Hiding Out (Hawks MC: Caroline Springs Charter, #2) (22 page)

"Tex," she uttered and took a step towards him. "Mate, you don't get it. You have to learn that you don't have to handle anything on your own. We're all in it together. We fight any battle
together
. That's what friends and family do."

He wiped his nose and nodded to the ground. "Some guy at school. Just giving me shit about...damn, about you being black and being with our uncle and—"

"Enough," I growled.

Low sighed. "I'm sorry he's being a di..."—she looked at Rommy and changed her word from ‘dick’ to—"dinosaur."

He shook his head. "I don't care what he says to me. I don't. I just care that he's saying shit about you."

Low's eyes warmed.

"We'll deal with it, Tex," I said, before my woman started crying. "Tomorrow, Dive can take Rommy and Low to school and work, and I'll take you. We'll sort it."

He nodded again. "Okay."

That night, I called my brothers. The next morning, Tex was on the back of my bike and with Pick, Billy, Memphis, Saxon, Beast and Muff following, we rode into the school car park. Tex pointed out the punk who was saying shit about my woman. With the kid at my side, Pick and Billy at my back, I walked up to the prick who was hanging with his friends. The bastard looked like a senior.

"You the little dick who said shit about my woman?" I asked, folding my arms across my chest. The kid looked to Tex. "Eyes to me," I growled. "And answer my goddamn question."

"Yeah, I did," he said with a glare.

"You man enough to say it to
my
face instead of my nephew?"

"Look, I was only mucking around. I didn't think he'd tattle to his uncle."

Stepping closer, I looked down at him and that was when I saw it, the uncertainty in his eyes. "He didn't want to. We forced it outta him because he belongs to Hawks and we take care of our own. So when we find out a brother is gettin' some pissy little kid annoying him, we come to back him up. You better leave him alone," I warned, getting real close so no one else would hear. "If you don't, I'll pay a visit to your house. Your daddy won't stand a chance against me, and it won't be just him I fuck him up." Leaning back, I asked, "You get me?"

His face paled and he nodded.

"Words, kid, I need them."

"I get you."

"Glad you understand." Turning my back on him, I asked Tex, "You good?"

He smiled wide. "Yeah, Uncle Trey. Perfect."

"Cool. Let's roll, brothers."

Tex got home that night to inform me the kid didn't give him any shit. If anything, he and his friends left a wide space whenever Tex walked around the school. Shyly, he also informed me that not only did he have new friends, but some girls were paying him attention.

Fucking Christ.

He was fourteen; I had my first fuck at thirteen. I asked him if he knew about protection. He blushed and told me he was all okay in that area.

Thank fuck.

*  *  *  *

T
he Venom prez, who was supposed to meet me three weeks earlier, had rang just before that to see if I could do him a favour and asked to set back our meeting. It seemed he had a family situation he had to deal with. I told him that'd be fine, as long as none of his brothers fucked with what belonged to Hawks. He agreed and did it quickly, so it made me wonder what had gone down.

The meeting was planned for the next evening, which meant we could enjoy party time the night before. I was at the compound with my woman. She was setting up chips and shit on tables. Said there couldn't be a party without nibbles. I told her I'd give her something to nibble on. She glared while Lucia, who was helping her, giggled, before they walked back into the kitchen.

The door opened and next was shouted, "The party has arrived!"

Goddamn. "Shoot me now," I begged the brothers at the table, Pick, Billy, Dallas and Vicious.

"You'd have to take us out, as well," Dallas said. He stood and quickly disappeared just as Julian, Mattie, Josie, Nary, Wildcat, Talon, Hell Mouth, Griz—Christ, the whole goddamn tribe from Ballarat—walked in.

I stood, moved around the table and greeted all my brothers with a big smile, chin lift and handshake.

"Where's this Low bird?" Hell Mouth asked. "I wanna meet the woman who took you to your knees. I'm even thinkin' of making her a plaque." She smiled.

"Fuck off, woman."

"Princess," Griz warned.

Behind me, I heard a gasp and then, "Oh, snap. Zara and her muffkateers are here. Lucia, come meet them. You'll love these bitches."

"I like her already," Hell Mouth said.

"Hey, sugar, come give me some lovin' first." Julian grinned with his arms wide open. She swiftly walked up and into his arms as Lucia came out of the kitchen.

"Hoo-wee, so many good-looking fuckers in one room. I'm gonna have a mini orgasm," Lucia sang.

Jesus motherfuckin' Christ.

"Now her, I
really
like." Hell Mouth laughed.

"Julian, take your fuckin' hand off my woman's arse," I snarled. Julian's hands dropped and he stepped back.

"Relax, buttercup, I'm gay. It's like a rule I can feel up the women."

"Not in my place."

He pouted. "You party-pooper."

While the brothers disengaged to greet other brothers, I stayed by my woman's side with my arm around her neck as she dribbled shit to the women. She drank, laughed and told me many times she loved my family. What I didn't like was how Lucia and Hell Mouth seemed to get on really well.

"Yo, Josie," Dive called from the other side of the room. "Where's Simone?"

Josie glared at my brother and said, "She's busy."

He gave her a chin lift and turned back to the others he was talking to. What was goin' down with my brother and Simone? I knew they wanted each other, only he'd fucked that up, but I still reckoned there was something else.

My eyes glided over the area. I saw Vicious and Nary having words—harsh words, by the look of it—in the corner. I wasn't the only one to notice, though. Stoke watched them like a hawk, and I knew he'd intervene if needed. But he didn't have to, because Vicious left Nary standing there and walked off just as the doors opened again and...

Fuck no.

Club whores walked in.

"What. The. Heck?" I heard Zara gasp.

"Kitten," Talon warned. "Not our business."

"Are you, or are you not, the president?"

"Yeah, woman, but what goes on here is up to Dodge."

Throw me under the goddamn bus.

All eyes turned to me.

What shocked the shit outta me was when my woman—my gorgeous, fuckin' strong, confident woman—said, "It's okay. I've had a word with them. They know if they fuck with a committed guy, their twats won't be in working order for a very long time. So long they'd never walk again. The bitches can stay for the single brothers. They need to have a good time, like I know my man will be with me."

If we'd been outside, crickets would be chirping. My hand slid into her hair. I tugged my woman's head back and when she looked up at me, I claimed her mouth. Hoots and woof calls echoed around the place.

"Kitten." Talon sighed. I lifted my head to see him take his woman in his arms.

"I'm fine. It's just baby emotions."

"Zara," Low uttered.

"Never seen it before, but you're right. The single brothers should get their fun, as well." She looked to her man. "Lift the ban on the whores."

"Kitten." He smiled. "No fuckin' way. I get where Low is coming from, and it's great for her. But I don't want whores at the compound when our kids come in."

"I agree," Low offered, and she turned to me. "No hookers when you know the kids will be here."

"Same," Zara piped up, and the girls shared a look and giggle.

"Isn't this grand, bonding over sluts." Julian clapped. They all laughed again.

Later that night, I made sure my woman felt how much I appreciated her.

I was the president of the club, but I had the best fuckin' old lady at my side to run it with me.

D
odge

Sitting in the back office in the compound, I waited for the call to say the Venom prez, Switch, had arrived. The night before was crazy, but fuck, it was fun. Havin' my brothers over from the Ballarat charter made it even better. If felt like I hadn't seen them in years instead of a couple of months. It also made me want to get my woman down to Ballarat with the kids to show them around, knowing they'd never been.

My phone rang on the desk. Without looking, I picked up and placed it to my ear." Yo?"

"Dodge," a male voice replied.

"Who's this?" I asked.

"Blackie."

Strange. Why in the fuck was he ringing me? "What can I do for you, man?"

"Actually, it's what I can do for you. I have some information."

"You gonna say it or play with my cock like a tease for a while longer?"

He chuckled. "I'm not a cock man, so I reckon I'll tell you. You got Switch coming to you soon. He's gonna talk shit about the turf he wants off you, found out it's all because of Baxter... Yeah, I know you now know. He's been in Switch’s ear to cause shit with you Hawks. Switch, not having many brains, did what he was told. He was scared of Baxter, as well."

Jesus. Fuckin' Baxter.

"Something else."

"Yeah?"

"There's been an in-house vote. Switch is no longer prez. He doesn't know it yet. It's just gone down and, when he gets back,
he'll
go down."

Holy shit. "Hold off on that for now. We got something in play for Switch."

"Will do. Least I can do for the shit he's done to Hawks."

"So, who's in charge now?"

"You're talking to him. Good news for you, we don't want your turf. Bad news, we ain't helping you with Baxter. He won't come near us now because he knows I won't let him talk me into anything, but I'm stayin' right the fuck outta everything because I need to keep my family and the club safe." He paused. "You get me?"

"Loud and clear," I said before hanging up. At least it was fuckin' good to know Hawks just lost all trouble from Venom. Still, I knew it wouldn't cool some brothers' jets. They'd always remember the shit Venom put us through.

Crap, I actually felt giddy with the information I just got. No matter what, Switch was fucked and Venom was no longer dickin' with Hawks.

My phone buzzed on the desk. I looked to it. It was time. It didn't take Billy and Pick long to get them into the room. I didn't bother standing from behind my desk. Instead, when my eyes landed on the big motherfucker with a shaved head, beady eyes and a fat gut, I sent him a chin lift. He offered one back then sat in the chair opposite me. Two others of his people, a young-looking guy and a dude in his late thirties, came in and stood behind him. We waited until the door was closed and Pick and Billy were standing behind me.

"Dodge, good to finally meet you. Heard many things about you." Switch smirked.

Playing dumb, I said, "I have to say, Switch, I've heard nothing about you. What I do know is that you've been fucking with Hawks for too long. What's your plan?"

"Straight to the point, I like it." He sat forward, his arms resting on his knees. "I want the north and south side."

"Why?"

"Our business would benefit from it."

I raised a brow at him. "Your business of pussy and drugs?"

"Yes."

"Then no." I smiled. "Actually, it was always going to be a no. It's our turf. We would never give it up, and we'd never let you fuckers deal your shit on our turf."

Switch rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes. Good old Hawks taking the clean road in life."

"We get dirty when we need to be, but that's often only in blood. We keep our territory clean of pussy, guns and drugs. Take a leaf outta our book, Switch. Get on the clean side of life and make your money the right way."

He scoffed and leaned back before saying, "Where's the fun in that?"

"It's safer," I offered.

"Safer?" He snorted. "We keep going the way we are, we'll soon have you pussies backing down."

Smiling, I shook my head and shared a glance with Pick and Billy. Leaning my elbows on the desk, I said, "You do understand that I've taken over as president now, don't you?" I waited for his nod. The men at his back looked on warily. "My brothers at my back are Pick and Billy the Kid. I've formed a new crew. Pick's my second, Billy is sergeant in arms and Dallas is the enforcer. Do you know of our background?"

"I—"

"No, I don't think you do. You should have done your research when things changed over, Switch." I stood, my gun drawn. Pick and Billy followed with theirs. "We don't like games. We don't like anyone to fuck with Hawks. We deal with the cunts if they choose to play games and, by dealin', it means we ain't fuckin' afraid to shoot you in the goddamn head right now. My brothers at my back, and me, have so much blood on our hands. We've killed more than any of your pansy-arse Venom men have, and it's all to protect our goddamn clean, safe club from people like you."

"You want war?" Switch yelled, standing himself.

I chuckled, enjoyin' myself way too much. "There will be no war, Switch. Right now, I have Dallas sitting outside your house, watching and waiting for my call before he goes in and tells your old lady exactly what you've been up to. If I know a scorned woman, she'd have your arse in jail before you've said anything. Sleeping with teenagers, Switch. I should shoot you for even thinkin' it. You sick fuck," I snarled. "There will be no war. You and your brothers will back the fuck off or I will not only invade your house, but your compound and business, and I’ll shoot any fucker I see."

"Fuck!" he yelled. "Fuck!"

"Back the fuck away when you know you can't win."

"Fine," he barked. "Fuckin' fine." That was when I saw the kid behind him smile, just before the door was swung open and Nary stood there. Her eyes widened. Thank fuck, we'd just lowered our guns.

"Nary?" I asked.

"Oh, um..." She gasped when her eyes landed on the Venom kid behind Switch. "You, you're...no," she mumbled before running from the room.

The kid went to go after her, but I stepped in his way. "She's Hawks. Keep your fuckin' hands and eyes off."