Page 79 of Hawk
I disconnected the call and when Gunnar saw I wasn’t on the phone anymore, he approached me. “I’m guessing whatever that call was about wasn’t good.”
I glanced over to Stella and the ladies watching the kids play with Jackal before I answered, “I need for you to keep Lucian off the compound.”
“Why?” Gunnar asked and turned to follow my line of sight.
“I don’t know everything, but if what I just found out from Skid is true, we don’t want the kind of monster he is around the club.”
Gunnar snapped his head to me and his eyes shrunk to narrow slits. “Are you saying what I think you are?”
I shrugged and explained as I stood from my seat. “It’s all speculation, but I know if Stella sees him, she will hurt him. She’s said as much, and I don’t want to take the chance.”
“I’ll let the gate know, and if he shows up, I’ll remove him myself,” Gunnar replied, slapping me on the back. “Go spend time with your woman.” I went to correct him, but he shook his head with a smile. “She’s your woman already, so go show her what she’s been missing.”
I walked across the parking lot and realized Gunnar was right. Stella was mine already, and I needed to show her how good things could be. As I got close, she looked over her shoulder and offered me a smile before she returned her attention to the kids playing.
When I got behind her, I wrapped my arms around her, linking my hands over her stomach and pulling her back to my front. She leaned her head against my chest as we watched Jackal get his ass handed to him by Matthew, Anna, Iris, and the other three club kids playing.
Hailey stood next to Stella with her head resting on Jacob’s shoulder and she offered me a knowing smile along with a wink when she saw me embracing Stella. I already had her approval, and now, I needed to get Stella on board.
Rose walked up next to us and asked, “Can Matthew and Anna spend the night with us? We can get them to school when we drop off Iris. Tomorrow’s Friday, so it’s only a half-day.”
“That’s not necessary,” I started to say, but she shook her head.
“I thought Stella might need you around tonight, and we love having sleepovers with the kids. So, can they?”
Stella turned and looked over her shoulder at me as I weighed the question. Deciding Rose was right about Stella needing me, I responded, “I’ll need to get them clothes for tomorrow.”
“Adam has a key from when he helped with the back deck, so we’ll grab clothes on our way home,” Rose reasoned.
“Thank you, Rose. That sounds great,” I returned and squeezed Stella a little tighter.
I was worried about Stella being alone her first night here but didn’t want to suggest she stay with me out of respect for her boundaries. When Rose asked, I felt some of the tension ebb from Stella and I knew this was the best idea.
The kids would get to spend time with Iris, Stella would have me around in case she needed anything, and I could be on guard for Lucian.
If what Skid told me was even partially correct, I was going to kill Lucian myself. After what his sister and niece lived through, there was no way I was letting him walk free.
I just prayed I wouldn’t start a war with the madman.
