Final Ride (Lords of Mayhem) (14 page)

She stirred on the bed. “Hawk?”

“I’m here,” he said, secretly happy he’d get a chance to
speak with her before he left. She rolled over, rubbing her eyes. “What are you
doing?”

“I got to run an errand. I won’t be back until later. But
when I so get home you and I are going to have a talk, siren.”

“Are you still mad at me?” she asked softly.

“No, girl. I’m mad at myself. You didn’t do anything wrong.
We need to change some parameters when I get back, yeah?”

She watched him from beneath lowered lids with eyes full of
uncertainty and mistrust. The look gutted him.
I hurt her.

“Hmmm.”

“Are we back here again?”

“Back where?” she asked.

“Where you resist me and I remind you how this works.” He
cupped her pussy. “There are things that I have come to think of as mine. This
is one of them.”

She gasped. “When I get back I’m going to explain thoroughly
what else I’m claiming until you understand that everything you are now and
ever will be belongs to me.”

Her body trembled. “Hawk.”

“I wanted to tell you before I left. So there won’t be any
confusion when I come home and fuck you until you beg me to let you come.”

“Oh, lord,” she whispered.

He chuckled. “Keep the bed and my pussy warm for me,” he
said, kneeling on the bed to kiss her forehead before he force himself away
from her.

Adrenaline flowed through his veins, giving him a high like
no other as he steered the powerful bike down the back roads. Shooter was
leading the charge with Tiny, and Hawk had Moose as his wingman for the north
location. Behind them prospects hoping to earn their top rockers were following
with a van ready to light the place up with Molotov cocktails. This was their
main cook house. He cleared his mind, not thinking of the workers counting,
cutting, and mixing chemicals. They’d made their choice to stand with the
Angels. He’d learned a long time ago to accept casualties as a part of this
life.

Each time he rode out, he took a risk of not coming home. In
the end, it would be him or the other guy. He wanted to live, so he would do
whatever it took to make that happen. When he was younger he’d waffled. He
tried to show mercy and suss out the situation. It almost got him killed when
he’d misjudged a baby-faced biker bunny. The gangly limbed blonde with the face
of a fairy had blown a hole in the door millimeters from his face. He’d put one
between her eyes and vowed to take a pirate policy of no prisoners.

He and Moose would be the distraction that got the security
detail out of the building and engaged in combat. From there, the prospects
would creep in. In the heart of the neighborhood, they’d grown lazy. No one
bothered the Angels’ production centers. They knew it was a death sentence.

He clenched and released his fists, sending blood flowing
through his hand as he and Moose rounded the corner. His heart thudded, and
time slowed around him. The world narrowed to what was in front of them. They
pulled up to the chain-link fence, and he pulled out his Glock 18. The door
flew open and he and Moose unleashed a barrage of bullets. Bodies hit the
ground and more came out like a line of soldiers arranged to continue pushing
back the enemy and holding the main line of defense. His breath was ragged as
he breathed through the skull handkerchief he had wrapped around the lower half
of his face.

Bullets whizzed by, hitting the ground. One hit his arm.

“Fuck.”

The van roared up from behind, acting as shield as it broke
through the fence and headed for the building. He quickly ejected the magazine
of the Glock and shoved it into his saddle bag along with the weapon. The gun
was untraceable. They’d paid a sickening amount of money to make sure of that.
Glass shattered, screams rent the air, and tires squealed over the pavement,
and he focused on keeping his grip on his bike as he and Moose took off. A flow
of warm sticky blood spread from his shirt to his hoodie. Pain radiated through
his left arm.

Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to continue riding.
They needed to get away from the scene. Fifteen grueling minutes later, he
broke the formation to pull over into a rest stop. His head felt too heavy to
keep up, and his vision was waning. He pulled into a parking spot and Moose
rode up beside him.

“You okay, Veep?” Moose asked.

“Nope.” He slumped over his bike and Moose swore.

“I got you,” Moose said wrapping an arm around his shoulder.
He jostled is left arm and Hawk grunted.

“Where are you hit?”

“Left arm. Think the bullet is still there. Did we get the
building?”

“I think so. It was flaming up when I last looked. Only a
matter of time before it blows with the meth they were cooking up.”

“Hope you’re right,” he said as his teeth began to chatter.

“Shit, this is not good, brother,” Moose said.

He slipped in and out of consciousness as he focused on
staying upright. Moose’s voice was full of concern as he spoke with someone.

“You still with us, Veep?” Moose asked.
His accent is
thicker. That means I’m worse off than I thought.

Hawk forced his heavy his heavy lids open. “Yeah,” he
croaked. He cleared his throat and swayed.

“Let’s get you off the bike and into the van,” Moose said.
He could see the prospects had returned.
I have to get us out of here before
the Angels catch up with us.
The world exploded into pain. His will and
necessity were the only things keeping him moving as his brothers flanked him,
helping him make the journey to the blurry shape of a black van. He managed to
step up into the vehicle, and his world went black.

Chapter Eleven

Pounding on the door jolted Ariel from sleep. She smacked
her lips together and rubbed at her eyes.
Are they partying out there?
The
pounding started again.

“Yes?” her voice cracked, and she cleared her throat.

“Ariel, we need you out here right now.”

She didn’t recognize the voice. Fear rose inside her. Hawk
had told her to stay in her room unless he was with her.

“Hawk’s been hurt.”

“Oh God. Give me a minute,” she said sliding out of the bed
and stumbling around the dark room. She moved to the drawer in the dresser
she’d claimed for her own and pulled out a pair of leggings. If she walked out
there in nothing but his T-shirt, he’d be pissed, hurt or not. Shimmying into
the pants, she moved to the door and opened it, peering out. It was Magic, the
prospect.
Hawk said I could trust him.
She opened the door and stepped
out.

“Take me to him.”

“It’s bad, Ariel. They took out the bullet, but he’s lost a
lot of blood. We need to keep him calm until the doc can get some transfusions
going,” Magic said.

“Is he going to be okay?”

“I don’t know,” Magic said.

She followed him down the hallway and into a large room.
They had Hawk laid out on a massive wooden table. Blood-soaked white rags were
strewn about him. Her stomach clenched.
How much can one person lose and be
okay?
He moaned as he struggled against the men trying to hold him down so
the doc could sew him shut.

“Is this the girl?” a gray-haired man barked.

“Yeah, Doc,” Tiny said.

“Get over here, talk to your man. I need to get in there,
clean out the wound and sew him. Calm him down.”

“I don’t know if I can,” she said softly.

“Try,” Tiny said.

She walked to the table and leaned down over Hawk. His eyes
were clenched shut and his face was contorted with pain.

“Hey, Hawk. They’re trying to help you.”

He moaned.

She bent over the table and took his face in her hands. “Shhh.
I know it hurts, but they’re trying to help you. You have to be still and let
them work.” The metallic tinge of coppery blood burned her nostrils. Her
stomach turned. She ignored the gag reflex that wanted to rise and forced
herself to breathe through the nausea.

“Keep talking,” Doc said.

“The doc is right here, and so is Tiny, Moose, and Shooter.
They won’t let anything happen to you.” She placed a kiss on his forehead.

“Ariel,” he moaned.

“That’s my name, don’t wear it out,” she said, trying to
keep things light as she glanced up at Doc and nodded. “They’re going to clean
out that wound now, okay?” She tightened her grip on his face and ran her lips
over his. The heat pouring off him frightened her.
It means his body is
trying to heal itself, doesn’t it? Maybe it’s a good thing.”
The doctor
opened the wound. Hawk groaned and arched as the doc washed it out with saline.
She moved her lips to Hawk’s ears and whispered, “What happened to you coming
home and fucking me until I begged you to let me come? This wasn’t part of the
plan. My pussy was aching, wet, and ready for you.”

He stilled.

“Whatever you’re talking about, keep doing it,” Tiny said.

Her face flamed.
I know they hear me.
They were in
close quarters. Tamping down her embarrassment, she continued. “I thought about
taking care of myself, but I knew you wouldn’t like it. Now I’m going to have
to while you heal. If it means I get a spanking out of it, I don’t mind a
little misbehavior.”

He moaned, and she smirked. “You like that don’t you? Such
an asshole. You were right about me all along. I like that you challenge me.
When you take control my panties are instantly wet. I live to get under your
skin because I know you’re going to give me exactly what I’m looking for.”

“Good girl, we’re done,” Doc said.

“And he’s passed out. Probably best. There was no time for
the painkiller to take effect.”

“I got the blood supply,” someone said as they walked in
with a cooler.

“Good, let’s get him set up. Get the girl a seat. I want her
here if he wakes up again.”

She sank into the chair someone brought over and held Hawk’s
hand, willing him to hang on. His breathing was labored, and he skin was too
hot.

“I’m going to set up an IV after we give him blood. It’ll help
him fight infection and regain his strength.”

She nodded. “When can I clean him up?”

“After I get him settled,” Doc said.

“Okay.” She ran her hands through his hair to calm herself
as Doc began the blood transfusion. Two bags in, she felt tears fill her eyes.
He’d come damn close to expiring tonight.

“One more bag, and we’ll start fluids,” Doc said.

“Will he be okay?”

“I think so, as long as we keep him from getting an
infection. It was the blood loss that had me concerned. I need to get my hands
on some that fast clot.” Time folded onto itself and sleep dragged her back
into its embrace.

“Hey.”

The sound of Hawk’s voice was an exquisite symphony to her
ears.

“Hawk.” She opened her eyes and sat up, wincing at the jolt
of pain that went through her neck.

She’d fallen asleep with her head on the table beside him.

“How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Like I’ve been shot.”

Her lips twitched upward. “You feel well enough to joke, so
that’s a good sign. I’ll go and get the doc.”

“Was it just me or were you whispering naughty things in my
ear?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

His eyes darkened. “Wait ’til I’m well again.”

A shiver skittered down her spin. “Until then, I’m going to
be giving you so much shit.” She brushed her head over his forehead, and stood.
“I’m going to send the doc in to you, take a shower, and check on the girls. I
don’t want them to feel like they were abandoned.”

“Good, I’m going to work on getting mobile.”

“Please don’t push it. You lost so much blood.” She closed
her eyes.

“Gonna take more than that to put me to ground.”

“I’m counting on that,” she said before she left in search
of Doc.

Showered and dressed in a black maxi dress with a plunging
neckline and brightly colored flowers, she walked down to the cabin to visit
the girls. She knocked on the door and smiled at Tex when he opened it. He was
the perfect choice to handle them.

“Hey, Tex.”

“Hey, Ariel. The girls are all out back on the patio
enjoying breakfast.”

“Thank you,” she said, stepping in and walking through to
the back. She paused outside the door and studied them. They looked relaxed and
happy. She knocked on the window to gain their attention. They glanced up and
smiled. She stepped outside.

“I’d like to say I come bearing mimosas but it’d be a lie.
How are you?”

“Better now that we’re here,” Nic said. Her words took a
load off Ariel’s shoulders. The skittish girl had been her main concern. She
didn’t like new places or new faces.

“It feels a lot safer in the complex,” Lorene admitted.

“Good. We pulled you in because my apartment got hit. Tiny
thought this was the best location for your safety.”

“I agree with him,” Karla said.

“Good. I want you to be as comfortable as possible.”

“You gave us a chance at a real life. There’s nothing we
could say to truly thank you for that,” Maddie said.

“It’s your bravery that’s made this possible. We’re helping
each other out,” Ariel said. “Did the lawyer explain everything to you guys?”
Ariel asked, taking a place at the table.

“She did. Do you want some? We made plenty,” Karla said
gesturing toward the pile of toast, bowl full of eggs, and plate of bacon.

“Yes, thank you. I’m starving. I just woke up and came over
this way,” Ariel said. She dished up a plate, and they continued to talk.

“What do you want to do when this is all over?” Ariel said.

“Travel,” Karla said.

“Get a real home and fill it up with everything I love.
Living your life to accommodate temporary living is depressing,” Lorene said.

Ariel’s heart went out to these women. “Soon the world will
once again be your oyster. The way it always should’ve been.”

“I wish I had your confidence,” Nic said quietly.

“Half the time it’s faking it to make it. I don’t wake up
every day and feel confident, believe me. I admire you ladies. You’ve been
through hell and back, but you’re still here, fighting, and refusing to let
them win. That’s brave as hell,” Ariel said.

“I just want it to be over so I can think about what the
hell it is I want to do. The past few years have been about survival,” Karla
said.

“What are you going to do?” Maddie asked Ariel.

“Everything different. This showed me how much I was lacking
in my life. I’ll approach things from a different angle now, that’s for sure,”
Ariel answered.

“How so?” Karla asked.

“I was so focused on forming a career I alienated myself and
lost who I had been. My hobbies went to the wayside. My love life got so old
and unused it gathered mold, and my crew shrank to four people. When they
started to pair off, get married, and have kids I felt the lack of options
keenly. Being forced to lessen my work load to deal with all of this opened my
eyes and taught me a thing or ten about myself.” She shook her head thinking of
the insane growth she’d undergone.

“And Hawk helped you?” Karla asked tentatively.

“Yeah, he did. He’s rough around the edges. His ways are unconventional.
But he’s still the best thing that’s happened to me in years.”

“You love him,” Lorene said.

“Yeah, I guess I do,” Ariel said.

“Does he love you too?” Nic asked.

“I can’t say. I’ve never asked him,” Ariel said. Her palms
grew sweaty, and she shifted in her seat. Did he claim her because he desired
her body, or was there something more?
His mother thinks so. Aren’t they
supposed to know?

“I think he does,” Karla said.

“Why?” Ariel asked.

“It’s in the way he looks at you. He’s softer, more approachable
when you’re around,” Karla said.

I hope she’s right.

“We’ll be finding out soon enough,” she said thinking of how
fast things would come to a head.

* * * * *

“You had us all worried about you last night,” Tiny said to
Hawk as he sat beside him in a chair.

“Me too,” Hawk said sarcastically.

“Your girl did real good,” Tiny said.

“Yeah?” Hawk asked.

“She stepped in, calmed you down, and stayed with you
through the night. I’m not sure what I expected from her. You two seem to be
getting close.”

“We are. I want to claim her. You going to give me your
blessing?”

“You think she can handle it, brother? You’ve got a secret
you been keeping from her. Might want to see how she’ll react to that before
you go asking for a lifetime commitment.”

Hawk shifted in the bed and winced as his sore arm protested
the movement. “I can’t see her caring.”

“Then you don’t know women. It’ll make her wonder what else
you’d lie about.”

“It’s club business. You trying to tell me you’d tell
Boston?”

“If it involved her like this, yeah I would,” Tiny said.

Hawk rested his head back against the wall. Mayhem found the
list of clients who had paid for sexual services. It included everyone from
dignitaries to mafia. Once they fed the information to those in power,
they
would take care of Emmit and Linden. The whole legal process had been to keep
the cops away. Last thing Mayhem needed was to be under investigation for
murder.

“How long do you think we have until they meet with an
unfortunate incident?” Hawk asked, eager to go on with his life.

“Not sure, Specs and Gadget were supposed to leak the
information yesterday, so anytime now. I’m serious; think about telling her.
Don’t let her be blindsided by someone else. I think she’s earned her place
here. But only if you can keep her under control.”

Hawk laughed. “I think I got it under control.”

“What the hell did you do to her to change her attitude? She
did a one–eighty.”

He shook his head. Before, he would have bragged about how
he’d fucked the attitude out of a woman. This time was different. He wanted the
things they shared to remain between the two of them. “We understand each other
now. It changed everything.”

“I can see that. I’m shocked she’s not here to be honest.”

“She went to check up on the girls in the cabin.”

“See that devotion and loyalty is why I think she’d make a
good addition and be the perfect old lady for a vice president. She gets that
family is more than blood.”

“She was willing to die for those girls,” Hawk said.

“What did your mom think? I know Feather didn’t bite her
tongue.”

Hawk snorted. “I don’t think she has the ability. She likes
her.”

Tiny laughed. “Probably relieved to see one of you is going
to settle down and start up a new generation.”

“Whoa, slow down the progression,” Hawk said.

Tiny laughed. “No way, you need to get on it if our kids are
going to be brothers from another mother like we are.”

“I think Ariel would have something to say about that,” Hawk
said.

“Never know.”

“Any news on the Angels?” Hawk asked, eager to switch the
topic.

“Not a peep. I’m waiting for blowback, but the original
clubhouse hasn’t been hit,” Tiny said.

“Very few people know about this one,” Hawk said.

“If they do, they find us, and we’ll see them coming. I
talked to the Crazy Eights and let them know what went down. They’re backing
us. I haven’t heard anything from them, so maybe they really don’t know who hit
them. That new Angels president pissed off a lot of people raising prices,
pushing in on territory that wasn’t his. It could’ve been anyone who popped
them.”