Page 8 of Hawk's Sapphire

“No.I’m fine.I’ll be going to bed soon.I’ll check in again in the morning.”Sadie says, her eyes locked on mine.

“Don’t drink anymore tonight.You’ll make yourself sick.”He commands.“Take some pain meds and drink some water before bed.”She nods at everything he’s saying, but her facial expression says she’s not going to do a damn thing he says.I’ve got to admit it makes me happy to know she’s going to defy him.

“Dolcezza?”Matteo questions.“I know this is not the way you wanted things to go, but you have my word, things will be fine.Understand?”

“My feelings were never taken into consideration when I made this decision.It was never about me, Mateo.It’s about what’s right.”Her eyes glass over, and her voice cracks a little more with each word.“I have to go.”She hangs up, does something on her screen, then powers the phone off and tucks it under her blanket.

“Is it every nosy fucker disturb Sadioe night or something?How did I miss the fucking memo?”She says her sarcasm a clear deflection from her pain.I see you, baby.I smile at her and shrug my shoulders.

I move to the other chair and drop down beside her.“Since when have I ever needed an invitation to follow your ass around?”

“Hmmm.”She hums, taking another long swig from the tightly gripped bottle in her hand.“Since you’re a controlling asshole and I came out here specifically to be alone with my bottle and my thoughts.”She shakes the bottle of whiskey.I take the opportunity and snatch it from her hand despite her protest and take a drink.“You’re ruining myalone-ness.”She sasses, drawing her words out a little.

“Sky said you left because you had a migraine, but we both know throwing back whiskey won’t help.Which means you don’t have a migraine.You’re out here hiding from something… or someone.”I raise an accusing brow.She doesn’t argue, but attempts to glare, reaching for the bottle.Shaking my head, I don’t let her have it.“Think you’ve had enough already.”

“What the hell?I just wanted to be alone.Why is that so wrong?You’re all nosy, hard of hearing fucks.The lot of you.”She bitches.

“Give me my bottle back, asshat.”I take another swig and tuck it beside my chair on the ground out of her reach.

“Now, what’s got you out here drinking your sorrows away with half a bottle of whiskey while avoiding everyone?”

She lets out a heavy sigh.“Doesn’t matter.”She slams back in the lounge chair, her indignation pointed at me.When I don’t budge, she huffs, “I’m leaving soon.”Her words are like a slap to the face.

“Say that again.”I demand, working overtime to reign in my agitation, but I know she hears it in my tone anyway.Her eyes widen and her brow creases.

Is she really surprised that I’m pissed about this?

“I’m leaving Oakridge.”She shrugs.“Mack’s getting what he wants.You all are.I will no longer be the club’s obligation.I’m going to go do something with my life away from the club.”There’s a sadness reflecting back at me in her beautiful eyes and all I want is to erase it.

“What are you talking about?Mack doesn’t want you to leave.He just wants you to stop doing dangerous shit and putting yourself and the club at risk.”I reprimand.

She shrugs, picking at the frayed edge of her favorite blanket.Her eyes close and her words drag out slowly again.“Well, maybe it’ll just be for a while.You know?I need to sort through some shit.I can’t think around here.”She looks up at the starry sky.She looks so lost, fragile.I haven’t seen her look like this since we were kids.

“What shit are you sorting through, Sapphire?Maybe I can help.You can talk to me.You used to tell me everything.”I see the small smile grace her lips at the use of her nickname.

“You used to care.Made me feel special.Like I meant something to you.”Her head lolls to the side, her eyes meeting mine.“People,change.”She whispers, looking away.

“We haven’t changed so much, have we?”I ask, then decide to test the waters a bit.“I mean, you’ve obviously changed.”I let my eyes roam every inch of her body that isn’t covered by the blanket, stopping at her tits, and back up to her mouth.“But it’s not a bad thing, by any means.”

She looks at me, her eyes red, her lip quivering.

That’s it.

“Hey.Come here.”I don’t wait for a response.I stand and lift her into my lap.“Baby, what’s going on?Talk to me.”

Sadie turns her head into my chest, as she lets out a soft sob.“Doesn’t matter.I don’t want to think about it anymore tonight.Please.”She raises her face, the glassy sheen to her eyes and the hurt I see has me concerned.This isn’t like Sadie.She’s usually fire and sass.What I see before me is heartache and vulnerability.It causes a sharp pain in my own chest.I want to take it all away for her.Carry her burden, even if only for a little while.But what can I do if she won’t tell me what’s really got her so messed up?

Sadie sighs, looking back the fire.“No one knows yet.I haven’t told anyone, not even Avery, about my plans.I’ll tell everyone soon enough.Just not yet.Right now, I want to let it all go.Not think about it for a little while.”Sadie’s finger skim along the collar of my black t-shirt, sending small sparks along my skin.

“All right.What do you want to do instead?How can I help?”I ask, clearing my throat, hoping she doesn’t feel my cock swelling beneath her ass.

“Help me not think about it?”Her eyes plead with mine and I almost cave to what we both want.But I can’t.Not like this.

“Your drunk, baby.You don’t know what you’re asking.”

“I’m not drunk, Nathaniel.That bottle was already opened.I’ve had one beer at the clubhouse and two shots since I’ve been home.I was going to drink more, but I heard your bike pulling up.”She drops her chin.“I didn’t want to risk being drunk enough to spill all my secrets.”

I toss my head back and laugh.“Smart girl.”

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