21. Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-One
Maggie
I love my man even more for making my dad squirm like a little kid. -Maggie
“What’s the meaning of this, Magnolia? I know you can’t possibly know these…these ruffians?” My father’s face is so red that I have this sudden image of his head exploding like a large tomato. He’s mad as hell.
He stalks closer to me, and I tighten my hold on Hawk. “You probably do know them, though, don’t you, Magnolia? You…you whore!” He reaches for me, and I cower further.
Hawk puts a staying hand on my father’s chest. His face is hard and his blue eyes glitter with fury. “Don’t ever say anything like that again to Maggie or you will die, old man. The only reason you’re still alive is because you’re Maggie’s father.”
My father, the great Frank Malone, takes a step back. “Do you even realize you have guns pointed at your head right now? I could have you killed with a snap of my fingers. Do you have any idea who you’re dealing with?” He tries to inject authority in his voice, but I sense the shakiness beneath it.
Hawk’s sneer is legendary. “Old man, don’t you think I’ve thought of that?
I die, and every bit of intel I have about you goes to the right authorities.
And I don’t mean the ones you’ve bought off.
I mean the right ones, the ones who will finally you and your friends behind bars where you belong.
” He takes a menacing step towards my father, who seems to shrink into himself.
“I know exactly who you are. I know exactly the kind of people you hide behind. And they won’t take kindly to the secrets I can expose.
And even if you kill me, even if you kill all of them,” he gestures towards the bikers behind him who rev their engines in response, “I’ve got those pieces of information in other hands.
I know all about the crooked deals, the drugs, the trafficking, every damn fuckin’ thing… ”
Hawk’s words seem to take a second to sink in and when they do, my father stumbles back, this time almost knocking my open-mouthed mother over. “You wouldn’t dare.” Frank Malone’s voice does shake now.
Hawk throws his head back and laughs. “Try me.”
Hawk turns his back to my father, effectively ignoring him. He reaches for my hands. “Will you come back with me, Maggie, please? I know what you saw. I know it may have scared you…”
I place my index finger on his lips. “No, I understand. I know you. They were bad guys if you hurt them. I know exactly what makes you tick.” I put my hand over his heart. “I know because I know your heart. I know because I love you.”
He sucks in a deep breath. “You do?” His voice is soft and hopeful and my heart melts.
“Yes, I do. Forever.”
He gives me a kiss that starts out as a quick peck, but quickly deepens. By the time he finishes the rest of the Savage Kings are hooting and my cheeks are red.
“I love you too, Magnolia.” His tone is teasing as he says the name I was born with.
I wrinkle my nose. “Nope, never call me that. I’ve worked hard to expunge that name from anything on the internet and I don’t want anyone else finding it out now.”
He nods and gives me a grin, sweeping his arm towards his bike. “Your chariot awaits, my Maggie.”
I turn around then, staring into the faces of my shocked parents. Behind them, others stand simply watching. I catch a few of the society women with small smiles on their faces and I feel as if I’m living out something they’ve only dreamed of in fantasies.
I look at the two people who made me, but never raised me. The people that were never my real home.
“I love you, Mama and Daddy. I have to go now.” There’s no animosity in my voice. I do love them, in a way. I always will.
My father says nothing. He simply stands there with a deep scowl. My mother, on the other hand, gives me a small smile.
“Goodbye, Mag…Maggie. I hope to see you again.” Her green eyes are wet with tears.
I blow her a kiss and turn. “I’m ready to go home now, Hawk. Take me home.”