Chapter 15
Hawk
I was an early riser and that was only compounded by the tension I was dealing with. Sleeping on the couch bed in the basement wasn’t a picnic, and knowing she was up in my bed only made it harder.
When my eyes popped open and it was only four a.m., I had to blow off some steam. I’d gone outside for a smoke, trying not to wake her as I took the stairs up. The cool air was refreshing, but the mix of that and the nicotine did nothing to calm me.
After grabbing some water from the kitchen, I snuck back downstairs and ended up working out for nearly an hour.
Having a home gym was nice, especially since there were so many brothers who used the one in the clubhouse at all hours of the day.
Everyone’s schedule was all over the place.
Plus, the clubhouse gym was mostly open space, free weights, and two bench presses. I had a mac daddy all-in-one home gym.
My workout was intense as I thought of her.
My dreams had been filled with her, and every time I closed my eyes she’s all I saw.
While it was a nice change to not be seeing Pop’s lifeless body or Butch’s sneer before I made the final blow while I slept, her taking over wasn’t exactly a welcome change.
What if she was a spy? I needed Keys to hurry up with the texts and transcriptions of her calls.
After my final quick and intense set, I sat on the bench and drank my water, then stood to do some cool down stretches.
The phone said it was nearly six, so I threw my shirt and jeans back on and grabbed my boots. I kept a pair of sneakers down there for working out in, but otherwise, I only wore my boots.
The house was quiet upstairs but the light glowed from under the bedroom door. I wanted to hit the shower before I headed to the clubhouse, so I turned the knob and slowly opened the door.
When I stepped inside and put my boots down, she flinched. I was frozen for a minute. Not because I woke her up, but because the little cotton shorts she had on didn’t cover shit and her legs were tucked up close to her chest so I got a good shot of it all.
“Sorry,” I whispered. “Thought you were awake. The light was on.”
Without moving, she said, “It’s ok, I must have dozed off again.”
“I’m gonna hop in the shower. Want me to turn this lamp off?” I asked.
She leaned up, shaking her head. “No, I need to get up.”
Studying her face, it was obvious she’d been crying. My hand tingled, wanting to touch her face, console her. Instead, I told her, “No rush. No plans today. I’m gonna get out of your hair for a while after I shower. But whenever you’re up and about, you can head over and grab some breakfast.”
“Thanks. I’ll just go make a cup of coffee.”
She climbed off the bed and headed down the hall. I grabbed some fresh clothes and went to shower and get ready. I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight on the counter. She’d gone through my things.
It didn’t bother me like I thought it would. Instead, I liked that she was being nosy about me. Shaking my head, I shut the door to the bathroom then turned the shower on. I had to chill about this woman. At least until I knew if I could trust her.
After I got ready, I stopped to check on her before I left. The back door was open but the storm door was closed. I walked out to the deck and she was there with a grey flannel blanket wrapped around her, scrolling her phone and drinking a cup of coffee.
“Oh hey,” she said, locking her phone. Her face was red, not just pink.
“You alright?” I asked, my hands going to my pockets. I was still warm from the shower but the air was chilled.
She nodded. “I’m fine. Just missing home. I’ll be okay. I made you a cup of coffee. Should still be hot. I’m on my second.” She wiped a tear from her cheek.
My chest was tight watching her. But I didn’t know what to do. “Are you sure? Do I need to stay?”
She shook her head. “Space is good. Thanks. I’ll be fine.” She rose from her chair, her light hair loose around face as she pulled the blanket tighter near her neck with the same hand that held her phone. “I’m just gonna shower.”
“Didn’t you shower last night?”
Her red-rimmed eyes looked up and her lips thinned.
“Have another. And my number is on that phone already in case you need anything. I’ll be at the clubhouse but busy for a while.”
“Thanks.” She stepped closer to the door then stopped. I reached out to open it thinking her hands were full but she still stood there then asked, “Would it be possible to talk later? Or maybe tomorrow if you’re too busy today?”
“Do we need to talk now?” I asked, stepping closer. “Is something wrong?”
She scoffed and smiled at the same time. “Nothing pressing. It can wait. But can I have some time later?”
I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and demand she tell me right then what it was she wanted to say.
But she was clearly not ready to talk. Even though I thought she was omitting something, I believed she was also missing home.
She was processing a lot and I didn’t want to be a complete dick.
I’d tried to never be an intentional dick to any woman and I didn’t want to be one to my wife.
If she turned out to be a spy, that was different, but I wouldn’t be a dick then, either.
Not until I could figure out how to use that knowledge to my advantage.
“We’ll talk today. Go have a shower, then go to the clubhouse and get some food. Some of the ladies will be around and Ma will be there.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
After she walked back inside, I headed toward the clubhouse, having another smoke on the way.
It was still dark but the sky was changing to purples and dark pinks as the sun started to peek over the tall pines. A few brothers were heading out to day jobs and some of our businesses.
Jackal and Shiv walked from the clubhouse, hand in hand. “Good morning,” Shiv said with a big smile.
“Working today?” I asked as I blew smoke away from them.
“Yeah, haven’t been there long enough to be taking too much time so back to the grind I go. So maybe don’t get into any bullshit today,” she said.
Jackal cut in. “Sorry, Prez.”
Shiv hit his arm. “Hey, I deserve some rest. You people can’t expect me to be on call like a fucking ED doctor. Anyway, good day to you, Mr. President.”
“Later, Prez. I’ll be at the shop if you need me,” Jackal said as they headed off toward the garage.
Kristie and Rooster came flying out of the door and she yelped. “Oh, Hawk. I mean Mr. President, sir,” she said, her hand flying to chest.
Raising my hand, I told her, “Hawk’s fine. Save the sir for Rooster.”
She blushed, then jerked Rooster’s hand. “C’mon, I can’t be late.”
Rooster waved and followed her. She hadn’t been here long and just got a job with Shiv at the CDC.
They’d been carpooling since she started.
Rooster talked about finding a place nearby or maybe building a place on our land like Jackal had, but for now they stayed in the clubhouse.
Rooster didn’t ride with them since Jackal was going somewhere else, but he did have to see his woman off.
Taking one last drag, I flicked the cigarette away then headed inside. Several guys were inside having breakfast and Daisy was with Lacy at the ladies table.
“Morning,” I said as I walked over.
Lacy’s eyes went wide and Daisy turned, looking me up and down. Lacy practically whispered, “Good morning.” Daisy just stared with a blank look.
“Katarina should be by in a while. Will you ladies be here?”
Daisy grimaced, “Is that a trick question?”
Lacy chimed in quickly. “I’ll be here.”
Daisy jumped back in. “I get to leave because of work, but I have to wait for Falcon to be ready to go. Otherwise, we’re all trapped here. Falcon said it was your decision,” she said, crossing her arms. “So why would you ask that?”
“Jesus Christ. Can you just keep her company for a while? Introduce her to the other ladies. Maybe don’t complain about shit meant to protect you?”
“Ha. Here,” Ma said as she passed me a mug of black coffee.
Goddamn. I had to deal with mafia bosses, pay off crooked cops, new biker gangs, and trafficking rings, and nothing made my head split like these women.
Lacy forced a smile. “I’ll show her around, Hawk.”
“Thank you!” I exclaimed before walking toward my table on the other side of the room.
Ma had already hustled back into the kitchen. I settled into my seat where I could see all the exits. I shot off a text to Keys to let him know I’d be in after I ate. I told him later, but I’d grab what he printed and look for myself. Two sets of eyes were better than one.
I’d downed half my coffee when Ma brought me a plate of biscuits and gravy with bacon and topped off my mug.
I didn’t bother trying to converse with her.
I had too much shit going on to deal with everyone’s hissy fits.
Especially when she was the one who’d withheld info from me for months, hell maybe longer.
Pops was big on club business staying between members, but he also loved Ma more than anyone else, and he trusted her.
He always said he leaned on her. I just didn’t believe she knew nothing about any of this.
Falcon came over with a plate. “Hey Prez.”
“Can you do something about her?” I asked, waving my fork in the direction of his Old Lady.
He grumbled. “I’ll talk to her. They’re all pissy these days. Even Lacy,” he said as he took a huge bite of food.
“She was fine with me,” I said, taking a bite of bacon.
“You’re the only one.”
I shook my head. “At least one of them has some sense.”
Eagle flipped a chair around and dropped his plate. “They’re on edge is all. But yeah, my baby won’t give you shit, Prez. Just me,” he said. He chewed his bite then washed it down and asked, “How’s the little lady?”
Wiping my face with my napkin, I sighed. “She’ll settle in soon enough. Big change for her.”
“Big change for you,” Falcon said. “Y’all getting along okay?”
“Well enough.”
Eagle grinned before taking another bite.
“What?” I snapped.
“She’s not like the bunnies, or is she?” he mumbled with his mouth full.
“She’s my wife, so watch your fucking mouth.”
Falcon sipped his coffee, his hazel eyes peering over the mug at me.
“What, Goddammit?” I asked.
“Wife, huh?” he replied.
Tapping my fingers on the table, I stared at him. He shrugged.
Eagle took a huge swig of his coffee. “Do you like her at all?”
My stare went from Falcon to Eagle. “What kind of question is that?”
“I mean, she’s supposed to be our First Lady. Do you like her? Is she cool?”
“She’s not the First Lady.”
Falcon cleared his throat. “Uh, Prez. I hate to break it to you, but while she may not be your Old Lady, she is the First Lady since she’s married to you.”
I slammed my hand on the table, rattling the plates and silverware.
“No,” I snapped. “She can’t be the First Lady without being an Old Lady.
” I wiped my face with my napkin then threw it on my half eaten food as I stood.
“Do your fucking homework on the rules before you try to tell me how to run my club.”
The noise in the bar quieted a little as I stormed off. It was too early for this shit.