Thirteen
Avianna
I slip on my cut, already ready, so by the time Hawk walks down the stairs I’m waiting for him by the door. He grabs his keys, and we head to the garage. He gets on and holds out his hand for me to take.
“Ass on the bike, darlin, we have shit to do.” He winks at me and smiles.
I shake my head and laugh as I take his hand and get on, wrapping my arms around him. He pulls out of the garage and makes the short trip to the clubhouse. My eyes narrow seeing all the bikes, including two black SUVs. He pulls in and kills the engine, getting off the bike.
I swing my leg over and look at Hawk. “Why is everyone here?” I ask suspiciously.
He just grabs my hand and walks with me to the front door. “I have no idea, darlin.” No idea, my ass! I know he’s lying, but I will let him keep his secrets for now.
He opens the door and allows me to walk in first, and as soon as I do, everyone yells, “SURPRISE!” I let out a gasp as I can see a happy birthday banner and the room filled with balloons, a table with gifts all piled up. I whip my head around and look at Hawk. He walks up to me and holds my hands.
“Did you really think we wouldn’t be celebrating your birthday? They love you, darlin I love you.” He pulls me to his chest while I laugh and cry at the same time.
“I love you too.”
I pull back, and that’s when everyone comes over wishing me a happy birthday. I’m so happy my heart could burst. Hailey is the first in line, pulling me into a hug as much as she can with her pregnant belly. “Happy birthday, girl. You're one of us now.”
Damn it, here comes the waterworks. Thank God my mascara is waterproof. “Thank you, Hailey. That means a lot.”
The rest of the ladies come over, pulling me into a hug. Savannah gives me a knowing smirk, looking at me. “Someone got lucky last night and still has that I’ve been fucked glow.”
The rest of the ladies laugh as my face goes absolutely red. “Is it that obvious?”
“To us it is because we get the same look on our faces.” Scarlett laughs while the others nod their heads.
“So how are you holding up with finding out about your mom and now having a family that’s in the mob?” Madison asks as the rest of the girls move closer to me.
I look over and can see Declan and Nolan talking to Hawk in the corner.
Whatever they are saying doesn’t look good.
I turn back around. “It’s going to take some getting used to. I mean, I never thought in my wildest dreams that my mom was ?part of the mob. And now I have more family out there and I’m not alone, which is a blessing regardless of what their job is.
It doesn’t mean I will be going into the family business.”
We laugh at that because, yeah, that won’t be happening at all.
“Could you imagine? I’m pretty sure Hawk would have a heart attack.” Kira says, making me laugh. She’s not wrong; Hawk would lose his mind if I ever brought that up.
Just then Bailey and Nicholas come running over with a gift in their hands. Bailey throws her arms around me. “Happy birthday, Avianna. Nic and I got you a gift.”
“Happy birthday, Avianna.” Nic hands me the gift, making my heart beat fast. These two kids are so precious.
“Thank you, guys, you didn’t have to do that.” I open the lid and gasp as tears gather in my eyes. Lying inside the box is a keychain with a picture of my parents and me, the last one we took together. I touch their picture, so overwhelmed with love from everyone here.
“Uncle Hawk helped us with that.” Bailey says as Nic nods his head.
“I know it’s hard to lose your parents, but this way you can carry them wherever you go,” Nic says in a quiet voice, and I know he’s thinking of losing his own parents as well.
I pull them both into a hug as I let the tears fall. “Thank you so much. This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten.” I pull back and wipe my tears and see that all the ladies have tears running down their faces as well. The guys are standing by with smiles on their faces.
I pull out my keys and attach the keychain on, rubbing my finger across their faces and placing them in my pocket. They truly are the most amazing kids.
“Mom, can Nic and I have a cookie?” Bailey asks Madison, who smiles at her daughter. I’m so happy she got to be with people who love her deeply, as a child should.
“Yeah, Pixie, I’m wasting away here.” Nic says, making his sister roll her eyes.
“You literally ate like an hour ago.”
“Yeah, but I’m a growing boy.”
“That’s fine with me, Bailey, but don’t eat too many.” Madison says, and we all watch as Bailey grabs Nic’s hand and drags him to the sweets table, making us laugh.
I watch them take more than one cookie, making me smile as they giggle about something. Hawk walks over with a beer in his hand and hands it to me. “You look like you could use this.”
I lean into him as I take a sip. “Thank you. So you helped the kids with their gift?”
“I did they asked what they could get you and I gave them the suggestion. I knew Kira had done something similar for Nic.”
I lift up on my toes and give him a kiss on the lips. “It was the perfect gift.”
“So I have to talk to you about something,” Hawk says, and his tone makes me stiffen.
I pull out of his arms and turn to look at him. “It’s about Uncle Jamie, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, darlin it is. He’s going to make his move today, and he’s going to do it at the clubhouse. We want him on our territory, where we can control the situation. He’s already been seen in the area and it won’t be long before he shows up and tries to make his play. It won’t work,
and we will be ready for him. I won’t let him touch you, and we will end this today. I’m sorry that this is happening on your birthday.”
With each word Hawk says, my heart beats faster.
I knew it was going to happen, but now that it’s here, it’s so real.
I look around at everyone who has become my family, see their smiling faces, the men with their pregnant women.
The kids, Bailey and Nic, are in the corner playing on their gaming system and finally towards my cousins Declan and Nolan, and a resolve settles over me knowing I’m doing this not just for me but for my family.
To not only keep me safe but them as well.
I turn to look back at Hawk to see him watching me. I don’t know if he’s waiting for me to fall apart or run out of here screaming. So I blow out a breath and square my shoulders back. “How is it happening?”
If Hawk is shocked by my words, he doesn’t show it. “We left the gate open, and the prospects stationed around the property will alert us when he arrives. We know he’s now working alone as he owes people too much money for them to want anything to do with him.”
“Okay, I guess there isn’t anything to do but wait for him to show up.”
Hawk pulls me to his chest, and I breathe in his scent to calm my racing nerves. “I love you, darlin and I promise we will end this today, then we can live our lives together without looking over our shoulders.”
“I love you too, Daniel. Despite knowing my uncle is going to be making an appearance, this is still the best birthday I've ever had.”
He bends his head and kisses me slowly. We savor the moment, not caring that we were in the middle of the clubhouse filled with our family.
He pulls back and smiles at me as we stay like this for a moment.
He looks up at something behind me and nods his head.
I turn around to see Declan and Nolan walking our way, which makes me smile.
“I will give you guys a moment to talk.” Hawk kisses me one last time and walks away just as they both reach me.
“Happy birthday, Avianna,” Nolan says and hands me a giant gift basket filled with lots of goodies. Makeup, spa things, lots of chocolate, anything a girl could need is in here. He helps me place it on the table; it’s that big. I give him a giant hug, taking him by surprise.
“Thank you so much.” He steps back, and that’s when Declan steps forward.
“Happy birthday, Avianna.” He hands me a small box that’s perfectly wrapped. I look at him and smile as I open the paper. Inside the box is a smaller ring box that’s velvet green. I open it and gasp as a beautiful gold Claddagh ring with an emerald heart in the center.
“Oh, Declan, this is beautiful.”
“It was your mom’s. She left it behind ?in Ireland. She would want you to have it. It’s a family tradition that every girl got one when she was born and it was to be passed to their daughter if they had one. She may not have gotten the chance, but it’s now my honor to do it for her.”
I watch as Declan takes it out of the box and places it on my right hand with the heart pointing towards me.
I throw my arms around the mob boss and sob into his shoulder, so thankful for the both of them for giving me a piece of myself back. “Thank you so much, Declan, this means so much to me.”
He pats my back and pulls back. “Mo mhuintir go deo, remember that. Once they catch your uncle, we will head back to Boston. But I want you to know, whatever you need you call me and I will make it happen. We are family, and I want to stay in touch as much as possible.”
“I would like that.” I wipe the tears that have fallen and admire the ring on my finger. This is turning into the best day of my life.
Declan and Nolan walk away, giving me a moment to myself as I look around at my family. I finally feel complete in a way I never knew was possible for me. Hawk walks over and wraps his arms around me. “Are you okay, darlin?”
“I’m more than okay. I don’t think I can thank you enough for making me feel loved and special today. You are truly an amazing man, Daniel, and I’m one lucky girl.”
“It’s me who’s the lucky one here. But I have ways you can make it up to me later.” He wiggles his eyebrows up and down, looking absolutely ridiculous, making me burst out laughing, having not expected that from him.
Lifting up, I give him a kiss. “I can’t wait.” I wink at him, which makes him growl and grabs my ass. Just then his phone pings with a text. When he reads it, his body stiffens and gets a hard look in his eyes.
My body shivers, and I know it’s time. “He’s here, isn’t he?” My voice quivers as I try to keep the panic at bay. I’m no longer that person he can push around, but old habits are hard to break when you're about to face your fears.
Hawk is vibrating with so much anger, but I know it’s not directed at me. “Yeah, he is.” He looks over at the guys who also received a text.
I watch as Blade says something to Hailey, and that’s when everyone sings happy birthday, wheeling the massive cake over with all the candles lit up. “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Avianna, happy birthday to you!”
Everyone claps and cheers as I plaster a smile on my face.
I close my eyes and make a wish that everything is going to be okay and that no one gets hurt.
I blow out the candles, and that’s when the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
The clapping dies down until only one person is left, making me turn around and come face to face with my uncle Jamie.
He’s still clapping with a smile on his face.
I never noticed before, but his eyes are devoid of any emotion.
The uncle who I thought loved me as a child is no more.
In front of me is a man I don’t even recognize.
“Aww, isn’t this sweet? I think it’s time we had a talk, my dear niece, don’t you? You have something that belongs to me, and I’m here to collect.”
I gasp when he pulls out a gun and points it directly at me. Yeah, this isn’t good at all.