Page 34 of Cage's Fall

I didn’t know what to say, because he had kept it in his wallet. All these years.

“Hawk, we both know that ended when I turned eighteen.”

Hawk’s eyes went glassy. “I knew then and I know it now, that I’d never replace your father. But I thought, that you considered me like a dad. And that was enough for me. But if you really want to cut me off fully, from looking after you… Which was the only thing I had left. Then…”

“Stop!” I cut him off. “Don’t you get it! I’m trying to meet you halfway here! You have been giving me everything. Now I want to give you something.”

Hawk scoffed. “Don’t you get it, you ain’t the fucking problem! You’re the solution!” He said something that completely threw me. I did not understand. “You’re the reason I get up in the morning Autumn. You’re the reason I run this club. Hell you are the only reason I fight to stay out of prison or not to end up in a ditch. When are you going to see, you’re all I got!”

His words stunned me to the core. He was basically saying he did everything he does for me, not for the club.

“Never been a man to earn clean. But I can tell you now, the reason I’ve stayed deep in this lifestyle is so you are cared for.” Hawk sat back down. “You were the first baby I ever held. Your father made cracks at me not to drop you. I watched you grow Acorn, and then when you lost your father I made a promise to God that nothing would ever happen to you, while I was breathing.” He looked back at me with tears in his eyes. “You’re my family.”

Emotions flooded my body so quickly, and I moved across the room to him. Hawk had been the one to hold my hand when I got that cast put on me in the ER. Hawk had been the one to be there for my graduation, even when I was barely speaking to him.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, and his arms went around me, twisting the chair and raising to his full height. I clung to him, he always made me feel safe, and I had turned my back on that because of what the club was, and it was here, standing while hugging my dad, that I realized that the club was; it was family, and it was time I accepted my family and I wasn’t doing wrong by them anymore.

Because the club, was who you called, when ya life was falling apart. This club, this family, caught you before you hit rock bottom; and I had always taken that for granted.

I wasn’t doing wrong by them anymore. I was stepping up.

CAGE

The food was being dished out onto the tables. I didn’t know whether it was the fact I was used to prison food, but I swear the club food had gotten better. Wasn’t just casseroles and BBQ’s. Nah, the girls had stepped up their work in the kitchen and it was noticed, not just by me.

Everyone’s mood had lifted because of it. Men were arriving earlier for lunch and dinners. Hell, we basically had a packed hall for lunch- which rarely happened because it was usually sandwiches, but not lately.

Sitting at the main table, Hawk at the top of the table at my left. Jacob, Lit and Wild across from me. Vod was next to me.

“So we need to talk about these businesses, anyone find one with substance?” Jacob asked, lighting up a cigarette. We were currently hunting down new business fronts to launder money through.

“Nah, nothing that could clean the type of cash we need.” I said, the only place I could find was a Fish n Chip shop.

Hawk’s eyes were on his phone. Had a smirk on his face.

“So who is she?” Wild piped up, and Hawk didn’t realized Wild was talking to him.

I gave Wild a look not to push it. Just because Hawk had been in a good mood the last week, didn’t mean we should fucking start prying on the why.

Food started coming to our table, and then I spotted her at the bar. She was bending over, and fuck it was a good sight, before I saw her putting beers on a tray. Then to my surprise she walked towards us, holding a tray of different beers.

Hawk put his phone down.

Jacob didn’t even glance at her when she placed his first choice of beer in front of him, beside his dinner. Then I noticed how she did the same with Wild and Lit. She knew what their preferred drink was.

“Got to admit sis, you taking over the kitchen hasn’t been the best for my weight.” Jacob said, as she undid Hawk’s bottle cap, placing his preferred beer in front of him.

Then she was at my side, and I was fucking shocked when she placed my preferredJack Daniels in front of me. How the hell did she know I liked bourbon over beer?

“Thanks Acorn.” Hawk said, and the niceness in his tone— was heard by all us. Take a seat.”

“Can’t Dad, got apple pies in the oven.” Autumn was still standing beside me.

“Those club girls, listening to you?” Hawk said cutting up his steak.

Jacob scoffed. “After the black eye she gave Alisha I think that put all the club girls under her thumb.”

“Well, it was fair enough for them not wanting to listen to me, I’m not sleeping with a member, like them.” Autumn did what she always did and defended the under dog.

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