Hawk

by Rasey, Patricia A.

  Cara kissed his temple. “I know, Grandpa. It wasn’t traditional.”

  “What makes him not want to just up and leave you then? You have no ties. Maybe I should have a talk with your husband.”

  Cara laughed. “Oh, no, you don’t. That’s why Kane’s not here with me right now. I wanted to explain it to you first without you going all ape shit on him. In his beliefs, mating is for life. There is no such thing as divorce. As Kane would tell you, ‘You work that shit out.’”

  “Maybe he has more sense than I gave him credit for.”

  “So it’s official then?” Suzi motioned for Cara to follow her into the hallway and out of Cara’s grandfather’s earshot. “What of Rosalee?”

  Cara shrugged, leaning one shoulder against the cool hallway wall and crossing her arms over her chest. “Gone. After Kane and I were granted the wish to be mated, she up and disappeared.”

  “You think she’s the one responsible for Wheezer and Red Dot then?”

  “Kane believes she is. But I’m not sure. My gut tells me there’s more to it. She’s not acting on her own.”

  “Does she ever?”

  Cara rolled her eyes. “She’ll likely always be a thorn in my side. But I know what I signed up for.”

  “There’s so much more I want to ask, but we can save that for another time.”

  “Good idea,” Cara said. “I have to get going anyway. I need to stop by the Sheriff’s Office.”

  “You asking for your old job back?”

  Cara smiled. Suzi knew how much being a detective meant to her. Cara wasn’t about to let a little thing like being a vampire stop her.

  “I never left the job. Just took an extended leave. Sheriff Ducat already told me my job was waiting for me whenever I want to get back to the job of solving crimes. My only hope is that my partner will be happy to see me. Something tells me Joe Hernandez isn’t going to be too happy with me. He hates the Tepes twins and the club. He’ll undoubtedly hate my association. Speaking of the twins, what is it between you and Kaleb anyway?”

  “There’s nothing between us to talk about. If there was, you’d have been the first to know. Right now, he’s just an ass who thinks he has ultimate power.”

  “Yeah?”

  “And I plan to be the one to knock his sorry ass off that pedestal he’s been standing on.”

  “What are you girls whispering about out there?” Grandpa Brahnam groused. “Ain’t no cause for secrets.”

  Cara chuckled as she shook her head. Righting herself, she turned and headed back into her grandfather’s room, saying over her shoulder, “Good luck with that, Suzi. In my experience, it’s just better giving in to what they want.” She lowered her voice, “And much more pleasurable, too.”

  “I heard that,” Grandpa Brahnam said. Suzi and Cara grinned.

  Cara gave her grandfather a hug and kissed his weathered cheek. “I have to be going anyway, Grandpa.” Turning to Suzi, she briefly hugged her as well, then said, “Glad to be back, Suzi. I’ve missed you.”

  “Don’t be a stranger. I live in Florence now. Pleasant was too small of a town to house both Hawk and I.”

  Cara chuckled. “I suppose so. As soon as I get settled, I’ll come look you up for some girl time.”

  “Kane going to allow you out of his sight?”

  Cara’s eyes gleamed. She leaned in and whispered, “The man is insatiable, but we can’t stay in bed all day.”

  “I heard that,” came from Grandpa again, causing them both to burst into laughter.

  * * *

  Kaleb paced the floor, his booted heels striking the wooden flooring in his agitated state as he awaited the Knights’ arrival. His skin crawled in restlessness. It had been two nights since he had last sought out Suzi Stevens. Keeping to his normal three-day feeding schedule meant he wouldn’t see her for another night, which didn’t sit well with him … not at all. He needed to know where she stayed so he could keep eyes on her at all times, justifying his desire with the fear she might not hold up her end of the bargain and skip out on being his donor. Knowing her fiancé spent time with her ate away at him, reminding him of the days she spent in Ion’s company. Christ, it all but killed him then to know she was in love with his brother’s son, lying with him when the sun went down. Kaleb had fucked her only once, and yet in all the years following, he hadn’t been able to forget her, the silkiness of her pale skin, the scent of her desire. Just thinking of her now stirred his groin.

  Shit. He needed to get laid.

  Maybe following their meeting with the Knights he’d head to the Rave and do just that. He had a lot of unspent energy he needed to get rid of. Nothing like a good piece of ass to take his mind off all his troubles. Kaleb stopped his pacing, let out a stream of curses, and flopped onto one of the sofas just as Kane exited his quarters and joined him. The coils groaned from the added extra weight.

  Kane laid an arm across the back of the brown fabric. “What the hell is eating at you anyway, Hawk? You seem strung tighter than a violin.”

  Kaleb ground his teeth, not wanting to share his weakness for the little brunette who had occupied his every thought since she had walked back into his life six nights back. He especially didn’t want to share his decade long obsession with Kane.

  “What’s taking the Knights so damn long?” he asked, opting to avoid the real reason for his shitty mood.

  Red had been invited to the clubhouse for a little chat by Kane, hoping they might be able to discover who had made the bogus call to Kaleb. The pres of the MC had stood by his declaration that none of his men made the damning call. Kane might’ve been convinced, but Kaleb still had his suspicions. His cell number hadn’t been public knowledge and the only other MC that had access to it had been the Knights. It seemed someone had a beef with the Sons … more specifically him. Kaleb believed this all fell on Rosalee’s doorstep. The entire incident had her scent all over it. But the question was, who the hell was helping her? She never acted alone, and Kaleb doubted she did now. Rosalee was a damn coward, always standing behind her stepfather’s robe. She knew Mircea would always protect her, even if he had been the one to banish her to Italy for her last crimes against the MC.

  The door banged off the inside wall as Grayson and Alexander made a grand entrance, robust laughter drawing both Kaleb and Kane’s attention. Grayson pushed his ever-present sunglasses up on his head, pulling his overlong chestnut hair from his piercing blue eyes. The two MC brothers shared a private joke as Alexander shut the door and headed for the bar. Grayson joined Kaleb and Kane in the living area, sitting on the adjacent leather chair. His azure gaze turned up in merriment.

  “You two seem far too serious for my liking. I say we grab a few fifths of whiskey and go looking for some tail. That is after our meet and greet with Red, of course. We haven’t yet celebrated Kane’s return. I say we gather the Sons and have a grandiose party.”

  Kaleb knew Grayson’s desire to celebrate Kane’s return had more to do with his desire for entertainment as he still hadn’t quite gotten over Kane turning his back on the club, and all for the want of a woman. Grayson saw it as a sign of weakness. Maybe, Kaleb thought. But with his obsession over Suzi, he certainly couldn’t condemn his twin for his actions. He’d like to think he’d let Suzi rot. But damn if he could say that for certain.

  “Nice of you to show up, Gypsy,” Kaleb said, at the late arrival of his VP. His heated gaze bore into Grayson.

  “What the fuck?” Grayson’s humor quickly fled. “Xander and I made it before the Knights got here, so I don’t see what the hell you’re being such a dick about. Dude, you need to get laid. I know some ladies from Florence who are always up for a party. I could call them.”

  Kaleb didn’t know what pissed him off more. The fact that Grayson voiced his own thoughts just moments ago, or the fact that he felt the need to point out the obvious.

  “We have business to attend, Gypsy. My sex life isn’t up for discussion. Get your head in the fucking game.”


  “Jesus. Where the hell did the real Hawk go? And who replaced him with this asshole?”

  Alexander wisely kept out of the spiraling conversation. Instead he pulled out a stool by the bar and straddled it, leaning back, elbows on the armrests. Apparently, he thought it best to sit on the sidelines for this one.

  Smart man.

  That, or he, too, still wrestled his own demons for surviving a near beheading. Only the two of them shared the survivors’ guilt. Nicolas and Steven died in their place. Kaleb’s foul mood stemmed from that, as well as the little sprite named Suzi Stevens. Grayson seemed bent on pushing the boundaries of Kaleb’s self-control every chance he got, and at the moment those boundaries shouldn’t be tested. He certainly couldn’t argue with Grayson’s logic that he needed a piece of ass since he had those same thoughts, though he didn’t need a fellow brother to tell him as much. Regardless, their business with the Knights came first. Maybe then he’d take Grayson up on hitting the Rave, knowing he’d have several willing options for getting horizontal, because there were those biker groupies who made themselves available to the Sons. If Suzi meant to parade the fact she had a fiancé in front of him, then he’d make damn sure she knew his options were anything but limited.

  The sound of approaching Harleys announced the arrival of their puppet club, saving an argument between the pres and VP. Gravel crunched beneath tires before the rumble of the V-twin engines cut short. Alexander walked to the door and opened it before the first knock came, showing Red and three of his men into the living area of the clubhouse. Kane and Kaleb stood while Gypsy stayed seated. The twins shook hands with each of the men, before offering them a seat on the sofa across from where they had been seated moments ago. Red and his VP sat while the other two men stood behind them, undoubtedly watching their backs. Trust no one seemed to be many MC’s mantras since it was imperative to all their survival. The Knights, though, had nothing to fear from the Sons as long as they continued to be useful.

  “You bring us news, Red?” Kane asked as he settled back onto the couch. He glanced back at Alexander. “Bring us some Single Barrel Jack and low ball glasses, Xander.”

  “I did some checking, Viper.” He then looked at Kaleb and nodded in respect. “Hawk. No one admitted to making that call, nor did they know of Viper’s absence from the States. I trust my men. If they say they didn’t make that call of distress, then I believe them.”

  The man beside Red, wearing the VP patch, said, “I’m assuming whoever made that call had to have known that Viper had been MIA. Why else would Viper send out a distress call when he would be here among his brothers? Or why would the Sons be so willing to head out on a fool’s mission if they knew Viper’s whereabouts?”

  “Bird and I interviewed every one of the Knights as well as our prospects,” Red said, putting a name to the VP for Kaleb. “I won’t vouch for our hangarounds. I don’t think we’ve had enough time or interaction yet with any of them to swear they speak the truth or to trust them implicitly.”

  “Any new hangarounds within the last few months?” Kaleb asked.

  “Not that I know of or that my men have spoken of. The Sons?” Red said.

  “We haven’t been open to a lot of hangarounds as we aren’t a trusting bunch. This slaughter keeps up, we’ll definitely be in the market for increasing our numbers.”

  Red narrowed his gaze. “You talking patching over?”

  Kaleb looked at his twin, who sat quietly beside him. Kane’s expression gave nothing away to his thoughts on the matter of adding new patch members, more specifically taking on the Knights’ numbers. Since he had become a non-voting member, due to turning Cara into one of them, Kaleb supposed Kane probably felt he didn’t have a voice in the matter. Kaleb would speak with him again once they were alone. He looked at Grayson, who up to this point sat quietly listening in. Kaleb would bet that his looking to Kane first for direction didn’t sit well with his VP. Kaleb couldn’t blame him. He needed to remember that even though Kane had returned, he still had no voice in MC matters.

  “I’m not sure the Sons are ready to patch another MC,” Grayson said, not taking his eyes from the pres. “It could be taken to a vote. But honestly, I don’t think the Knights have proven themselves as a puppet club.”

  A muscle in Red’s cheek ticked. “I think I made it clear when Kane asked for an alignment of clubs that the Knights were no one’s puppet club.”

  Grayson raised a brow in challenge. “Then what’re we even doing here? If you aren’t with us … you’re against us.”

  “With … you … is what we are, Surfer Boy,” Bird said with a sneer as he drew the words out.

  Red gnawed on a toothpick that poked out from his beard. The toothpick switched sides as he said, “The Knights … we’re no one’s patsies. I make that clear.”

  “Call it what you will, Red,” Kane spoke up since he was the one who had made the original covenant. “You and I had an agreement that you would align yourself with the Sons. You prove yourselves, then maybe one day the Sons will patch you over and increase the Sons numbers. As Gypsy pointed out, you’re either with us or against us. Against us and we cut off your avenue to the coast. It’s because of our hospitality that you can run your guns through our state. Don’t forget your place with the Sons, Red. It was you who needed our help. Not the other way around.”

  “May I remind you, I pay the Sons mighty well for that privilege? It’s a very lucrative deal for you.”

  “Before this turns into a fucking pissing match, can we get back to the reason everyone is here?” Kaleb said, as Alexander placed the bottle of Jack in the center of the coffee table with eight glasses.

  Kaleb felt the sooner they got the discussion over with, the quicker they got the Knights back on the road and out of Oregon. Grayson looked just shy of ripping someone’s throat out for the Surfer Boy comment. Though with his overlong, shoulder length hair and the ever-present sunglasses, he couldn’t say Bird was incorrect with his description of his MC brother.

  Alexander poured two fingers of the whiskey in each glass, then handed them to each man.

  “Look,” Red continued, “we’ll keep our ears out for someone who might have a beef with Hawk or the Sons.”

  “Does anyone besides us know of our alignment?” Kaleb asked.

  “It’s possible,” Red said. “Not that we talk about it, but you allow us to ride through Oregon without repercussions. That speaks volumes in itself.”

  Kaleb certainly couldn’t argue with that logic.

  “We’ve had your back before, and we continue to do so,” Bird said. “We hear anything, you’ll be the first to know.”

  “Be sure that you do,” Grayson said, obvious disdain rolling off him.

  Kaleb wondered if there wasn’t more to it than the reference to Grayson’s pretty boy looks. Kaleb chose to ignore the underlying currents for now. After all, unless it was Sons’ business, whatever issue lay between Bird and Grayson was no concern of his. Grayson could take care of his own.

  Raising his glass in the air, he said, “Salute.”

  Each man followed suit and downed the amber-colored liquid. The burn to the esophagus warmed him almost as much as communion. Standing, Kaleb held out his hand to Red, which the man stood and shook. Bird got to his feet as well, staring down Grayson. Both men looked ready to battle. Kaleb planned to question his VP about it once the Knights made their exit. He followed the fellow MC to the door.

  “We’ll be in touch. You do the same.”

  Red nodded and the four bikers left the clubhouse. Kaleb shut the door behind them, then glanced at his own men.

  Gone was the scorn from Grayson’s face, now replaced with a large smile and a twinkle in his gaze. “Who’s game for a trip to the Rave and getting a little ass? Not pointing any fingers, but, Hawk, I think you could use the release.”

  “You’re certainly one to talk, Gypsy.” Kaleb raised a brow in challenge. “Five minutes ago you looked ready to go to battle against Bird.”
>
  Grayson shrugged, with a devil-may-care look. “What can I say? The bastard rubs me the wrong way. Call it a sixth sense. Now, how about finding us some women to party with?”

  “I’m all up for communion, but the partying with the ladies, I’ll leave that to you three. I’m pretty sure Cara would rip some throats out if she caught another woman trying to get in my pants.” Kane chuckled. “Now, let’s go look up Draven and get us a party started.”

  Chapter 10

  Cara opened the heavy glass door to the Sheriff’s Office, her shoulders stiff with unease, and walked over to the dispatch window. Sheriff Ducat had assured her that he would hold her position open for however long she needed to come to terms with her new lifestyle. Ducat knew the MC’s secret. He had kept quiet about the den of vampires residing in Pleasant over the past decade in return for their protection should the S.O. need back up. Ducat liked having the Sons in his corner, not to mention taking care of society’s degenerates. Cara supposed it was much better than the alternative of working against the law. No wonder Kane and his brothers had been so pissed when Cara and her partner tried to lay the murders of three women at their doorstep and why the sheriff hadn’t pressured Cara and Joe to solve the case. The Sons had just as much interest in seeing the killer caught, if not more so, than the S.O. did.

  Asking for her job back wasn’t what had her more fidgety than a cock in a cock fight, though, nor the reason she had walked back through the door. Kane’s pockets were deep enough to sustain them several lifetimes, so it wasn’t as if Cara had returned for the promise of a steady paycheck. She had loved the job, plain and simple. Being an officer ran bone-deep, it was her identity. She missed the camaraderie of her fellow deputies. Hell, she missed Hernandez. Not that he’d be any too pleased to see her, which was the sole reason for her sudden case of the jitters. Like it or not, Joe Hernandez had been a good friend over the years, and her relationship with the Sons, more specifically Kane, was not going to sit well with him.