Page 6 of Hawk's Sapphire

“It’s a gender reveal, not a baby shower.Which means they’ll have another expensive party similar to this one in a few weeks to spoil Skyler one more time with everything she could possibly want or need before the baby is born.”I reply.“The gifts today are just a teaser.Trust me.The kid will want for nothing if this club has anything to say about it.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”I feel his eyes studying me as I look around the room at all the faces of the people I call family.

“I-I don’t think kids are in the plan for my life.I wouldn’t know how to be a mother.Mine wasn’t much of an example.And if we consider the gene-pool I came from, I’m not so sure I want to pass that along to a kid.”I clear my throat, fighting against the tightness I feel due to the lump that’s forming there.

“I see.”Vincenzo looks from me to Matteo, but Matteo’s eyes are studying me.The watchful bastard is too astute.He sees my pain but thankfully doesn’t comment.“Are we all set?”Vincenzo asks.

Matteo looks to me.I nod.I’m not sure I can speak right now.Realizing how much they all love Skyler and how supportive everyone is of her, sends a sharp pain through my chest.I want that so much.The loving husband.The family.Thelove.

They’ll never see you as worthy of their love.They won’t understand.

Skyler kept club secrets.Hell, shewasa club secret.So was Avery.I’ve kept club secrets too, but they’ll never see me the same as those two.

I’m a liability.Hawk’s words echo through my mind.He was still pissed about me helping Avery escape her grandmother’s estate, even though it was the right decision, and everyone was happy to have her back among family.It was reckless and could’ve hurt the club.

I’ve tried for years to prove my value to this club.To give them a reason to trust me, to see me as more than my father’s daughter.Gabe’s niece.Anobligation.But they don’t see it.They don’t seeme.And now that shit is about to hit the fan again, I’m making sacrifices to helpthem.To save the only family I’ve ever had and never felt like I truly belonged to.If I don’t do it, they could all die.The Devils will see to it.

Suck it up!This was your choice.

“I have what’s needed.I’ll leave tomorrow night.”I tell them.

“I’ll send Santiago to…”

“No.”I stop Vincenzo before he finishes his thought.“I want to do this alone.I don’t need a babysitter or an escort.I want one more night in my own home, alone, before I move forward.I have shit I need to do to make sure nothing damning is left behind.I’ll leave after everything is sorted.You have my word.”

“I’m not sending a babysitter, Miss Jenkins.But I would feel better if you weren’t left unguarded.I can’t guarantee your protection otherwise.If you recall, I have an agreement with your father to keep you safe.”His voice is low as he speaks.The mention of Thomas will have every man in this room losing their shit.They haven’t seen or heard from him since his escape, and after tonight they’re for sure going to be on the hunt.

“Well, if you recallour agreement,I do things on my terms.In my time.I don’t needhim.He left years ago and as far as I’m concerned has done nothing but fuck up my life with all his brilliant plans and ideas thus far.”I snap.“Thanks to him, I’m about to lose everyone I love in order to clean up his fucking mess.Bothof them can fuck right off as far as I’m concerned.”

“Dolcezza.”Matteo warns.I flick my eyes to his.His lifted brow and tone of voice convey the warning.I’m being disrespectful to Vincenzo and disrespect is never tolerated.

Shut up, Sadie.

“Hey, Vincenzo.Matteo.Santiago.”Violet sidles up saying each name slow and unsure.“I didn’t realize you were coming today.Just you three?Or did you bring anyone else?”She cranes her neck looking around the room.

Vincenzo chuckles.“Is that your not-so-subtle way of asking if Emelia is here?The answer is no.She wasn’t up for company.”

Violet crosses her arms over her chest.“You mean you aren’t ready for her to be out in public.”

“Excuse me.”I push through them, avoiding what I’m sure is going to be another argument about her best friend and how Vincenzo is keeping her hidden away.I keep my head down and head straight for the bathrooms.Once inside, I lean my hands on the counter, fighting to keep my emotions at bay.

“Just get it done and get gone, Sadie.”I tell myself.Pulling the cloned phone from my pocket, I type in Hawk’s password and the secondary pin code and reset all cameras and alarms.Then I quickly shoot off a text to Tate from my own cell phone.

Me: You’re up.Don’t fuck this up.

Tate: Have some faith in us, Sugar.It’ll look like a natural accident.We won’t hurt your family on purpose.

Me: If you do, I’ll find you.

I shut my phone off, put the clone back in my pocket and walk out of the bathroom, heading straight to Skyler to give her a hug.

“You’re leaving?”She asks.

“Yeah.I have a migraine I can’t seem to kick.The music and noise are too much for me right now.I’m sorry.”I lie.

Skyler gives me one more hug and sends me on my way.I don’t bother saying goodbye to anyone else for fear I’ll break down and lose my nerve.Leaving them is hard enough but knowing what they’ll all think of me when the truth comes out, is tearing me apart inside.I’m about to become the person to them they all feared I would become.

A traitor like my father.

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