Page 36 of Hawke

Nope. He wasn’t there.

And yet, I was slightly disappointed.

Yeah, knew you would be.

Oh my god, save me from myself.

Even though Hawke wasn’t there, there were a dozen red roses with a card placed beside them. I bit my lip, my walls trying to crumble, but I put that concrete back into those cracks because I would not let them fall.

I yanked the card from the floor, ripping it open with a gruff. And when I opened it, it had the cheesiest card you could imagine—a beagle puppy with big droopy eyes with a stuffed heart in his paws. My lip twitched, trying not to smile.

When I opened it, it read, “I’ve been pawfully lonesome without you.”

Chapter Twelve

Delilah

Ifrowned,deeply.Thekind of frown you had to push down really hard to try not to smile. Because dang it, that was a cute card.

It was completely cliche and cheesy. The exact card I would pick up and give to Hawke, which I had done many times before. One time, he was really under the weather, growling and mumbling incoherent things. He stayed at his apartment for days, and the guys were really worried about him.

Bones mentioned taking him to the forest to get him some fresh air, to be out in nature. That didn’t settle with the rest of the guys. They were all upset. Grim was tapping his forehead on the side of the wall when drinks were being passed around the bar, and they raised a toast to Hawke, hoping he would get better.

I don’t think anyone believed he would because they all remained somber that night.

So once the bar was closed, I reached in my bag and pulled out one of the many cards I had in there for such an occasion. People got sick and sometimes they didn’t want you hugging on them or whatever, so a card was always nice.

I hid under the bar until all the lights were out. Even Switch went to bed that night, which was rare. I tiptoed to the spiraling metal stairs at the back of the bar and climbed up the shaky thing and went down the long corridor where the members stayed.

Not even the cleaning crew could go back there. Members had to clean up after themselves. One lone light hung in the hallway, and each door I passed had a name on the door. Despite it being apartments for bikers, the hallway was pretty clean, and I could even smell scented candles as I went by each door.

As I drew closer to Hawke’s, my heart raced, and my chest pounded with anticipation. I could get fired for being back there. It was one of the first rules of working for the Iron Fang. Don’t go into the members’ apartments.

I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that consumed me, and I knew I had to make sure that Hawke was safe. Three days was a long time without seeing each other back then, and it ate me up.

Instead of knocking, making anyone aware of my presence, I pulled down on the handle, hearing a tiny click. The door opened to a darkened room with a lighted salt rock in the corner. There was a haze of light and a rumpled body on the bed that tossed and turned.

I could smell the sweat from his body, the restlessness in his sleep. I stepped inside, shutting the door and locking it so no one would surprise me.

“Hawke?” I whispered, coming closer.

He didn’t reply, and I saw a basin of water beside the bed with a towel, the fabric still damp from its recent use. So, I dipped it inside, catching the cool water, and placed it on his forehead.

Hawke’s eyes flew open, his heavy, ragged pants his only movement. He grabbed my hand that laid on top of his head and whispered my name like a silent prayer. “Delilah?”

I chuckled, rubbing the cool cloth on his head. “Hey, big guy, I wanted to check on you.”

“You can’t be back here.” His voice was rough, like he hadn’t spoken in days. “You need to leave. I might hurt you.” He went to sit up, but I pushed him back on the bed.

“The only way you are hurting me is by not letting me see my bestie. I’ve been worried. Wish you would have let me visit.”

Hawke groaned in pain. His shirt was soaked with sweat, his body aching.

“What can I do to help?” I asked, rubbing the wet cloth over his forehead.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he said, “but you make me feel better.”

I squeezed his hand, pulling the card from my bag.

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