Chapter 43
Jackal
Standing outside the door of our make-shift infirmary, I laughed when Eagle came shuffling down the hall.
“You gonna make it, boy?” I asked.
He rubbed a hand down his face. “I need a gallon of coffee and some greasy food. Have you seen Lacy?”
Nodding toward the door, I said, “In there with the other party girls. Shivana said she knew how to fix them up fast.”
Eagle scratched his chin. “How are you so bright eyed and bushy tailed?”
“She already fixed me up.” Earlier, she pushed me until I woke up and walked her down. When I realized why, I wanted in on the action. I would have been okay without the boost, but that IV bag made me feel like a million bucks. With the day we had ahead, I needed all the help I could get.
“I need to be fixed up, too. Shit.”
Hawk came walking down the hall, seemingly normal. “Hey, after breakfast we’ll go through the plan. Church in an hour.”
“Didn’t you drink last night?” Eagle asked him.
“Yeah, but I can handle my liquor. Hell, I was keeping up with Petrov. Now that fucker can drink,” Hawk said with a hint of a smile. It’s the first time I’d seen one on him in a while.
“How’s our guest faring?” I asked. Having him around was like having your mom chaperone a date in your teens. Or at least what I imagined it would be like.
Hawk answered, “Should be pretty good. A couple of girls made sure to keep him occupied. But I imagine he’ll be down soon for breakfast.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing, man,” I said, crossing my arms. We had plenty of help from other clubs. I didn’t understand why Petrov was here.
“I do. Be in Church in an hour,” he said before walking away.
Eagle said, “I don’t care for Petrov, but probably for the wrong reasons. We gotta trust Hawk.”
Sighing, I said, “I do. But I feel responsible for him, ya know? Raven would’ve wanted me to watch his back. And as an Enforcer, I’m responsible for this club. I just hope this doesn’t bite us in the ass. They don’t do favors.”
“Neither do we, brother. It’s business when it’s outside the club. You know that.”
“I guess you’re right. Just wish I knew what the price will be.”
The door behind me opened, so I turned around. Shivana looked at Eagle, then giggled. “We can’t have you looking like death for the pictures. C’mon,” she said as she waved him in.
Lacy came popping out, followed by Daisy. Lacy stopped for a quick kiss before Eagle went in and took a seat with a loud groan.
“Let me get him going, but then we can go eat. We have a few hours before we have to get ready.”
After Shivana got Eagle hooked up, we left him for his hangover treatment and went to get breakfast.
The room was packed with men from different chapters, some new women, and Petrov was enjoying his meal with Hawk.
“I’ll go sit with the girls so you can do whatever you guys do,” Shivana said.
“Go sit. I’ll grab us some food.”
Cindy was surely busy, so I headed to the kitchen. When I walked in, the room went silent. Penny was there, which was a rare sight. From the looks of their faces, it wasn’t a pleasant conversation.
“Excuse me, ladies. Just looking for breakfast for me and Shivana.”
Cindy smiled. “Sure thing, hon. I’ll bring it right out.”
“I can get it, plates right here?” I asked, looking through the cabinets. The kitchen was huge, more like a commercial kitchen, but with that many mouths to feed, it made sense.
“I was just leaving,” Penny said. If looks could kill, Cindy would be dead.
Once she left out the back exit, I started piling food on the plate and said, “Little wedding day tension?”
“She’s always tense. It’ll be fine. I can’t wait to see everyone in their tuxes.”
I nodded, trying to avoid too much conversation.
“Be straight with me, Jackal.”
Setting down the spoon I was scooping hash browns with, I looked over, trying to seem casual. “Sure. What’s up?”
She came closer. “Hawk spoke to me early this morning. Said to keep the girls in line if need be.”
“Is that different than any other day?”
“Don’t play dumb with me. You know Raven didn’t keep me in the dark.”
“Cindy, Hawk’s the president now. It’s his call. But I’d say just do what he says and everything will work out fine.” Honestly, Raven didn’t tell her everything. He told her enough that she thought she knew everything. But at the end of the day, it was best she didn’t know it all. At least, I had to believe that.
Still, the urge to spill what I knew to Shivana was strong. Sometimes our secrets protected them, but sometimes they only protected the club. I hoped that once we had Church, I’d know what details I could share, or what details I needed to share. She was an astute woman, and her curiosity could end up costing precious seconds we may not have.
As much as I respected Hawk, I had to know she’d be safe. And my oath to this club was as much of an oath to Cindy, too. If anything happened to her, Raven would haunt me ‘til the day I died, then he’d be waiting at the gates of hell to have it out with me in person.
“Cindy, have some faith in your son. Have some faith in me. Okay?”
She nodded, blowing her short bangs with a puff of air.
I finished making the plates and Cindy said, “I’ll bring you some coffee and brew her some tea, then be right out.”
I stopped at the door. “Look at me, Cindy.” I waited for her eyes to meet mine. “Trust me.”
She nodded. “I’m gonna hold ya to it.”
There was no way these ladies would meet their destiny today. We just couldn’t let that happen.