Chapter 7
Jackal
After a restless night, I headed outside and found Shivana’s shoe. It was still pretty early and she’d be sleeping it off, so I left it by the front door. One of them would see it. But that way it wouldn’t get thrown out by a bunny cleaning up outside.
I grabbed some coffee, then headed back to my room. Cindy wasn’t cooking breakfast yet and I wanted to get the new patch sewn on. Hawk would be making the run soon, and I was sure my promotion had something to do with them being gone. Red would stay back, too, but it made sense to want at least two officers around for a club this size.
Enforcer . It still hadn’t completely sunk in, but it felt damn good. I’d done my share of the role over the years at various chapters but just hadn’t been ready to settle. I’d done my duty to the club and would always be loyal. Not being tied to one club meant going where I was needed, and I’d made the trek back here as soon as word of Raven made its way to me. When I got back, something felt different.
At first I thought it was just the loss of a long-time brother in such a fucked up manner. We lost brothers all the time; it was part of the life. But usually it was a deal gone bad, which was handled immediately, or one of the many road accidents. A few had heart attacks at young ages because, let’s face it, we live hard and party hard. But to be taken out by a faceless entity who still hasn’t claimed credit was something else. DE had a lot of allies, but even if there was a rival club, they’d want folks to know who took out a president.
Even before the shit with Butch went down, I’d pondered staying for good. Hawk had asked for help until this was sorted out and I agreed to stay until this was handled. But the longer I hung around, the more it started to feel right. My time as a nomad was up.
I was proud and relieved to have a chapter to call home.
Once I was finished sewing on my patch, I held up the cut and a grin spread over my face. Standing, I pulled it on and stood in front of the mirror. Yep. This felt good. Almost as good as it felt hauling that little bird over my shoulder.
Pulling her pants off and seeing those thick brown thighs in all their glory did not help my plan to keep her at a distance. That red little tank top she had on didn’t cover much past her waist and it took all I had to not dive head first between those legs and bury my face in those black panties.
But I’d never take advantage of a woman while she was hammered, and Shivana was past three sheets to the wind. Poor thing got sick. Part of me wanted to go check on her and make sure she had some fluids and Ibuprofen, but I didn’t want to encourage anything, and that was some Old Man shit.
She’d be gone soon and the temptation would go with her. I just had to hold it together until then. Women got wrapped up in the biker fantasy too easily and often regretted it later. Especially ones not used to the life. And Shivana stuck out like a sore thumb here.
I needed to run by Destiny’s Desires and check in on the club before Hawk made the run, but I needed to check in with him and Keys first. Breakfast was probably ready, so I headed downstairs.
When I pushed open the door to the bar room I had to swallow a growl. Shivana was sitting at a table having breakfast, looking as if she hadn’t gotten wasted the night before. In fact, she looked amazing.
Hawk was having breakfast at his table across the room, and I’d have to pass her. I wasn’t an asshole, so I wouldn’t start being one with her now.
Strolling past her table, I slowed and said, “Hey. Find your shoe?”
She wiped her face with a napkin. “Yep. Thanks. And thanks for getting me home. I hope I didn’t get any–well anything on you.”
Grinning, I answered, “Missed me completely. How are you uh…” I trailed off as I grabbed my neck.
“Not hungover in bed? Easy,” she said as she stabbed at her pancakes. “Saline bags.”
My brow furrowed. “You went back there alone?” She shouldn’t be wandering the grounds alone for a multitude of reasons. I was the one who escorted her everywhere, but that’s not why I was concerned.
“No. I took her,” Cindy said as she hustled over with a carafe of coffee but didn’t pour into Shivana’s mug. “Everyone was still asleep and she’s already been back there enough times. It’s the least we can do. Here’s your tea,” she told her before she glanced over with a cocked brow. “Coffee?”
“I’ll be joining Hawk, but that would be great.” After Cindy walked off, I smiled at Shivana. “Enjoy your breakfast.”
She sipped her tea, her dark eyes fixed on me the whole time. I turned to head to Hawk’s table, still feeling the heat of her eyes on me as I did.
“Hey, man. Patch looks great,” Hawk said as he drank his coffee. “What happened with you two?”
I sat. “Nothing. Took her home.”
“Well, she’s staring you down.”
Looking back, she was still watching me. “That woman needs to get this place out of her system and get home.”
“It’s been helpful having her here.”
“Helpful for us. But this ain’t for her.” Wanting to shut that down without being disrespectful, I changed the subject. “I was planning to head over to the dance club later. Make sure everything looks good.”
Hawk smirked but said, “Keys has been reviewing the extra cameras setup to make sure something wasn’t missed. He’s got alarms that ping his phone if there’s movement on some of them.”
“So if a stray cat walks past?”
“It’ll wake him up.”
“Maybe he needs some help?” I asked. He was the brains, but he was only one man.
“I offered. He said he’d let me know if he needs help.” Hawk shrugged. “He doesn’t make runs, so he hasn’t got anything keeping him tired.”
“He hardly comes out of that hole.” I’d known Keys for a few years, but he was young. Probably twenty-six, so he hadn’t been around for too long. But he was pretty reclusive. Most guys came out for the parties at least, but he never showed. I leaned in. “You don’t think he’d have anything to do with this, do you?”
“I don’t. But at this rate it’s hard to know who to trust. I had my suspicions about Butch but kept brushing it off because it was Butch. Lesson learned. But while I’m no expert, I know my way around the tech well enough. Keys isn’t hiding anything, and like you said, he never leaves. I want to be hopeful that Butch was the only traitor, but nobody is above suspicion at this rate.”
Hawk cleared his throat and seconds later, Cindy placed breakfast and a full coffee mug in front of me. “Need anything else, hon?”
“No, this is perfect. Thanks so much.”
Cindy started to shuffle away and I cut a huge chunk of pancake and jammed it in my mouth as she said, “Oh, by the way. I’m taking Shiv shopping later, Prez . So, you need to work out who our babysitter is.”
Hawk’s icy gaze shot to his mother. Even though he was her son, he was in charge here now. But it was never like Cindy to back down or be quiet.
I washed the pancake down with a sip of coffee and told them, “I’ll do it. Let me know when.” Hawk had already asked me to be their detail when he was gone, so it made sense I started now.
Cindy gripped my shoulder. “Thanks, Jackal. The mall opens at ten, so finish your breakfast and we’ll meet you outside in half an hour or so. Sound good?”
Looking back at Shivana, I nodded. “Sure thing.” I could spend the day with her. Hell, I’d mostly be hanging back and letting them shop. She probably needed some things to get ready to go home or just wanted to shop here before she left. Women loved shopping. “Great day for a ride. I’ll follow on the Harley.”
Cindy winked then walked away. Turning back to finish my food, an annoyed tick flexed in my jaw as Hawk reclined back, smirking as if he knew I was struggling. “What?”
“You’re an honorable man, Jackal. But it’s not dishonorable if they want it, too. And that one is not holding back.”
Rolling my eyes, I sipped my coffee then said, “She just thinks she knows what she wants. Soon she’ll be gone and all of us and this place will be a fun memory for her.”
“If you say so.”
Not wanting to continue this conversation, especially with the prez, I went about finishing breakfast.