Page 167 of Dirty Salvation

"Don't mention it," he answered gruffly. "Get back inside where it's warm, Queen."

And then his pale blue eyes raised to meet hers and Zara swore her breath quickened before he dropped his gaze. Her chest filled with his acceptance.

Don't you dare cry. Don't you cry and ruin it.

Zara found herself curious about his story. Who was Hawk, really? Was Hawk even his real name? Surly came with a reason and she reckoned Hawk had a lot of those dancing in his background.

Look at that, she mused with a tiny smile on her lips. The beast had pretty eyes. Maybe under all that hair and scowl would likely be a good-looking man, she had a feeling she knew the woman who had recognized his beauty beneath the hardened mask, no way in hell she was saying it out loud though because Rider was likely to go on a killing spree of one best friend.

It was her cue to head inside when he revved the engine. She got out of his way. Not before telling him. "Be safe, Hawk. Rider would miss you terribly if something happened to you."

I will too.

And that was the biggest surprise of all, even above the small matter of a murder today. His constant sneer had become somewhat familiar to Zara, not quite comforting, but she would miss seeing it around the clubhouse.

He jutted his chin, looked at the building behind her almost as if he was going to miss the place and everyone inside.

It was unsure how long he'd have to go away for, probably until Hades manhunt case was closed and no one was looking towards the Renegade Souls. Zara stood under the night sky watching him ride through the gates and out onto the main road, arms came around her from behind and she smiled leaning softly into Rider's chest. A slick pound of love filled her chest.

"You're taking a risk; my big bad biker man is just inside and word on the street is he's the vicious jealous type." biting her lip he growled pinching her sides making her laugh. "He'll come back, won't he?" Zara asked letting Rider guide her back to the main entrance where it was warmth and acceptance.

"'Course, baby. This is Hawk's home."

Funny how Rider's voice wasn't so sure, though.

EPILOGUE

“We’ve only just got started, Icy…” – Rider

There was a lot to be grateful for and most of it began and ended with his old lady he had on his lap curled deep into his ribs and Rider wasn’t letting her go from that spot anytime soon.

His nerves were still rattled over almost losing her. He’d loved her all night long and into the morning, reassuring himself she was here.

It wasn’t about priorities, though she was his, deep in his fucking bones, she was all of it, that’s how it was when a biker took an old lady, there was no shitting around with half measures, and not from the moment he got Zara back in his life, no fucking around with anyone else either, least, not for Rider, his woman kept him plenty satisfied and he’d go to his grave with his dick still hard for her. She wasallhe saw, breathed, tasted.

This morning and most of the afternoon he’d wanted to make sure she was okay and not fronting it for his sake. His boys bustled around but took glimpses at her as if assessing if Zara really was Queen material for their club, Understandable, the last queen associated to the club, old lady to the former douchebag president, was a bitch incarnate and hadn’t deserved any of the boys' loyalty or protection, but Rider knew his men approved Zara, most all of those crazy soft hearted fuckers had stopped by his room at some point to bring her food, coffee, those candy things she liked, Preacher even brought a stack of her Disney movies which pleased his girl no end.

He’d taken her to her therapy, sat in the waiting room being eyeballed by the old receptionist like she’d never see tatts and a leather cut before, probably thought he was gonna kill all the fish in the tank with his bare hands,whatthefuckever, he’d been there to support his woman, then he’d taken her out for burgers and fries, her favorite comfort grub. Over beef patties and malt shakes they’d talked, even laughed, she’d asked him for stories about Tiny, he knew she was trying to keep his brother alive in some small way and he loved the fuck out of her for that. Zara had reassured him she was good and he had to take her word for it. He didn’t bullshit himself into thinking all her problems would magically disappear now Hades and the rest of theRebelswere being fucked by devils in hell, Nah, but he could see with his own eyes she was better than that night he’d found her.

Shit, thank fuck he’d found her when he had.

What ifs.

His old lady was his priority, there was no what if he hadn’t found her, or hadn’t planned a raid on theRebel’sflop. Somehow someway he would have ended up in Zara’s path, fucking fate, and all that new age bullshit.

She washis.He washers.

Rider suspected his old lady would always hold a piece of herself back, self-preservation, he knew it well. He understood and he was fine about it. Because as much as Icy loved him, he loved her twice as much but there would come a day when all those extra guarded walls came down allowing her to live fully again, he would love his woman better than anyone else ever could and the day she decided to drop her shields, he'd be the lucky sonuvabitch holding her hand, every day she gave him a little more of her heart.

Fucking perfect.

Zara gave him bone deep peace on a whole new level and he could be exactly who he was, she never asked him to change.

Together they would build something more.

A new day one for everyone.

For right now he was with his Zara and later he would dole out what was needed from his men, the trouble was dying down, he hadn’t had a visit from the sheriff in days but he knew it was expected those fuckers never left his club alone for long. Hawk had arrived where he needed to lie low for a while. He was going to miss that shithead, maybe being in Texas a while would bring some peace to his friend.

---