Eight
Hawk
I stand in my kitchen looking out at the backyard as the sun is coming up, waiting for Avianna to come out of the bathroom so I can drop her off at work.
Thinking of last night, I smile when I remember leaving her in our bedroom to look at everything, and then finding her an hour later curled up in the chair.
I stood there like a fucking stalker, watching as her chest rose and fell, knowing that I have her exactly where I want her.
Without her stirring once, I gently picked her up and placed her in bed.
I know the events of everything that’s been happening in her life are taking a toll on her, and I can’t wait until I get my hands on her uncle and put this to rest for her.
I chuckle as I picture her face yesterday, seeing everything that I did while she was at work.
Even though she believes it was excessive, it's merely the beginning.
I’m going to spoil her as much as I can.
She’s going to know peace, happiness, and everything else in life that I know she doesn’t think she deserves.
My phone buzzes in my back pocket. I pull it out and see a message from Blade.
Change of plans, come to the clubhouse and bring Avianna. We are about to have company. Declan O’Feeney and company just landed. As far as I know, it’s his bodyguards and his cousin Nolan.
Fuck. I don’t like this. Should we expect trouble from Declan?
I fucking hope not because he won’t like the outcome. I don’t give a fuck if he’s a mob boss or not.
Okay, we will be there soon.
I pace around the kitchen as my blood runs cold at the message.
Declan O’Feeney isn’t someone you want on your bad side, and if the rumors are true about him, he is fucking ruthless.
I’m not even the least bit surprised he’s on his way.
He's probably had someone watching the web when it comes to certain names you type.
Having Crow look into Avianna’s family must have set something off.
Fuck, I don’t have a good feeling about this.
I stuff my phone back into my pocket just as Avianna comes down the stairs with a smile on her face.
She looks beautiful. Hell every day she captures my attention.
Avianna walks into the kitchen as I hand her a cup of coffee. She takes a sip of her coffee. Her eyes have more life in them as if she’s no longer scared, which makes me happy. “I’m so excited to start my first day of work.”
Damn you all the hell, Declan. I might punch the fucker for making me ruin her day. “Yeah, about that, darlin, there's been a slight change of plans. We are going to the clubhouse when you're done with your coffee, and you can work from there if you want. But we have a meeting with Blade first.”
I watch as her eyes dim as she places her coffee cup on the counter and takes a step toward me. She folds her arms around herself, knowing it’s not going to be good news. “What aren’t you telling me, Hawk?”
I run my hands through my hair in frustration, hating every bit of this. “Since yesterday Crow has started looking into your family to make sure there aren’t going to be any more surprises, and he found someone on your mom’s side of the family, and they are on their way.”
She shakes her head and starts pacing around the kitchen. “My mom's family? Hawk, my mom said she didn’t have any family left, that it was just her. Are you sure you have the right person? Maybe you have the wrong O'Feeney. I'm sure there are plenty out there.”
Fuck, I don’t want to tell her, but I made a promise I wouldn’t hide anything from her.
She has a right to know that she has family out there, even if he is the head of the mob.
“Yeah, darlin, we are sure. Crow made sure of it, and he’s good at what he does. Declan O’Feeney is your mom’s cousin, and he is the head of the Irish Mob in Boston. He’s here with his cousin, Nolan, as well. Which makes them your second cousin.”
I watch as different emotions cross her face. Happiness at the prospect of maybe having family again, fear of the unknown before she realizes what I said. “Wait, did you say the Irish mob?” Her eyes get big at the implications.
Splitting the distance, I pull her into my arms, feeling her body shaking. “Yeah darlin. I’m sorry you had to find out this way. Blade didn’t say much as he wanted to do this in person.”
She sinks into my hug, making me feel fucking things I shouldn’t right now with having her body close to mine.
She sighs and pulls back. “It’s okay, Hawk. I just don’t understand why my mom never told me. She made it seem as if she didn’t have a family. I always grew up thinking it was just Uncle Jamie as my extended family. There were never any pictures, and anytime I asked she kind of shut it down,
so I stopped asking, and now I know why.”
I can hear the sadness in her voice at being lied to all her life.
But I have a feeling we are about to get all the answers.
I push a piece of hair behind her ear. “I don’t know, darlin but we will get to the bottom of this. You have my word on that. We should head over; everyone is there waiting for us. Before we go, I have one more thing for you.”
I walk into the dining room and grab the box sitting there.
The prospect dropped this off for me this morning.
I walk back into the kitchen and place it on the island with a smile on my face. I laugh as Avianna looks at it as if it might bite her. “Hawk, what did you do?”
“Just open it, darlin.” She looks at me and shakes her head, smiling.
I hold my breath as she slowly opens the lid and sets it aside, and pushes back the paper. A slight gasp leaves her mouth as she pulls out the cut I had made for her. I know it might be too soon, but fuck it. I know she’s mine, and it’s time the entire world knows about it as well.
She pulls it to her chest, and I can see tears in her eyes. “Are you sure, Hawk?”
I know she doubts herself and that shit pisses me the fuck off. One day soon she will see her worth. I will make sure of it if it’s the last thing I do. “I’m as sure as the air that I breathe, darlin. You are mine, and now everyone will know it.”
She touches the patch that says property of Hawk smiling. She slips on the cut and turns around so I can see my name. “How does it look?”
My cock grows hard, and I know my zipper is leaving an indent.
Fuck, I can’t believe she’s all mine. I spin her around and pull her into my arms, leaning down until our lips are almost touching.
I can hear the intake of breath she takes as she shivers in my arms.
“Like fucking mine.” I growl against her lips before I take her into a deep kiss.
I consume her; there are no other words for it.
I can taste her minty breath with a hint of coffee as her scent wraps around me.
Hints of vanilla and something that is uniquely Avianna.
She practically melts against me as I pull her closer.
God, the things I want to do to her would scare her.
I know she’s not ready for any of that, so I slow down the kiss and pull back, putting my forehead against hers.
My heart beats widely in my chest as she opens her eyes and smiles at me, hitting me right in the chest.
“So, does that answer your question?” I fix her hair that’s come out of her bun, making me laugh at how frizzy it is now.
“Yeah, Hawk, it does.” She gives me a smile, and I pull back as she fixes her hair.
I grab my keys and open the door as Avianna steps out.
Locking the door, I head for my bike. I help Avianna on the bike and she’s never looked better than with her cut on.
Fuck, if that makes me a possessive asshole, then so be it.
I get on and start the bike and make my way to the clubhouse.
As I pull in, I can see all my brothers' bikes there as well as two black SUV’s and I can feel Avianna stiffen behind me.
I park my bike and get off, helping Avianna off as well, and grab her hand in mine, and I can already feel her shaking. She looks at me with fear in her eyes. “He’s here, isn’t he?”
“Yeah, darlin it seems that he is. If he makes you uncomfortable at all, just say the word and I will get you out of here. Mob boss or not, I don’t give a fuck.”
“Let’s just get this over with then. I think I’m going to need more caffeine before this starts.”
She gives me a little smile, making the tension in my shoulders drop slightly.
I meant what I said. I will go to war for Avianna, and if I don’t like what Declan says to her, I’m going to make him wish he never stepped foot in Bridgewater Bend and send his ass back to Boston.
“You got it, darlin.” I grab her hand as I watch her lift her head ?high, making pride fill my chest. Even though she’s going into the unknown, she still holds her head high.
As soon as we walk in, all the talking stops, and you'd be able to hear a pin drop.
I let my eyes adjust and scan the room, looking for any potential threat.
I don’t see Declan or his men, which makes some of the tension in my shoulders drop.
Blade walks over with a pissed-off look on his face.
We don’t like people just walking into our territory without having all the information, and having Boston’s notorious mob boss here can pose a serious threat.
He masks his expression before reaching us.
“I have them in the back room with Stone and Ghost and will bring them into church when we are in there.”
He turns to Avianna and gives her a tight smile.
I know he’s not happy about the situation.
“Are you ready to face this, Avianna? I don’t know anything, as they wouldn’t tell us shit until you got here so we are walking into this blind. If you're not ready, I’ll tell them to go home, and we can deal with this another day.
I won’t have anyone coming into our house if our family isn’t comfortable with it.”
Avianna looks at me, and I can see the moment she’s going to agree to meet Declan. Even faced with the unknown, she’s ready to face it head-on. She’s been through so much already, but I know she’s dying for some answers as to the reason why her mom lied to her.
I nod my head at her, and she smiles before turning to face Blade. “I’m ready.”
I don’t like this one fucking bit, but I will be by her side through it all.
I’d bury every enemy with my own hands if it meant she could sleep peacefully another night.
Anyone who tries to hurt her will discover just how far devotion can descend into darkness.
Declan might be the mob boss, but I will drag him straight to hell if he hurts one hair on Avianna’s head.