Page 57 of Taming Hawke

I inch closer to Lu and grip the back of her head, bringing her in close to me again. “Listen, Lu. I don’t want to leave but she’s in trouble, she needs me.”

Luisa grabs hold of my wrist, removing my hand from her neck. “If you go to her, Hawke, we’re done.” Her eyes narrow and bore into mine, leaving no doubt she’s serious.

“Babe, please. When I get back I’ll explain, but right now I have to go. Her life is in my hands.”

She places her hands on her hips, and tears are on the verge of rolling down her face. She shakes her head. “Go to her, then,” she whispers, not looking at me but down at the ground.

“Babe, I knew you’d understand.”

The look she gives me conveys sadness, but something else. She roughly swipes away her tears, and straightens. “Goodbye, Hawke,” she says, and I see her take a deep breath.

I tilt her head by placing my finger under her chin, wanting her full attention. “I love you, Lu. I’ll be back, I promise.”

She doesn’t say anything, and her silence is killing me. She doesn’t even nod or reply to acknowledge she heard my words, just stares at me.

I lean in and kiss Lu, and still get no response. I cup the back of her head and swipe my tongue over the seam of her lips. She hesitantly opens her mouth, and I delve my tongue into it. I force her body closer to mine, but nothing changes, she’s not responding. I explore her mouth with my tongue but she doesn’t kiss me back. I pull away and fist her hair. “I love you, Luisa. I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”

“Just go,” she whispers not able to look up at me. Then quietly and without a last glance, she turns away and walks back to the marquee. She’s gone.

My heart squeezes and I feel winded, like someone just smashed their fist into my stomach. The way she just looked back at me, no emotion at all, that’s not the Luisa I know. God, I hope I haven’t fucked up, but right now I need to deal with this shit. Quill’s gonna kill me for not mentioning this to him but I have to put the club first, and if that means keeping this information from Quill, then so be it. It’s his wedding night, anyway, he’s gotta understand.

I need to go see Santana, see what he wants. I can’t take any chances by telling one of my brothers. Santana will kill Josie, I don’t doubt it. He doesn’t think twice when it comes to murdering people in cold blood. To him it’s just another day.

Josie may be in my past, but I need to get her out of this mess.

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