Page 64 of Hawk's Sapphire

Matteo turns to me, gripping my chin between his fingers.“Go, Dolcezza.Go to the kitchen and eat your breakfast.Emelia, will you accompany her and see to it she eats something, please?”Emelia’s hand rests on my shoulders from behind.I had forgotten she was even in the room.

“And Sadie.”Matteo speaks gently.“We’ll discuss the cussing situation later.”He raises his brow and it’s all I need to let the tension loosen from my shoulders just a little.

“Come on, sweetie.”Emelia says softly.“Let’s go find us a place we can breathe some testosterone free air, shall we?”

I don’t respond but allow her to grip my hand and drag me out of the room.

26

HAWK

I watch, seething with anger as Sadie follows Matteo’s instructions seamlessly, never bucking at his demands or questioning who he thinks he is.No, she just obeys him, and it’s pissing me the hell off.

“Well, Mr.Hawkins, that was quite the clusterfuck if I’ve ever seen one.”Vincenzo chuckles.“Watching a woman so passionate and full of anger is invigorating, is it not?”He takes a seat in the plush chair across the room, lighting up a cigarette and crossing his ankle over his knee.

“She’s crazy and reckless, and …” I start, only to be cut off.

“She’s a woman who loves fiercely.Willing to sacrifice everything-her home, her family, their trust, even her life if that’s what the situation calls for-all for the safety and happiness of the people she cares about most in this world.She risked breaking her own heart to spare you pain.She put herself on display, broke past her own stubbornness and comfort zone, in hopes of gaining a bidder at the auction who could lead her to your sister and us to the people responsible for the trafficking ring.Never once did she ask me for anything for herself.Instead, our contract was for the health and safety of your sister and of course, preventing the club from going to war.”

“What?”

Vincenzo shrugs, blowing out smoke.“She knew if the club discovered who was holding Shea or where she was being held, not to mention Sadie having offered herself on a platter to the traffickers, Gabriel and his men would come in on their metal horses so to speak, with intentions of killing anyone who dared harm the two women in question.Thus, forcing Cusenza to call in the Devils and causing the two clubs to in fact go to war.And since Gabriel has spent his life trying to keep the Kingsoutof war and from enduring unnecessary loss of life, Sadie felt it pertinent to keep up the tradition.”

“You condone what she’s done?You’d let your woman do something as careless as throwing herself to the wolves for the slaughter?”I ask, not believing for a second that if the tables were reversed and he was in my shoes with his woman putting her ass on the line that he’d be this calm.Not a fucking chance in hell.

Vincenzo smirks again.“My woman would have no reason to feel she needs to prove herself or her loyalty to me.”

“Well, if Sadie hadn’t pulled this kind of selfish, irresponsible shit numerous times over the years—and let’s not forget the most recent transgression of smuggling a traitor into the basement of the clubhouse—one who happened to be working foryou,at the time.She might not feel the need to prove her loyalty to me or the club either.”Even after I say the words, I know they’re wrong.Everything Sadie has done, though it wasn’t condoned by the club, it was out of loyalty and service to others in need.It’s what we would’ve done in her shoes.

My chest tightens a little with that realization.

“Sadie is not a brother.Therefore, she should not be held to the same rules or guidelines as you.”Vincenzo chides.“Correct me if I’m wrong, but women, not the whores you all sleep around with, but the women who were born into the club or who you call your ol’ ladies, they’re meant to be cherished by the Kings.Your behavior toward Miss Jenkins says otherwise and we both know it’s bullshit.”

“Has she done things to endanger herself?Yes.Are they things you yourself or your brothers would do in the same situations?Again, yes.But ask yourself this question too, has Sadie ever really done anything that would harm the club or the members of her family without seeking help or a having a back-up plan?That answer, my friend, is no.It’s also why she came to me.”He leans back, arrogance coming off him in waves.

“She saw an advantageous partnership, and someone who could help her achieve her goals of finding your sister while shutting down these primitive assholes who feel they can buy and sell humans for their own pleasures and advantage.She also knew she could trust me to keep my word and keep her family safe from any backlash for her actions.”

“And how exactly do you plan to do that?”

“I already have.”He looks to Matteo, then back to me.“Nate’s death was orchestrated by me.I knew it would draw the Feds in, which would mean Garbiel would have to order everyone to be on their best behavior for a time, allowing Sadie to come with Matteo so they could begin working on the problem together.”

“And the three dead Devils and Drea?Was that you too?”I ask, suddenly beginning to see the tapestry of Vincenzo’s plans put together.

“That was Kayce and his men.”He shrugs.“I allowed it.”He says it so nonchalant, like he didn’t just frame the fucking club who is supposedlyfriendswith.

“So, it was you who framed me?Had someone break into my mother’s home and steal my gun?You know I should kill you for scaring my mother and causing her unnecessary worry.”I threaten.

Again, the smug bastard shrugs.“You should, but you won’t.”

“And why is that?”I lean back, crossing my arms over my chest.My anger so strong, I’m now vibrating with it.

“Because if I hadn’t allowed it, you wouldn’t be here now.”He looks to Matteo, who decides it’s his turn to jump into the conversation.

“You would’ve ordered Matteo to shoot me f\or real?”I taunt.

“No.But only because I promised Sadie to keep the club members alive, including you.You should thankherfor my generosity.”

Asshole!

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