Page 75 of Phantom Riders MC: Hawk

Chapter 26

Hawk

Audra’s gut-wrenching screams cut through me like a knife, urging me to move faster. My brothers were behind me, ready to back me up, ready to save my woman with their lives. I was prepared to shoot the first fucker I saw hurting Audra. I wasn’t sure what we were walking in on, but one thing I knew for certain was that whoever was hurting my woman was a fucking dead man. When her screams stopped I wasn’t sure if I should feel relief or worry, and then I heard the muted sounds of someone talking.

“What’s wrong, bitch? Not so mouthy now, are you.” Moaning followed. “It will be messy, but I can still fuck you.”

Fuller! That prick. He’d been out to get the club since his first day in the department. What the fuck did he think he was doing? I didn’t even hesitate at the doorway. Audra’s whimpers beckoned me to act swiftly. I entered the room, my gaze zeroing in on them in an instant. I aimed my weapon, but before I could get off a kill shot Fuller grabbed Audra and put a sharp object at her throat.

Fuck!

“One more move and she’s dead.”

My gaze moved over Audra. Fuck, she was naked and covered in so much blood that she already looked dead. Her face was bruised and swollen, and one eye was completely shut. Blood beneath her nose and around her split lips told me that he’d used his fists on her. As I examined her limp body, I saw signs that the fucker had used some kind of blade on her.

“You’re dead, fucker,” I sneered, feeling everything in me demand that I end him.

He shrugged, clearly not giving a fuck. “Maybe so, but at least I’ll finally have my revenge. It’s not exactly the way I planned it, but you’ll still suffer.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” He’d done this because of me? I frowned, looking for an in to press my attack. My brothers crowded behind and at my sides, assessing the situation and waiting to make their moves. It didn’t appear that anyone else was there with Fuller.

“Sonya was my sister,” he said simply. I didn’t react. I hadn’t even known that Sonya had a brother. “I know you killed her, and now I’ll kill someone who means something to you.”

“This woman?” I scoffed. “She means nothing to me. She’s only a means to a big payoff from a client.” Half of what I was saying was true, but the other half? Audra did mean something to me, enough that if something happened to her I’d sink into a deep place that I’d never come back from.

For a second Fuller looked taken aback, and I could tell that he was weighing my words, wondering if he’d made a mistake. But then he gave a little shake and returned to the present. “Nah, I don’t think so. She tried to get me to believe the same thing. I’m a cop, remember? I’m used to people lying to get what they want.” He slowly lowered the weapon from her throat, keeping it close to her body.

It was too calculated a move for me to feel relief. The look in Fuller’s eyes led me to believe that he had something else planned. His expression transformed into a sick smile, telling me that he knew he had the upper hand. My finger twitched on the trigger. I wanted to blow his fucking head off, but the blade in his hand was too close to Audra. She’d suffered enough at his hands. I waited to make a move that would end him.

His smile grew, and I should have guessed that it was the prelude to his next twisted move. He took whatever he had in his hands, turned, and buried it in Audra’s side. She reared back, her head cracking against the wall as she screamed and twisted in pain. I saw fucking red at what he’d done. With a roar I charged toward Fuller, the need to maim and spill his blood coursing through me. I wanted to kill him with my bare hands.

The fucking coward. He went for his gun and I didn’t hesitate before using mine. I emptied my barrel into him, making sure my last bullet went through his fucking skull. Then I swung back to Audra. As gently as I could, I lifted her body, taking the weight off of her wrists, while Rock undid the straps. We exchanged looks.

“Ambulance?”

I nodded, my jaw tight as I took Audra’s weight against me. I didn’t blame him for asking. We didn’t call the ambulance unless we were left with no other fucking choice. Doctors were supposed to notify the law when someone came in with life-threatening wounds caused by an obvious assault, and we liked to deal with our own shit and keep things quiet. But this was an emergency, and I wasn’t taking a chance with her life.

“Call the chief, too.” Spotting the bed, I carried her to it and lowered her down gently. I shrugged off my cut and practically tore my shirt off to use it to slow down the flow of blood that was pouring out of her side. I knew that I had to keep my shit together, but looking down at her bloody, broken body tore at my heart.

She whimpered when I applied pressure, eyes fluttering as she struggled to open them. “Hawk?”

“I’m here, babe. Tell me where you hurt.”

A small smile spread across her battered face. “All over,” she mumbled low. “He watched us, Hawk, in the parking lot.” I knew what she was telling me. I’d already figured as much, and that he’d followed us home. “He didn’t touch me though, not in that way.” Her voice drifted away as she succumbed to darkness.

I glanced up to see Clay, Big John, Painter and Bullet standing around, clearly uncomfortable and at a loss for what to do. “Clay, give me your fucking shirt.” He didn’t hesitate in taking it off. I covered Audra with it.

“You want us to clean up?” Big John asked.

“No. This was Chief Branson’s man, he can deal with this shit.” I felt fidgeting beside me and glanced down to see Audra’s hand patting over me as if searching for something. Once I had her hand in mine she squeezed and seemed to calm.

“Did you know Sonya had a brother?” Bullet inquired.

“No. And none of that past shit matters now.” I made it clear that we weren’t discussing it. “You brothers wait outside for the ambulance and chief.” Everyone left but Rock. I avoided his eyes because, fuck, mine were burning. Audra’s breathing was too shallow.

“She’ll make it, brother.”

I could only nod. Fuck…if she didn’t…

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