Page 66 of Hawk's Sapphire

“Not yet, but I’m certain now that they know you’re no longer in their way since you’re allegedly dead, they’ll reach out to Matteo soon enough.”Vincenzo supplies.“In the meantime, fix whatever this is between you and Sadie so you two can work together peacefully.Otherwise, step aside and let Matteo to handle her as he’s become accustomed to as of late.”

“Fix it?What would you do, pray tell, if she was your woman?”

An elderly woman comes into the room carrying a silver ashtray.With a scornful look she places it down on the side table near Vincenzo.“I shouldn’t have to chase you with an ashtray.We don’t need the foul smell in every room of the house.”

Vincenzo smiles and nods to the woman.“My apologies, Marta.As always, you’re a step ahead.Thank-you.”

“Put it out and take your conversation to your office where you can stink it up all you like.Leave the poor girl’s room alone.I’ll have to come in and diffuse the scent and clean her linens as it is, so she doesn’t have to smell it when she sleeps.”She shuffles out, passing a chuckling Matteo as she goes.She stops beside me, looking me over then with a haughty huff storms out of the room.

“Even Marta thinks you’re an idiot.”Matteo teases.“And she usually tolerates anyone.”

“Back to your question.”Vincenzo crushes the cigarette into the ashtray and carries it toward the door.Looking over his shoulder he says, “First, I would see the beauty of a woman so brilliant and fierce she’s willing to not only go toe-to-toe with you, but with anyone who stands against you, and I would cherish it.Then, I’d figure out just how badly I’ve misjudged and fucked up and fix it.”He pauses, tilting his head.“A woman like Sadie is a hard gem to find.Not only is her love and loyalty rare, but it’s also unparalleled.Meaning you won’t find another one like her in this world willing to put up with your bullshit the way she has.”

“A simple apology isn’t going to be enough.Sadie is a strong-willed woman.It’s going to take more than words to convince her how I feel.”I admit.“How do I go about breaking down those walls between us?”

“Fuck her senseless and then apologize.A woman is more agreeable when she’s sated.”The arrogant assholes similes, then walks away.

27

SADIE

Emelia sits beside me at the dining room table, picking at the enormous spread of food Marta has laid out.I kept telling her I wasn’t hungry, but the stubborn woman just huffed and said, “You will do as Mr.Parisi instructs.You will eat.”

After she stormed out of the room, me and Emelia both fell into a fit of laughter.She may be older, but Marta is a spitfire.In some ways, she reminds me of Liz.All sass, zero fucks, and no regrets.

“How are you feeling now?”Emelia asks.

I shrug.“My head is a little achy, but I’m feeling better, for the most part.”

“Good.Now how are you feeling emotionally?That was quite a display in there.The air in the room was crackling with the electricity rolling off you two.So … spill,” she urges.

“There’s nothing to spill.”Emelia looks at me like I’m full of shit, and of course, I am.“We grew up together.Nathaniel … er … Hawk was given the job of being my protector, which creepily turned into him tracking my every move.Until I got better at hacking into shit, then I messed up his ability to keep tabs on me.It’s become one of my favorite past times.”

“You bested him?At his own game?”Emelia smiles.“Oh, I think I’m going to like this story.Go on,” she says, popping a piece of banana muffin into her mouth.When Marta realized all I will eat was bread, she brought out every muffin, bagel, and coffee cake she could find.

“I was a job.An obligation.Hawk put trackers on Loretta and my phone.He even tried to crack into my computers a few times, but I learned from watching him and made that shit backfire on him.”I smile around a bite of bagel and cream cheese.Emelia was right.My stomach is slowly feeling better with each bite.

“Wait.Back up.Who’s Loretta?”she asks, confused.

“My baby.”

“You have a kid?”She sits up, startled.

“NO!”I shout.“Fuck no.I’m not cut out to be a parent.”I laugh nervously.“I’d be too afraid to fuck them up like my parents did me.”

Emelia’s hand reaches over, grabbing mine.“Hey.You’re not fucked up.Like so many of the rest of us, you were probably dealt a shit hand in the parent department.It doesn’t mean you won’t be a great mom.Often, people with shitty parents grow up to be amazing parents because they know what they were missing and fight like hell to make sure their own children never feel that kind of hurt or pain.What did your parents do that was so bad?”

“My mother was a drug addict who ended up trying to smother me with a pillow before attempting to take her own life after my father left us,” I start.Watching Emelia’s face for any sign of judgment.“And my father was also an addict and a traitor to the Kings.He somehow managed to get tricked by Nathaniel’s dad into joining another club and played a part in killing my aunt.Though I don’t believe Thomas knew the entire plan anymore.I think he was used.”I shrug.“Either way, he had to leave us behind and, well, my mom lost her shit.”

“Who raised you?I mean, you said he killed your aunt.But what about your uncle?”Gabe would probably be pissed if he heard me spilling all the club’s business, but I came to learn a long time ago that this isnotclub business.This is my fucking life.It isn’t just some old timer’s story being told.I’ve actually lived this.

“My uncle Gabe is the club President, but he was grieving the loss of his family and so, Mack, who is not my uncle by blood, but the next closest thing to it, he and his wife took me in and raised me alongside their two kids.”I tear off another piece of bagel and stuff it in my mouth.

“And how are you and Hawk now?You seem … I mean … are you two together?”she asks hesitantly.

“No.”

“Feeling better, Dolcezza?”Matteo’s greeting cuts our conversation short as he enters the room.He comes straight to me, lifting my chin and kissing me on the forehead.His eyes search mine momentarily.A low growl coming from somewhere behind him makes me flinch.

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