Page 13 of Hawk
Maneuvering the streets of Portstill, I gave a chin lift to the few people who offered me a wave and felt a sense of pride deep within myself. They didn’t know the killer I used to be. They only knew the club brother, father, and citizen I was now, and it felt good to be on the right side of justice.
The long road leading out of town came into view and something deep inside told me I needed to watch my back. It was the little voice that kept me alive for so many years and when it whispered, I listened. There weren’t any other cars on the road as I started down the road, so I pushed the throttle, rocketing faster through the isolated forest. The earpiece under my brain bucket helmet beeped and I knew I was without cell service for the next thirty or so miles.
Ten minutes into the drive, I noticed the sun glinting off something up on the right and I shook my head the closer I got to it. Sitting on the side of the road was a black SUV. Immediately, I knew who it was. The confrontation between us was a long time coming, and it was now or never for me and the arrogant asshole.
Shooting past his parked car, I raised my hand into the air and gave him the middle finger, knowing how much it would piss him off. The smile pressed on my cheeks as I glanced into the rear-view mirror and watched him climb into the vehicle and pull onto the road. Within a minute, he was close to the back wheel of my bike, and his recklessness pissed me off. If he hit me, I was toast, leaving Anna and Matthew alone with only a whore of a mother to take care of them.
I pushed the throttle harder, giving myself distance between us before making a sudden brake and pulling over to the side of the road. I kicked the stand out and hopped off the bike, removing my helmet quickly and standing tall as he pulled up behind me.
Lucian got out of the SUV and the only sound was his shoes crunching against the gravel on the side of the road as he walked to me. The anger was palpable as he got closer and when he stopped about five feet from me, he pushed his sunglasses onto the top of his head.
Offering him a shit-eating grin, I asked, “Going somewhere Lucian?”
“I’m going with you. I deserve to know what’s going on.”
I laughed, throwing my head back and cackling into the air. This only pissed him off more, and I heard him take two steps closer to me. Bringing my gaze to him, I felt the anger boiling to the surface and was ready to pound his ass into the dirt.
“You deserve jack fucking shit from me, so get fucked.”
“Who do you think you’re talking to, Colton?” His sneer was going to get his ass kicked around his shoulders, so I took a cleansing breath before I replied.
“Like I told the madman, call me that again and I’ll knock your teeth down your throat. Are we clear, lunatic?”
I knew his nickname from all those years ago and knew how much it pissed him off. He may or may not remember crossing paths with me, but I certainly did. It took a lot to scare me, and he wasn’t on the list of things that did.
He removed any space between us, pressing his face within an inch of mine as he taunted, “I’d love to see you try.”
He was a dumb motherfucker if he thought his antics were going to change my mind. Using an old trick, I extended my left arm out from my side and shook my wrist, drawing his gaze briefly away from me. That was all I needed, and faster than he was expecting, I raised my right hand and punched him in the side of the head, dazing him.
I could tell he wasn’t used to being on the receiving end of a punch, and with a speed he wasn’t expecting, I spun him around where his back was to me and wrapped my right arm around his neck. I cinched my left arm into the hold and began to squeeze, slowly depleting his air until I felt his body give up the fight and begin to go limp in my arms.
Not wanting to kill him, just make him a little sleepy, I kept the hold strong as he nodded forward and his body turned pliable. Lowering him to the ground, I whispered to his semi-conscious body, “Do not test me, Lucian. I’m unlike anything you’ve ever come across and where I’m going isn’t your business. Don’t try to follow me again, or the madman will have to visit you in a rehabilitation center.”
Making sure he was off the road, I left him on the ground as he began to stir from the fresh air in his lungs. I stepped away and got back on my bike before casting a glance back at him. He had his hand lifted to his forehead and I knew, he would be fine within a minute or two. Pissed, but fine.
I cranked the bike and pulled away, spraying gravel and dirt on him as I left the side of the road. Riding faster than I needed to, I put as much distance between us as possible, knowing he would be stupid enough to try and follow me again. The last sight I had of him was him stumbling to get back into the SUV.
I chuckled to myself as I watched him turn the vehicle around and pull away, headed back to Portstill. He thought so highly of himself, and he was skilled, but I had something more driving me today.
The chance to right a wrong and possibly reunite Hailey with her mother.
If she’s who I think she is, that is, and if she’s willing to give herself a chance to live for once.
As soon as I was off the long road leading from Portstill to the interstate, I found a gas station and pulled over. I filled the tank, grabbed a drink, and just as I hopped back onto the bike, I made a quick phone call.
“Hawk,” Devlin stated, and I shook my head at his abrasive tone.
“You need to keep your brother on a short leash or he’s going to regret it,” I warned and heard a chuckle from the madman.
“He was pissed when he got back to Pierce Bluff,” he explained. “Hailey and Hatchet were here, and she lit into him, telling him if he caused you any problems, she’d cut him from her life. You two really are good friends, aren’t you?”
“That girl is special.” He made a noise of agreement, and I continued, “I don’t want a fight with you or him. All I want to do is help Hailey, so please, keep your brother in check before I really hurt him.”
“Lucian’s his own man, Hawk, but I’ll do my best.”
“I’ll be in touch.” Just before I hung up, I added, “And don’t use my phone to track me, Devlin. Where I’m going doesn’t need an arrow pointing to it. Are we clear?”
“I’ll give you a week to report back to Hailey, then all bets are off.”
