Page 21 of Hawk's Sapphire

“You told her to leave.You fucking let her go.”Jake practically whispers, nodding his head, and before I know what’s happening his right fist meets my jaw rocking me hard and damn near knocking me and my bike over.I set the kickstand and hop off easy for a fight.Ethan does the same and starts stalking toward me.Ethan follows suit, and I’m not sure if he’s planning on helping Jake or if he’s merely looking to be the referee.

We don’t interfere if two brothers have beef with each other.We let them throw hands and settle it like men.So long as no one pulls a weapon, anything else goes.

Jake comes at me and takes another swing.I dodge his punch and land one to his face in return.“You fucking knew she did this shit and instead of talking to her and holding her at the clubhouse you just let her fucking go!”Jake roars landing a swift jab to my ribs.

“I didn’t trust myself.I didn’t want to hurt her!”

“She was scared and probably has the answers we need from that asshole, and your dumbass sent her the fuck away!You gave her permission to leave!Why?”He tosses back.

“I was pissed, and I didn’t think she would…”

“That right there.”Jake says pointing at me.“You didn’t fucking think!This is Sadie for shit’s sake.If she was already thinking about leaving and then you went and lost your shit on her, of course she’s going to fucking run as far away as possible.Andyou gave her permission to do it!”

“Not to mention, you probably broke her heart.”Ethan adds from the sideline.“She’s been in love with you for years, and you finally gave her what she’s always wanted then snatched it awayandtold her it was a fucking mistake.”

I’m stunned by the truth in Ethan’s words and that’s the moment Jake uses to offload three more punches.One to the face and two to the body.The pain barely registers.Another punch to the gut and Jake keeps going.“What if Thomas forced her to do it?Did you even give her a chance to explain, or did you just dismiss her?What if it was Parisi who set her up?She couldn’t tell you before but as your ol’ lady she would’ve been protected!”Another gut shot.I stagger back but can’t bring myself to fire back because he’s right.

“She would’ve been protected anyway because she’s Gabe’s niece.”Ethan adds, playing devil’s advocate and helping no one.

“She betrayed the club!”I shout back.“Even if she was my ol’ lady, a traitor won’t be spared.”

“And if she did it because someone put a gun to her head?”Jake practically roars.“We don’t know because you scared her off you dumb fuck!”

We’re both panting.My face is starting to swell, and my ribs are sore, as I bend over trying to slow my breathing.Jake has a point.I did send her away before she told me the whole story.I didn’t give her a chance.I kept shutting her down.

You gave her the permission she needed to get the hell out of town.

“Did she tell you where she was thinking of going last night?”Jake asks, standing with his fists on his hips taking deep breaths.

“No.”I stand back up, running my hands through my hair, stretching my chest to get a deeper breath myself.

“All right.What do your stalker senses tell you?Where would she go?”Ethan asks, amusement alight in his eyes.He’s enjoying watching us go at each other.

“If I had to guess,” I look to Jake.“I’d say we need to ask Vincenzo.”He nods his agreement.“But first, we need to tell Pres.”

We mount our bikes and get ready to roll, when Ethan calls my name with a shit-eating grin splitting his face.When I tip my chin for him to go ahead, he hollers, “Don’t think I’m not going to tell Kieran how you got your ass beat.You should expect his call because you looked like shit out there.”I flip him the bird and follow him out of the drive.

9

SADIE

I take a long, hot shower and let the water run until it’s cold.Running every scenario through my mind as to how Hawk is going to play this.I have no doubt he told Gabe everything he knows, even though it’s not the whole truth.It’s protocol.He would’ve told the guys everything in church and now that he knows I’m gone, he’s going to put all his efforts into finding me.

I already know what he’ll do.He’s going to search my phone, checking through all my text messages and social media apps.He’ll probably question Avery, Jayde, Jinx, and Sky, but none of them know anything about what I’ve been up to.I purposely kept them in the dark so they wouldn’t have to lie for me.

Avery knows about my business partnership, but that’s all public record now anyway since Matteo is part owner until I can buy him out down the road.Of course, Mack will probably lose his shit over that.He’ll want to have words with Matteo about it.Hell, he’d probably be ballsy enough to show up at the Pearl looking for him.Thankfully, we’re nowhere near Oakridge so there’s no worry of a surprise visit or bloodshed any time soon.

Avery is going to be pissed when she learns I’ve left and didn’t fill her in on my plans.I’ll call her on a burner eventually, but I need to give it a few days to let things settle.Besides, I’m not sure what I would even tell her at this point.The guys may think they’re shit is kept private under the whole ‘it’s club business’ motto, but my girls are stupid.They listen and pay attention.The men may not think we can handle ourselves, but I dare anyone to try to take out than or Caleb, hell even Mack.They better have a plan for the afterlife, because I can guaran-fucking-tee they’ll be headed straight for hell at the hands of their women if given the opportunity.

My girls are fierce, and they are just as protective and brutal as any of the men.We may not have the same strengths, but we’re not weak either.Any one of us would lay down our lives for this family.

Too bad the men don’t believe it.

I finish in the bathroom and put on a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt before heading down to the dining room to meet Matteo.I’m not sure I know where I’m going, but there’s a delicious smell coming from this direction, so I trust my nose to lead the way.

I follow the sound of murmured voices and round the corner to find Matteo sitting at the table talking with two of his men.When they look up and see me enter the room, all conversation ceases.

“Come in, Dolcezza.Dinner will be out momentarily.”Matteo crooks his finger at me then pulls out the chair to his left.“Come.We have much to discuss.How are you feeling?”He searches my face, and I fight the urge to shiver under his scrutiny.Not because I’m into him, though he is very attractive man with wealth and power and could give me anything my heart desires.

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