Page 64 of Hawk's Cry

“I’ll think about it. Oh, Olivia and I have been getting on famously. I’m not tired of her company yet. I’ll just hang onto her for a little while longer—”

“You hurt one hair on her head,” I threaten, my voice deadly cold, “and all bets are off, Archangel.”

“Hmm. Sounds like you’re as pussy whipped as all the others.”

“Hah,” I bark. “She’s my property. Mine, you hear me? I want her and my baby back unharmed.” Property and ownership. Words a man like Archangel will understand.

“I don’t believe you’re in a position to threaten me, Hawk. But I’ll think on your suggestion. Keep this phone on you. I’ll use this number if I call.”

“Call me Eli,” I correct him. “I don’t go by Hawk anymore.”

He chuckles into the phone. “And you can call me your darkest enemy.”

The line goes dead.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Olivia…

I awaken confused and disorientated while slowly how I got wherever I am starts coming back to me. Gabe. He gave me something. It must have been in my drink or in that cake. I hold my breath and my hands go to lie on my stomach, terrified as I can feel no movement there. Suddenly, when a hard kick reassures me, I almost cry out in relief, but still I’m afraid. I’ve been so goddamn careful throughout this pregnancy, terrified to even have one cup of real coffee, doing everything that the doctor told me. Now, despite my greatest care, I’ve been subjected to some kind of chemical.

“Ah, you’re awake.”

I don’t waste time on pleasantries, not that I’d have any to share. I hate this man who’s taken me. “What did you give me?”

“Rohypnol,” he replies, casually, not even pretending to misunderstand.

“What if it affects my baby?”

“You sound like you think you’re talking to someone who cares.” He shrugs off my question and sits on a chair. “Seems we have a few things to get straight between us. Firstly, I never was your friend, you were just too stupid to see that. Secondly, you can’t appeal to my conscience, I haven’t got one. You’re not going anywhere. You can’t escape, so don’t try to.”

“Who are you, and why have you taken me?” I try to keep the panic out of my voice and refrain from asking what he wants with me. I have an idea I don’t want to know.

“You really don’t have a clue who I am?” His eyes widen slightly.

“No. but I suspect you’re not called Gabe.”

His shoulders rise then fall. “Gabriel isn’t my given name, but it’s useful to go by at times. I’m mainly called something else though. Surely you’ve heard of Archangel?”

I dig deep into my memory, but shake my head. “No, I can’t say I have.”

He smirks. “So the Devils really do keep their women out of club business.”

I’ve grown up in the club, heard those words more times than I can remember. I know the club thinks the reasoning behind keeping us in the dark is sound. Though I’m scared, I feel a burst of anger. Had I been warned a man called Archangel was after the club, had I been given any description of who to watch out for, I’d have run a mile the first time I’d seen Gabe. I should have realised the same man popping up time after time was more than coincidence. I’m a fool, but then, I’ve always had people watching out for me. I never looked out for myself.

As I look at the face I had thought endearing at one time, I now realise his natural expression is hard. He must have been acting. Every time we met. Now he’s removed his mask, this is the real man sitting in front of me.

My baby kicks again, as if reminding me to be strong. I’m a Satan’s Devils’ woman, I should act like one. Keeping a picture in my head of Drummer’s old lady, I channel my inner Sam. I won’t give this man the satisfaction of seeing me fall to pieces. “You still haven’t said why you’ve taken me. Eli and I don’t have money. He won’t be able to pay to get me back.”

Archangel throws back his head and starts laughing. “I want nothing from your husband. Instead, I want my revenge on your club.”

The club. At the speed of light my brain starts working. “Revenge? Revenge for what? Anyway, it’s not my club anymore,” I spit at him. “Eli and I are living citizen lives. We’re nothing to them now.” Mentally I cross my fingers. Dad will be frantically doing what he can to find me, but Archangel might be better off not knowing that. I doubt he’ll be worried about having the wrath of the Devil’s heaped down upon him. He’s far too arrogant for that.

Something tells me downplaying my importance to the club will serve me best. If it’s revenge he wants, I’ll have to convince him that won’t work.

He chuckles. “I think you’re wrong. You are theirs. And to answer your question as to the reason?” Once again, his face hardens. “Thanks to them, I was sentenced to life without parole.”

“But you’re here.” I don’t understand. Had he been waiting to start his sentence?

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