Page 161 of Filthy Love

Air stung with recognition filled Rider’s chest so fast. Motherfuck.

He’d always known Hawk was different. He operated on a level of dispassionate detachment. Rider had been in his own fucking teen ego when he met Hawk and helped the kid out. Despite their obvious differences they formed a brotherhood and then added the rest of the boys around them. They shared a history of being less than in their parent’s eyes.

But to call Hawk normal was a stretch and that’s what he’d struggled with this week. Having seen Hawk’s proclivities how he’d used women in the past, it was something he didn’t want for his sister. But seeing how the pair looked at each other like no fucker else existed it was more than obvious to Rider that however Hawk was in the past, it was just that; the past. He looked at Gia like she was the world.

It was how Rider felt for his own old lady.

Some closed off bastards could change their spots it seemed.

Maybe he wouldn’t kill him.

Hawk was loyal. And he’d go to war for those he cared for.

What better man could he ask for to protect Gia, especially in these sensitive times. No one was getting through Hawk if he were the one to stand in front of Gia. He accepted that realization and a thump of relief had Rider relaxing.

Zara interrupted the silence, Rider’s dirty eyes ate her up as she swayed hips across the yard, her smile only for him. He was already leaning forward when she dipped down to kiss him and to kiss their sleeping daughter. “I’m gonna put this noise maker to bed and hope she stays there until morning. You boys having fun?” Rider hummed making her laugh. She kissed him again. “I love you, biker-man.”

“Love you too.”

When she’d disappeared inside, Rider laced his fingers together, relaxation seeping into his tired frame. “Zara’s pregnant again.”

He laughed at his friend’s stupefied look.

“Then why the hell you smiling?”

“Meant it to happen. We tried often enough.”

“Isn’t the first one still a new-born?”

“Four months now.”

“Shit, Rider, you sure you’re not the one with a screw loose?”

Rider grinned slightly. He was fucking deliriously happy about their new pregnancy. He might be sleep deprived but they both wanted a big family and if Icy was happy he’d keep putting babies in her. As many as she wanted. Maybe she’d finally agree to marry him too.

“You remember the day I brought the girl back to you, and you wanted to do all the sappy gratitude.” Rider’s blue eyes narrowed at the switch in conversation. Of fucking course, he remembered the day he almost lost Zara. When Hawk arrived just before Hades could drag Zara away, he’d stabbed Hades and brought Zara back to him. Rider’s brows dropped, his eyes flat, lips thinned. Hawk went on. “And you told meThere will be a day I can repay it, you name it, it’s yours. I mean it.”

A long pause.

But Rider didn’t need silence to know what was coming next.

That sneaky dipshit.

He almost grinned.

Using his ace in the hole at the right time. He’d meant it then and he meant it now, even if it was handing over the pain in the ass sister he adored. From what he’d seen of them together, though they didn’t touch much, Hawk was completely under Gia’s thumb. So, he waited for Hawk to finish.

“This is it that day. I want Gia. And I want you to stop giving her a hard time about it.”

“I’m the big brother, it’s in my job description to give her a hard time.” They both watched the woman in question cuddling with her dog. Rider smiled. His sister had grown up into a lovely woman without him realizing. Maybe he should feel sorry for Hawk trying to manage her exuberance. “You know she’s a handful.”

Hawk snorted. “I had to drag her drunk ass out of a bar in Texas.”

“What?” Gia? Drunk? This he had to hear.

“Dancing on the fucking bar, skirt up to there, assholes watching her.” Before Rider could chime in with a laugh Hawk added. “Had to stab a shithead so I could get her out of there over my shoulder.”

“You stabbed someone?”

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