13. Hawk
13
HAWK
I tell myself that I won’t lose my cool.
But my hands grip my bike’s handlebars, throttle the gas, and my Harley’s engine roars in response.
Smoke billows up into the sky, dark and thick. The hard burnt stench hits my nostrils before I even see the flames.
My stomach churns with a mix of anger and dread as I push the bike harder, the crackle of fire eating away at months of hard work.
Don’t lose your cool.
As I ride over the final hill, the full extent of the damage comes into view. The marijuana fields, our lifeline, all our work and main income, are ablaze. Flames dance wildly, consuming the tall, green plants.
I grind my teeth together.
Don’t lose your shit.
I pull to a stop, kicking the stand down with more force than necessary, and dismount, my boots hitting the scorched earth with a dull thud. The heat is intense, waves of it rolling over me, but it's the sight that truly burns.
Acres of plants, fucking turned to black soot and ash. The smoke rises in dark plumes, blotting out the sun. This was no mere accident. It was a direct attack against me and my men. Someone set out to piss me off, and they’ve done a damn good job of it.
"Goddamn it," I mutter under my breath, my fists clenching at my sides.
A movement catches my eye, and I turn to see Tank and a few of the others riding down the hill behind me, their expressions mirroring the fury and shock I feel. They dismount quickly, rushing over to where I stand, their eyes fixed on the devastation before us.
"Son of a bitch," Tank growls, his face twisted in anger. "What the hell happened?"
“What the hell do you think fucking happened, Tank?” I stare at the flames. “Where’s Vance?”
“Headed back this way.”
“Tell him to come here.” I point to the earth in front of me. “With her.”
“You think Izzy did this?” he asks. He’s not ready to accept the reality of the situation we are in because of her. I want to punch him right in that massive square head of his. He still wants to stand by and protect her after everything.
Well, someone’s pissed me right the fuck off, and Izzy is my number one suspect.
“We need to contain this before we lose any more crops.” I ignore his question, keeping my voice steady despite the rage boiling inside of me.
“Hawk, come on,” he starts, grabbing my shoulder. “You don’t actually think she did this?” He gestures to the fire and burnt field. I shove his hand away.
“We don’t have time to think. Get out there before we lose our whole god damn farm.”
Tank studies me for a long moment then back aways, barking orders to the others. It’s going to be one hell of a long night. They move quickly, a well-oiled machine despite the chaos.
I turn my attention back to the fire, my jaw clenched so tight it hurts as I try to calculate how much money we’re about to lose this quarter. If Izzy is behind this, if she’s been playing us all along, she’s about to find out just how unforgiving the Hellfire Riders can be.
I sit down on an old tree stump at the top of the hill, watching as my men fight to save what’s left.
The guys haul out hoses from the nearby shed, directing powerful streams at the advancing flames. Shovels and buckets are passed around, everyone working in a frantic but organized effort to beat back the fire.
Sweat pours down their faces, the heat mingling with the urgency of their movements.
I’m supposed to be two steps ahead, the first one in line to make a move. That’s how I got to the position of president. That’s why I’m in charge, but this fucking woman shows up and breaks my focus.
I reach into my vest and pull out a cigarette, absentmindedly rolling it between my lips. I need a plan. Something to put me back in charge. Izzy was a problem the first time she wandered into our clubhouse. I knew that much, but to think she’d actually be capable of a hit like this. The pieces of the last few days start clicking together in a way that makes my blood run cold.
I don’t want to believe it.
In fact, I struggle to.
“They’ll be here soon,” Tank says. I was so lost in thought that I hadn’t noticed his approach. He’s got soot on his chin, nose and caked all over his chest. At some point, he ripped off his shirt due to the unbearable heat.
"Get everyone back to the clubhouse once this is under control. We need to regroup and figure out our next move."
“Boss?”
Jacks emerges from behind Tank like a shadow. They’re all wondering why the hell this happened. No one should be this bold to move against us. No one.
“What is it?” I ask him. He’s nervous, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
“I talked to a few of the guys that were down at the warehouse. They were there right before the place got burned to hell. It wasn’t Dead Demons,” Jacks says.
The ember of my cigeratte glows with each inhale and I keep it in the corner of my mouth. No surprise there.
“Who’d they see?” I ask slowly, waiting for the inevitable drop.
“It was hard to tell, but they’re best guess is the police.”
Fuck. All the signs point to Izzy. I can’t believe I ever trusted her. I push back a handful of hair. So, after years of trying to get into my crew, they decide to send a hot, little blonde with a wild story to tell. Still. It doesn’t sit right with me. None of it does.
“Thanks, Jacks.”
“How can we know for sure?” Tank pushes, staying with me while the others leave.
“We don’t, but the only information we have is what’s in front of us currently.”
I take another drag then flick the cigarette butt into the ground, my boots crunching in the charred remains of what was once our harvest. I suck in a deep breath.
If Izzy is a part of this hit, she took the bait and ousted herself so goddamn fast.
These feds are getting sloppy. Or maybe I am.
I turn sharply as the distant roar of a motorcycle approaches, the sound growing louder. My blood boils with the sight of Izzy clinging to Vance’s back, her golden hair whipping in the wind. Anger surges through me, but beneath it, something deeper and more complicated twists in my gut.
I dust myself off slightly, when Vance’s bike skids to a stop.
Fuck staying calm. I don’t have time for calm.
“What the hell’s going on?” Vance starts to ask, but I don’t wait, striding over as every stitch keeping my anger in check rips apart.
I grasp Izzy’s wrist, lifting her off the bike with one heave. Her hair is disheveled from the ride, falling in loose waves around her shoulders, framing a face that’s both stunning and infuriating.
“Hawk, wait?—”
“What the fuck are you doing?” Vance roars.
“Shut the hell up, Vance!” I growl, glaring daggers at him. His jaw locks, and every part of him is fighting to hold back, but I don’t have time to give Vance my attention right now. I need to speak with my little problem. “You’re with the feds, aren’t you?” I snarl, shaking her so hard she stumbles.
“Hawk, stop it!” Tank rushes over, attempting to wretch her from my grip, but I shoulder him off. God damn it.
Why are they so set on being knights in shining armor? They’re still competing for her heart like horny teenagers.
“All of you get the hell out of here and clean up this fucking mess!” I shout.
Izzy’s face pales as she watches me with wide, terrified eyes.
“Hawk, please. I didn’t tell anyone,” she starts, but I stop her by holding up a finger to her lips.
“Wait.”
She doesn’t resist as I hold her there until the surrounding area clears. I take a long breath, turning to face the little snitch.
My hand presses against the tree, trapping Izzy between my arm and the rough bark. She looks small and vulnerable, her eyes pleading for mercy. My whole body is full of rage coursing as I hold her in place, making sure she can’t run.
“You think you can play us for fools?” I ask coldly, studying her features.
She swallows, shrinking back as my eyes rake over her.
“I—”
“Don’t fucking lie to me, Isabella,” I hiss, gripping her chin roughly.
She flinches but doesn’t try to pull away.
“I told you, I’m here because I need your help.”
Her words hang in the air, mingling with the sounds of the forest. Part of me wants to believe her, to trust the spark of honesty I see in those bright blue eyes. But the anger, the betrayal—it’s hard to shake.
“You think showing up with a story is going to fix this?” I snarl, my grip tightening slightly. “You think that’s enough?”
Izzy stares at me defiantly, her chin trembling but still holding my gaze. It's damn infuriating. “I know it’s not enough,” she says. “But it’s a start. Please, just give me a chance to prove it.”
The raw sincerity in her voice tugs at something deep inside me, cutting through the fog of my anger. Damn it—I need answers. I need to know the truth.
"Bullshit. You infiltrated us and led your guys straight to our fucking crop. What the hell did you expect to achieve? We put this test right in front of you, and you fucking failed.”
Her eyes widened in horror. “N-No! I swear?—”
My hand grasps the back of her neck and a handful of her hair. I loom over her. Each one of her shaking breath’s falls on my lips.
“I’m going to give you one chance to tell me the truth, and that’s it.”
Tears well up in her eyes, but she doesn’t break my stare.
“I didn’t do this. I swear.” She searches for the words then. “I work with the police, okay? But only as a forensic photographer, but everything about Laina and the Puppeteer is true! You have to believe me. I’m being hunted, Hawk.”
The vulnerability in her voice softens me, but only ever so slightly. I step back and look at her, my face impassive. Call it a fucking miracle, but I believe her. The sun’s dying light casts long shadows around us, the forest a mix of orange and deepening twilight, and there she is.
I want to believe her.
“Prove it.”
She scrambles then, reaching into the purse slung over shoulder then pulls out a piece of some marionette doll, holding it up. The sight of it gives me the creeps. “This was left for me. It’s a message, a warning. Whoever did this is trying to get to me, and they’re willing to burn everything down to do it.”
I snatch the doll’s hand from her, examining it with a sneer. The note attached reads: Seems you’ve made new friends, Izzy. But not all friendships last. Watch your back.
Again, this could all be some made up lie to mess with my head. My anger boils over. I toss the hand aside, glaring at Izzy. “This doesn’t prove anything. For all we know, you planted it yourself.”
“Why?” she asks, staring at me square in the eyes. “You really think this is a lie?!”
Damn her for making me doubt myself. Exasperated, I pace back and forth, unsure what to do with her.
Fuck. I know the desperation in her eyes, the wild look. She’s cornered and running out of options. I’ve seen it enough times in the mirror.
But my choices are limited and the evidence in front of me is starting to stack up fairly high. All I have to go off are her words, and she’s already lied to us before.
“Hawk, please,” she begs.
The sound of her plea tugs at something deep inside me, stirring emotions I’ve tried to bury. Love, fear, anger—they’re all tangled up, making it impossible to think straight. I want to trust her, to believe that she’s telling the truth, but the stakes are too high.
“You’ve lied to us before, Izzy,” I say, my voice harsh even to my own ears. “Why should I believe you now?”
Tears begin to fall, but she stands her ground, refusing to look away. “Because I had no choice then. I’m only trying to find my best friend. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I’m trying to fix it. Just give me a chance. Hawk,” she says softly. “I know I’ve messed up. But if you don’t believe me, if you don’t trust me, then we’re all screwed. I need you to believe me.”
I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. I can’t ignore the pull I feel towards her, the instinct to protect her despite everything. She reminds me of years long ago. When I had hoped to make this world a better place. She wants that to.
I don’t want to be the one that hurts her. I never want to be that, but this shit is far too deep for her to be wading in.
Slowly, I rein in the fury threatening to consume my judgment. “Fine, I’ll give you one chance to prove your innocence. But if you fuck with me…” I stick my finger into her chest, pushing, “you won’t leave me with many options, Izzy. I won’t be able to stop the punishment that you will deserve.”
“Someone’s after us both,” she whispers, catching my hand with hers. “I’m going to prove to you that I didn’t betray you, Vance or Tank.”
“If you didn’t lead the feds here, then who did?”
I think…” she chews on her bottom lip, shaking her head. Her eyes dart around as her mind races, piecing together her thoughts. “Laina had this folder with all this information she gathered on you.”
“Me?”
“The Hellfire Riders. She spent months gathering data and evidence to link you to the Puppeteer, but it’s an outlandish theory. I even told her that, but she was determined.”
“Where’s that folder?” I ask, my voice tight with urgency.
She stiffens then, as though a bolt of lightning has struck through her. “Reynolds.”
“The hell did you just say?” I snap, my anger flaring.
“I gave it to Detective Reynolds. But—but I didn’t know…that was before I came here. Before I met any of you.”
Once more, that familiar taste of anger bubbles in my chest, ready to erupt. If Reynolds has that folder, it’s only a matter of time before he strikes again. He’s had it out for us for years, and I’ve been wanting nothing more than to make that sack of shit pig pay for what he’s done. “You led the fucking wolf to our doorstep, Isabella. You think that’s going to fly with me? With Tank and Vance?”
“No, but I thought you were a killer, Hawk. I thought you had Laina.”
“Great job. Fucking great job, private eye. You’ve put our entire club at risk for a fucking hunch!” I growl.
Pain flickers in her eyes. “I know, I was wrong. God, I was so wrong about you.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter now, does it? I don’t know what the hell to believe with you!”
“Wait, please listen to me?—”
“There’s nothing to fucking listen to, Izzy! You’ve dug us a grave so deep, we’ll be lucky if we crawl out of it alive.”
Her eyes widen with desperation, tears glistening but not falling. I watch her with a mix of anger and something I can’t quite name. “We’re not done here,” I say, my voice low and dangerous. “But right now, we have bigger problems.”