Page 50 of Falcon

Eagle thrummed his fingers on the table. “We just gotta keep eyes and ears open. Don’t forget to be asking around the strip club, too.” Butch spent a lot of time there. Mama Hen wanted to keep him close when she found him, and the strip club was her baby. It made sense Butch was one of the main bouncers and head of security there. Rooster took some shifts and a few members filled in the gaps. It was open from noon to three a.m. most days, so plenty of muscle was needed.

“Been trying to check in with the girls between shifts, but so far nothing. I’ll tell them to watch themselves. Maybe we should bring in some extra guys, at least until this is sorted out?” Butch asked.

Hawk agreed. “With Ma being there so much, I’d appreciate that. And we certainly don’t want any of the girls getting taken. Some of the new members are about to earn their keep. Red, we’ll beef it up at the bar, too.”

“What about the run?” I asked. We were making plans to throw a lot of weight at the businesses, but we were already scheduled to go.

“We go and get back fast. Rooster, stay back on this one and keep your shift at the club. You, Butch, and Red hold it down,” Hawk instructed.

Eagle and I locked eyes. Normally, we could handle the run without Rooster, but throwing so much extra at the businesses here and taking from our run seemed to leave us open to more shit. Especially when we didn’t know if this crime ring was watching us. Or if there was an insider and they’d be snitching that our ride was a man down. But I wasn’t about to argue with Hawk. We’d have to make it work.

“We’ll head out as planned without Rooster. Get the guys for the truck ready.” Hawk stood and looked me dead in the eye. “And no detours this time.”

I gave him a nod and he pounded his fist on the table. We all knocked on the table as well and followed him back outside. Now I had to go grovel. I’d never groveled for shit, but if that’s what she needed, I was up for the task. Hopefully it would work quickly because I needed to hold her as long as I could before we had to leave.

“Hey, Hawk, can I holler at you real quick?”

Hawk stopped, waiting for everyone to clear out. “Yeah. What’s up?”

“Can I get a burner phone from Keys? Daisy doesn’t have one and I haven’t had the chance to get to the store.”

Hawk rubbed the short scruff on his chin. “No time, or you can’t track her on a random phone?”

“Listen, she’s hell bent on working and needs her own space or some shit. I gotta bad feeling, and with us leaving town, I want eyes on her. Keys doesn’t have to tell me shit unless something goes down. I just need to know we can easily find her if necessary.”

Hawk cupped my shoulder. “I feel ya, brother. I wish I could talk some sense into my sister, too. She doesn’t know at least two members trail her anywhere she goes. Maybe if she agreed to the tracker, I would only send one. Just go see him. I’ll shoot him a text.”

I hustled down the hall to Keys’ room. He’d have it ready before I got there.

Chapter 31

Daisy

The guys didn’t take as long as other times they’d been holed up in the room. But instead of jumping up like a lovesick puppy to look for Falcon, I sat and waited for him to come to me. I fought the urge to look over, but wondered what was taking so long. He probably stopped to chat with someone along the way.

After Eagle had snuggled up to Lacy and we carried on chatting for a few minutes, I was ready to roll my eyes when a bottle was put in front of me. “Figured you’d need a refill by now. Want to sit here for a while or head upstairs?”

Okay, point to Falcon for bringing me a drink and not waiting for a bunny to come over, and another for asking me what I wanted to do. Usually, he just told me. “I’m tired. We can go up.”

He held his hand out and helped me up, then pushed my chair back in behind me. I fought the grin because I didn’t want him to see how easily I’d cave. I needed at least a few more minutes of power. I really did want to have a serious discussion about what I needed, and I couldn’t do that if I just melted like always. But it was hard not to. Especially when he was so damn swoony.

Internally steeling my resolve, I grabbed my drink and said my goodbyes to the girls. Even though the walk to his room was short, I was already losing steam. I wasn’t even really mad at him. I was mad at myself. Mad at the situation I found myself in.

He shut the door and I stood, leaning against the wall near the small closet. He pulled his cut off and hung it up before walking to the dresser and emptying his pockets. I sipped my beer as I watched him pull his belt off then pull his shirt up over his head.

If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he was trying to distract me on purpose. His back was lined with strong muscles and beautiful artwork. Even with his clothes on, I loved it. Something about being tucked behind him on a ride with my arms around his wide frame made me feel just as protected as if I were wrapped up in his arms. Maybe it had to do with the fact that most women didn’t get to ride behind these guys. The whole fight with Sugar seemed to have stemmed from her taking issue with me so easily being invited onto the back of his bike. Even Jeannie and Mama Hen told me it was special to ride with them.

My thoughts were broken when Falcon turned and held out his hand. My brow pinched as I looked across the room. “Why are you showing me that?” He was holding out his cell phone.

“It’s yours. You needed one. Here you go.”

Okay so it was a phone not his phone. I walked closer and went to grab it. He jerked his hand away, so I smacked at his arm. “Hey! You said it’s mine.”

“Are you really mine, Daisy?”

The serious look on his face drained the fight from me. I stepped in closer and put my hand on his firm chest. “Yes, and you’re mine, right?”

He tossed the phone on the bed behind me and grabbed my hips. “I’m all yours and only yours.” He sighed. “Your desire for space is understandable. So is your desire to have your own money. But I wasn’t talking shit when I said it’s not safe right now. I need you to listen to me. Can you do that?”