Page 9 of Ethan's Sky

Lucky bastard.

What the hell am I thinking? I don’t want someone to call my own.

Liz smiles up at me and taps a hand on my cheek. Seeing her this close, I notice her make-up does nothing to hide the fact she’s been crying.

What the hell?

My brow creases at the sight, but before I can ask what’s wrong, she gives a soft, apologetic smile, and says, “Oh, I’m sure you’ll figure it out soon enough, sweetheart.” She clears her throat, her voice sincere and laced with concern. She steels her face and turns around. “In the meantime.” She points right at Hawk. “You,behave.”

Hawk’s mouth drops open, as he sputters, “I haven’t done anything.”

“You’re thinking about it, and I’ll tell you now. When it comes to her…don’t.”

Liz crosses her arms attempting to look tough in her tight black jeans and her Property of Captain, her nickname for her husband, T-shirt, glaring at Hawk. A mischievous smile breaks out on his face and she’s up and off the ground as he spins her in a hug.

Liz absolutelyhatesthat shit. She’ll take a hug, sure. But she gets mad as hell when someone picks her up or spins her around. She’s so tiny compared to the rest of us it isn’t hard to do. It’s also why Hawk does it as often as he can get away with. He likes to stir the pot.

“Hawk!” Caleb’s deep voice booms through the room.

Speaking of the “pot.”

“Keep my woman’s feet on the fucking ground, dickhead! Get your own ol’ lady to harass!” Caleb shouts, as he, Ghost, Mack, Eli, and Gabe are all coming down the hall, out of Gabe’s office. The mood in the room shifts drastically as they enter. All conversations cease.

Ghost’s eyes scan the room. He breaks off from the rest in a hurry. Heading straight toward the blonde.

“What the fuck? Mack’s here too?” My words are quiet but filled with shock. Mack is one of the club’s enforcers, only he’s been working for Garrison Security on special assignment for a long ass time.

“Makes sense if he brought Sadie home,” Gus grumbles. Only it doesn’t make sense because although it’s not unusual for Sadie to come home, seeing Mack is a rarity. His presence means my gut on the way to the clubhouse was right.

Caleb makes eye contact with me but says nothing.

Something’s fucked.

Mack makes his way over to Jake and embraces his son. He always wears a crisp suit when he’s working on his assignment. He’s head of security for one of Garrison Security’s biggest clients. Gabe’s father-in-law.

Mack’s suit is rumpled, and his hair looks like he’s been running his hands through it repeatedly in frustration. Both he and Gabe seem uncomfortable, but it’s Mack’s demeanor that has me a little on edge. He’s pensive andpissed.A deadly cocktail when mixed with one of our club’s enforcers. This one in particular.

Though he’s resigned his position as enforcer unofficially since he works and spends most of his time in Baron’s Edge, he’s still one scary motherfucker. He won’t hesitate to handle business for the club if he feels things need his special brand of justice to be served.

Well, shit.

The man’s torture skills are unparalleled. It’s not just his job, it’s hispassion. The simple fact he’s here, in his suit, not his cut, means something really fucked up is going on. He rarely leaves his post in Baron’s Edge to come home unless it’s planned well in advance, and healwayswears his cut when he’s home.

Hawk backs away from a scowling Liz with his hands up in surrender. “There’s no need to be mean, old man. I don’t want to be saddled and pussy-whipped like you.” Caleb stands almost toe to toe with Hawk, glaring down the three-inch height difference between them.

I see it coming before Hawk does.

Caleb catches him in the chest with a solid punch, making Hawk sputter and cough. The room fills with laughter at the idiot who’s now hunched over. He tries to stand, and Gus cuffs him on the back of the head. His stupidity lightening the somber mood a little. Sadie and Jayde are both shaking their heads. Even the blonde’s shoulders shake momentarily, but her face is still hidden behind a curtain of hair as she shakes it.

I wonder what her laugh sounds like.

Why the hell do even I care?

Hawk’s trying to laugh too but hasn’t quite caught his breath.

Chuckling, Caleb says, “Fucker,” then leans down to kiss his wife who’s beaming.

“Thank you, Captain. Always the gentlemen.” Liz wraps her arms around Caleb’s waist looking up at him, her eyes shining.

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