Page 104 of Filthy Love

“Ahhhh there he is!” laughed Preacher clapping his big palms together, “for a second we thought a runway fucking model strode in.”

And just when the shit died down. The rusty voice of his brother in murderous arms sounded from behind him. “You boys are missing the point, dazzled in his pretty face,” announced Lawless. Hawk turned to see the smirk.

He didn’t pick up on body language often, but he’d seen it too many times on Lawless’ sharp face not to recognize he was about to dig deep into the soup of Hawk’s guts. That asshole. “The glaring question is what made the Instagram star turn himself from a frog into a prince…” A knowing glint in his eyes, Hawk scowled and flipped him the finger.

“You bitches have too much time on your hands if the topic of the moment is my damn beard. What the fuck you all been doing while I was away besides suckling on each other’s tits?”

In the mix stood a tall Snake with his hair slicked back on top and shaved around the sides, he rubbed a tattooed hand over his grinning mouth and added. “Been waiting for you to get home, brother. We were useless without you. And now we see you had a makeover, we can’t fucking cope.”

Inwardly Hawk grinned. So, nothing changed much here then. His boys were just as he’d left them.

“If you’re looking for the Prez he’s at home,” offered Texas in his clever toned voice. The boy was from the right sides of the tracks, anyone could see that, but he fit in with their nefarious lot. The money man smiled and bumped Hawk’s fist and welcomed him home.

“I know. I was just there.”

“You dropped his baby sister off then?” Asked Lawless. That same knowing look in his eyes made ice cubes gather in his stomach somehow. But that was weird ‘cause Lawless would have no idea about his feelings for Gia. Not like he’d sat around pining and gossiping about her.

Hawk nodded slipping out of the crowd of brothers he helped himself to a can of soda, cracking it open, half was gone in one gulp.

“So, she’s home for good, might even stop by the club I reckon.” He gave another grunt of agreement. “New haircut and doing good deeds by babysitting. I think you’re going for humanitarian of the year VP. Or maybe it’s another reason…” Went on Lawless and something in his tone made Hawk pierce him with a warning stare, found Lawless grinning. He looked completely ridiculous with a black headed kitten poking out of his jacket pocket. Those shrewd eyes alerted Hawk like the other man knew everything going on in Hawk’s crazy mind.

Steeling his voice into a calmer tone he said. “Following Rider’s orders. Not even I would hand over a woman to Grigori.”

The boys spat out curses and put in their two cents worth about the Russian underboss.

“We’ll make sure he doesn’t get near Gia again.” Snarled Tag, bringing Hawk’s head around so fast he got a concussion with enough possessive force stuck in his throat it was a wonder he didn’t choke on it.

Gia washisto take care of and protect.

With a will he didn’t know he possessed he reined it in until the instinct to kill had passed through his brain. Hawk punching a brother for possessive ownership he had no rights to was just gonna make him look like a bigger dickhead. He was a sap for his little bit of a thing, didn’t mean he wanted his boys to know how far he’d fallen too.

And before he got into more fights when they started talking about inviting Gia to the next cook-out this weekend he slinked off down the long hallway towards his room.

“It’s good to have you back, VP.” He turned to see Tag following behind. Unlocking his door, he pushed it open. It felt like a million years since he was last inside.

“Yeah, me too, man.” And because he was trying not to be such a surly bastard he added. “Things been good for you?”

Tag half-grinned, rubbed his whiskers. “You know me, always good. I’m telling you, the groupies will be pleased as fuck to see ya. They’ve all been gathering moping and shit around this door.”

Hawk snorted. Women didn’t like him, not like that. His dick, sure. But he hadn’t cared where he’d stuck it, so he could never put a face to the bodies he’d used. It made him a bit of a shit, but he didn’t care. He was what he was. “I’m sure. You can have at ‘em.”

Tag chuckled. “I’ll leave them to you, brother. Got my eye on someone. Something real, you know?”

“Prince Charming is ready to settle down with an old lady and give her your patch?”

The smile appeared again. Gleaming white teeth and a shy head dip. “Ah you know, maybe. Just maybe. Gotta see first, but I got a good feeling ‘bout her. Hey, I’m grabbing some grub, you want?”

“I will later. I need to get sorted here first.”

They fist bumped and Tag ambled on towards the kitchen.

Leaving Hawk to sprawl tiredly on his freshly made bed and think of his own woman.

He could think that now and mean it.

For however long she wanted him she’d behiswoman.

Jumping into work was how Hawk acclimatised being back with the men he trusted the most. After a short sleep, a shower and a sandwich he made in the kitchen, he avoided the squeals of the hangaround females by issuing a darkstay the fuck awayscowl, giving then a chin lift he stayed in the shop most of the day fixing a shitty Honda.

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