Beat With Me: A With Me in Seattle Universe Novel

by Anna Edwards

  “I have. I don’t like the fact he was able to get the number so easily. It scares me,” Zoey responds with a frown marring her pretty features.

  “I agree.” Austin nods.

  Tate shuts the case of money, and we all make our way off the bus to the waiting limousine.

  “Where will the bodyguards be?” I ask when I notice the band’s security detail getting into the Range Rover style vehicle they normally travel in behind the band.

  “They’ve been asked to stay a little way back unless we call them in if things look serious.”

  “All right, that’s probably a good idea.” I fall silent.

  Liam takes one of my hands and Austin the other. Austin and Cameron will flank either side of me during the hand over. Tate will carry the money, and Liam will remain in the car so he doesn’t smash the Leader’s face to pieces.

  Even though Zoey’s come with us, she’s already been told that under no circumstances is she permitted to get out of the car. The adamancy on Tate’s face when he delivered his order made me scared. I know she wanted to be at my side, but she instantly agreed. We’ve become really close, and I’m so grateful to her that she stopped me from running away.

  The limousine pulls into what appears to be an abandoned manufacturing area.

  “We’re here,” the driver informs us.

  We normally have random drivers for the vehicles we travel in, but the driver of the tour bus is taking on the duty today. He’s someone the band trusts.

  He exits the car and opens the door for me. I know I have to get out first.

  “Is he here?” I ask the driver.

  “Is he about six foot, brown hair on his face and head, and the look of a pompous ass?” the driver responds, and I try to suppress the first laugh I’ve felt all day.

  “Sounds about right.”

  “The jackass is here then.” The driver glares toward where I assume the Leader is waiting.

  “Thank you,” I say and take one final look at Liam.

  “I’m right here.” He swallows deeply, and Zoey takes his hand. I’m glad she’s staying in the car. She’ll be a comforting and calming influence on him.

  I slide from the limo and stand tall. I instantly see the Leader watching me. I take a step forward, and Austin, Cameron, and Tate emerge behind me. I see the Leader shake his head in disappointment as they do.

  Tate throws his phone at the driver.

  “Record everything.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The driver sets the phone to record as we make our way to the Leader. Tate stalks out in front of us like a prowling lion. Austin and Cameron each take one of my arms and hold me tightly. I feel safe in their protection, but I still long for Liam to be at my side. His presence is the most soothing one.

  “I’m not sure you’ve followed the rules I gave you, Harmony.” The Leader uses my birth name. The one I refuse to use anymore because of the bad memories associated with it. “Then again, why am I not surprised you broke them? You truly have been corrupted.”

  “Shut the fuck up with the crap speech,” Tate interrupts. “None of us need it. You want money. We want assurances that you won’t come after Yivi again.”

  “I don’t need to give assurances to anyone. I have more power over Harmony than you realize. I hold her parents.”

  Cameron snorts. “The same parents who thought it was a good idea to have her brought up in a primitive world run by a man who obviously likes the finer things in life?”

  I don’t understand Cameron’s words at first, but then I take a closer look at the Leader. He’s wearing designer sunglasses. His suit is a perfect fit and tailor-made, and his shoes are the finest quality. I look at his car. It’s the top of the line Mercedes. It occurs to me he must have a phone if he’s been able to text me. How did I not notice all of this before? It’s because I didn’t know the meaning of these things. I just knew they were the Leader’s property. I didn’t understand the truth behind them. There were times in the commune we struggled to get food, and we had to try and grow our own, a virtual impossibility in the acrid Nevada desert. All the while, he lived with riches and modern technology.

  “You’re a liar. You’ve always been one.” I speak up. “How could you do this to your people? I’m not the only one who wants to escape. That place is the true Hell, not out here in the real world—I see it now. The demons are the rulers there, and you’re the Devil.”

  The Leader laughs. “Such corruption in someone so young. I truly fear for your future, Harmony. These men will take you down the path to Hell. They are the devils. Listen to their music. They even sing about Hell. They consume alcohol, and they’re probably high on drugs. It wouldn’t surprise me if they’ve all taken advantage of your feminine parts and ruined them. I think I’ll be doing your parents a favor by telling them you’re dead. They wouldn’t want the shame of having a daughter like you.”

  “Enough!” Tate growls. I can see his jaw ticking. I know the reference to the drugs will hit him hard. None of the band touches them after the death of Tate’s sister from a heroin overdose. “You don’t get to speak to Yivi ever again. We’ll give you the money to add to your corruption, but that will be it.”

  “I see you’re recording this, but it won’t stand up as evidence in court. Not with my lawyers, and not when it comes from a man whose sister killed herself at eighteen. I’m a prominent member of the community.”

  Tate’s nostrils flair. I nudge Cameron to go to him and hold him back, and he does so instantly. Austin stands behind me and wraps his large body around mine to give me better protection.

  “If you think I’m such a fool that I’ll fall for your cheap tricks to anger me, then you’re more stupid than you look. I made peace with my sister’s death a long time ago,” Tate responds to the Leader.

  “Have you made peace with the fact the piece of scum holding you back from hitting me is obviously a sex addict.”

  It’s Cameron’s turn to jump forward. Tate grabs him by the arm.

  “He’s trying to antagonize us. That’s the sort of piece of shit he is. He wants one of us to hit him because it will mean he can get a bigger payout from us to stop him going to the press.”

  “Fucking asshole,” Cameron spits his way. He makes sure it doesn’t land on him, though. “You’re just jealous because you don’t get enough sex.”

  “I’m not sure he has a problem with getting enough sex,” Austin speaks from behind me. “We’ve seen his corruption on a lot of levels. Yivi told us she was lucky because she followed the rules, but I’m guessing bad things happen to girls who don’t. Is that what the hole is about? You bury them alive until they’re begging, offering you anything to keep them from dying. You probably kill them anyway.”

  The Leader smirks, and my stomach sinks—I immediately know what Austin has just said is true.

  “I’m a peaceful man of God. I’m trying to lead my people in the right way. Not the way of the sinners of this world.”

  “And you’re the biggest sinner of them all,” Austin retorts. He too leaves my side and forms a line with Tate and Cameron.

  “Take the money and go. If you ever contact Yivi again, we’ll make sure you don’t get a chance to hurt anyone else.”

  Tate places the suitcase on the floor and kicks it over to the Leader. I don’t see him pick it up, though, because I’m too focused on Zoey behind me, shouting for Liam to stop.

  Chapter 25

  Liam

  #TimeToTakeOutTheTrash

  I can hear every word that transpires between my band, Yivi, and the Leader. It sickens me to my stomach. This man can’t be allowed to get away with this. I know he’s going to keep coming after Yivi no matter how much money she gives him. He’s corrupt, and nothing will stop him.

  My hands shake, and I try my hardest to stay in the car and resist the urge to kill him, but I can’t. I have to protect my wife by all means possible. I’m out of the car and running with fists clenched as Zoey screams my name from
behind.

  Yivi turns to me with wide eyes as I race past her and directly toward the man who has controlled her for most of her life. The red mist descends further, and I can’t see or think straight. All I know is I want the Leader’s blood on my hands.

  I bring my fist up and catch him off guard when he reaches for the suitcase, knocking him over. I’m on top of him, ready to throw another punch, before I notice my bandmates pulling me off him as I struggle against them.

  “Let me kill him,” I scream. “Let me end his life so he won’t hurt anyone else.”

  Cameron, Tate, and Austin use all their strength and somehow manage to pull me off the Leader, but Austin gets a whack to the head for his trouble. He stumbles back for a few seconds in shock, giving me the opportunity to make for the Leader again. I aim a kick to his groin area, and he doubles over in pain.

  My friends finally manage to get ahold of me when Austin regains his senses, and I’m pushed down to the ground where they put all their weight on me to stop me moving.

  “Get the fuck off me!” I scream.

  “Stop recording,” Tate shouts across to our driver. “Delete the video,” he orders next, knowing it’s incriminating evidence in any assault charges the Leader will bring against me.

  I stare deep into the Leader’s eyes as he straightens out of the fetal position he’s been lying in while yelling out in pain, following the kick I managed to land. His nose is bleeding, but he doesn’t look scared. Instead, he appears triumphant as he stands and looks toward his car. I follow his malevolent stare. There’s a small recording device in the windshield. He’s been videoing the whole encounter as well.

  With almighty strength, I send Cameron, Tate, and Austin flying off me.

  He’s recorded me issuing death threats and attacking him. I’ll be going to prison now anyway. I might as well go down for a long time and make sure he can’t hurt anyone else ever again.

  “Stop.” Yivi jumps in front of me. I try to push her away, but she stands her ground, even though I’m much stronger than her.

  She falls to her knees before me.

  “Please, Liam, listen to me.”

  Cameron, Tate, and Austin grab me again. This time I don’t fight against them. I remain still. Yivi’s bright, brown eyes are imploring me to listen to her.

  “He needs to die,” I repeat my threat, another blemish on my record.

  “Don’t waste your life for him. He’s not worth it. I finally realize that now. He’s the source of the corruption in the world where I used to live. A liar, a thief, and lots of other things.” Yivi places her hands together in a prayer position. “Don’t let him take you from me, Liam. I need you. I can’t be the person I’m supposed to without you. You’re my husband. I want to travel this world with you so we can learn about it together.”

  “Too late for that, Harmony. I’ll be going straight to the police later this afternoon and making sure they file charges against Liam for death threats and assault. I’m sure he won’t be able to buy his way out of some prison time, but even if he does, his career will be over.” Yivi stands up and turns to face him. I want to wrap her in my arms to protect her, but my bandmates are still holding me.

  “Leave her. She needs to do this alone,” Austin whispers in my ear.

  “Go ahead, report it. It’ll do you little good,” Yivi tells the Leader.

  “I’ll get satisfaction from punishing a sinner.”

  Yivi laughs. “I used to believe this stuff coming out of your mouth. Why the hell did I do that? I must have really been brainwashed. No, I was scared. I didn’t want to disappoint my parents or you, and I didn’t want to risk being put in the hole. I’m thankful I did believe and obey, though, because otherwise I’d have witnessed your sin firsthand. You’ve never cared for the people in the way you’re supposed to. We worshiped you and were grateful to you for showing us what we thought was the righteous path, but in return you gave us nothing. I saw people die of starvation, but you told us it was because they had sinned, and God had punished them. How many bodies would we find hidden on the compound if it was dug up? How many unmarked graves as a result of your sin?”

  “Foolish girl, you know nothing.” The Leader chuckles at Yivi. “You’ve always been too weak to change your future. I was surprised when you ran away. It was definitely out of character. I’ve embraced my power. I’ve built an empire on fear, and it will never be destroyed by the likes of you.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I see the security team arrive. In the distance, I can hear the sound of police sirens.

  “Thank you for calling the police,” the Leader acknowledges. “It will save me the effort of having to go to the station to report Mr. Romero.”

  It’s Yivi’s turn to laugh this time. She shows her phone to the Leader, and I realize what she’s done when I see the number 911 on the screen. She was the one to call the police.

  The Leader’s eyes go wide with shock.

  “I may know very little about the cult, but I’m willing to tell everything I do know to the police. You will never hurt anyone else again,” Yivi states.

  The Leader tries to make a run for it and heads in the direction of his car, but our bodyguards are on him immediately, restraining him until the police arrive. My bandmates and I, together with Yivi and Zoey, stand around lost in our own thoughts, watching in silence while the Leader is taken away screaming and shouting about how he’ll be pressing charges against me for assault.

  I’m the first to move as I make my way to Yivi and take her phone from her. I hang up and put it in my pocket before wrapping my arms around her. She turns her head and looks up at me.

  “I’m no longer scared of him.”

  “Good.” I press a kiss to her lips as a police officer approaches us. I know it’s to arrest me, so I stand to the side and hold my hands out.

  He looks at me and shakes his head. “You’ll need to come to the station to make a statement, Mr. Romero, but I won’t be arresting you just yet. I doubt the assault charges being bandied about will stick. We’ll be exploring a lot more serious charges against the man we just arrested.” The police officer holds out his hand to Yivi. She takes it, and he shakes her hand. “Mrs. Romero, I can’t thank you enough for your call. I’ve just spoken to a colleague in Nevada, and they’ve been investigating the cult for a number of years but have never been able to get anyone to talk. They’re over the moon that you’re willing to talk to us.”

  “I can’t promise I’ll have anything incriminating to say,” Yivi informs the officer. “But I want to try. I can tell you quite a lot—the layout of the compound and the names of people who’ve disappeared.”

  “I heard on the call you mentioned unmarked graves. Just having that information gives us grounds to search the compound. We’ve never been able to do that before. You’re a brave woman, and I know it won’t be easy.”

  “I’ll be all right. I’ll have my husband by my side.” Yivi smiles up at me.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” I tell her, slightly relieved that the officer doesn’t think he’ll be arresting me anytime soon.

  “If you could all follow us to the station so we can get statements, that would be good,” the officer adds, and our security team instantly steps into place ready to escort us. “We’ll obviously try to keep this out of the press as much as possible.”

  “No,” Yivi interrupts. “I don’t want it kept out of the press. I want people to know where I come from. Will that impact on the investigation if I tell them?”

  “You’ll have to be careful with the details, keep them as brief as possible—no names, dates, time, and places.” The policeman looks concerned at the risk to the investigation.

  “If we release a statement saying that this afternoon the rock band Saving Tate, along with their publicist, Zoey Danson, and her assistant, Yivi Romero, spent time helping the police in both Nevada and Alabama with their investigation into a cult based in the former state. Mrs. Romero grew up in the commune and inten
ds to assist the authorities with their inquiries to prevent any further harm coming to the people who currently live there. As this is an ongoing case, more details will be released as and when we’re able. Saving Tate would like to say how proud they are of Mrs. Romero and will continue to support her as she adjusts to her new life.” Zoey gives the statement off the top of her head, and I look at her amazed she can just come up with stuff like that.

  “That will be perfect,” the officer confirms before being called away to look at something in the Leader’s car.

  I don’t want to know what’s been discovered, so instead I pull Yivi into my arms and hold her tightly. Next thing I know, Zoey is behind Yivi and cuddling her as well. Cameron, Tate, and Austin join us, and for a few minutes, we stand as an inseparable group of friends and family—a band of misfits all with tales to tell who’ll do anything for each other.

  “Thank you.” I break the silence and allow the others to step back.

  “Yes, thank you,” Yivi reiterates.

  Cameron puts his arm around her shoulder. “Now that we’re all safe and dandy, we can talk about our payment for being superheroes? I’m quite liking the sound of you taking my toilet cleaning duty.

  “Cameron, fuck off,” I tell him as he guides Yivi back to the car so we can go and make our statements.

  I grab Tate and Zoey’s attention for a minute. “Zoey, you’re really good at organizing things. Do you think you could organize a wedding for when we get to Miami? I want to marry Yivi again, but this time, I want to remember it.”

  Chapter 26

  Yivi

  #ThisIsTheWeddingWeShouldHaveHad

  “Do you, Yivi Romero, take Liam Romero for your husband… again?” the officiate asks as Zoey, my bridesmaid, stands sobbing behind me.

  Tate, Cameron, and Austin are at Liam’s side as his best men. Liam’s parents and Gabe, his brother, complete our intimate circle at the wedding my husband surprised with this morning when we arrived in Miami.