CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

"Goodbye..." – Hawk

 

 

 

      “I’ll have to get gone for a while, bro. Too many what if’s. In broad fucking daylight. I got the cam footage from the kid inside, threw him a few Benjis, but who knows if there was a witness somewhere. There’s isn't a body to investigate, but I didn’t have long to clean up once Lawless arrived with the pickup.”

     “Agreed. It won’t be for long, Hawk. When will you go?” Rider’s tone was flat. His best friend had saved his old lady. He didn’t want to lose Hawk for any number of time from the club, but until the heat died down surrounding the Raging Rebel’s club fire and the manhunt for Hades going full scale according to his sources, they wouldn’t take chances with any shit rolling back onto his VP. As it was he’d sent three of his prospects out to that seven-eleven store to scout around quietly to see and listen and to dump a ton of bleach in that alleyway. A good snowfall would help.

      Fuck. If things had been different, if Hawk hadn’t seen Zara’s ridiculous yellow car in the parking lot he would have rode straight past.

      He came too damn close to losing her.

     Visibly inhaling calming air down into his lungs, he set it out slowly before looking across at Hawk.

      The two brothers---not by blood but through loyalty and shared respect for all the shit they’d been through together---- sat at the long table within their church, the doors closed leaving them alone. Rider had already given his VP his thanks, Hawk dismissing it, calls would need to be made if Hawk was to lie low in another chapter, as far away as he could go.                

     Luckily the Renegade Souls had chapters in most every state.

      “Soon as I can throw some shit into a bag, not like I got a lot anyway.”

      “Hawk...”

     “Don’t, Rider.” He warned as if guessing Rider wanted to show his gratitude.

      Hawk was allergic to emotion.

      Rider sighed, drummed fingers on the table, his eyes boring into the side of his friend’s face.              

     “Thought it’d be me who would take that cocksucker out. For the club and for my old lady.”

      “Dead is dead. Doesn’t matter how he got there, he’s there now.”

      True. And still.

      “You got my girl out of there, Hawk. Fuckin’ grateful, can’t even tell you how much, you get me? There will be a day I can repay it, you name it, it’s yours. I mean it.”

       Hawk frowned. “It’s no big, Rider. Forget it. Hades, had it coming. I’ve wanted to kill that assclown for years even when he prospect’ed, cocky little shit even then, I was just the lucky one.”

      Rider let it drop.

      But when both men rose he dragged his friend into a back-thumping hug. “Okay, let’s find a fuckin’ hole for you to hide in, brother, get your shit together, I’ll get on those calls.”

 

 

******

 

 

     Seeing Hawk kick the stand up of his Harley, Zara grasped she only had about a minute before he was gone if she wanted to have a word with him. It had been busy in the clubhouse the last few hours, plastered to Rider's side.  Hawk hadn't taken much time to say his goodbyes to his brothers, a few grunts, that half smile of his and a shoulder slap and then he was outside.  She pulled out of Rider's lap, his brow rose in question. "I'll be back in a second." was all she told him. Not even stopping to grab her sweater, her boots clopped as she made her way across to him. Understanding Hawk and how she interpreted his cold feelings about her he was likely to just ride off even if he saw her so she made sure to hurry.

      His body was sat on the bike, swung around securing his saddle bag, the only indication he knew she was there was the tightening of his fists when he faced the handlebars, gripping them.

      He really was an intimidating man.

      But she had something to say, and dammit, even the big scary beast was not going to stop her.

     Forgetting the cooler night air whipping her hair into her face, her chin went up, shoulders back.

     "Hawk. What you did for me, or not, for the club. Thank you. Thank you so much."

      No eye contact whatsoever, but his eyebrows drew down and Zara took it as a sign he was listening at least. Hawk looked like the kind of man who ate, drank and swam backstroke to the murky depths of sarcasm on a regular basis and if he knew how to take gratitude, she was about to find out. She could see now why the outward pissed off persona had initially scared her away, scared everyone away. It was what he wanted.

     Despite shabby appearances Hawk didn't smell bad at all, in fact she smelled clean soap, he just appeared unwashed and in need of a vigorous beard brushing, he could do with a new shirt, she'd seen him in the same ratty Guns N Roses black shirt so often, the pattern faded so much on the front it was hard to tell if it was the rock band or he just liked flowers, and the hem had seen better days.

      She watched him zip his jacket to his chin, and pull on a pair of leather gloves, skulls decorated across the knuckles.

      She had a million questions she wanted to ask him, namely why he’d protected her when for weeks now he’d given the very obvious impression he would like Zara to disappear from the MC. It would have been simple for him to ignore and ride on by. Questions rattled around her brain.

      But she asked him none of them.

      Wild, unkempt, rough, stern—terrifying, and yet Zara didn't fear him anymore. It didn't matter if he'd killed Hades for his own reasons or to protect her because she belonged to his friend, it mattered to her simply because he'd done it, the whys didn't come into it and probably because she was still bouncing on adrenalin she did something dumbfounded by stepping forward closer to man and bike and wrapped her arms around his massive shoulders.

      He instantly stiffened but didn't shove her away. Zara only let the one-sided hug last no longer than three seconds before she pulled back, smiled at him. "I mean it, thank you."

     "Don't mention it," he answered gruffly. "Get back inside where it's warm, Queen."

      And then his pale blue eyes raised to meet hers and Zara swore her breath quickened before he dropped his gaze. Her chest filled with his acceptance.

      Don't you dare cry. Don't you cry and ruin it.

      Zara found herself curious about his story. Who was Hawk, really? Was Hawk even his real name? Surly came with a reason and she reckoned Hawk had a lot of those dancing in his background.

      Look at that, she mused with a tiny smile on her lips. The beast had pretty eyes. Maybe under all that hair and scowl would likely be a good-looking man, she had a feeling she knew the woman who had recognized his beauty beneath the hardened mask, no way in hell she was saying it out loud though because Rider was likely to go on a killing spree of one best friend.

      It was her cue to head inside when he revved the engine. She got out of his way. Not before telling him. "Be safe, Hawk. Rider would miss you terribly if something happened to you."

       I will too.

      And that was the biggest surprise of all, even above the small matter of a murder today. His constant sneer had become somewhat familiar to Zara, not quite comforting, but she would miss seeing it around the clubhouse.

      He jutted his chin, looked at the building behind her almost as if he was going to miss the place and everyone inside.

      It was unsure how long he'd have to go away for, probably until Hades manhunt case was closed and no one was looking towards the Renegade Souls. Zara stood under the night sky watching him ride through the gates and out onto the main road, arms came around her from behind and she smiled leaning softly into Rider's chest. A slick pound of love filled her chest.

     "You're taking a risk; my big bad biker man is just inside and word on the street is he's the vicious jealous type." biting her lip he growled pinching her sides making her laugh. "He'll come back, won't he?" Zara asked letting Rider guide her back to the main entrance where it was warmth and acceptance.

     "'Course, baby. This is Hawk's home."

      Funny how Rider's voice wasn't so sure, though.