Fifteen
Hawk
I take a pull of my beer as I watch Avianna across the room laughing at something Declan and Nolan are saying.
It makes me smile, knowing that she truly is okay.
Since meeting her family, she’s been happier getting to know them.
Knowing she still has that connection to her mom.
When she picked up the gun and pointed it at her uncle, my heart nearly stopped.
I’ve never been more proud and scared at the same time.
I wanted to fucking kill him right then and there, but I smile knowing he’s where he belongs, waiting for me.
Declan walks over, standing beside me, both of us watching Avianna. “She’s just like how her mom was. Loyal and fierce even faced with hardship, she still stood standing. That and an Irish stubborn streak a mile long.”
I laugh because that is her. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Declan moves so he’s facing me, drains his drink and keeps eye contact the entire time.
The fucker is intense, I will give him that.
“I know you wouldn’t, and that’s why I know she’s in good hands with you. Avianna is family, and I intend to keep an eye on her, and that extends to you as well. If you guys ever need anything, I will be there, no questions asked. But I have to head back to Boston.
There’s something I need to take care of. I trust you will make sure the uncle gets what he deserves.”
My smile is feral thinking about all the things I plan on doing to him. “Oh, he’s going to be feeling a whole lot of pain by the time I’m done with him.”
He sticks his hand out, and I place mine in his. “Take care of our girl. I will be watching.”
I bristle at the subtle threat. If he wasn’t Avianna’s family, I would have knocked him on his ass, mob boss or not.
Before he walks out the clubhouse door, he turns back around.
“Oh, I almost forgot. Family reunion in a few months. Everyone is flying in to meet Avianna. I will send you the details.”
With that, he walks out the door with Nolan at his side. Fuck, I guess we are going to Boston.
Avianna walks to my side, leaning her head against me right where ?she fucking belongs. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just a little sad that they had to leave already. It was nice getting to know them. It makes me feel more connected to mom. I was starting to forget what she sounded like when she would sing to me when I was sick, or her laugh,
but it all came rushing back as soon as Declan and Nolan spoke about her. It’s as if she’s right here with me again.”
She plays with her mom's necklace with a smile on her face.
“I’m glad you have that now, and it won’t be the last time you see them, Declan told me about the reunion coming up.”
She looks at me with a hopeful look in her eyes. “You're going to come with me?”
I push a piece of hair behind her ear, cupping her cheek. “Of course I am. Wherever you go, I go. They are your family, and I want you to get to know them. You're stuck with me, darlin.”
She leans in closer and bats her eyes at me, placing her hands on my chest. “I kind of like being stuck to you.”
My cock hardens as I get her double meaning. I pull her closer, letting her feel all of me. I lean down, whispering in her ear, and watch as her body shivers. “You can show me later just how much you love being stuck to me.” I kiss the spot on her neck that I know drives her crazy.
She pulls back and gives me that look like she wants to climb me right now. “Can’t wait.”
She lets out a yawn, and I know the events of today have drained her. “Tired?”
She leans her head against me, wrapping my arms around her, and nods. “Exhausted, I swear, with everything that’s happened, I feel like I could sleep for a week. Being a badass takes a lot out of you.”
I throw my head back and laugh as she laughs with me. “That it does, darlin.”
I kiss the top of her head and hold her just a little tighter, knowing that she’s safe in my arms. I watch as Joker walks over, nodding his head at me.
“I’m going to walk the ladies home, then I will be back for some fun.” He smiles, but I see the underlying anger he has. Joker takes being a big brother to all the ladies seriously.
I lean down and kiss her one last time. “I love you, darlin. Get some rest, and I will be home soon.”
“I love you too. Don’t make me wait too long.” She winks at me, pulling out of my arms just as the rest of the women and kids walk towards us.
“Alright, little gremlin, let’s get you home. Remember, Hawk, not to feed her snacks after midnight, or she turns evil.” Joker smirks down at her.
Avianna turns her head slowly, narrowing her eyes at Joker. I swear one of these days he’s going to regret pissing these women off. “Hey Joker, what do a tall person and a broken lightbulb have in common?”
He has a massive smile on his face because he lives for this shit when they can go toe to toe with him. “I don’t know, little gremlin, why don’t you tell me.”
“They are both not very bright at all.” Her smile gets wider as his drops, and I throw my head back and laugh as everyone joins in.
“I’m so underappreciated around here.” He walks to the door, holding it open for all the ladies.
As soon as the door closes, I let the anger that I’ve been holding in come out to the surface.
I tried to keep that shit from Avianna, not wanting her to see it.
The same expression is on my brothers' faces when I look at them.
I’m going for blood and I won’t stop until I’m satisfied that Jamie has learned a valuable lesson.
You never go after one of ours. “Now the real party is about to start.” I rub my hands together with a smile.
We head towards the basement where the fucker is waiting for us.
Blade slaps my back and laughs. “Man, I never expected Avianna to pick up that gun. Though all our women are scary as hell when they are pissed off. The look on her uncle's face was comical. I’m pretty sure he shit himself as soon as Declan stepped forward.
That is one motherfucker you don’t want to cross. I heard the stories of what he does to those who do cross him.”
I laugh with my brothers. “Jamie picked the wrong fucking family, that’s for sure.”
I open the basement door to see Jamie tied down to the chair in the middle of the room. He lifts his head and looks around the room at all of us as if he can find a way out. News flash, he can’t. The only way he’s leaving here is in a body bag.
I watch as he flinches as the door slams shut, the fear in his eyes fueling my anger.
His eyes flicker to each one of us until they land on me.
He struggles in the chair, trying to break free, and I let out a booming laugh, scaring him.
“Oh, Jamie, your struggling is futile, but by all means, you can try to escape, but you wouldn't make it five feet before a bullet plants itself in your skull.”
He narrows his eyes at me, acting tough when just a moment ago he pissed himself as we walked into the room.
I can practically smell his fear. “You have no idea who I am. You fuckers think you can do what you want. But I have people looking for me right now and they know to kill all of you fuckers if something happens to me.”
We all laugh hearing his threat. I circle him and watch as he tries to keep his eyes on me.
I place my hands on his shoulders from behind and dig my fingers in, hearing him whimper.
“Well, fucker, they can try, but we all know you have no one waiting for you. No one is coming to save you, Jamie, so you're going to take your beating like a man. Then, when the time is right and I’ve beaten you like the piece of shit that you are for all your crimes,
I will end you and Avianna can live her life how she should have,without fear. We gave you a chance to walk away, and you chose this, so really you only have yourself to blame.”
I let go of him and walk to the wall of toys and pick up steel knucks.
“All this for that bitch. That money was supposed to be mine. MINE! Instead, my fucking brother set it up, and it all went to her. I should have killed her right along with them.”
He spits at me, and I see red. I don’t remember moving as I deliver hit after hit, feeling the satisfying crunch of bones under my fists.
I hit him one last time in the ribs and step back.
“You motherfucker, I’m going to enjoy fucking killing you. All you had to do was get a fucking job like the rest of us instead you targeted your own family. For what? Because you couldn’t stop gambling and snorting up your inheritance.”
My chest is heaving as I watch Jamie slumped in his chair, bleeding and broken.
The door opens and Joker walks in. “Aww you started without me?” The fucker actually pouts, making my lips twitch.
“Naw you're just in time. Jamie was just saying how he should have killed Avianna along with her parents, weren't you, Jamie? And well, my fist slipped a few times.” The others laugh as Jamie flinches; his breathing is ragged, as I’m pretty sure I broke a few ribs.
Joker pulls out his knife and tests the sharpness while looking directly at Jamie.
“Is that so? Then I guess I did make it in time.”
He walks to Jamie and circles him, bending down and whispering in his ear, making him shake with fear.
I watch detached as Joker plays with him, marking him with his knife, digging deep in some places, making him scream in pain.
By the time Joker is done, Jamie is a sobbing mess, and Joker looks like he’s having the time of his life. He turns to us and smiles.
Jamie lifts his head and looks right at me, and he can hardly see out of his eyes. “Please, just let me go. I promise I won’t go after Avianna. I will leave town.”
Is this fucker stupid? “That’s not happening, Jamie. So brace yourself and take your punishment like a fucking man. There’s no redemption for what you’ve done. Today, you’re going to die, make no mistake about it. Your sins have sealed your fate, and there’s no escape.
You're just lucky Declan and Nolan had to leave; otherwise, it would have really been a family affair. Hell, maybe I should keep you alive and ship you off to Boston so they can have a go at you. Would you like that, Jamie?”
The fucker actually starts crying as soon as I say Declan’s name, making us laugh. “Who’s next?”
Blade steps forwards standing beside me. “You thought you were a badass walking into our clubhouse and pointing a gun at one of our own. Now look at you. Fucking crying like the little bitch that you are. I’m going to enjoy beating your ass.”
Blade cracks his knuckles and delivers his hits.
Each brother steps forward and makes Jamie regret every bad decision he ever made in his life.
To some, this may seem overkill, but when you go after one of ours, your death won't be swift.
Each man here has gone through something similar with their women.
We know what's at stake and what lengths we would go to protect those we love.
Avianna is my heart, the one thing that keeps me going.
She is someone worth fighting for, and I will protect her with my life and take a life if I have to.
As the last brother steps back, Jamie’s face is unrecognizable, and blood pours out of his mouth, and I know he doesn't have much longer.
I pull out my gun and walk to Jamie's slumped form.
“Jamie.” I call his name and watch as he struggles to lift his head.
I smile at him as I point the gun. “Tell the devil I said hello.”
With that, I pull the trigger, watching his head hang.
I take a deep breath, knowing he can no longer hurt Avianna; her nightmare is over.
I turn to my brothers who've been with me from the very beginning and nod my head.
“We’ve got this, brother, go home to Avianna,” Blade says, and I nod my head and walk out the door.
I walk up the stairs and head to my room I have here to clean up.
I strip off my clothes and step into the hot water, letting it ease my muscles.
After cleaning the blood from my body, I step out and dry myself.
I slip on some sweats and walk out the door with purpose, knowing my world is waiting for me.
I made a promise to her, and I intend to keep it.