4. Hawg
HAWG
My fist slams into the fuckhead’s face outside in the parking lot, shattering the bones that Onyx didn’t already crush.
My brothers guard the alley while I allow him to gasp for air before delivering another blow.
“What was in the fucking bag you gave Onyx?” I ask again because I fucking want to know.
He glares at me with hate. “A gift from us to Pearl. None of your fucking business.” My fist slams into him again and then again. My VP kicks him square in the side for his disrespect to me. “What was in that bag?” I ask again.
Silence…
Another punch.
This time, he’s beginning to cave. “She’s got a debt to pay to the Desert Riders. It’s not your business.”
“I’m asking you nice, don’t make me use my bat.”
“They’ll kill me.”
“I’ll kill you harder. Tell me what I fucking want to know. What was in the bag that you gave Onyx?”
His eyes narrow and he changes his tune. Not too many people around who haven’t heard stories about my bat.
His voice is low, hard to make out, but I hear it good enough. “Smashed guardian bell and a picture of Pearl picking out her wedding dress.”
I laugh outwardly but inside my guts are churning. “Fucking intimidation tactic as old as the motorcycle clubs have been running the roads is long. You think that’s going to scare Pearl, the Harlots, or the Royal Bastards who protect them? Not a fucking chance.”
His eyes indicate the fear he hasn’t been willing to show much until now. Maybe the depth of his trouble is starting to sink into his pathetic little soul.
I don’t want him passing out, I want him to feel every bit of this as a reminder of what happens to someone who gets anywhere near the people we protect. I’m even happy to let the fucker live if he takes the message back to his crew.
Only when his face looks like pulverized meat and he’s no longer standing but lying on the ground do I stop. I give him one last kick in the nuts for good measure, watching blood leak from his mouth as he groans.
I should have used my fucking bat, but I don’t want to kill the fucker. “Keep him alive but send him back to his owners with a fucking message: Desert Riders come tiptoeing around anymore and they’re going to get more of what they got at the last rumble in the desert.”
And for that, I’ll sure as shit use my bat. My crew doesn’t need to be told anything else. They’ll have a little fun with him, blow off some much-needed steam, but he’ll live to see another day. But only because I said he should.
I head into the club through the back entrance.
Carver gives me a nod as I pass through to the bathroom to clean up.
When I come out, he’s no longer at the bar.
A quick glance around causes me to grin.
Pearl has her arms around his neck, looking into his eyes like a lovesick schoolgirl.
Carver moves her around the dance floor to a slow song being played by one of my recruits who fancies himself a DJ.
Fucking kids.
Everyone’s having a good time though. Maybe it’s not a bad way to put him to use tonight.
Saves the ladies a little money, and I can live with that.
We’ll see how the others react to him after tonight.
They’re either going to give him a nod of respect for showing up for the ladies or give him crap for being a pansy ass.
Time will tell how this recruit turns out.
They don’t all make it. We’re a peculiar breed. We know a like member when we see him, and we don’t suffer outsiders at all. And this one, I’ve still got my eye on him.
Heat prickles my skin, and I turn.
Onyx starts to get off her stool, but I close the distance between us, and she decides to stay where she is. “I was going to come over and tell you thank you for the help,” she says.
I eliminate any personal space at all, stepping so close that I can smell the floral scent of her perfume and the mint of her toothpaste through the sweetness of the alcohol. “Not necessary at all. Happy to help.”
I slide into the bar seat next to her. “I’ll take a beer.
” Brandy gives me a nod, moving up and down the bar trying to fill everyone’s orders.
I gesture to another recruit across the room, and he comes over.
“Why don’t you help Brandy behind the bar until the crowd dies down? She can’t even keep up.”
If he doesn’t like my suggestion, he doesn’t say a damn word, just gives me a nod and heads behind the bar to do as I’ve asked.
Recruits, you have to test them in the damnedest ways, see what makes them tick, what makes them spark, and what may cause them to turn or betray you in the worst of ways. Time will tell for him too.
Brandy slides a bottle of beer my way and Onyx downs the shot of Tequila in front of her before turning those smoldering green eyes on me.
“Thank you for dealing with that. I never even saw that coming tonight. You also did a nice job officiating the wedding. I know Pearl appreciated you doing that for her and Carver.”
I give her a smile. “It was nice to dust off the cobwebs. I got that certificate to marry a previous VP of mine to his ol’ lady years ago. Glad to put it to use again. Especially for Carver. He’s a great man.”
Onyx nods and a long strand of dark hair falls over her shoulder.
I have the strongest urge to reach out and push it behind her ear, to feel just how silky and smooth it really is but I refrain as her eyes meet mine and she does it herself.
“I wasn’t sure at first, but Carver’s a perfect match for Pearl. ”
I turn…
Pearl and Carver walk downstairs, closing the distance across the room, to stand beside our stools, hands joined looking like the love starved fools that they are. I’m glad it worked out for them, but it doesn’t happen that way for most of us.
Most of the women out there these days are nothing like Pearl. They want a man in power, in a position that holds respect but then the minute your back is turned they’re boozing it up and in bed with one of your fucking recruits.
I should fucking know, but never again…
Better to just have a little fun, blow off some steam and go your own separate ways.
Pearl slides in next to Onyx and Carver next to his new bride.
Pearl taps an empty shot glass on the bar.
“Tequila shots for all of us,” she says, gesturing down the line of us at the bar.
Brandy gives us all a smile and sets up a row of glasses.
I give Brandy a head shake and gesture to my beer. Let the wedding crew and the Harlots have a little fun. After what happened, I want to keep a clear head. Onyx looks toward the door, and then to Pearl. “Brandy, make mine a beer,” she says.
Pearl looks down the line a little glassy eyed but happy as can be with Carver’s arm protectively settled around her shoulders. “You have to drink with us! It’s my special night.”
Onyx inhales a breath. “I’m going to just stay clear headed for a while, okay?” Pearl’s eyes narrow. She knows Onyx isn’t telling her something and damn it all, it’s her special day.
I bend and whisper, so close that I can smell the scent of whatever Onyx wears on her skin.
A faint floral aroma that a man could fucking drown in.
“The boys and I are protecting you all tonight. Take the shot with your friends. I respect the hell out of your intentions, but the Royal Bastards are here. We’ve got you and the Harlots tonight. ”
Those determined green eyes meet mine head on.
That gaze of hers is a powerful weapon, that’s for damn sure.
It looks like she may be wrestling with ceding control of protection for her president, but she knows me and the boys helped them the last time they got into trouble and that we wouldn’t let anything happen to them on our watch.
She finally nods. “Thank you, Hawg.” She turns to Brandy and gives her a big smile. “Add one to the line, baby!”
Pearl cheers and Carver looks over the ladies’ heads to me and raises his beer in a silent thanks of his own. I’ve got you, brother. It’s the least I can do for the man who’s been there for me in the darkest of times, times he doesn’t even fully know the truth about.
Brandy pushes a beer over to me, and as the ladies take their shots, I tip the edge of my beer to Carver’s. “Congratulations my friend.”
The minute the ladies have downed their shot, Pearl taps her empty glass on the bar. “More for my friends!”
Brandy smiles bright and even my recruit can barely keep the edges of his lips from turning up.
This time, Onyx doesn’t hesitate, just slides her glass in with the others as they do the same.
The minute they’ve downed this one, my other recruit on stage puts on some party sounding song that apparently all the women love.
Leave it to dipshit to know just the right tune to get them up and moving.
Pearl and Shine are out of their chairs, pulling Skye, Onyx. and the others from their seats at the bar and onto the makeshift dance floor in no time at all.
Brandy leans over the bar. “I hope you guys don’t have plans tonight because when the ladies get like this, they’re going all night long.”
I give Carver who’s wearing a huge grin watching his new ol’ lady dance with abandonment out on the floor a smile. “Who would have thought a lone wolf like you would not only find a crew but settle down and marry, too?”
He laughs but as the party song ends and a slow song comes on it’s clear his mind is on nothing but his new bride tonight. He places his beer on the bar and walks out onto the dance floor, to gather Pearl in his arms while I’m sure we all just fade away from their minds.
That’s true love. I hope it lasts. Not like mine. Some fucking perfect dream shattered all to hell. I take another sip of beer and watch as the ladies return from the dance floor laughing with half glassy eyes to give Pearl and Carver some space and commence downing another round.
Skye’s quiet at the other end of the bar but talks with Carver’s best friend Lucky and one of our new members more than most. Lucky’s a quiet one, rode with Carver back in the day before he did a stent in Florence Pen for beating up a guy who almost killed a woman.
Chivalry is not dead in the west and while it got Lucky leniency it didn’t keep him from doing time.
He’s been an asset for the crew though. Keeps his mouth shut, does as he’s told and no one’s going to get near one of us without going through Lucky. Protective and loyal as they come and I’m beginning to see why Carver cares so much about him every day I get to know him better.
The minute another party song comes on and the ladies hit the dance floor Skye slides off her stool and stops by my side and leans in to whisper.
“You haven’t taken your eyes off Onyx most of the day.
If you want her, you’re going to have to tell her.
She doesn’t trust many people though. It’s going to be an uphill climb my friend. ”
Damn I didn’t think it was that fucking obvious. I take a pull on my beer watching Onyx sway to the music in those tight-fitting jeans. “What’s her story?” I ask.
Skye shakes her head. “Not my story to tell, but she’s been through the fucking ringer. Tread lightly and don’t fucking hurt her or you’re going to have an angry crew of Harlots running tread marks over your ass.”