I was so happy. Like unicorns pooping rainbows kind of happy. When I heard Liam's voice come through the bathroom door relief immediately washed over me. He wouldn't have come to me if the worst part wasn't over. I started crying like every human being would after being kidnapped for a few days and then finally getting rescued.

I was happy that Liam didn't get hurt. I was happy that my child was safe at Liam's house and I was happy that Stella got out safely. I was more than thrilled to hear about Rose's defeat. I was surprised that Liam didn't kill her. She is his mother, my conscience reminds me. She might be his blood but she's far from being his mother.

I was happy that I was finally free and that I could see my daughter again. I was happy to think that maybe things could go back to normal now. I could go to college and get a degree. I could find an actual job so that I don't have to be dependent on Liam all the time and maybe in the near future Liam and we could move in together.

It all seemed too good to be true. That's because it was. Now? Now I'm not so happy.

"What the hell is he doing here?" I ask furiously as I see Justin sitting on one of the sofas.

Just seeing him makes me want to dismember him and feed him to my dog. I don't have a dog but I'll be more than willing to make a quick stop at the pet shop. The nerve this guy has to sit there, looking all innocent. It's bullshit.

Looking over to Liam, waiting for an answer, all I see is a faint smirk making its appearance on his beautifully sculptured face.

"Look Everly-" Justin starts to speak as he slowly stands up from the sofa.

I stop him by putting my hand up signaling for him to rather keep his hole shut. God only knows what kind of ninja skills are hidden behind my rage.

" How could you do that to her? " I ask pointing towards Chicka who is now being held by my mother. She has stopped crying. Probably because she's just as curious about her mother's possible ninja skills as I am.

" I-I. I don't know." he sighs in defeat.

That only makes my blood boil even more. How can he not know why he put his child's life in danger? After everything we've been through and after telling me, and I quote,' stay the fuck away from me', he still manages to get involved in my already complicated life. I left when he told me to stay away. Why couldn't he stay away when I actually listened to him? It just doesn't make sense.

" You don't know?!" I ask more louder this time. I'm honstley out of words to describe this poor excuse of a human.

" Just hear me out okay." Justin pleads.

I feel a hand wrap around my arm and gently pull me back. I didn't even notice that I was walking closer and closer to Justin. I guess the anger inside me is blinding my vision. I look back at the source of the hand and see Liam with a stern look on his face. He just nods his head towards Justin and I know he also wants to hear his lame attempt of an excuse.

" You have one minute to explain yourself before I kick your ass out of this house." I threaten him.

Justin looks slightly relieved and gives Liam a slight nod.

" When I first heard you are back in town with our baby -"

" My baby." I correct him.

" Your baby. I couldn't help myself to come and see her. I told myself that I just want to see her and then leave because I'm not fit to be a dad right now. I don't think I will ever be. I know it sounds stupid but when I saw her it was as if my eyes opened and I looked at the world in another way. She was so beautiful, just like her mother-"

I had to pull Liam back this time before he tackled Justin.

" When I walked away some lady stopped me. I guess she was watching me or something. I didn't think much about it at the time because my mind was filled with questions and the possibility to actually be a dad to her. The lady told me that she could help me get custody over her if I could do her one favor. " he continues.

I suck my breath in as I await his next words.

" She wanted me to kidnap you and the baby. She promised that the both of you won't be harmed in any way. She took me back to her house and so she started explaining her plan. It seemed sketchy at the time but all I could think about was seeing my child again. I didn't mean to hurt you, you have to believe me. If I knew what kind of person that lady was I would have never agreed to her offer. I'm really sorry for everything Everly. " Justin explains.

I take slow and steady breaths as I register all of this new information. Justin is a lot of things, selfish, manipulative, man-whore, jerk, the list goes on. He never wanted anything to do with our child. He called me a slut for crying out loud. He made me think that I wasn't good enough for him if I didn't sleep with him and when I did sleep with him and ended up pregnant he wasn't there to help me. He pushed me away like most of the people did. He slut shamed me and made it clear that he doesn't want to be involved in Chicka's life. Through his whole explanation I did notice one thing. He never called her by her name. He only revered to her as his baby. Does he actually know his baby's name?

" What's her name?" I question him.

" What?" he looks taken back by my sudden question.

" Your child, what's her name?" I ask slower this time.

He looks around nervously. I have to hold back my laugh for a minute. He really doesn't know her name. He spent weeks scheming with Rose but didn't spare his child even a second to learn her name.

I don't think Justin's reasoning behind his actions is only because of Chicka. He saw me happy without him. He saw I moved on and started a new family that didn't involve him. He couldn't feed off my insecurities anymore and it bothered him. So much that he tried anything to get back in control of my life. What better way than to kidnap me and blame it on his daughter?

I walk over to my mom and take Chicka from her arms. Ah that baby smell. I'll always be addicted to that sweet and innocent smell.

" Her name is Caroline, Justin. She might be made up of half your DNA but she isn't your child. You made that decision a long time ago." I say leaving no room for an argument.

If he really wanted to be part of her life he would've made the effort to come back and possibly try and spend time with her. He would've made the effort to actually find out her name or when she was born but no, he was busy planning on how to kidnap me. Real smart.

He doesn't say anything back and lowers his head in shame.

" If I ever see you near her again I will let Liam handle you the next time. Trust me that won't be pretty. Now leave and don't look back. " I warn him.

That earns me a light chuckle from Liam. I definitely boosted his ego with my statement. Damn that's going to take a while to get under control.

Justin sighs but nevertheless makes his way out of the house. I release a breath as soon as he is out of eyesight. Hopefully I'll never see him again. Most people would tell me that I'm selfish for not letting Chicka grow up with her biological father but the truth is, Liam is more than a father to her as that scumback. She'll be okay, I know that.

After getting a lecture from my mom and her checking over me a few times to make sure I don't have any bruises I make my way to the room Stella is in. She complains about being put on bed rest for the next week for a while and after I make sure to get her a beer I walk towards my room. Chicka has already fallen asleep in my arms. I'll just feed her when she wakes up. I gently put her down into her crib and give her a peck on her little head.

I take a moment to look over her. For a girl that tiny she surely has a few of the most powerful men wrapped around her little finger. The thought of her being in that house, filled with scary looking guards, scares the shit out of me. Anything could have happened to her. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something had to happen to her. She's only a few months old and she's already been placed in a near death situation.

" I'm really proud of you." I'm brought back to reality by the sound of Liam's voice.

I feel the wetness on my cheeks and quickly wipe away my tears before I turn around to face Liam.

"Why?" I ask trying not to make my voice sound hoarse. It doesn't help.

Liam's expression drops as he furrows his eyebrows.

" Babe what's wrong?" he asks worriedly as he makes his way over to me. He takes both my hands in his and intertwines our fingers.

I take a deap breath as I try and steady my voice. The damn tears won't stop rolling down my cheeks. I loosen my hands from Liam's and wipe at them harshly.

" This Liam. This is wrong." I say motioning with my hands over to the room to put emphasis on my words.

He looks taken back.

" How many more life threatening situations will she be put in? How many more sacrifices will have to be made to make sure she doesn't get in the wrong hands? How many more people will have to get hurt because of your dangerous lifestyle?" I cry out.

I'm full on losing it right now. I have bottled up all my emotions for the past few months. Faking a smile every day while being scared to death. The truth is I've always known what comes with being in a relationship with a gang leader. I've always been affected by it but now my child was directly affected. How am I supposed to be her mother if every counting minute of her life is in danger because I allowed myself to get involved with this dangerous life? I can't let my child carry that burden with her.

" What are you trying to say?" Liam asks slowly. He knows what I'm trying to say. He just doesn't want to believe it.

" My point is Liam, I'm tired. I don't want to spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder every few minutes and worrying about my child's safety. She's too young to be put in that kind of danger and it's unfair to her to be involved in all of this madness. I love you Liam but I don't want any part of this lifestyle anymore. I need to get out. I need to make sure my child grows up with a normal childhood. Even my mother doesn't deserve to be forced into this life. I just can't do it anymore Liam. " I answer him.

I watch as a tear rolls down his face. My heart breaks to see him this vulnerable. I don't think I've ever seen so much emotion in him since the day I met him. God I love him but I can't be selfish. I have a child now and she's my first priority.

" Please don't leave me." Liam whispers.

It's unsettling to see the almighty Liam Wells so vulnerable. He once told me that in order to be the leader for his gang he can't show mercy. He can't show that he is a human being with normal human emotions. Over the past few months he has let me in. He showed me his dark side, the side most people are known to but he also showed me his vulnerable side. He started to trust me and he gave me permission to slowly break down his walls that he has build through all his trauma. He showed me that he isn't only a feared gang leader, he's human too.

" I don't want to leave you Liam." I answer him truthfully.

It's the truth. I don't want to leave him. I want to fall asleep in his arms and wake up wrapped protectively in it again. I want to do normal couple things with him. I want him to be the father figure in Chicka's life. I don't want to be away from him. I've tried to let him go trust me. Back when he left me in England it was the perfect opportunity to let my mind forget about him but that was near impossible. He's always there. I don't think I can live without him and I don't want to but if that means that Chicka will be in danger for the most part of her life then I have to let him go.

" We can work though this. She won't be in any more danger. I have power over The Snakes now so they won't mean any harm to her. Everly please just trust me. I have everything under control." he pleads.

" You have control over things now, that is until a new enemy comes into the picture. " I defend my statement.

He wipes away a few tears from his face and takes hold of my hands again. He walks us over to the bed and sits us down.

" Then we'll take it from there. " he answers.

I inhale and let out a shaky breath.

" The whole point of you forming a gang was to get revenge for your father's death. And you did. Multiple times. I just don't understand why you can't leave that behind now and focus on your own future?" I sob.

It hurts me so much to argue with him. He probably thinks I'm making up excuses to leave him. I don't want him to think of me that way. I love him and he knows that. He also knows that I'm not doing this for me but for Chicka.

" I can't just abandon them now Everly." he sighs and lowers his head.

I take my hands out of his hands and rub my temple. I have a serious headache.

" Then I can't stay." my voice is soft but Liam hears the words that leave my mouth because he immediately tenses up.

I stand up and walk over to the door. Before opening it I turn back to Liam. He's watching me with wide glossy eyes. I look over to Chicka who is still peacefully sleeping in her crib.

" Please Everly -" Liam begs as he too gets up from the bed.

I shake my head and wipe away more tears. The words that leave my mouth next is the words that I have been dreading since the day I met him.

" Me or the gang. It's your choice Liam."

With that being said I leave the room.

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