Page 82 of Hawk's Sapphire

I find the loud moans filling the air, the scent of sex, and the sounds of leather meeting flesh somewhat arousing.But it doesn’t hit me like it normally would.I feel more intrigued than turned on, which is just fucking weird.The more I see and hear, the more I can’t help but feel an emptiness in the pit of my stomach, like something’s missing.

Sadie.

A man wearing a tight-fitting black shirt, black cargo pants, and combat boots stops us at the bottom of the stairs leading to the office.He’s tall, broad shoulders, with sharp features and an ominous presence about him.There’s something in his eyes that says he’s not a man to be messed with.He’s the kind of man who takes orders, but I’m pretty fucking sure he gives them as well, which means he must hold some sort of rank.Since I’m not in the Mafia, I don’t know how their ranks work exactly, but the way people seem to move out of this guy’s way says they know he holds power over them.There’s something in the way he carries himself, how he takes in his environment and the details within it, that reminds me of Mack.If I had to guess, I’d say he’s one of their executioners.He just looks like he would enjoy it.

He greets Vincenzo first with a curt nod and a hug.“Sir.”Then he hugs Matteo with the same affection and familiarity.A mutual respect.

“Enzo,” Matteo greets with a smile.The man stands nearly a whole head taller than Matteo, well over six feet.“Good to see you.How’s your sister?”

“In her last year of college.Safe.Happy.Annoying as fuck.Just the way I like her,” he says matter-of-factly.Though his words make Matteo laugh, there’s no humor evident in Enzo’s expression whatsoever.

“Where’s your uncle?I need to speak with Marcello about a personal matter,” Vincenzo asks.Enzo crosses his arms over his chest, leaning back on his heels, assessing me.

“Who’s this?What business does this biker have with Uncle Marcello?”My lips tip up at the corner.Since I’m not wearing my cut and my club tattoo is covered by my shirt, there’s no way he could’ve guessed who I am.The asshole wants me to feel intimidated that he’s already run a check on me.

Cute.

“I’m here to check your security system.I hear the software is lacking.”I glance around the area and spot four cameras.Three of which are made to blend in as artwork and with some of the fixtures on the walls.“It’s not a bad setup, but pretty obvious to the trained eye.I can help with that.”

Enzo’s eyes narrow.“We’ve got it covered.Marcello is upstairs.”Enzo turns to two men in suits stationed behind him and gives a curt nod, then rumbles something in Italian.The two men nod.Vincenzo and Matteo chuckle beside me.Enzo nods to them both and walks off in the opposite direction, not giving me a second glance.

“What did that asshole say about me, Matteo?”

Matteo turns to me, smiling.“He told his men to let us through.He also said if he finds out you touched any of his equipment, he’ll strap them to the Saint Andrew’s Cross and open them up from neck to navel while their insides paint the carpets red.”My eyes widen and Matteo laughs harder.“The funny thing is, he’s serious.Enzo is quite the artist when it comes to his kills.He takes his time.Likes to play with his prey.”

“Jesus,”I mumble.“I thought this was a kink club.”

Matteo shrugs.“Don’t be a judgmental fuck.Blood and death might be Enzo’s kink.Don’t knock what you don’t know.”

“Was that … did you just tell a joke?”Matteo flips me the finger and I follow him up the stairs and into the office.

“Twice in a few short weeks, cousin.To what do I owe the pleasure?”A tall man who resembles Matteo moves around his desk and greets Matteo with a hug.When they release each other, his eyes land on me and he moves to hug Vincenzo, saying something in Italian too low to be heard.Vincenzo nods, slapping the man on the shoulder.“Is this the man who wants to be worthy of your Dolcezza?”

I grit my teeth at the man’s insinuation that Sadie is Matteo’sanything.

Vincenzo doesn’t give me any reprieve and joins in on the ribbing.“That remains to be seen, Marcello.Mr.Hawkins is in need of some training.Matteo thought perhaps one of your courses in being a Dominant, recognizing body language and the needs of a woman, would be helpful.”

“What man doesn’t know his woman’s body language?Are you blind, son?”Marcello tilts his head, assessing me.

“No.I read her body just fine.It’s her thoughts and emotions that seem to cloud shit up.”

“So, she doesn’t trust you,” Marcello says, smirking.“What did you do to break her trust?Lay with another woman?Run up a gambling debt?Side with the Feds?”His voice drops low, thick with accusation.

“Marcello,” Vincenzo warns.

Marcello throws his hand up.“Forgive me cousin, but word travels fast when your cousin’s men are attacked, and an undercover federal agent and her biker friend are shot and killed … andmissing.Yet the man in question stands perfectly healthy and alive before me.”

“They’re not missing and only the federal agent was killed.She was a mole, working both sides … forMarco Cusenza.”Marcello’s eyes narrow.He turns his glare on Vincenzo as he continues to explain.“We have a plan in place to take him down and rid both our lives of the bastard.”

“Do you need assistance?”Marcello asks.“Is that why you’ve come here?”

“No.”Vicenzo smiles.“We’re here to teach this asshole how to give his woman what she craves.Do you have any openings in your class sessions for a beginner?”He sounds fucking happy to tell others of my shortcomings with Sadie.

“I’m sure we could squeeze him in somewhere.In the meantime, would you like to see her paperwork?”Marcello offers to me.“Everyone fills out their likes, dislikes, and interests prior to stepping foot out into the club.It’s a requirement.It also helps us to know what improvements need to be made to the business and helps us if there’s ever an incident.”

“You’ll just hand me her private records, without question?”I’m both elated andpissedthat this man is willing to just hand over Sadie’s private information to a man he doesn’t know.

“My cousin says she’s your woman,” he states flatly.“Is she not?”He walks around his desk to his computer, taps on a few keys and prints out a four paged document.

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