Page 29 of Hawk

“If I’d been shootingatyou, I’d havehityou.You know that.”

“What do you want, Gage?”

“Flagg wants you home.”

“I am home.”Carrie didn’t hesitate with her answer which made me more fucking proud than I could have imagined.

“OK.”He stepped into the light, his hands out as he slowly lowered his gun to the pavement.“That’s all I wanted to know.”I glanced at Carrie.Her jaw was tight.I could tell she wasn’t convinced of her brother’s change of heart.Gage seemed to know she wasn’t going to take his word at face value.“I swear it, Carrie.I knew Flagg had plans to get rid of Vic because he couldn’t control him.He thought he could control the rest of us if Vic wasn’t around.”

“Then who’s the sniper on the roof?”

“That’d be Flagg’s brother, Zeb Randall.”Gage stood there with his hands raised and out to his sides.“It’s him who wants you.Flagg’s just trying to get back in his brother’s good graces.”

“Randall.”I muttered.“Flagg and Randall.”Then added, “And Carrie.”I let the grin tugging my lips free.“Seems to fit.”If you know, you know.

“I got the bastard on the roof.”Torpedo’s voice over the radio surprised me.He was supposed to be back at the clubhouse, but I should have known the man wouldn’t sit this one out.

Knuckles and Vic approached us dragging an older man with them while he hurled obscenities and threats at both of them.Obviously, this Flagg wasn’t happy with the situation.His mood wasn’t likely to improve over the next few hours either.They’d zip-tied Flagg’s hands behind his back so he was already hampered.It didn’t take much to stifle his efforts to get away.Knuckles shoved Flagg to the ground.Vic kicked him over so he lay on his front with his hands at the small of his back.

Knuckles snagged his radio.“I ought to kick your ass, Torpedo.I might still if you didn’t bring help.”

“Griffin here.I got his back, boss.We can bring our guy to the cage if Tiny’s got room.”

“Always got room for one more.”Tiny’s voice held a wealth of humor.He’d brought an old Bronco for anyone we needed to bring back.Tiny was always ready when anyone left the compound.

“Vic.”Carrie stepped toward her brother.“You got him?”

“Yeah.”Vic spat on the ground next to the man on the ground.“Knuckles?Got someone who can take this piece of shit back to your compound?I’d prefer to just kill him, but this is your territory.Besides, I’m sure Carrie has questions for everyone.”

“She does.”I moved to stand next to Carrie, putting my arm around her shoulders.I didn’t miss the slight tremor running through her body.“You okay, Killer?”

“Yeah.It’s time to face my monster.”

“Little whore,” Flagg snapped.“You had one job and you failed.Should have strangled you when you were born, just like your mother.”

“That’s enough.”Knuckles motioned for Tiny to help Vic get Flagg in the back of the vehicle.“We can sort everything in a bit.Is anyone hurt?”

“I think everyone’s good, boss.”Tiny heaved out a grunt as he tossed Flagg into the back.The older man yelped but Tiny didn’t apologize, a sure sign of how irritated he was.While the big man was a terror when he had to be, he was unfailingly careful of anyone smaller than he was.Well, except when he’d been my muscle on the inside.He’d killed more men on the inside than he ever would have on the outside and he’d had zero remorse.

“Meet us around the corner, Tiny,” Torpedo ordered over the radio.“You know where.”Everyone knew where the blind spots were on the security cameras.We were always careful.

“On it, Prez.”Tiny confirmed the order as Vic jumped into the back with Flagg along with Knuckles.“This oughtta be fun.”Tiny slammed the tailgate shut, then stomped around to the driver’s side, climbed in, and took off.

I turned to Carrie.She looked shell-shocked.Like none of this was what she was expecting.I wanted to get her home and away from everything to let her process, but I knew she wouldn’t want to wait.Less than a fucking day and I was already in tune with her.“We need to get back.You ready to ride?”

“That was… disappointing,” Carrie mumbled.“Not sure what I expected, but I thought it would be harder than this to catch him.”

“Christ, baby,” I pulled Carrie into my arms and held her tightly.“You took a header off the bike and you’re complaining the chase wasn’t exciting enough?”I kissed the top of her head.“Ain’t sure I could take your brand of excitement.”

Gage cleared his throat.He’d been standing on the edge of the group watching, scowling at Flagg the whole time.“Father’s having a difficult time accepting that his control over us is slipping.He’s been making increasingly erratic decisions.”He looked at Carrie.“When you disappeared, he lost it.Started raving about traitors and how he’d kill anyone who helped you escape.”

“I didn’t escape.I left.”Carrie’s voice was firm, but I could feel her trembling against me.“There’s a difference.”

“Not to him,” Gage replied grimly.“Look, I know you don’t trust me right now, but I swear I wasn’t trying to hurt you or Vic.I was trying to get you to move out of Flagg’s line of sight so he wouldn’t take another shot at your man.He’s slipping, but I don’t see him missing a shot like that twice.”

Carrie was still for a moment before she nodded slowly.“I believe you, Gage.”

“I’m not asking you to trust me, Hawk.”Gage’s expression remained neutral, but his eyes were sharp, like he was assessing every movement I made.“You don’t know me.But Carrie does.”

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