdon’thave to put yourself on the line like that for us. It could cost you your career, Lock,” Alpha states, finally calling him by his actual name.

Lock glances back over his shoulder at Livvy, who is lying motionless in bed, then turns back to Alpha. “She risked everything for the club. For her family. I was hoping to be a part of her family, one day. That means you guys too. I don’t get that future with Livvy anymore, but I can still help her. I can carry on doing what she would want me to do for her, if you’ll have me.”

A small smile crosses my face as I look up at him. He peers down at me as if to check my opinion, but he can already see it on my face. So, he glances back up to Lock and nods. “You got yourself a deal, doc. On one condition…”

Lock raises a brow. “What’s that?”

“You come by the club when this is all done, and you tell us the story about you and Livvy.”

Lock dips his chin, a calm washing over his features. “Yeah, I’d love to. For now, though, I’ll let you grieve as a family. I reallyamtruly sorry.” Another tear falls as he turns and walks down the hall, leaving the three of us in the room with Livvy.

We turn, and suddenly, the silence is deafening.

Livvy looks so peaceful.

Her body may be bruised and battered, but the look on her face tells me that wherever she is right now, she’s okay.

Poppy is still in the chair by Livvy’s bed, holding her hand as I step up beside her. “You okay, Hummingbird?” I ask quietly.

She simply nods but doesn’t say a word.

I feel like I want to puke as I turn to look at Alpha, standing at the back of the room.

Staring.

His eyes focus on Livvy like he can’t believe what he’s seeing.

Stepping up to him, I cuddle into his side, and he holds me to him tightly. “What can I do?” I ask.

He shakes his head, his top lip curling like the emotion has evaporated, and is now replaced with a hatred that won’t be tempered until he has Javier’s head on a spike.

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