Page 69 of Hawk's Sapphire

“Maybe I’ll talk to him when I’m done working here.”I lie.“I’m almost done with the prototype and the boring board meetings.I didn’t know running my own business would mean I’d have to mingle with so many people all the time.I kind of want to hand it over to someone else and hide myself behind a curtain where I can be invisible while I work.”The last time we spoke, I was going to be going out of town but I told her it was for the Snitch program I’m working on.Since I’ve come and gone for months now, since she moved to Oakridge, she didn’t question it.Until I didn’t come home.But it was what I had to do.Avery doesn’t need to know where I am or what I’m doing.It’s safer if she doesn’t.

“When will you be home?I’m planning my wedding you know.I can’t get married without my maid of honor.”She slips that last part in, and the guilt feels even more intense.

“I’d love to be your maid of honor.Tell me what plans have been made so far.”I know it’s mean of me to get Avery’s hopes up like this, but selfishly, I want to listen to her talk about her beautiful dream wedding and ignore reality for a little while longer.

“Why don’t you tell me what you’re hiding first, and then I’ll tell you.”She’s good.

“I can’t tell you what I’m working on, Aves.It’s not just my business anymore, and you know how Matteo feels about me discussinghisbusiness with others.”That partistrue.She knows Matteo is my business partner and that he’s a made man.

“Fine.”She huffs.“But you owe me a full explanation when you get home.And I mean abouteverything, including what’s going on between you and Hawk.”

Shit.

She tells me about her wedding dress—it’s not traditional with its crimson red trim and silver buttons.About how she’s planning for a winter wedding at the old Langston Ranch venue with the whole family, including Mountain Heights, in attendance.Langston Ranch is a horse ranch close to the clubhouse with a huge open barn made just for special events like this.They deck it out every year for Christmas with twinkle lights and several Christmas trees.It’s a beautiful venue surrounded by trees and privacy.

“Have you set a date yet?”I ask, wanting to keep her on the phone for a few more minutes.

“We’re thinking December.”I sit up on the bed.

“That’s only a few weeks away, Aves.”I hear her laugh.

“Now you see why I need you to hurry and come home.It’s going to be here before you know it.You can’t miss this, Sadie.It’s the biggest moment of my life.I need my ride or die at my side.”Her voice cracks a little.“Besides, I’ve already got the dresses picked out, and the catering.Jayde is helping coordinate the decorations and all the gift registry stuff.She took charge when she realized you weren’t coming home soon.I hope that’s ok?”

“Of course it is.Just remind her that when I get back, she’s going to have to relinquish control.”I tease.

“Um, maybe we just let her plan and you can handle the maid of honor duties, like planning the bachelorette party and keeping the best man in check.”

“Best man?”My stomach drops.I already know who Jake would pick, and I don’t know why, but I’m hoping maybe I’m wrong.“Who’d he pick as his best man?”

Avery sighs deep.“Duh.Hawk of course.”

“Of course.”I hold back a groan.

The sound of heavy footfalls and a grumbled male voice I assume is Jake’s can be heard in the background.

“What’s wrong, Jake?”Avery asks.I hear some rustling around.He’s talking, but it doesn’t sound like it’s to her.The last thing I hear him say before he answers her is that he’s on his way.“Jake, what’s happened?”

Avery moves the phone away, but I can still hear their conversation.

“That was Pres.Hawk’s in trouble.We received reports that Matteo Parisi shot him and they have him barricaded in one of Parisi's penthouses.Pres is calling church to discuss what we do next.”Jake explains.

“No!Avery!Avery!”I shout, trying to get her attention.“Avery, Hawk’s fine!He’s not hurt.He’s with me!Avery!”

She comes back on the line and tells me to hold on.“You’re on speaker, Sadie.Say that again.”

I repeat it and then hear Jake’s deep sigh and grumbled curses.

“Where the fuck are you—and where’s Hawk?I want to talk to him.No.Actually, make him call Pres.Fucking now, Sadie.Pres got some weird ass text from Hawk and now Pres is ready to rain hell down on the Parisis.Backlash be damned!And we are in no way equipped to take on a fucking Mafia Kingpin!”he roars.

“Okay.Okay.Calm down.”The words are said to Jake, but it’s me who needs to calm down.I’m up off the bed pacing the room, ready to go find Hawk, when the devil himself comes through my bedroom door.“Hold on, Jake.He’s right here.”

Hawk’s scowling at me, anger vibrating his whole body.“You need to tell Jake you’re okay.Gabe is about to go to war with Vincenzo if you don’t.”That sobers Hawk instantly.

“I’m here, brother.”Hawk takes my phone from my hand and works to calm Jake down.“Put Pres on the call.I’ll wait.”I move to head out of the bedroom to give him privacy so he can talk club business when he calls out, pointing an angry finger at me.“Don’t you move another fucking inch.You stay right here where I can see you.We have shit to discuss as soon as I’m off this phone.”

I’m two seconds from storming out when he stalks forward, gripping my hand in his.His eyes pleading with mine.“Sapphire.Stay.Please.”

The breath leaves my lungs in a long whoosh.It’s a mixture of exhaustion and maybe relief.I don’t honestly know.I expected he would want to talk to me again to try to make sense of everything.I’ve only been trying to avoid the inevitable because I know he’s going to tell me again how badly I’ve fucked up and hurt the club.

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