Page 70 of Hawk's Cry

Liv and I grew up together. I can read every expression on her face. I know and understand every gesture. We communicated long before we learned to use words.

“I love you,” I say out loud, then give a little shake of my head, a raise of my eyebrow to get her attention on my face, then I flick my eyes toward the door, while lifting a hand to my ear.

She looks confused for a moment, then nods her head. “Eli, what’s going on? Has he caught you too? I’ve been so scared.” Her face grows genuinely worried. “What’s going to happen to us?”

“I’m going to get you out of here, soon,” I promise, then give a shake of my head and close my eyes briefly before opening them again. This time she gets the full force of the steely stare I inherited from my father. “First, I’ve got to help Archangel take out the Satan’s Devils. Seems we both want the same thing. Revenge on the club who’ve wronged us both.”

I can see her brain working, computing my actions and words.

“How Eli? How will you get revenge?”

“Fuck knows I know everything there is to know about the compound, Liv. We were both there. No one knows better than me all the paths in which outsiders don’t have a clue are there. Or where the security is and isn’t.”

“Are you sure, Eli? Sure you’re doing the right thing?”

“Not one man, not one woman raised a fuckin’ finger to help me, Liv. I fucked up, and instead of helping to find out what was going on, they made it all ten times worse. You know how badly it’s affected me. I can’t live with all this anger burning inside. And you’ve borne the brunt, haven’t you?” I smooth my hand over her hair, acting like I’m trying to persuade her. “They kicked us both out, didn’t they? Though I begged them to let you stay until the baby was born.”

That’s complete fiction as we both know, but hopefully persuasive for any ears listening.

“My mom, my dad?” Her voice shakes showing she’s genuinely scared for them, but I’m so fucking proud of my wife when she looks me straight in the face.

“They hurt us, Liv. Stood by and did nothing.”

“I don’t care about anyone else,” she lies, calmly. “Not after what they did. But if you can, will you spare our family? I hoped they’d come around after the baby is born.”

I hope my expression conveys I’ll save everyone on that compound, but something else comes out of my mouth. “I know you did, Liv. But as I’ve said before, we’ve got all the family we need right here. You, me and our baby. We don’t need anyone else.”

When she sobs, she’s not acting. I pull away her hand that’s gone to cover her mouth and instead place my lips on hers briefly. “This is our chance to start a new life, baby. Put the past right behind.”

“You’re really going to betray them? I’m not sure…”

Her expression lets me know she understands the game I’m playing. “Sweetheart, whether you like the idea or not is not the point. I’m your fuckin’ husband and it’s your job to do what I say and stand by me.”

The door opens. A slow clapping sounds. “Fuck, I wondered how long it would take for you to find your balls,” Archangel’s amused voice butts in. “Sorry to call a halt to this family reunion,” he begins in a tone conveying he’s anything but. “It’s time to start talking, Eli. Leave the little woman behind.”

I stare down at Liv again, memorising every feature of her face, then, rest my hands on where my baby lies inside her. “I’ll be back,” I promise. This time when I speak, total honesty shines out of my eyes.

She grips hold of the material of my t-shirt. “Eli...”

“Stay here.” Stupid remark, she’s got no choice.

Behind, Archangel snorts loudly. Then as I hear the stomping of feet, I pull away from her, preferring to walk out of the room voluntarily rather than unceremoniously being wrenched away by his men.

I stand with my hand to my forehead as the man guarding Liv locks the door to her prison again. She may be in fairly comfortable surroundings, but she’s still jailed within four walls. I hate that I’m leaving her here. I know what I promised that I’d be back and take her home soon, but I wouldn’t trust Archangel as far as I could throw him. He’d get the information out of my head then kill her and me as well without so much as breaking a sweat. I can’t forget how he callously arranged the murder of his own wife and child. No one means anything to this man if he thinks it might get in his way.

I’ve got to be clever.

I love you, I tell her again in my mind, hoping somehow my thoughts will pervade through the wall separating us as I’m led away.

“This way,” Archangel instructs sharply. “In here.”

I’m pushed into an office and directed to a seat in front of the desk. I’m unarmed, but that doesn’t stop a guard taking a sentry post in front of the doorway.

“Talk,” the man instructs, wasting no time as he seats himself behind the desk.

I point to a notepad. Realising my intention, he tears off a sheet of paper and passes it across with a pen. Placing it in front of me, I start to sketch.

“This is the gate to the compound. The auto-shop is just inside. The clubhouse is further up the track.”

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