Page 14 of Hawk's Sapphire

But none of that matters now.

I stand to my feet, but he’s quick to block my exit.

He scrubs his face one more time, looking at me as if he doesn’t know me.His expression hard, his eyes cold and unseeing.Maybe he doesn’t.

“It’s shit like this that makes it impossible for you to be mine.My ol’ lady has to be loyal to me and to this club.She has to do what she’s told and follow the fucking rules, not put herself and everyone else in danger at every fucking opportunity.”He shakes his head, looking past me.“I don’t know what the hell I was thinking claiming you last night.”He takes a step back, waving his arm between us.“This would never work.I can never trust you to be honest or do what’s best for us or the club.”

A sob escapes me, but if he notices he doesn’t say.

“You need to get the fuck out of here.”His eyes meet mine.“I’m going to have to tell Pres what you’ve done but it’ll have to wait until we have church.But until then, I want you to get in your car and go the fuck home.Do you hear me?”He leans in, his breath mingling with mine, but this doesn’t have the same effect as it did just moments ago when he took my mouth with his.Something he now regrets.“You better do as I say and go the fuck home.No where else.You hear me?I’d have you stay here, but I can’t trust myself to be anywhere near you right now.I’m too angry and you’re too -you.”His tone is one of complete disgust and the last piece of my heart tumbles to the ground.

Hawk opens the door, motioning for me to leave.I walk out into the hall, and whisper, “I’m sorry,” as I pass him on the way.I hear him scoff, and I know those two words mean absolutely nothing to him, but I mean them with every ounce of my being.

His door slams shut behind me, but I don’t look back.I head for the backdoor, the same one I snuck Thomas through and head straight for Loretta, getting in and starting her up.I slam my hands on the steering wheel fighting back the need to scream.

I throw Loretta in reverse, backing out of my spot, then shift her into gear and hit the fucking gas, watching as gravel kicks up behind me.The gate is still open, and I haul ass out of the compound and head for the open road.

I’m only half a block away when my phone rings, Vincenzo’s name appears on Loretta’s screen.I touch the green button and answer, “Yeah.”

“Do you have called ID, Miss Jenkins?”His tone is calm, even, but I know he’s not happy with my lack of manners.One thing Vincenzo Parisi is a stickler for is respect.Ask me if I give a shit.

“I’m in a hurry and wasn’t expecting it to be you calling.”I tell him, frantically wiping the tears from my face as I drive like a maniac down the winding road.

“I see.Well, perhaps check who’s calling next time.That should help you know which greeting is appropriate, yes?”He pauses waiting for a response.Prick.

“My apologies.”I say, my voice tight.I’m in no fucking mood for another arrogant asshole to tell me how I do everything wrong.

“Very good.I assume Tate told you about the situation your family is in.”He says.I hear the sound of rustling in the background.

“No.He called but I wasn’t in a position to take the call.I’m just leaving the clubhouse.The paramedics were there with the sheriff to pick up Nate’s body.”I tell him.“What kind of trouble are they in?”

“Good.Go home.Grab your things, Matteo has sent a vehicle around to pick you up.It will be arriving in less than five minutes.Be ready.”He completely ignores my question and hangs up the call and I finally let myself scream.

6

HAWK

A few hours later, the paramedics have taken Nate’s body to the morgue and the sheriff told Gabe they’d be in touch once they had the coroner’s full report.It appears Nate diednaturally.There were no major wounds outside of the bullet hole in his leg, which we said he arrived at the clubhouse with.It’s the truth.We just left out the part where I put the bullet hole in him before we brought him here.

I’ll hack the system and get the real report in a day or so.

We take our places in the sanctuary.Gabe, Eli, and all the other guys are already in the room waiting.Austin runs in handing me my laptop at Pres’ orders.As soon as I close the door, I get my laptop opened and Gabe slams the gavel down cutting right to it.

“Hawk, pull up the cameras and check the system.I looked at it myself, but maybe I missed something.”Gabe barks.I raise my hand, and he tips his chin.“What is it?”

“I’ve already checked the cameras.They don’t show everything from last night, but I received the missing footage.”I say to the room.

“What do you mean, you received it?”Gabe asks, his arms now crossed over his chest.He’s an intimidating fucker on a good day.

“Let me show you.”I open my email and put it up on the flatscreens for everyone to see.The video plays, the audio is muffled but we can see everyone clearly.

“What the hell is Sadie doing down there?”Gabe shouts.

“With Thomas.Fuck.”Caleb chimes in.

We all watch as Sadie and Thomas sneak through the clubhouse and enter the basement.Thomas and Nate exchange some heated words, and then the same happens between Nate and Sadie as he explains the original plan for Maggie and Avery.Jake lets out a low growl beside me when he hears how they were supposed to take Avery back to the clubhouse.We all know they would’ve done one of two things form there; either sold her to the highest bidder or turned her into a club whore.Neither option sits well with any of us.

“It almost makes you think she got lucky living with that bitch of a grandmother, doesn’t it?”Ethan whispers.

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