Page 103 of Filthy Love

“Nah. Maybe later.” He paused once he got his bike purring. “Good to see you, Prez.” Then he looked at Gia and as Rider turned to go inside Hawk winked at her.

Relief bubbled her blood.

Her heart soared.

Everything was okay.

Whipping out her cell she pointed to him. He raised a brow, but he must have heard his text alert because he grabbed his phone too.

Gia:Will I see you later?

Maybe he didn’t smile, but his face did become softer as he cast his darkened look her way, his eyes crackled and burned like a backdraft of iced over fire, and he nodded once. His eyes whispered secrets his tongue wouldn’t say. How they raked over her from head to toe, making him look like he didn’t want to leave after all but was doing it for her.

She smiled and hoped he knew she’d miss him.

The tension lifted from her shoulders and with another chin lift he rode off. She stayed on the porch until his huge black bike was out of sight.

“Yo, squirt.” Called her brother from inside. “Getcha ass in here.”

Gia’s homecoming went as well as she’d wanted it to. After spending hours with her family, Rider dropped her off at her new place and she spent the next half a day sorting through her boxes.

Only when it was time for bed, when her bones were weary, and she was unable to keep her eyes open did she realize … Hawk didn’t come by after all.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“I always thought my place was in this club. Now I know it’s with her.” - Hawk

It was an odd sensation stirring in his sternum when Hawk climbed off his motorcycle, leaving it in his usual spot near the main entrance but not so close some drunk idiot might fall into it and he stepped over the threshold into his clubhouse for only the first time that year. It’d been a brief visit late last summer for the fiftieth anniversary bash, but it was coming up close to a long year and a half since he’d been home.

Knees creaked with each heavy stride, tension lifted from his shoulder blades as men began to recognize who’d walked through those hallowed doors.

“Heard you were back,” proclaimed a booming voice that could only belong to Tag. His aquatic colored eyes and cheerful grin greeted Hawk along with the stretched-out fist to bump.

“Hey, VP. How’s it going? You back for good?”

“All good, man. Yeah, I’m around again.” He answered Tag holding his fist out for Capone to knock when he ambled over holding a bottle in one hand and a joint in the other. The number of brothers soon doubled with Preacher and his boy Grinder joined at the hip as always came over.

His skin itched being the center of attention.

He liked these men he’d worked closely with for years. As much as he could like anyone. When he’d been away he’d longed to get right back here for the familiar sounds, smells and people. So, he supposed he did have an attachment to them in some form or other.

“What the fuck is this?” Smirked Preacher, the chain on his wallet hanging low on his hips clanking as he took measured steps circling Hawk like he was a goddamn shark in the sea.

He wore a silver band on his left hand. He’d forgotten Preach got himself hitched while Hawk was away. Same for Grinder. Fuck, shit changed fast.

“You had a shear, brother. Fuck me! You might be half-way human now, holy fuck, I don’t think I can cope with all that attractive on display.” He joked and didn’t that big asshole wink at him.

“Maybe he fell into a weed whacker face first.” Offered Arson strolling over with a half-eaten pizza in his brawny hand. His shoulder length hair was pulled back in a messy knot and as usual he was shirtless with just his cut. The asshat needed someone to dress him properly.

“Nah it’s too neat.” Interrupted the Butcher gesturing with the hand holding a cup of coffee. “You have a face, Hawk. When did this happen?”

The ribbing went on and on and it was unusual because Hawk could feel his face heat under their joking scrutiny.

Look at the shit Gia had gotten him into by cutting his damn hair.

She had a lot to answer for when he saw her.

His brows fell over his slit eyes. “I will punch each one of you if you don’t get outta my damn face,” he hissed through his teeth and he only half meant it.

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