Page 71 of Hawk's Sapphire

“Yes.But the proper tools can tame her.”That has my hackles raised.If he tells me he fucked her into submission, the way I’m sure Vincenzo is doing to Emelia, I’m going to gut him right here in this office with a letter opener and I won’t give two fucks about the blowback.

In a stern effort to keep control of myself, I choose not to respond.Though I doubt Matteo doesn’t see the effects his words have on me.It was his sole intention.But he doesn’t stop there.His next question pushes me even harder.

“Tell me, Hawk.What are your intensions with Miss Jenkins?”

What the fuck does it matter to him?

“Sadie’s mine,” I state firmly.

“Hmm.Yes, so you’ve said.A man’s proclamation of a woman beinghismeans shit to me.”His smug expression turns to one of seriousness and severity.“A man can claim anything to be his, but if he claims a woman and doesn’t truly possess her heart, his words mean shit.”

“You don’t think I can win Sadie’s heart?”I ask, not sure I want the answer he’s about to give.

“I think you had her heart, and you broke it in a matter of minutes when you wouldn’t listen to her explanation about Thomas.But it was yourwordsthat shattered her the most.You see, Sadie cravespraise—to feel appreciated, respected, loved.It speaks to her soul in a way nothing else can.So, every time you tell her she’s stupid, reckless, untrustworthy, disloyal—she takes it to heart.Affirmation can work both ways in a person’s life.Especiallyfrom someone she loves,” he explains.“You can either affirm a person with encouragement and praise—or you can affirm the worst things they already believe about themselves, making the lies they tell themselves true.”

Fuck.

His words hit a place deep in my chest and I find myself wishing one of those bullets had penetrated the Kevlar.I fucking deserve it.If what he’s saying is true, I’m going to have my work cut out for me to earn her trust again.

“I didn’t force Sadie’s submission,” Matteo says.His words bringing me back to the moment.“She willingly gave it to me because she trusts me not to hurt her or take advantage of her vulnerable state.She felt free to be herself and let down her guard with me because I built that trust with her.Proved to her she could relinquish control, even if only for a little while, and I would take care of her in whatever way she needed without judgment or rejection.”

“What do you mean?She let you control what, exactly?”I’m mentally preparing myself for the worst, to hear that she let him give her body pleasure and told him all her darkest secrets, things that are meant to be shared with only me.

“Sadie needs someone with a firm hand who will step in when things become overwhelming,” he says.

“I’ve tried.All it does is piss her off.”Matteo laughs at my words.

“No.What you and your friends have done is demand she do as you say without bothering to give her what she needs.”It’s my turn to raise a questioning brow.He’s not making sense.

Matteo sighs.“Sadie carries the weight of the world, or the club rather, on her shoulders.”

“That’s the Pres’s job.Not hers.”

Matteo shakes his head at me.

“Yes, but he doesn’t carry the same burdens she does.”I gesture with my hand for him to go on, because I still don’t get what he’s saying.“Sadie feels responsible for all the wrongs her father committed against the club.She feels like she must prove herself worthy to everyone because she shares the blood of a traitor.”

“That makes no sense.She’s not to blame for his bullshit!We don’t determine who we share blood with.”Frustrated, I scrub both hands through my hair.

“She doesn’t see things that way.She sees how the man who fathered her hurt the people who raised her, the people she cares about most.Her grandparents, her aunt and uncle, her mother, friends …you.”His words cause a pit to form in my stomach as he continues.“He forced the hand of these people.They stepped in to raise her, teach her, love her.But she is a product of the man responsible for causing death and destruction, family separations.Her mission is to bring everyone home.To put things back in order and restore the family.Whatever the cost.”

Son of a bitch.

“Why did she never tell me she felt this way?I would’ve set her straight about everything.”The weight of his words sitting firmly on my chest.She’s been hurting all this time.And I never fucking knew.

“Because you carry your own burden of guilt from your own father.You wouldn’t have heard her.You would’ve told her what she felt was bullshit and dismissed it as done.The same way Gabriel has done for you in the past.”

Okay, so he’s not totally wrong.I probably would’ve.But he doesn’t understand.It wasmy fatherwho convinced hers to betray the club.If anyoneshouldfeel the burden of guilt, it’s me.

“Sadie took on the club’s secrets and problems and began trying to uncover and mend them all.In the process, she stopped taking care of herself, pushing her own needs aside.I believe she thought you would eventually come around, and when that didn’t happen, she sought help elsewhere.”

“Meaning she came to you and Vincenzo.”

He nods.“At first it was to pitch her snitch program, seeking a business partnership.Someone who would let her create and run the business her way.A silent partner of sorts.But as things unfolded with the club, her need for our help changed.Originally, she was just gathering information for us, and we were steadily making our own plans to dismantle the trafficking ring.Then Avery’s situation opened new information and Sadie became obsessed with finding Eleanor.When the Trident team’s involvement was exposed …”

“Sadie cracked into their system and went down another rabbit trail of information.”I finish for him.I can see the dots connecting as he speaks.

“It was when she discovered you had a sister that her newest plan was formed.We didn’t want to go along with her idea of using herself as bait, but there was no turning back.If we didn’t help her, she would find a way to do it herself.She’s quite stubborn.”

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