Chapter 19
Hawk
When I saw Delilah being jerked down that fire escape, I wanted nothing more than to pull out my gun and put a bullet in the guy’s head, but I couldn’t take the chance of putting Delilah in even more danger.
I had no idea if the guy was packing, and with Delilah stumbling down that metal staircase, I feared the guy might do something stupid.
It was too dark to get a good look at him, but even from a distance, I knew I’d never seen the guy before.
He was older, about my height with a medium build, and he was wearing dress pants, making it clear he was no fucking biker.
I was watching them make their way down the last flight of stairs when I heard Shotgun ask, “Where the hell does he think he’s taking her? ”
“I have no idea, but I’m about to fucking find out.”
As I got off my bike, Shotgun shook his head. “The brothers should be here any minute.”
“We don’t have time to wait. I got no idea where he’s taking her.”
“I get that but....”
“I’m going. Period.”
“Then, I’m going with you.” Shotgun got off his bike and said, “If nothing else, maybe we can stall him.”
“We’ll have to.”
Shotgun followed me towards the alley. Delilah and the stranger had just stepped off the fire escape when the guy saw us walking in their direction.
He reached behind him, and within a blink, he had the barrel of his gun pointed at Delilah’s head.
“Don’t do something stupid, boys, or I’ll end her right here. ”
“Easy, man. We don’t want any trouble,” I told him, stopping dead in my tracks. “Just let Delilah go, and we’ll sort this thing out.”
“You got another thing coming if you think I’m going to play games with the likes of you. Either back the fuck off, or I’m gonna pull the fucking trigger.”
“It’s okay, Zander. I’ll be fine. Just do what he says,” Delilah pleaded.
It wasn’t until that moment when I noticed the red swelling across her cheek and her busted lip, and I was immediately consumed with rage. “He do that to you?”
“Yeah, I sure fucking did it,” the man answered as he took hold of Delilah’s hair, yanking her head back. “She’s my daughter. I’ll put her in her place whenever she fucking needs it.”
Hoping to get him talking, I asked, “Your daughter?”
“You heard me. The name’s Bruce Davenport, and yeah, this whore you’ve been fucking for the past month...
is my lovely daughter.” He gave Delilah’s hair another hard tug, causing her to whimper in pain.
I wanted to reach over and rip the guy’s throat out.
“Now, back the fuck off before you make me do something you’ll regret. ”
“That’s not gonna happen.” I wanted to end the guy, but I knew the wrong move could cost Delilah her life, and I just couldn’t take that chance. I took a step back and said, “Just tell us what you want, Bruce, and then we can settle this thing now before anyone gets hurt.”
“He w-wants Danny,” Delilah stammered. “You can’t let him—”
Before she could finish, Delilah’s father pulled her to his side, slamming his knee into her abdomen, knocking the breath out of her. I took a charging step towards them, as I growled, “You keep your fucking hands off her!”
I was just inches away from him when my stomach twisted into a knot at the familiar click of his gun’s hammer. I had no choice but to stand there and listen helplessly as Delilah gasped for breath. “Best watch your step, boy, or you’ll both end up dead.”
“Look. Just let her go. We’ll get Danny for you.”
“It’s too late for that.” Bruce gave her a hard tug and said, “We’re leaving, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll move out of the fucking way.”
Neither Shotgun nor I moved as Bruce started walking towards a red BMW that was parked in the back of her apartment.
They hadn’t made it very far when the roar of my brothers’ bikes came rumbling down the alley as they pulled into the parking lot across from us.
As soon as they parked and got off their bikes, the brothers started charging towards us, causing Delilah’s father to panic.
He quickly picked up his pace, tugging her further away from me.
As the brothers got closer, I looked over to Viper and said, “It’s Bruce Davenport ...
Delilah’s father, and he’s got a gun on her. ”
“What the hell does he want with her?”
“That’s just it,” I quickly replied. “He doesn’t want Delilah. He wants Danny.”
About that time, Danny came up and asked, “Who wants me?”
“Your father,” I answered. “He’s the one who’s got Delilah.”
“You fuckin’ kidding me?” Danny asked as he started down the alley. “If he wants me, then he can fucking have me, but he ain’t gettin’ Dee.”
Danny rushed past us as he started running towards the back parking lot. Bruce was about to put Delilah in the car but quickly stopped when he heard Danny shout, “Yo, Dad! Hold up. It’s me ... Danny. I’m here.”
“Danny?”
Bruce turned back with surprise. He kept his gun pointed at Delilah as he watched Danny continue towards him.
The brothers and I pulled out our weapons as we followed close behind him.
Bruce seemed completely unfazed as we surrounded him.
Danny tried to keep his cool as he asked, “What are you doing here?”
“I came looking for you. I thought you were in trouble.” Bruce motioned his head towards Viper as he told Danny, “Figured these assholes had something to do with it.”
“Why would you care if I was in trouble or not? I haven’t seen you since I was kid.”
“I had many reasons,” Bruce answered. “You’re not only my son, but one of my prized employees.”
“Employee? What the fuck are you talking about?” Confusion marked Danny’s face as he stared at his father. “I don’t work for you.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. You’ve been working for me for the last several years.”
“You’re the boss?”
“The one and only,” Bruce answered with a smug tone. “I noticed you weren’t around for a few days. That wasn’t surprising; it’s happened before. But when Miller didn’t return after his meet with you, I knew something was up. That’s when I came to find you.”
“So, what does Delilah have to do with any of this?”
“She was my way to you.” Bruce glanced over to me as he continued, “When I didn’t find you at your place, I went looking for her.
I figured, in time, she’d lead me to you, but all she did was lead me to them.
When I found out they were the ones selling my product in their strip club, I started piecing two and two together.
It didn’t take an Einstein to figure out that there was some connection between them and your sudden disappearance, and I’d bet my last dollar that they had something to do with Miller as well. ”
“Miller sold them trash. Took your money and half your take, so whatever happened to Miller, I’d say he got what he had coming.
” Danny’s tone turned stronger, more determined as he said, “None of that matters now. If you’re here for me, then you have me.
Just let Delilah go, and let’s end this shit. ”
“Danny, no,” Delilah muttered. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Shut your fucking mouth!” Bruce gave Delilah a hard shove, knocking her to the ground.
She was trying to pull herself up when he kicked her hard in the side.
Seeing him hurt her again enraged me in a way I could never explain.
My blood ran hot, like my very soul was on fire as I placed my finger on the trigger.
I was about to end the motherfucker when Danny beat me to it.
He reached behind and pulled his gun from the waistband of his jeans, and without a moment’s hesitation, he fired, sending a bullet straight through his father’s heart.
Bruce’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked down at his chest, watching in disbelief as blood started to seep through his shirt.
He stood there for a couple of beats before dropping down to his knees. “What have you done?”
“I just took my life back. My sister’s too,” Danny answered coldly. “I didn’t want you in my life when I was a kid, and I sure as fuck don’t now.”
Bruce lifted his hand, aiming his gun at Danny, but before he had a chance to pull the trigger and end Danny, I fired off a shot at him, knocking him flat on his back. As the gun fell from his hands, Bruce mumbled, “Dead or alive. You’ll always be my son. Nothing will change that.”
Silence engulfed us as we all watched him take his last breath.
Unable to stand it any longer, I rushed over to Delilah and knelt down beside her, pulling her into my arms. She quickly wrapped hers around me, pulling me close as she started to cry.
I held her for a few moments before I finally whispered, “It’s gonna be okay, Delilah. ”
“I’m so sorry for earlier. I shouldn’t have put all the blame on you.”
“You got nothing to be sorry about.”
I was about to continue when Viper stepped over to us and asked, “She okay?”
“Yeah, she’ll be fine.”
“Well, I hate to rush, but we need to get moving.” Viper glanced around Delilah’s apartment complex. “By now, somebody’s reported the gunshots, and the cops will be on their way.”
“Okay. What do we need to do?”
“You tend to her. We’ll take care of this.”
Delilah’s back stiffened as she watched Shotgun and Menace lift her father’s body off the ground and carry it over to his BMW. Knowing I needed to get Delilah out of there, I turned back to Viper and asked, “You sure you got it covered?”
“Yeah, I’ve already put a call into Billy.”
I nodded. “Thanks, Prez.”
“No problem, brother. Go take care of your girl.”
I quickly helped Delilah to her feet, and together we started walking towards the front of her apartment. We were about to go in when Danny rushed over. “Hey, Dee. Hold up a second.”
“Danny.” Tears started to fill Delilah’s eyes once again as she asked, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” Remorse filled his eyes as he told her, “I’m really sorry about all this, Dee. I had no idea it was Dad I was working for.”
“I know. He told me everything.”
He glanced back over at his father’s car, watching as the brothers locked his father away in the trunk. “I can’t believe it was him, and that I actually killed him.”
“I know it’s hard, Danny, but—”
“No, that’s just it. It’s not hard, at least not as hard as it should be.” Danny shook his head. “After all these years, he was still the same asshole that he was the day Mom walked out on him. I’d even go so far as to say he was worse.”
“Yes. I can’t disagree with you there. The man was clearly insane.”
Danny lowered his head in shame as he muttered, “I should’ve never gotten involved in this shit. I’m going to make all this up to you, Dee. I swear it.”
“Consider it a lesson learned.” Delilah reached over and gave him a hug as she told him, “And just so you know, you’re nothing like him. He might have been our father, but you’re so much better than him. Remember that.”
Danny gave her a slight smile as he replied, “I’ll try.”
“Hate to cut this short, guys, but we need to get moving.” When Danny nodded, I told him, “Tell the guys to let me know if they need me.”
“You got it.”
Danny turned to head back to the others, and Delilah called out to him, “Hey! You need to call Mom. She’s been—”
“I already took care of it,” he interrupted. “I called her as soon as you left the clubhouse. Told her I’d be by the house tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Danny.”
“No problem.”
I took Delilah by the hand and led her up the front steps of her apartment. Just as I opened the door, she turned to me and asked, “Do you mind if we stay at your place? I really don’t want to be here tonight.”
“Of course. Whatever you need, Delilah. I’m here for you.”
She wound her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly as she whispered, “Thank you ... for everything.”
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Delilah."
When she looked up to me, I leaned down and kissed her softly, careful not to hurt her busted lip, then rushed up to her apartment to grab a few of her things and the keys to her car.
After being manhandled by her father, I doubted she’d be up for riding on my bike, so I called one of the prospects to come pick it up, and we took Delilah’s car over to my place.
On the way there, I couldn’t stop glancing over at her, checking to see if she was really okay.
Hearing the fear in her voice when she called me nearly broke me.
I knew then, I would do anything to save her, and once I did, I would claim her as mine.
Delilah was mine, and it was time everyone knew it—including her.