Chapter 22 #2
He unbuttoned his blazer and gave his million dollar smile. “Yes, they asked many questions. But they seemed satisfied when I told them you’d settled down but planned to visit sometime soon.”
“I hope to be up for the holidays. Perhaps Papa can send the–”
I was cut off by loud whispers and gasps, followed by a stern, “Excuse me, if you don’t have a reservation I will have to ask you to leave.”
My jaw dropped. Hawk, Red, and Rooster, all clad in worn jeans and leather cuts, marched past the host. He trailed nervously behind them, still trying to argue his point to their backs.
Putting my wine glass on the table, I stood and said, “What on earth are you doing?”
But Hawk didn’t speak to me. Instead, he grabbed my arm and looked down at Niko. “How dare you?”
Niko stood slowly, his arms wide and placating. “Good afternoon, Hawk. Shall we step outside?”
Hawk jerked my arm then looked back at my friend. “Red, get her.”
“What? No. Don’t touch Klara,” I said, trying to wiggle free while keeping my voice down. Unfortunately, it was useless.
I stopped fighting long enough to get outside where their bikes sat, taking up the whole drop-off lane for the restaurant. The valet looked like he’d seen a ghost.
I looked back to see Klara grinning at Red as he escorted her out.
Once the doors closed behind us all, I used my free arm to slap Hawk.
He didn’t flinch. Instead, he gripped both of my arms and glared at me.
His eyes were practically clear as the sunlight bounced off of them.
I nearly forgot I was angry until I heard people mumbling around us.
“Let me go unless you want to be rendered impotent and with a broken nose in front of my brother, that poor man, and all the people standing around now,” I said quietly.
“Hawk, my friend, let’s calm down,” Niko said.
Hawk released me, only to grab Niko by the lapel, inches from his face. “What the fuck is wrong with you? You’ve wildly overstepped this time, Petrov.”
Trying to push them apart, I stared up at Hawk. “What are you talking about? He’s my brother, you maniac.”
“Rooster, get Kristie’s helmet out for her.”
My hand went to my hair. “I can’t put on a helmet. And I’m not riding on the deathtrap while you’re acting this way.”
Niko was grinning, but it wasn’t his friendly smile. It was more menacing, calm but calculated. “Hawk, I’d kindly ask that you take your hands off of me. I’ll call for the car and settle the tab.”
Hawk shoved him away. “I don’t give a fuck what you do.”
Then he grabbed my arm, leading me to his motorcycle. Rooster handed him a helmet and I shook my head. “I said no. I don’t want to go anywhere with you.”
He didn’t speak, but he pulled my hair down even as I batted at his hands.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I asked as he slammed the helmet down on my head.
“Taking you home. Get on the bike.”
“I said no!” I shouted as I pushed him away, trying to work the helmet off as he tried to push it back down.
He gripped my arms, squeezing my shoulders. “I didn’t ask a question.”
“I don’t care.”
“Hawk, why don’t you allow me to drive the ladies home,” Niko asked from behind him.
Hawk’s eyes didn’t move from me. “Petrov, if you speak to me again until we are at the clubhouse–”
“Don’t threaten my brother,” I said as I finally got one arm free and pulled the helmet off, tossing it down. “Why are you even here? I’m just trying to enjoy a late lunch with my brother and my best friend. I’m not distracting you, so what’s your problem?” I said with finger quotes.
“Do we need to call the police?” a man asked from a few feet away.
Me, Niko, and Hawk all said, “No,” in unison.
“Well, I’m going to have to ask you to leave, or I will call them anyway. You’re disturbing our patrons,” the host said from the doorway.
“Great,” I said as I threw my hands up.
“I’ve called the car around,” Niko said.
I pushed past Hawk and reached for Klara’s hand. But I was grabbed from behind in a bear hug, pressing my arms to my sides. Instead of being forced back to the bike, he inhaled deeply, and his lips dragged over the sensitive skin of my neck. His arms wrapped around my chest and abdomen.
“Please get on the bike, Kitty Kat,” he said softly in my ear. He gave me a slight squeeze, then asked again, “Please?”
Something in his voice quelled the rage that had simmered so close to the surface. The way he held me sparked concern over anger. He wasn’t crushing me, he was cradling me. Nodding, said, “Okay.”
Niko watched but I gave him a nod and said, “Take Klara with you. I’ll see you at the clubhouse.”
Hawk pressed a lingering kiss on my cheek, the heat radiating down my body.
He let me go, grabbing my hand and leading me to the bike.
He scooped the helmet off the ground and inspected it before clasping it around my chin.
He climbed onto the motorcycle and held his hand out, so I used it as leverage to climb on.
Once settled, he reached back and pulled me from behind until I was flush against him. Then he grabbed my hands, pulling them around him and rested them on his chest. He put his helmet on, then said, “Hold on tight.”
The motorcycle was even louder sitting on it than being near it. Once he took off, I gripped him even tighter and pressed myself onto his back.
The air was cool on my arms and legs. Though my feet were firmly planted on the pegs, I worried I was going to lose a nice pair of heels.
Once our speed steadied, I finally pulled my face from his back and peeked around.
A mix of fear and excitement consumed me.
We were flying, or at least it felt like it.
Cars, trucks, and even semis were all around us on the highway.
Wind whipped across my body while the heat of the engine warmed my ankles.
I was as close to Hawk as I could get. Part of me was furious with him. How he’d acted this morning. How he’d acted at the restaurant. How he’d acted to my friend. How he’d acted to my brother.
But another part of me sensed something in him.
Something soft or even vulnerable. When he held me, it wasn’t to hurt me or control me.
It was to have me close. His voice was broken.
There was worry there. Why he’d be worried about me being with Niko was beyond reason to me, but I reminded myself there were always things happening in our worlds that women weren’t privy to.
So many questions and so much confusion swirled in my mind as we continued the ride home. As we exited the highway, I saw the long ride in a whole new light. It wasn’t behind glass. I was floating through the air alongside the trees, tall grass, and wildflowers.
The smell of asphalt and exhaust mingled with his woodsy scent. When we stopped at a red light, he reached down, squeezing my thigh. Once we took off again, he covered my hands with one of his while the other kept us steady.
We’d had sex plenty of times, but the way he held my hands against his chest was the most intimate thing he’d done. When I saw the turn to the clubhouse, a moment of sadness hit me. I’d never been on a motorcycle, and after that, I didn’t want it to end.
Plus, once we stopped, the reality of what happened this morning and at the restaurant had to be addressed.
I’d just started to let go of the morning issue when he came storming into the restaurant and embarrassed all of us.
God knows how Niko would react once wandering eyes and ears weren’t around.
We drove past the garage, and he didn’t park until we were at our house. He turned the engine off, put the kickstand down, and put his hand out. I grabbed it and climbed off, not very gracefully. I blamed the heels.
I unhooked the helmet as he climbed off the bike. He took the helmet from me and hung it on the handlebar before he took my hand and walked me inside.
He paused briefly, looking around at my small piles of junk and pictures, but he didn’t address that. Instead, he turned and wiped his hand down his face. “You can’t just take off, Kitty Kat.”
My brows pinched and I crossed my arms. “Is that the best you’ve got?” I asked.
His expression mimicked mine. “What?”
“I hope you don’t think that counts as an apology.”
“Well, that’s because it wasn’t meant to be.”
“Wow.” I uncrossed my arms and moved to walk past him.
He grabbed my arm, not as hard as before, but enough it both stopped me and pissed me off. “You left without a word to anyone. If anyone needs to apologize, it’s you.”
I was torn between slapping him and patting his cheek for his stupidity. “I hope you’re not holding your breath, because I will not apologize for going for a meal with my brother and my best friend. I may be your wife, but I’m not a child.”
He jerked me closer. “I didn’t know who you were with, Kat. I just was told you were on the move toward downtown. I just so happened to be not far from there. I didn’t know what I was going to find. If…”
I watched his brows soften as the thin line of his lips did as well.
The anger was gone and replaced with something else…
worry, maybe? “Hawk, did you think I left with another man or something? I would never do that to you. You were insulted when I suggested such a thing to you. How could you think I would do that?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t think that.” He looked down, then up at the ceiling. “I fucking hate this.”
That was a stab to the heart. “You hate this?” I whispered as I pulled my arm from his grasp.
With his hands on his hips he blew out a deep breath. “I hate that I was ready to burn the fucking city down because I thought someone took you.”
“Took me? Why would–”
He stepped closer, cupping my cheeks. “Kitty Kat, there’s bad people gunning for us, and now that it’s out we’re married, the easiest way to get to me is you. I can’t risk you leaving here without me.”
“Hawk, I was with Niko and his bodyguard. Plus, I’m not a princess, remember?”
His face shook as he got closer and he shouted, “But I didn’t know that you were Niko!”
I flinched, his hands fell from my face, and he paced before moving closer again.
“I would never hurt you, but I will hurt anyone who tries to take you from me. And you can’t just come and go.
I don’t want to trap you, but until all this shit is behind us, I need to know where you are, all the time.
Promise me.” His words were desperate and ragged.
“I promise.”
He pulled me to him, not kissing me, just holding me and digging his face into my hair.
I still was mad, but something deeper was happening to him, and it was happening for a reason.
I only knew bits and pieces of what had been happening to the club and to some of my new friends, but it was enough to understand his fears.
I wanted to know more. I needed to know more if he felt that strongly that I was in danger.
But he was too worked up. Plus, if it was anything like my family, he wouldn’t tell me anyway. I’d have to dig around on my own.
And one thing was certain now. I was falling for him.