Page 44 of Hawk
I followed her up the two flights of stairs and down the hallway to her room as the sounds of Adrik’s yelling and breaking things grew in intensity. When we got into the room, I looked over my shoulder and spoke quickly and quietly.
“Be ready to go if I give the word and keep yourself protected.”
Her blue eyes filled with tears, and she nodded as I turned and left her alone in the room. I pulled the door closed behind me and walked back down the hallway, looking for Adrik. It was easy to find him as his voice echoed through the mostly empty house.
There were no customers, and some of the guards had been sent on runs, leaving the house shorthanded and understaffed. I found him in the library, yelling into the phone about some bullshit I didn’t care to hear. His head snapped up when he saw me, and his eyes narrowed as I took a seat in front of him.
“I’ll call you back. Just stay under the radar until I figure out who’s betraying us.”
Slamming the phone down, he collapsed onto his chair and snatched the glass of whiskey from the desk before drinking it all. I watched as he sloshed another two fingers into the glass and finished that before he spoke.
“Are you a traitor, Hawkins?”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I asked, and he leaned back in his chair, appraising me from his position of power.
“I’m asking if Sergey Lenkov sent you here to spy on me.” He leaned on the desk with his hands folded as he added, “I’m asking if I need to kill you and that whore upstairs before you try and destroy me.”
“Jesus, you’re a paranoid fucker. To answer your question, no, I’m not a traitor, no, I don’t want to destroy you, and, no, Lenkov didn’t send me. I left his crazy ass when he became so engrossed in himself that he was letting his businesses fail. I’m about money and who’s going to pay me. I don’t give a fuck about the rest.”
Almost everything I said was a lie, but I was good at deception, so when he exhaled and grabbed another glass from the bar cart behind his desk, I knew the crazy fucker believed me. Now to keep him from punishing Stella for what her father seemed to be doing. He poured us each a glass and handed mine to me as he retook his seat.
“Sometimes, I think it would be easier to get rid of her, but fuck, man, she does something to me that I can’t seem to stop. Has that ever happened to you?” he asked before laughing. “I mean, with a man, of course.”
“Of course, and to answer your question, no. I’ve never had someone affect me that way.”
Another lie. Stella—or Lilith, as he called her—did something to me that would never see the light of day. She made me want to do better, to be better, and if it was the last thing I’d do, I was going to take her away from him and all the madness that surrounded him.
“I need to find out who’s ratting out all the families. So far, three different stash houses have been raided by the feds, and I’m afraid they’re closing in on all of us,” Adrik remarked as he took another healthy swallow from his glass.
“Do you have any leads on who it is?” I inquired, and he shook his head.
“Some people think it’s Lenkov, but he’s been a loyal foot soldier for too many years to turn on us. Personally, I think it may be one of his sons, but I have no proof.”
“What can I do?” I asked as I took a small sip of the whiskey.
Adrik refilled and drained another glass of whiskey before slamming it on the desktop. The evil smile he got when he wanted to punish Stella broke out across his face, and I placed my glass onto the edge of the desk as he ordered, “Go get her ready for me. I’ve got some frustrations I need to work out.”
Standing, I replied, “You got it, boss.”
I needed to get upstairs and warn her. If he believed it was one of her brothers talking to the feds, I feared how far he would punish her for his suspicions.
When I got to the door, I knocked once and then opened it without a response. She was braiding her hair down the back, and she lifted her blue eyes to me in the mirror. From my body language, she could tell something was wrong, but she didn’t have time to ask before we heard him climbing the stairs.
“Lilith,” he yelled, “present yourself to your master.”
She hurried with the small band to hold the braid and practically ran to the small rug at the foot of the bed. Kneeling, she lowered her head and placed her hands on her knees as Adrik walked in and pushed me to the side. I could tell he was drunk, and as he staggered to her, I wanted to snap his neck before he could lay a hand on her.
She raised her eyes to him as he moved in front of her, and something strange happened. Stella stood from her kneeling position and placed her hands on his chest. I couldn’t see his face, but I could hear her voice as she spoke.
“Can I pleasure you, Master? I feel like my body’s ready for your baby.”
“Really, Lilith? After all this time?” he slurred, and she nodded.
“I think I was scared, but I read in one of the books that opening myself up to the idea could facilitate conception. Will you let me try?” Her voice lowered and she begged, “Please.”
He stroked her chin and showed a glimpse of the first real affection he’d ever given her as he kissed her on the lips. She returned the embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck and drawing his body closer to her. I didn’t want to watch but knew he required an audience.
What was happening in front of me was unusual, and I was powerless to turn away as she took him by the hand and led him to the edge of the bed. He sat down, and she crawled around him and began to rub his shoulders, relaxing him. His eyes closed, and he groaned into the room as she massaged his neck and shoulders.
