Page 38 of Filthy Love

This whole time he was staying away from her because he knew he wasn’t good enough. But could he have protected her more had he not made that decision?

Fuck. He knew no one would guard her better and with his own life than he would.

The Russian underboss was not wrong to have shown surprise at Hawk’s entrance, for good reason. A few years back when the Russian mafia suddenly appeared in Colorado sniffing around for business, only Hades taking them up on their partnership. Hawk and a couple of his boys ran into a few of Grigori’s men one night. It didn’t go well for the Russians. What with Hawk killing them all and sending them to the underboss as a gift. Grigori gave him a wide berth for years after.

Hawk rose from his seat, the coat flapping around his legs. He stared down at the hard-faced mafia man. “I’m not going to forget this. And nor will Rider once he knows what you tried to pull here today. There's going to be a day when I rain hell down on you like the Holy Ghost.”

Grigori sneered and shook his head.

“And word to the wise, dipshit. The one feeding you information.” Not a flicker of acknowledgement on that pale face. “I find out who it is, who put you in my old lady’s path,” fuck, he shouldn’t get a shock of hot electricity down his spine saying that. “He’s going to regret it. You just took a shit in my garden, Grigori,” resting both hands on the table in a menacing stance, Hawk, aware he was in a crammed restaurant and couldn’t end this maggot’s life for good, leaned down to his ear. “I’ll be seeing you, commie.”

One heavy stride after another Hawk swerved his bigger body around tables and out through the entryway ignoring themaîtred'staring at him.

Long hair. Unkempt beard. Dark, biker clothes, a permanent scowl. Hawk presented a picture to the public that brought fear without him even opening his mouth.

Today he was grateful for it.

“Do we need a clean-up crew inside?” Asked Juicy when Hawk was in distance to hear the mohawked man with his varied piercings, tatts and rings on each hand.

Switching his gaze from Gia’s face, he shook his head. “No, they’re alive. You can head off, appreciate the backup, kid.”

Juicy grinned and rolled a shoulder, climbing back on his Harley. “No problem. Should I say anything to Mad-dog if he comes to the club?”

“That’s not necessary, Thanks, Zachary. it was a misunderstanding, no need to tell dad. You know how he gets.”

Juicy snorted understanding Mad-dog’s temperament, he nodded, he roared off a minute later.

Hawk was rattling under his skin and before he knew it he’d hauled Gia into his chest, a trembling hand buried in her hair. “You’re okay?”

Instantly two arms wrapped around him and nothing had ever felt so fucking good before. “I’m fine, Hawk. Pissed off I didn’t get to eat, but I’m fine.”

“C’mon, I’ll take you home.” He stepped back, rubbed palms together, trying to use her face as a focus before he walked back into that restaurant and put a bullet between Grigori’s eyes in front of God and country.

It was times like this he had no black or white.

Hawk saw in red.

“Hey, I really am fine.” Hands on his chest, deep eyes looking up at him, she stroked up his torso. A rhythmic comforting. She’d just been held by the most notorious man in Russia and here she was calming him down.

“Gia…” their foreheads met. He sucked in fast air through his clenched teeth. Everywhere hurt in his jaw. “Fuck. I could kill him.”

“Nah, men like him aren’t worth it. They like to puff out their chests because they have nothing else to make them feel good. Take me home?”

He nodded. “Where did you park?”

“My car is at the office. I walked here.”

That’s how Hawk got Gia on the back of his bike for the second time in their history.

Her arms wrapped tightly around his waist. Her delighted laugh in his ear when he took the corners swift and precise.

And his heart knocking against his ribs. Hawk knew one thing; he’d be whatever she wanted him to be. To stay in her life. However, much it tortured him.

No one was ever getting the chance to get that close to hurting her ever again.

He was her own personal wall of security from now on.

CHAPTER EIGHT

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