Chapter 6 Hawk
“Idon’t like this, Pres. Shit’s about to blow the fuck up.”
Crow scrubbed a hand down his face and over his beard, giving me a nod. “I know.”
“Undertaker sent his club to attack Raven. He killed Rook. That motherfucker attacked The Roost. We need to end him. Now.”
“That’s why I need you to listen. You remember the map we found on the back of those blackmail photos? The ones in the envelope?”
During church a few weeks back, Crow showed us the envelope Bella had given him. We didn’t know it at the time, but Undertaker had sent it to mess with us. “Yeah. The map led to your house as a kid. Why?”
“Claw and Jay checked out my old childhood home and found another envelope.”
Fuck. “What was in it?”
Crow ran a hand through his hair, clearly agitated. “More photos and a locker key. It’s for a locker in a fucking gym. I want you to check it out and bring back whatever is in it.”
“Okay, Pres. You got it.”
“Raven is gonna lose his shit when he sees those photos.”
“Shit. Tell me.”
Crow shook his head. “It’s fucked up. Brianna in a room with Chronos and the Dirty Death. They’re assaulting her. And the mayor with different women in compromising sex acts. All of them are currently missing.”
Raven’s ol’ lady. Fuck. “Undertaker and the mayor will regret fucking with our club and women,” I snarled.
“There’s more,” Crow spat, cracking his neck.
Not what I wanted to hear. As security for the club, I provided the primary protection for my brothers and their families.
It was my job to ensure this shit didn’t happen.
But Bree was taken before Raven claimed her, and I couldn’t blame myself for her kidnapping or rape. “Give it to me straight, Pres.”
“It’s Undertaker.”
“I figured.” He found the safehouse where Raven and Bree were staying. We didn’t know if we had a rat in the club or not.
“Before Grudge died, he told Raven that Undertaker knew he’d mated Bree.”
My body stilled, frozen in shock. “Mated? He said that specific word?” Not wife or ol’ lady or girlfriend. Mate. A sacred bond to our crow.
“Yes. There’s only one explanation that makes sense. He’s got a bond with his animal.”
I stared at my pres, thinking he had to be joking, wondering why he specified animal instead of crow. “Well, shit. You think he’s a shifter. Don’t you?”
“I do.”
“What kind?”
“A wolf.”
A wolf? As in werewolf? “Are you fucking serious?”
“Think about it, Hawk. He scented us and followed our club members. Undertaker knows every safe location we have, every home we live in, and everywhere we meet on a regular basis. The Roost. Our family members. All of it. He has the scent of the crows. He can track us.”
Holy shit!
“We can’t let him live,” I finally replied. “He’ll come after the club and hunt us all down one by one if he needs to. Wolves are relentless predators. If this is true, we need to form a plan.”
“I know. We bring this to church. Undertaker wanted a war with us; he’s got one. No fucking mercy.”
“You tell this shit to Raven yet?”
Crow shook his head. “No. Gonna head in and talk to him now.”
“Text me the address of the gym. I’ll check it out as soon as I leave here.”
“Who’s stayin’ for security?”
“With Talon gone, I’ve got Jay and Claw sticking around tonight.” My best guys.
“Good. Follow up when you have the package. Here’s the key.”
I took it from him, shoving it into the deepest pocket of my cut where I couldn’t lose it. “Tell Raven I’ve got this. We won’t let this disrespect and bullshit slide.”
“I know, Hawk. Contact me as soon as you pick up the package.”
With a sigh, I leaned against the wall, peering through the window as Crow entered, filling in Raven on our conversation.
The blinds were open, allowing anyone who walked by to see the identity of whoever was in the room. Not good.
I pulled out my phone and shot Crow a quick text. He’d close the blinds once he read my message.
“Is he going to make it?”
I turned, so distracted I never noticed anyone else walking in this direction and stared at the pretty blonde at my side, mesmerized by her sweet smile and the dark lashes framing her gray eyes. Something about her seemed familiar, but I couldn’t place it.
Swallowing hard, I hoped I didn’t sound like an idiot as I repeated myself. “Who-who?”
Nope. Not a fucking idiot, just a goddamn owl.
I felt the crow’s presence and his amusement. Cracking my neck, I tried not to let my annoyance show. An SAA should never be that distracted.
“Bree’s new man, Raven.”
My gaze slid over this girl’s ample curves and pear-shaped figure, noting her thick thighs and generous ass.
Fuck. I loved a woman with a little extra weight on her frame.
She could take a pounding, and I didn’t have to worry about slamming into her hip bones.
Driving into her soft, warm body would be fucking heaven.
The blonde bombshell pointed to my cut. “You wear the same brand. Devil’s Murder MC. You’re his biker buddy, right?”
What the fuck? “We aren’t buddies,” I growled.
She giggled. “Oh, right. Biker brothers.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, is Raven going to be okay?”
We stood outside the patient room where Raven had been moved once the doctors stabilized him and his injuries weren’t life-threatening. There was only so much Falcon, our healer, could do with that much blood loss.
Raven’s gunshot wound to the stomach almost killed him. That was how we ended up at the hospital, most of the club taking shifts to watch out for our enemies.
“You a friend of Bree’s?”
She flipped her wavy blonde hair over her shoulder. “Her bestie. I’m Callie.”
Never heard of her. Oh, wait. Yeah, the chick Bree worked with at the mayor’s office—the one with the missing sister.
“Raven needed a blood transfusion, but he’s fine. Too fucking stubborn to die.”
She snickered. “I’m glad. Bree deserves to be happy.”
I gave her my full attention. My crow kept nudging me to get closer, to get her information so I could find her again without a problem. Weird. “Why are—”
The blaring wail of a fire alarm drowned my words. Sprinklers went off overhead and began pouring water, soaking us in only seconds.
“Ahhhhhh,” Callie screeched, covering her hair with her hands. Cute, but useless.
This didn’t happen by accident. My crow immediately alerted me to danger. I noticed an odd musky odor that reminded me of burnt hotdogs over a campfire. Another weird observation.
I reached for Callie’s hand, tugging her out of the hall into one of the empty patient rooms. I had the door shut and her pinned against it, my body caging hers against the wood so fast that she didn’t fight me.
“What are you doing?” She pulled on my arm, but I held tight, refusing to release her.
Peeking out the tiny window in the door, I spotted two men wearing Dirty Death MC cuts. Fucking hell. I needed to warn Crow and Raven.
“Hello? What’s the matter with you?” Callie asked, getting riled up.
“Shhh. Stay quiet. I’m saving your life,” I whispered, tugging her body closer to mine as I moved away from the door.
This room had two ways in and out, and I pulled Callie along, relieved the blinds in this room weren’t open. “Follow me.”
“You’re crazy,” she whispered but obeyed, shivering as her wet clothes clung to her body.
I couldn’t look down again, or I’d stare at her perky tits and the hard nipples I had already accidentally caught when we rushed inside this room.
“You ever heard of the Dirty Death MC?” I asked, pausing at the door as I heard the water shut off. The floor would be slick. I needed to get us out of here without falling in the process.
“Yes,” she whispered, her gray eyes betraying fear.
Fuck. I didn’t like her reaction.
“They’re here to fuck with my club.”
“Shit,” she cursed. “In a hospital?”
Undertaker and his club didn’t give a fuck. Didn’t take a genius to figure that out. Those bastards had been a pain in the ass long before Undertaker ordered the hit on Rook.
“Gonna need you to stick close to me, sweetheart. I’ll get you out safely.”
She bit her bottom lip, nibbling on the plump surface. Goddamn. Perfect, straight, delicate white teeth absorbed my attention until I blinked.
What the hell?
“You okay?”
Christ. She noticed how I stared, completely losing focus.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked, not really expecting an answer.
She responded anyway, shrugging her shoulders. “I don’t know you, so I can’t answer that question.”
Irked, I clasped her hand, dragging her against my body. The warmth of her skin and a soft, feminine scent invaded my senses. Sunflowers. Citrus. Fucking addicting.
My palm rose, sliding around her neck as I lowered my head, holding her gently in place. “When we leave this room, I need you to follow my directions. Don’t hesitate. Don’t fight me. If we’re lucky, they won’t notice us.”
“I don’t even know your name.”
Why the fuck was that important?
“Hawk,” I grumbled, tapping the patch on my cut as I released her. “It’s right here.”
“You don’t have to be an ass,” she sassed.
“Well, honey, we don’t have time for this shit,” I shot back.
“Fine.”
I knew enough about women to know the word fine never meant things were okay—usually, the opposite. If I wasn’t trying to get us out of this hospital without being gunned down by the Dirty Death, I wouldn’t be so short with her, but the crow’s agitation became my own.
I didn’t have the patience for this. My mind flipped to protective mode, and when that happened, I became a cold, ruthless motherfucker on a mission.
We reached the door, and I slid it open a couple of inches, noting the busy hall.
Hospital staff rushed around to clean up the mess and check on patients.
The chaos allowed the DDMC the chance they needed to search the rooms for Raven, Crow, and any of my other brothers.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I checked the screen. Two texts from Crow.
We’re outside. Get the fuck out of there.
Use the key at the gym and pick up the package.
I shot back a quick response.
On it Pres.
I slipped out of the room, clenching Callie’s hand. We moved fast, passing rooms on the floor as I rushed to the stairway at the end of the hall. The elevator was too risky. We didn’t have that kind of time.
I caught that strange odor again as we reached the door, and I twisted the handle, guiding Callie inside before shutting it with a soft click.
“Move, sweetheart,” I ordered. “They’re not far behind us.”
Callie gasped, racing down the steps in front of me.
Only three floors stood between us and freedom. My gaze bounced around, landing often on the jiggly, round ass in front of me. What a fuckin’ view.
I heard footsteps in the stairwell as we reached the final door. Ushering Callie outside, I walked briskly next to her side, reaching for her hand and curling my fingers around her smooth, soft skin. A tiny jolt sped up my arm, and I almost flinched.
What the hell was that?
Caw...caw.
“Shit,” I cursed.
The crow flew above our heads, sweeping in a wide circle as we reached my bike. He sensed danger and sent a warning.
“I know,” I mumbled low.
Callie’s gaze roamed over my Harley with a frown. She didn’t seem like the type to ride but it didn’t matter. She’d have to deal with any issues she had once we got the fuck out of here.
“Here. Put this on.” I pushed the helmet into her hands and swung my leg over the seat. “Hurry, sweetheart.”
She blinked, staring at the black paint on the helmet, then at me. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Hey, I get you’re scared, but we’ve got to go. Now. I’ll take you anywhere you want once you’re safe. Okay?”
She bit her lip, thinking it over. “This seems reckless. My car isn’t far away. Those bikers don’t know who I am. If I leave, they won’t come after me.” She held out the helmet. “I can’t leave with you.”
Well, fuck. I stood, taking the helmet from her hands. “Babe. You don’t get it. I think they already know who you are.”
“What?”
“You work with Bree, and they targeted her. I don’t think you’re safe. You need to—”
“No! I don’t believe you—”
I did the only thing I could think of: shut her pretty mouth and get her to listen.
My head lowered, and I smashed my lips to hers, drawing her into my chest at the same time.
It wasn’t supposed to be a kiss that meant anything other than distraction.
I shouldn’t have deepened the connection, forcing my tongue into her mouth.
My cock thickened as the kiss seemed to awaken something primal inside.
A need so fierce that I hardly contained it.
I longed to trace the curves of her body with my fingertips and groaned, reluctantly pulling away.
Callie’s chest heaved, and her eyes closed as she swayed against me.
I took advantage of the moment to place the helmet over her head, securing the strap under her chin.
“C’mon, beautiful. We need to move. Now. ”
Her eyes snapped open, cloudy as the sky after a storm. “Hawk—”
She never got a chance to finish her sentence.
A bullet whizzed past her head, lodging into the hospital’s stucco facade.
Fuck!
We had to move. Now!