Hawk

17 - A long day

Hawk

“What’s up with him?”

Ice looks over his shoulder, beer bottle still in his hand. “Some chick came looking for him earlier. Real pretty. British.”

I scratch my jaw with my thumbnail and turn back to the bar. Ghost’s private business isn’t mine, but it’s hard not to notice something’s up with him. Since Ghost got married and had his kids, he’s been very different from the man he was when he first joined the Snakes. He’s calmer and not so quick to his temper. Things don't bother him as much. Today, he looks like he's got the world on his shoulders, and that world is really weighing him down. I’ve never seen him look so troubled.

For Brooke and me, the past few weeks have flown by quickly. Our house is now a home, our son is growing bigger every day, and my girl is learning the art of self-defense, thanks to Nova. Brooke’s not half bad. She sure as shi.t knocked me on my ass good the other day. I pretended to be knocked out, and Brooke rushed over in a panic. The second she leaned down, I grabbed her and pulled her on top of me. It wasn’t long before we were fuckin.g right there on the gym floor. It’s not like many a man hasn’t fucke.d his girl in the clubhouse gym more than once over the years.

I can’t keep my hands off her since the first night we were able to have se.x after Gabe’s birth. She’s so damn hot, so beautiful and sex.y, and she is all mine!

I fucke.d the shi.t out of her this morning before I got up to shower. I fucke.d her so hard the bed was groaning with the force of it. Brooke has never been shy to tell me what she wants, and it turns me on like nothing else!

I left Brooke and Gabriel sleeping when I left for work. I had half a mind to stay home with them. Watching them with a smile on my face as they lay together in our bed, I couldn’t believe they were mine. My perfect little family. However, I had collections to make, and Maria would be arriving at the house mid-morning with Jessie. Giggling girls are not my thing.

Trace and I had a handful of collections to make this morning. Luckily for us, everyone paid what they owed, so no violence or force was necessary. You’d be surprised how many idiot.s think they can get away with paying for the protection we offer. It only gets them a hiding, and their property destroyed. It’s easier to pay up than take us on in any way.

After collecting payments, I returned to the clubhouse for a quick drink. The second Trace and I walked in, you could feel the tension in the room. It was falling off Ghost in the bucket load. That and he looked like he wanted to kill someone. I’m not sure why any woman would come looking for Ghost. He would never cheat on Avery; he loves her too much. Whatever she wanted, it rattled him.

“What was that all about, and how did she know where to come looking for him?”

“All I know,” Ice sighs. “Is the girl claims to be his sister.”

“Bullshit,” I laugh. Ghost has no sister; everyone knows he’s an orphan with no family.

“Seriously, bro. The girl was adamant that she was his twin sister. Ghost blew the fuc.k up at the girl. He sent her on her packing after telling her he wanted nothing to do with her. She left in tears. Mike went after her.”

I’m not sure Mike going after the girl was the best idea, but what do I know?

“She looked genuine to me.” Cannon, one of our newly patched members, tells me.

I can’t, myself, see whomever this woman is randomly coming here and making something this huge up.

What the hell would she have to gain?

“Jett called Red because Ghost was going postal. Even I know Red’s the only one who can calm Ghost when he goes off.”

Cannon is right. And I’m guessing that’s the only reason Ghost isn’t out there beating his frustrations out on some poor unsuspecting idio.t.

“Maybe one of our rivals sent her in to...”

“Stop right there,” I snap at Cannon. “Don’t go speculating on things you know nothing about. Shepard will get the girl checked out, including her story and background. If there is anything dodgy going on, it won’t be long before we know about it.”

“Hawk’s right,” Trace pipes in. “Shepard already has me working on it. He left a message for me in his office. Coral let me know.” He shrugs. I didn’t even know he’d been in the office. “I’m good at what I do, boys,” That he is. He didn’t get the name Trace from nowhere. He’s good at discovering things most wouldn’t believe possible. “It won't be long before I have all the information on Miss Cordelia Vitali-Owens. Mike gave me her name earlier.” Trace laughs. “I think he’s smitten with her.”

“God help him. If the girl turns out to be Ghost’s twin sister, he’ll have Mike’s balls on a platter.” Cannon chuckles.

No, he’d kill the man in the worst way: Brother or no brother. However, I’m not about to point out the obvious.

This Cordelia girl could do worse than a man like Mike. Ex-Military, the man Nova loves to spar with in the boxing ring because he’s not afraid to fight the little assassin.

“How’s your girl doing these days?”

I smile. “She’s good, Trace. She’s real good. In fact, she’s perfect. Having Brooke with me every day, knowing she’s with me for good, settles the monster within me.”

“When’s the wedding?”

“To be honest, Ice, we don’t have a definitive date yet. Gabe’s already three months old, so soon, Brother.”

I don’t know why we’ve waited this long, but I know how important this wedding is to Brooke. Not that she has asked for much. She wants the perfect dress and her sister to attend — not big demands in the grand scheme of things. The dress is easy. Brooke and my mother have been dress shopping a few times. Brooke still hasn’t found the perfect dress yet, but she assured me she would know the one when she saw it.

Getting Brooke’s sister here for the big day is a little trickier. Her husband will never allow her to come here, not when we have so many different races of men and women part of the club. Racist bastard. In any case, it won’t stop me from trying to contact Marnie. If there’s a way I can bring Marnie and Brooke together for the wedding, even if it’s just for that day, I will.

****

Shepard had me working like a damn dog in the garage for the rest of the day. He came back from wherever he’d been – none of anyone else’s goddamned business – in a foul mood. So foul, he smacked Cannon in the mouth for merely asking what was wrong.

I learned early on in life never to so much as look at Shepard when he’s angry. Don’t say a word when you hear him breathing a mile away; he’ll kill you as soon as look at you. Someone ought to have warned Cannon. But it never hurts to find these things out firsthand. Cannon is fine, though; it was nothing but a busted lip. He’ll get much worse during his time with us.

Shepard gave everybody what for, then handed out shi.t jobs just to get us out of his face. If anyone felt like arguing, he’d put a bullet in our heads. At that moment, I believed he would.

He put me on a job with Mike, fixing up an old motorcycle. It’s a pile of junk, and it’ll take months of hard work to get up and running. I don’t have time with everything else Shepard has me doing each day to complete the damn thing.

I didn’t point out the obvious. I didn't feel like having the Prez break my jaw. So, I stood in that garage with Mike, fixing up that damn bike and hoping Red didn’t walk in and kill us for messing with his shi.t for five hours straight.

It was alright for Mike; he’s used to working in the garage with Red, but I am not. Red runs the place and has for years. He’s quite particular about whom he has working here. The club might own the place, but Red’s in charge. I wouldn’t say I’m terrible at mechanics, but it’s not like I’m an award-winning mechanic.

CueBall came bounding over in that way he does and told us to pack up and go home. Us, and the four others working their fingers to the bone in the garage. CueBall said that Shepard had gone home. Technically, he hadn’t told us we could go, but CueBall knew Shepard hadn’t intended for us to be there for so long.

I hope whatever has been bothering the Prez doesn’t last too long. It’s not a very pleasant working environment when Shepard is pissed. The clubhouse is not a great place to be when he’s like that, either.

Brooke was asleep by the time I got home; that’s how late it was.

Who the fuc.k works on a damn bike until 11: PM?

As if I hadn’t worked hard enough all day as it was. I took a shower and then warmed up the chicken pasta dish Brooke had made and left in the oven for me. I’d managed to put the empty plate in the sink just as Gabe started crying.

I make my way up the stairs to grab him when I fail to hear Brooke stir. That’s never happened before; she must be exhausted. I look over at my girl while lifting Gabe from his crib. She’s completely lost in sleep, and I can’t help smiling.

“I hope your mommy expressed some milk before she fell asleep, little man.” I don’t want to wake Brooke if I don’t have to.

I’m in luck; two bottles of expressed milk are ready in the fridge. I grab one and put it to warm while rocking and gently shushing my son.

Who knew babies could scream so loudly when they’re hungry?

Jesus, my boy, has a good set of lungs on him!

“There we are, little man.” I smile when Gabe’s mouth seeks out the nippl.e. The second he finds it, he’s quiet, the milk filling his tiny stomach.

Once he’s done with his milk, which doesn’t take him long, he takes after his old man for that, I lift him against my bare chest and rub his back. I’m still standing with my back against the kitchen counter, barefooted and wearing sweats, when Brooke walks into the room. She’s wearing those tiny shorts I love so much, with that tight-as-hell tank top of hers, sleep still in her eyes.

She stands watching me for a moment with a smile on her face. “That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” I smile as she comes closer. She kisses Gabriel’s head, then my lips softly. “I’m sorry I didn’t hear him wake. I’ve never done that before. I didn’t realize how tired I was.”

“I left you to sleep because you looked so peaceful.”

“Thank you.” I wrap my arm around her, and I kiss her again. “What time did you get home?”

“Couple hours ago.” I give her a quick rundown of my day.

“Do you think this woman could be Ghost’s sister? I mean, there’s no reason she’d have to pick him out of everyone and say they’re related if they’re not. She must have some proof?”

“That’s what Trace is finding out.” Brooke smiles at me slightly when I kiss her head. “I’m not sure Cannon cares after the smack in the mouth Shepard gave him.” I chuckle.

“Well, at least he didn’t smack you in your gorgeous face.” I roll my eyes and laugh. Brooke chuckles to herself and hugs me. “It’s been a long day,” I nod in agreement. “Gabe won’t wake for his next feed for a few hours, so let’s go to bed. Tomorrow is a new day.”

So optimistic is Brooke. Always looking to tomorrow to be better than the day before. Life is what you make it, so my Brooke always tells me. I'm going to make our life amazing.

You mark my words.