Not anymore.
She’s not only mine, she’s mine to protect and nothing makes me see that more now than almost having lost her. War is so fucking ugly, but it came at the right time. I am ready to defend my woman, my family.
The next morning, we all get up early and get ready. None of us speaks as we head toward the meeting place. Jaguar is there, a girl standing next to him, just as he promised. I’m honestly a little surprised that he actually showed and brought the girl.
She shivers standing next to him, her body trembling in what I assume is fear. She should be fucking scared.
Pulling up, I’m the first one that climbs off of my bike, heading straight toward him. I can hear Dutch and Gator behind me, but they aren’t my concern. My only concern is this possible traitorous fuck standing in front of me.
“Care to explain anything deeper?” I ask as my only greeting.
He shakes his head, lifting his hand and running his fingers through his hair. “I had no fucking idea, Hawk,” he murmurs. “None. Had I known, I would have warned Dragon. I can’t go back with you, she’s not eighteen for a few more months. But this is Marshall’s daughter, in good faith, I’m delivering her to you. If they find out I broke her out, they’ll kill me.”
“You could be a dead man walking anyway, I wouldn’t worry too much about your life as it is, Jag.”
He nods his head, his chin dipping down before he lifts it back up. “All of this is fucked. Swear to fuck, I didn’t know.”
“It’s all good. I’ll let Dragon sort that out, but you’re going to do something for us today to prove your loyalty.”
His eyes widen and I watch as he swallows heavily before he nods. “You’re going to set off the first bomb. It probably won’t kill anyone, but it might.”
“You got it.”
“Where’s your jailbait?” I ask.
His lips twist into a snarl at the nickname. It’s what she is and his cock is so hot to get inside of her, he’s got to know she’s too fucking young for his old ass. Then again, who the fuck am I to judge. I’m sticking my dick inside a woman half my age and I don’t plan on ever stopping.
“She’s in the basement. Locked her up so she’d be safe.”
My lips curve up into a grin. “You really do care, yeah?”
“She’s mine.”
“Fair enough. Let’s blow some fuckers up.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
AVAH
Blinking, I rub my eyes, unsure that I’m seeing what I am truly seeing. It’s him. It’s Hawk riding toward me. He’s beautiful, the sunlight hitting him just perfectly as he rides closer. I don’t pay attention to the other two bikes behind him, because they don’t matter. Not to me anyway. The only thing that matters is him.
He stops, pulling into his regular spot, but I don’t move from my own place. I’m too afraid if I do, he’ll only be a mirage. Everything that happened yesterday, Silver being shot, the two men murdered, everything just made me think that he wouldn’t come back, that Hawk would use this as an excuse to walk away and exact his revenge on the men who did this.
I’m sitting in a chair, my feet in the seat, my chin resting on my knees as he climbs off of his bike and begins his approach. I don’t move, there’s no need to. Instead, I watch, still unbelieving that he came back, then immediately, I wonder how long until he does leave for good.
“Avah,” he rasps, his voice low and husky.
Blinking again, I try to keep the tears from falling, but I fail. I’ve become soft and weak since falling for him, since changing my entire life, since feeling again. I don’t say anything. Sliding my feet down, I stand, but don’t speak.
Turning from him, I walk away. I don’t know how I feel, but I do know that this life that once scared me, now terrifies me. It’s not exciting to have to hide in an office, unsure of what’s to happen next. It’s not fun to think about all of the ways that an enemy could hurt me. I’ve already been through that shit, I don’t want it to happen again.
“Avah,” Hawk snaps from behind me, his boots crunching in the sand, dirt, and rocks.
I continue to ignore him, walking around to the back of the building where I hope we’ll be alone.
“Babe,” he impatiently shouts, but I don’t stop, not until I’m leaning against the wall, using its sturdiness to hold me up.
He stands in front of me, inches away, so close that I can practically taste the sweat on his skin. Lifting my head, I look up at him, his eyes dancing with anger as he watches me. He balls his hands into fists and places them on his hips as he watches me—extremely impatiently.
“You came back,” I whisper.
“Said I would,” he immediately, and defensively, snaps.
Nodding, I lick my lips as I look up at him. “You weren’t going to, don’t deny it.”
“What does it matter? I’m here.”
“I could have died,” I breathe.
He closes the distance between us, his body pressing against mine, his chin dipped down as his breath fans my face, his cock hardening beneath his jeans as it presses against my stomach.
I try not to be affected by the sensation of his hard dick, but I like it way too freaking much and my thighs shake instantly with want.
“You didn’t.”
“I could have,” I exhale.
“Yeah, the senator could have killed you too and that had nothing to do with me or this club. Don’t fuckin’ run scared, Avah,” he snaps.
“I’m right here,” I mumble.
He hums, reaching down and unbuttoning my shorts. He shoves them down my legs. My panties he doesn’t even bother to push down,
