Page 27 of Hawk's Sapphire

Matteo arches that damn disapproving brow again.“I didn’t think you were like those other women, and if I did, you wouldn’t be here.No disrespect to the women in the club who choose that way of life, but this particular situation calls for someone with more refines, with a little more grace, and self-worth.As for your innocence and naivete, I can assure you it will work in our favor.”

“What we are looking for is a balance between fiery personality and submission.Most of the men buying these women and children from the traffickers are looking for people to break and own.To use until they are no longer a pretty, shiny, new toy.They are twisted individuals, to put it mildly.”

“Yeah, not the words I would use, but since you’ve already threatened to roast my backside this morning, we’ll go with your version.”

Sergio smirks at me.“She is learning.”He’s been quietly observing everything up till now, and if I’m honest, it’s a little unnerving.

“The men at the top-the ones with money, power and influence- those are the men we’re after.They’re the ones pulling all the strings and running things without getting their hands dirty.But they all have the same weakness.”He shakes his head.“They have their playthings or side piece as I’ve heard you ladies call them.But what they really want is a submissive partner to parade around in public and warm their bed every night, while they feed their sadistic tastes elsewhere.Though that does not mean they won’t be sadistic assholes at home as well.They’ll just hide it better.They need someone who can be seen in the public’s eye as being loyal and submissive to their Master.Who will not make a fool of them in front of others by throwing tantrums or frivolously spending money.Someone who will boost their reputation and bring them favor in the eyes of the people around them.It’s all for show.”

“I know what you’re talking about.”I scoff.“The guys in the prep school me and Avery attended were all selective about who they were seen with.They slept with everyone, even those who didn’t give consent.They didn’t care.If anything, ever came of it their daddies would pay off the parties involved, and the reports would magically disappear.But when it came to who they would be marrying after high school, those merges were already preplanned.The girls were preselected by their families.They were the quiet, shy, never got into any trouble or talked back to anyone, girls.The ones who were naturally overlooked in everyday settings, but who had been groomed to not make eye contact, speak softly when spoken to, and never raise a fuss about anything no matter how angry they may have been.They were also the ones who came to school wearing long sleeves and skirts down to their ankles when it was hot as balls outside to cover their bruises.”I lean back in my seat, remembering how Avery had been hiding her bruises from me for so long.But Eleanor was smart enough to only leave marks where they could be covered, but never enough to put Avery in inappropriate clothing that would cause suspicion.

Fucking bitch.

“Then you understand why it is important that for all intents and purposes, we must sell your obedience, and your body to the highest bidder.”

“I’m not a whore, Matteo.”I snap.“I get what you’re saying, and I’m willing to do what you’re asking, but you need to understand where my limits are.I will not have sex with anyone.”

“Then we need to teach you how to kill any man who would attempt to make you do so.”

His words are so nonchalant I almost have to ask if he’s for real.But then Sergio pushes his chair back, stands to his feet, and says, “I’ll let Asha know we are ready to work on self-defense.Weapons, or no?”

“I know how to use a gun.I grew up with the club.”I answer, but it’s not me he’s talking to.Matteo smirks, looking over his shoulder to where Sergio stands.

“Hand-to-hand first.”He turns back to me.“We need to make sure your temper is under control before we hand you a weapon.”The look he gives me says he knows I’ll lose my shit and pull the trigger.It’s happened before, but Jake forgave me, eventually.

12

HAWK

Three days.It took three long days for the Feds to interview everyone, get the final coroner’s report for Nate’s death, and verify everyone’s alibis for the four murders.Unfortunately, that meant three days I wasn’t able to look too hard for Sadie’s whereabouts or discover what the Trident team is up to after the message they sent.Even more unfortunate, the Feds still aren’t gone.They’ve decided to set up shop in town while they investigate things further, which means they’ll also be watching us.

I’ve searched through everything I can think of to find Sadie.Her bank accounts haven’t been touched.She hasn’t purchased any tickets out of town for planes, trains, buses, not even a damn Uber.All of her household bills have been set to autopay on a credit card.

I’ve searched college data bases, police records, street cameras, places I remember Sadie saying she wanted to visit over the years.Everything I can think of and have come up empty.The only place I haven’t tried, is Matteo’s.But I can’t just ride up to Parisi’s house and ask questions with the Feds keeping tabs on us.That’s all Agent Galina needs to solidify her hunch that we’re somehow linked to the Parisi empire.

The only other leads I currently have are the email and text messages sent from Trident the day everything went to shit.With Wyatt’s help, we were able to hack into their system.I can see their client lists and internal emails, but every time I make headway, someone cuts me off.As of yesterday, I was able to track their last known whereabouts to Dallas, Texas where a call came in for help.They’re helpline is specifically for victims of domestic violence and trafficking, to rescue them and help them find their way back to civilization and a normal way of life.An email between Tate and Kayce stated they were deploying a team of four to check into the situation.

I’ve been digging a little deeper into their organization, trying to find everything I can on the men involved and their client roster.Unfortunately, Tate is a techie guy like me, and he has backdoor boobie traps for everything.Every time I get past one, I have only minutes, sometimes seconds, before another one shuts me down.

“Asshole!”I shout to the empty space.

I’m sitting alone in my room at the clubhouse, in the same spot I’ve been sitting in since that bitch agent finally left me alone yesterday.Everyday they’ve shown up with more questions, needing to clarify something.It’s all bullshit.We know it and they know it.There’s something else this woman isn’t telling us.Something she’s after.It’s also the reason I have placed a worm virus into the Feds’ system and have it collecting all the data they have on the Kings, Nate, the Devils, Cusenza, Paisi, and anyone else connected to the trafficking ring.They’re not just here for some dead Devils.

They have to know something more than what they’re telling us.What I want to know is what deal they made with Nate and what information they have on the whereabouts of his daughter.

My half sister.

I still can’t wrap my head around the knowledge of having a sibling I’ve never met.But I guess it shouldn’t surprise me.Nate was never faithful to my mother.He would stay after family hours were over and blow off steam with club girls all the time when I was a boy.Mom would get mad, and they’d argue about him coming home late smelling like a whore, but it only ever ended in Mom being hurt.

The brothers would never tell on him.A man has a right to choose his own fate and the club girls know the score.If a brother wants to fuck-around-and-find-out, the choice was his to make.Didn’t mean Caleb and Gabe didn’t try to talk some sense into him.But Nate never listened to anyone unless there was something of value in it for him.I guess a loyal wife and son never held any value in his eyes.

I’m running multiple programs at a time, heavily concentrating, which is probably why the loud knock on the door startles me.

“Yeah.”

When it opens, Blake is on the other side.“Church.”

I lean back in my seat, tap the keyboard for the screens to go dark and grab my laptop.I knew church was coming.We’ve been holding off while the Feds were still around to ask questions.Pres was concerned they may have bugged the clubhouse, especially now that we know Nate was an informant.Me and Declan have swept the place each night after they’d leave, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t still trying.

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