Chapter 41
Katarina
It had been just over a week since I was released from the hospital. Papa, Klara, and Niko had gone back home just the day before. But I made Niko promise to bring Klara at least once a month. But, she’d already been away from the restaurant too many days.
Hawk and Mama Hen took me to my follow up and to have the stitches removed.
“This is healing nicely,” the doctor said. “You were lucky. Clean shot. No nerve damage, minimal tissue damage. How’s it feeling?”
“A tad sore, but not as bad as the time I had my nose broken and repaired,” I replied.
Everyone looked at me, so I shrugged. “I’ve been training for years. I’ve had loads of injuries.”
The doctor nodded. “Well, your health lends to your healing process. Still, don’t lift anything over twenty pounds for another four weeks or so, and if you have any issues, we can always prescribe some PT.
” He grabbed a packet he had laid on the counter when he entered.
“But here’s some simple exercises for you to do for the next month.
I want the ones I’ve circled done once a day, the others three times a week.
You can shower as normal now. Any questions? ”
“What’s that they say? Not my first rodeo?” I joked.
“Leave the southern slang to us, hon,” Mama Hen said.
“Thank you, doctor,” Hawk said as he took the packet. “We good to go?”
“Mmhmm. Just call the office if you have any issues or questions. Just head down that hall when you’re ready.”
The doctor left the office and Hawk helped me off the exam table.
“Let’s go back and get the bike,” I said.
“You sure?” Hawk asked.
“You promised.” I’d been looking forward to a ride. But he wouldn’t take me until the doctor checked me out.
“Okay. It’s a great day for it.”
We headed back to the clubhouse, and Hawk gathered a small group, including Mama Hen.
We took off while it was still light out, but he told me to wear a jacket since the temps were cooling fast. I’d gotten some good riding boots and I could wear my cut over my jacket.
He surprised me with my own helmet the day he gave me my patch.
We rode down a long stretch of interstate, the tall pines thinning and the maples and oaks turning vibrant shades of red, yellow, and orange. There wasn’t much traffic on the roads we went down, and we took a turn and ended up on a few winding streets.
I squeezed Hawk even tighter, breathing in the fresh air and loving the sun on my face.
All the officers were with us, but Mama Hen rode beside us. Her bike was smaller than Hawk’s, with lots of chrome but touches of purple and blue. For now, I was enjoying being cradled against Hawk as he rode me around, but one day, I’d ask him about getting my own.
The First Lady should surely have her own bike. But I’d need one more like hers. I learned the night I met him, I was a little too short for one like his, or Jackal’s.
Remembering that night, I couldn’t help but laugh. It felt so long ago, even though it had barely been over a month. I’d fully thrown myself into this family, and there was no place I’d rather be.
We stopped at a four-way and he reached back, grabbing my leg. “You okay?”
“Oh, I was laughing at myself.”
“Yeah, why? Or do I want to know?” he asked.
“I may want my own bike,” I said over the engine.
He squeezed my thigh. “We’ll get you one, then. But not today. I have a different surprise for you today.”
Squeezing him, I braced myself as we took off.
After the sun had gone down, we finally turned to go back to the clubhouse after we stopped for a quick bite at a Waffle House.
It was a lovely little diner, but apparently it was a chain and everyone was shocked I’d not been to one.
I could live off the waffles, so I understood their shock, but planned to be back soon.
We got back to the clubhouse and I stood by as he put his bike away in the garage. The torches around the yard had been lit and it was much cooler, but not having the chilled air whipping around me was already warming me up.
Hawk came over and threaded his fingers into mine, leading me inside as the officers and other Old Ladies followed us in.
“So, how was your first ride as the official First Lady?” Hawk asked.
I still couldn’t get over that. Everytime I saw my cut or anyone called me First Lady, I swore my heart would explode right out of my chest. “It was everything I’d hoped for. Hey, I’ve been thinking.”
“Yeah, about what?”
Glancing over so I could gauge his reaction, I said, “I want to open a business. A self defense training center for women.”
Grinning, he looked down. “Well, I guess we gotta research what all you need. Then we can scout some locations.”
“You aren’t telling me no?”
He chuckled. “Why would I do that?” He stopped as why got to the door. “But you do realize it’ll be crawling with members, and I’ll be there a lot.”
“We’ll work out the details later.” I grabbed his neck and pulled him to my lips. “But thank you.”
“Of course. Destiny’s Defense Dojo.”
Shrugging, I said, “That actually has a nice ring to it.”
When we stepped inside, I took my jacket off and Mama Hen took it for me as I pulled my cut back on. “That wasn’t bad,” I said, happy with how little it pinched my shoulder.
“You want a drink?” Sugar asked as I walked to the bar. Hawk was used to going straight to his table but I enjoyed sitting at the bar and chatting with her or whoever was making drinks.
“Sure, but Hawk told me I have a surprise. Will a drink ruin the surprise?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Nope. Have your drink. Also, I have something for you, Sugar.”
She already had his Crown ready and pushed it across the bar, and was starting on mine. Her brow pinched. “For me?”
He pulled an envelope from inside his cut and pushed it across the bar.
She smirked and finished mixing my drink. Once she dropped the lemon peel in, she wiped her hands on a towel and picked up the envelope. She glanced up at him at first, then back down. Her eyes moved over the paper, then she looked at the next page.
Tears filled her eyes and her face flushed. “How did this happen?”
“Kat’s family has some interesting connections. With what you told us and a few things we found, there was enough to piece it all together.”
“What is it?” I asked.
Sugar put the papers down and covered her face as tears fell.
I grabbed the paper and read over it. “This was her mother? They solved her case?”
Hawk nodded. “Yep. So they can release the estate back to her only living relative.”
“Is that not a good thing?” I asked.
Sugar nodded furiously. “I–I don’t know what to say,” she said as mascara-stained tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Well, don’t say anything,” I said. “Let’s have a drink! Get your favorite!”
Sugar grabbed a bottle of tequila and poured a shot. I held up my drink, and Hawk held up his. “To Keys, and to your mother. May she rest in peace.”
Sugar, still crying, knocked the shot back so we both took a drink.
“Keys is really something, isn’t he?” I asked. I found out after getting my patch that Keys had left the clubhouse when he figured out what was happening to me and Mama Hen. If not for him, they probably wouldn’t have found us or the women that had been kidnapped.
“He is,” Hawk said. “His research is what really tied it all together.” He pulled out another piece of paper and handed it to me. “He also printed this off for me.”
Putting my glass down, I took the paper. It was from a newspaper in New York.
“They arrested Anna De Luco?”
“Yep. Not local boys either. Feds.”
“Wow.” My shoulders relaxed. “Thank you for this.”
“That’s not your surprise. That’s just a little nugget of info for you. Finish your drink. I’m gonna go have a smoke.”
He pressed a soft kiss to my temple then walked through the kitchen.
I reached across and took Sugar’s hand. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks.” She rubbed under her eyes. “I still can’t believe it. It says I have to go down there and sign some stuff.”
“I will go with you. If you want, of course,” I offered.
She squeezed my hand. “I’d really love that.”
The other Old Ladies all came over and we enjoyed a drink together.
We even toasted again to Sugar after everyone reviewed the document Hawk had given her.
They were already filled in to what transpired when Mama Hen and I went to confront her.
I barely got to enjoy becoming the First Lady before they assaulted me with questions about everything.
“What are you going to do now?” Lacy asked.
Sugar shrugged. “I know it’s all in the past, but I think maybe it’s time for me to move on. I don’t need this place anymore. And I’ll never be an Old Lady to any of these guys.”
Daisy reached over. “Please don’t leave because of me. Seriously, that shit is so over.”
Sugar smiled and jostled their hands. “I know. We’re good. But really. I came here for protection and because I had nothing. Now? I dunno. I can have a do-over. How many bunnies can really say that?”
We all nodded and got quiet. I took the last sip of my drink and said, “Well, I’ll miss you. But I get it. Just know, you’ll always be one of us, and you’ll always have a home here.”
Penny came up behind me. “You going somewhere?” We all turned, our brows up high. Penny never came to the clubhouse.
Sugar said, “Yeah, I think I am.”
“Can I come?” Penny asked.
Everyone stared at each other. I was wishing I hadn’t finished my drink because everyone else was sipping theirs and I had nothing to busy my hands.
“He can’t keep me here forever. And I’m in no better position than Sugar.
I’ve technically finished my degree. I’m never going to have a life if I stay here under Hawk’s nose.
” Penny looked around, her shiny, black ponytail swaying as she did.
Her lips thinned then she said, “I’ll never get what I want, so it’s time to move on. ”