Page 81 of Hawk
“I’m guessing you’re staying here tonight?” Devlin asked, and I nodded. “I’m glad. Hawk’s good people.”
“I think so,” I responded, looking up at Colton.
“We’ll be here in the morning after Elise has her doctor’s appointment,” Devlin said before leaning over and giving me a hug. He whispered into my ear, “I’m so glad you’re home, little angel.”
“Me too,” I replied before he released me.
DJ hugged my leg, and I picked him up, giving my nephew a proper hug while Elise rubbed her protruding belly with a smile. “You be good, and I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said to DJ before handing him back to his dad.
Elise hugged me and whispered, “You have my number in case you need anything.”
I gave her a nod and watched them leave the clubhouse, relieved that he and I reconnected. I feared he was like our father, but now I know he’s nothing like that evil bastard. I won’t say the same for Lucian after what I’d witnessed all those years ago, but no one has mentioned him and that made me happy.
Colton and I found a seat on an oversized couch against the wall, and he kept his hand connected with mine as we watched the brothers and their old ladies enjoy the evening. Some were playing pool, others throwing darts, and a small group was playing cards. Hailey and Jacob were sitting at a table with Violet and Needles, whose real name I didn’t know, and the group was laughing at something Jacob had said.
I glanced up at Colton and found him watching me with an intense look in his eyes. Usually, someone showing too much attention made me uncomfortable, but coming from him, I felt almost treasured. With each kiss, hug, touch, or embrace, Colton was cracking the ice around my heart and warming parts of me I thought would be dormant forever.
I tried to push the memories from the past further into the back of my mind, knowing this wasn’t the place to let the demons run free. I just prayed they let me rest instead of haunting my dreams.
“I have a question,” I started, and Colton waited for me to speak again. “Do I call the brothers by their club names or their real names? I’ve noticed both from the old ladies, so I wasn’t sure.” Pausing briefly, I added, “And why do you call them old ladies?”
Colton chuckled before he turned to face me. I saw understanding looking back at me as he explained, “We call the wives and girlfriends old ladies as a term of endearment. It basically means we see ourselves growing old with them. And with the brothers, you call them whichever you’re more comfortable with. For instance, no one here calls me Colton, except you.” I started to speak, but he smiled while shaking his head. “I like hearing my name come from your beautiful lips, so please, don’t ever let that change. Jacob is Hatchet, but a few of the members call him both. It’s not a disrespect thing, it’s just he grew up around the club and it depends on who, when, and the context of the situation.”
“It’s all kind of confusing until you explain it,” I remarked, and he nodded his understanding.
“The club is basically a group of families that created a bigger family. We have each other’s backs with no questions asked, we support each other through the good times and uplift each other during the bad. We ride together, party together, and if the need arises, we will kill together,” Colton explained as he lowered his voice.
“Does that happen a lot?” I inquired, trying to understand if this was the best place for Hailey.
Not that I had a say in what she did, but I’d never wanted anything but the best for her. If the Death Hounds were killing people for vengeance, that was one thing. If they were killing for sport, like Adrik used to do, that was completely different.
“When the situation requires someone be . . . handled, then we take care of it. But we don’t make a habit of unaliving people for no reason,” Colton answered, and what he said made sense.
A group of scantily dressed women walked into the room, drawing my attention away from Colton. He shook his head and finished his glass of beer as the women disbursed throughout the room. They migrated to the brothers without women close to them, and I gave Colton a quizzical look as one of them straddled a man’s lap and immediately started sucking face with him.
“Club sluts,” he said. “They come to party with the brothers and things can get a little . . . provocative when they show up. That’s why we keep the kids away from the parties.”
“And the old ladies don’t mind?” I asked.
“As long as they stay away from the committed brothers, there aren’t any problems. It’s when they get pushy that trouble can happen.” He paused and added, “And before you let your imagination run wild, I stay away from the club sl—girls. Been there, done that.”
“Excuse me?” I asked, needing clarification.
“My ex was a party girl before I joined the DHMC, so I tend to avoid the drama associated with them.”
I nodded and tried to remain calm, but all I could see was some skinny woman with too much makeup and not enough clothes grinding on Colton. The image caused a pain in the middle of my chest and, on instinct, I reached up and pressed my hand over my heart.
“Can I get you a refill?” Colton asked, and I shook my head before lifting the mostly full glass to show him. He kissed the back of my hand and said, “I’ll be right back.”
I watched him walk away, seeing the swagger in his step as he approached the bar. Smiling to myself, I let my eyes wander around the room as my gaze caught Hailey’s. She leaned over and said something to Jacob before kissing his cheek and standing from the table. Walking over to me, I saw Jasmine on her heels and as she approached me, and Zeus stood to greet Jasmine.
“How are you settling in?” Hailey asked as she took a seat next to me on the couch.
“You have a nice family here, Hailey,” I answered, sidestepping the actual question.
“From the looks of you and Hawk, you’re already part of the family,” she teased, and I felt a blush on my cheeks.
“Does . . . does that bother you?” I asked, afraid she was upset I was spending time with him and not her.
