Page 49 of Hawk
Chapter 16
Hawk
Pulling up to the DeathHounds compound, I lifted my chin to the prospect manning the gate as I slowed down to a crawl. He acknowledged me as he walked into the guard shack and pressed a button to open it. Since we’d had so much trouble over the last few years, the compound was always locked down and secured, just to be safe.
Inside the gates was where our old ladies, our kids, and our families lived, so we did everything we could to keep them safe. Having Devlin’s company monitoring everything, with Skid at the helm, gave everyone peace of mind. I hated that the bastard had any sort of control over us, but I understood why he was so vested in the club. It didn’t mean I had to like it, but I understood.
The gate began to close as I pulled through, and as I parked my bike near the clubhouse, Gunner walked out to meet me. It was before lunch on a Wednesday, so most of the brothers were working their jobs. Some worked for the club, others for local business, but everyone was expected to pull their weight.
I turned off my bike and swung my leg over the side, feeling the rushed trip deep in my bones. My knees were blown out in a night parachute jump during my one and only deployment overseas, and I could feel the ache deeply as I squatted and tried to relieve some of the discomfort.
Gunner offered me a hand, and I took it, using him to help me stand again. “You’re getting old, Hawkins,” he joked, and I shook my head at him.
“You’re one to talk, old man,” I returned as we walked into the clubhouse. “How’s Matthew?”
“I just left the cabin, and he was lying on the couch watching some stupid cartoon about a sponge.”
“That one gets on my nerves, but he loves it,” I said as we walked up to the bar.
Basher was behind the large piece of wood and offered me his fist as Gunner and I approached. I knocked knuckles with him and looked behind the bar to see how fucked-up they’d left it while I was gone. I was pleasantly surprised to see everything was in its place and there weren’t dirty dishes in the sink or empty bottles on the shelves.
“Two Irish coffees,” Gunner ordered and clapped me on the back, tilting his head to the side. “Let’s talk before word you’re home gets to everyone.”
I followed him to a small table near the side of the clubhouse, away from the bar. We sat with our backs to the wall and made small talk until Basher delivered our drinks to us. Taking a sip, I suddenly realized how tired I was from lack of sleep and the long drive home.
“Tell me what’s going on,” Gunner instructed, and I had to tread cautiously.
“I contacted a mutual friend, and they were able to put me in contact with her. She and I talked all day yesterday, and I got her to agree to come back and meet Hailey,” I explained quietly then exhaled a deep breath before running my hands through my hair, pushing it out of my eyes.
“That’s good, right?” he asked, and I shrugged. “Talk to me, Hawk. What’s bothering you?”
“What I’m about to tell you has to stay between us. Not even Sadie can know.” He nodded his understanding as I finished my drink and turned to face him. “I’m sure you know by now that before I prospected, I wasn’t the best person. I met Stella after I discovered her father had sold her to a sadist in exchange for power and money.” Gunner’s eyes grew wide as I continued. “I got a job with the man, hoping to find a way to save her. During the six long months I’d worked there, I saw . . . shit, man, the things I saw kept me awake for years.”
“What kind of things?” he inquired and raised two fingers to Basher behind the bar.
I waited as two shot glasses filled with whiskey were placed in front of us and we were alone again. Drinking down the shot, I spoke, almost so softly that I feared Gunner couldn’t hear me.
“He beat her, raped her, paraded her around naked for everyone to see, and if he was pissed off, at anything, he made her pay. One night, she decided she’d had enough, and I watched as she killed him without blinking an eye. I got her away, but it took weeks for us to get to safety. The person I’d left her with, who I won’t name, took her in and helped her heal. I left, thinking my presence made her remember, and the last thing I’d ever wanted to do was cause her any pain.”
