Page 55 of Phantom Riders MC: Hawk

Chapter 20

Audra

Glancing out the window at Popcorn, my protector, I felt like I was someone special, someone who was important enough to be guarded, when I was really no one. Just a woman causing trouble for a motorcycle club because my ex wanted me back, so much so that he was willing to pay. I was terrified inside, because I knew that what awaited me wouldn’t be pleasant. Sure, I’d seen Dane kill a man, but I didn’t know who he’d killed, and after his threat he should have known that I wouldn’t go to the authorities. I just wanted to get away from him and be left alone.

It was the coward thing to do, but how could I stand up against someone with the money and power that he had?

My mind drifted back to the day that had changed my life, had shown me what I really meant to a man who, until then, had taken care of me, and had almost worshiped me. Watching him put that gun to the man’s forehead would be forever etched in my memory. The man hadn’t even shown any fear as he was held struggling between two of Dane’s men. Curses had erupted from his spitting mouth, his face red with rage. I couldn’t even recall what he’d said, mesmerized by how he’d spat obscenities and threats of revenge until the very end.

Had he thought Dane wouldn’t pull the trigger?

I closed my eyes, trying to forget the sight of Dane pulling the trigger, the sharp crack of noise, then watching the man’s head snap back with the force of the bullet ripping into his brain. He was released as blood and brain matter went splattering everywhere, staining the front of Dane’s slacks and pissing him off. That one incident, witnessing it, had sealed my fate. If only I’d managed to hold back my shocked reaction revealing that I was there and had witnessed it.

Popcorn was sitting on the porch steps, smoking a cigarette. He was young, maybe in his early twenties, and had told me that he’d been a prospect for almost a year. He was proud of the title, and had eagerly explained what being a prospect was. When I’d asked him questions about the club, he’d explained he couldn’t talk club shit and had clammed up. I’d received the same response when I began to question him about Hawk.

I wanted to know about Hawk. In spite of his dark, moody, ways. I couldn’t understand how I was attracted to him when he was the complete opposite of Dane. Hawk killed, too, but that wasn’t what I was talking about. I hadn’t seen him kill without provocation. There was something from his past, and I sensed that something was a woman who had turned him into a cold, unfeeling man. I was determined to break through those prison bars and release him.

I asked myself why.

I didn’t know.

One thing I didn’t have to release though was his sexual beast. The man made my toes curl. Everything he did was rough, raw, and intense, and I couldn’t get enough. He took without asking, demanded without giving much in return. Even now, as I thought about the huge muscle between his legs and how good it felt pounding into me, how it made me feel more alive than I’d ever felt, I was getting wet. Hawk said that he was only into sex for himself, but he was so wrong. The more we fucked, the more he gave me, and I knew that when the day came and he finally crossed that line and kissed me that he would be mine.

Completely.

Wait, what was I thinking? Since when had I wanted to own Hawk? I shook the notion from my head and turned away from the window. Coffee. I needed more. Hawk was going to bring me supplies later, but at least he’d had a few things to get by on, coffee being one. I went to the kitchen and refilled my cup, and then wondered if Popcorn would like a cup. Just as I turned to go out to ask him the door opened briskly and he walked in. I could tell by his expression that something was up.

“We need to get to the club,” he said in a no-nonsense tone.

“Trouble?” I tried not to let my mind delve into what kind, knowing that it couldn’t be good if I was being taken back to the club.

“Don’t know. Prez just said to get your ass back there.”

“I’m allowed to be on the back of your bike?” I recalled Hawk’s earlier warning about that.

Popcorn shrugged. “This is an exception. Backup will meet us on the way.”

Backup? I frowned, hoping that there wouldn’t be another confrontation on the road like there had been earlier. I set my cup down and flicked off the coffee maker, wondering what was going on. I was getting used to being on the back of a bike, but one thing became instantly clear after I wrapped my arms around Popcorn to hold on-he wasn’t Hawk. Not even close. Popcorn was thin and lanky without the rock hard abs Hawk had on his huge frame.

Sitting behind Hawk made me feel safe and turned me on.

Every time.

I figured we were halfway to the club when an on-coming motorcycle came into view. When he was close enough that I could make out that it was Keg I relaxed. As he neared us Popcorn slowed, and I wondered why until I realized that Keg was motioning him to do so. Thinking that he must have something to say, I was totally unprepared for the gun he pulled out and aimed at us. I felt Popcorn tense instantly, and my apprehension skyrocketed at what this could mean.

“What the fuck, Keg?”

Keg was shaking his head. “Sorry brother, nothing personal.” Without another word he fired his weapon and Popcorn flew sideways, taking the bike and me with him.

I screamed when we hit the ground, finding myself pinned beneath the bike. Something warm and wet was falling on my shoulder and neck, and another scream escaped my lips when I realized that it was blood. I struggled to wiggle out from beneath the weight that was holding me down, but it was no use. When I glanced up to see Keg standing above me, my numbed brain couldn’t comprehend what had just happened. I was laying in dirt and rock, gasping for breath as he just stood there for what seemed like a hundred years. Why wasn’t he helping me?

And then a slow smile spread over his mouth, not quite reaching his eyes, and I knew I was in trouble. The thought crossed my mind that Keg was going to kill me then and there was nothing I could do about it. “What are you doing, Keg?” I managed to get out, still wiggling. I couldn’t help but think about Popcorn now. I knew that he was gone. I could feel his life draining from his body.

“Isn’t it obvious?” He reached down and easily lifted the bike off my body. “Taking care of business, baby.” Popcorn rolled away lifelessly as Keg hauled me roughly to my feet.

“I don’t understand,” I said, still unwilling to believe what was going through my mind. “Was Popcorn going to hurt me?”

Keg’s laughter erupted, stunning me because there was little humor in it. “You stupid bitch! You’re the fucking problem.”

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