Page 96 of Hawk's Sapphire

“I guess, since you’re here, I should go ahead and give youyour gift,” Gabe says, smiling as he leans back in his seat with his arms crossed over his chest.

“There’s no need to give me thank-you gifts, Gabriel.I would think you would know that our friendship extends beyond material things after all we’ve shared these last few months.No?”Vincenzo smirks.The sarcastic bastard.

“Hawk.”Gabe tips his chin, and I grab my phone.Opening the security cameras, I scroll through until I get to the one in the basement.I walk slowly over to Vincenzo’s seat, lean down and show him the video footage of the cell in the basement—and its currentoccupant.

Vincenzo takes the phone from my hand, studying the man in the cell.He doesn’t show any outward reaction except when he shouts, “Santiago!”The doors to church open and in walks Vincenzo’s second most trusted henchman.

Vincenzo shows the screen to Santiago, whose eyes snap to his boss.“Orders?”

“Collect the trash.We’ll take it home and dispose of it there,” Vincenzo orders.Santiago turns to Gabe, who calls out for Trevor.

“Pres.”

“Take Santiago downstairs tocollect the trashand be discreet about it.Pull your SUV around back first,” Gabe orders.Santiago nods, then takes off out the door.

“I feel as though I owe you something in return, Gabriel,” Vincenzo says, though there’s a hint of humor in his tone.“Perhaps you will all see me out to my vehicle.”

The fuck?

Gabe looks leery, but we all stand when he does and follow Vincenzo out the back door, where we find Santiago backing into a parking spot.The backdoor to the SUV opens and out steps Kayce Eaton.We’re all lined up at the back of the building.Declan, Jake, and I lean our backs against the brick wall.

“What do you think Vincenzo is up to?”I ask Declan.

“No, clue.”He shrugs.

Kayce comes forward, stopping in front of Gabe, his arms crossed and looking cocky as ever.

“Gabe,” Kayce starts.Before another word crosses his lips, Gabe unloads three punches.One to the face and two to the body, forcing Kayce to stumble back.When he rights himself, he shakes his head, wiggling his jaw back and forth.“Guess I deserved that.”

“What you deserve is a bullet between your fucking eyes for the shit you’ve pulled!”Gabe argues.“I don’t give a fuck how close you were to Declan back in the day or that you helped find his woman and her son.You crossed a line when you snuck onto Kings’ property and not only helped a known traitor escape, not once but twice—then you framed our brother for four fucking murders and disappeared, leaving us to clean up your fucking mess!”

“We also helped rescue your niece and bring her home safely.Or doesn’t that count for anything?”Kayce taunts.

“Sadie would’ve found her way home; of that I have no doubt.That girl has outsmartedallof us, including Tate,” Gabe growls.“Let me be very clear.You are not to come anywhere near Kings property, and that includes our women.Violet and Carter are no longer your responsibility—they’re Kingsnow.You have no business here at all.If I so much as catch your scent on the wind, I’m going to unleash hell on every fucking one of you.”Gabe inches closer, getting right up in Kayce’s face.“If I were you, I’d take the warning for what it is and fuck off.”

Santiago comes out of the back door with a lifeless Cusenza draped over his shoulder, opens the trunk, and unceremoniously drops him in.“Ready when you are, boss.”

Kayce takes a step back and then gets back into the backseat of the SUV.When Gabe turns back to Vincenzo, the Italian bastard is smiling.He slaps his hand on Gabe’s shoulder and says, “This is why we are friends, Gabriel.You don’t mix words.You are a man of action and one of honor.Until next time.”Vincenzo drops his hand and goes to get into the SUV.We all stand watching as they leave the yard.

“The fuck does that mean?”Jake asks Pres.

“I don’t know, but I have a feeling it means whatever Vincenzo is up to, we’re going to get roped in.”Gabe shakes his head.“Come on.Let’s go see the girls.We can finish church this evening.I want to see my niece and could use a fucking drink.”

* * *

Sadie

Comingto the clubhouse felt bittersweet.Of course, everyone hugged me and told me how happy they were to have me back.The girls wanted to know if me and Hawk were official, to whichheannounced very loudly to the whole fucking world, “Yes, Sadie is my ol’ lady.Anyone who doesn’t like it can fuck off.This shit is permanent!”I watched as Candi rolled her eyes and stormed off in a huff.

Oh fucking well.

The guys went off to the sanctuary to have church while we all sat in the common room taking turns passing the baby around.Emily is beautiful.She looks so much like Skyler, and her little cheeks are a lot fuller than they were in the announcement photo Avery sent me.

I wasn’t expecting to see Linzie and her friend Andi here today, but they’ve come to discuss wedding plans with Avery.

“Okay.So, you’ve decided on crimson red and white for your colors and the guys will all be in black, I assume?”Andi asks.Avery agrees.“Then I think we should do a large white cake, maybe two tiers.How many people will be in attendance?”

“Well, both clubs, my Gramps, and a few friends from town.Maybe fifty people?We want to keep it small and simple,” Avery explains.

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