Chapter Thirty-One

Hawk

"M an, you are a real buzzkill these days." Rebel clapped me on the back, a teasing smile on his face.

I gave him a shove. "Fuck you. You would be too, if pretty much all the criminals in town think you're a fucking informant. If it was just me, it wouldn't be so bad, but it's affecting Laura."

I'd left home early this morning to get to the clubhouse. I wanted to get the dirt on Detective Owens, I was almost one hundred percent sure he was behind me being persona non grata amongst the local MCs and gangs. I also needed to persuade my prez to arrange another meet with Los Ochos, to see if they'd take the hit off Laura.

In addition to that, I needed to tell my club brothers about the evidence file, while there was nothing in it that would incriminate us, it was worrying. Someone had been watching Steel Demons MC a little too closely, the photo from the unsuccessful gun purchase had been a close call, if Organized Crime had their eyes on us, then going forward we needed to be smarter. Maybe Detective Shit-For-Brains has done us a favor.

"It's not like you, letting a woman get to you like this. I feel like I'm in a fucking alternate universe," Rebel said with a smirk.

Maverick came over to join us and pulled out a stool.

"It's not just about a woman, dammit. She's in danger."

"Diesel is on a call to Tomas, trying to get some answers," my club brother said as he made himself comfortable.

Well that was something.

"Hawk, I got something you need to see," Slate said as he marched into the clubhouse bar with his laptop tucked under his arm. He looked around with a frown. "Where are Diesel and Rocky?"

"Talking out back," Maverick answered. "What's the news?"

"It's about the red car, remember the one that followed Laura a few weeks ago? I found out who purchased it, it's De—" he began, just as my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I should've been listening to this important information, but Laura's name flashed on the screen and instinct had me answering immediately. "Laura, what's wrong?"

There was a long silence and then a voice. "It's not Laura, Hawk. It's me, Kristy."

I was on my feet instinctively. "Kristy. What's wrong?" The chatter around me fell silent and all eyes swung my way.

"It's Laura," she began in a panicked voice. "I stopped by to visit, and we were chatting and then someone was at the door. It was really weird. Laura started talking loud as hell, which is usually a sign for us to listen in, but this time it was different."

"Why was it different?" I asked to prevent any more terrified rambling.

"Right. Sorry." She sniffled.

Great, she was fucking crying. "It's okay, just tell me what happened."

"It was her ex, Eric, at the door. And he had a gun."

"A gun. Are you sure?" That fucker couldn't be that crazy, could he?

Her words were punctuated with sobs, "Positive. She said, ‘Eric why are you here and why do you have a gun aimed at me?' She said it really loud, I know it was for my benefit. I hid behind the sofa, I was going to call the cops but he's a cop. I didn't know what to do, I'm sorry. I let her get taken."

"You did the right thing. Laura wanted to keep you safe and if you'd done something stupid then he'd have taken you too," I said quickly, trying to reassure the distraught woman.

Kristy was still crying but I could tell she was pulling herself together.

This was exactly what I was worried about, except I didn't know that I needed to worry about her cop ex-boyfriend and not a bunch of gang bangers. "Any idea where he would take her?"

"None. I never liked the guy, so I don't know much about him." She started crying again.

My club brothers were looking at me questioningly, I told them, "Eric Owens has abducted Laura."

"Shit," Slate grunted. "That's the owner of the red car."

"That asshole is the reason for all of this." It was all coming together.

"Yep," Kristy confirmed. "When I was at your house, we started looking at the photos he'd given her—"

"She wasn't freaking out again?" I interrupted, then realized that Laura getting upset over what I do for a living was the least important thing right now.

"No, she believes you, she trusts that whatever it is you're into, there are things you won't do. I found one photo that had the wrong date and—"

"She told you she trusts me?" My mind stuck on one detail—Laura trusted me.

"Yeah. Anyway, there was this one photo that had been faked and we realized if he did that, then he could be capable of doing anything. She was about to call you, when Eric showed up."

I wanted to ask more questions, but there wasn't time now. I needed to find Laura. "Kristy, stay at my place. My guy Gio is going to come and get you. Don't open the door for anybody but him. Got it?"

"Just go get Laura before it's too late."

I nodded and ended the call, scanning the room for Gio.

He stood when my gaze landed on him and smiled. "Headed there now."

Diesel and Rocky appeared wearing matching frowns, arms crossed and looking ready to kick some ass. Rebel was right beside them, a sure sign he'd told them what was happening. "Where we at?"

Slate cleared his throat. "Eric Owens is a detective with the OC division of the county police. Steady career with an upward trajectory and a few big busts sprinkled throughout the past five years. He has a house here in Steel City, but he also rents a shitty one bedroom in Vegas."

"He'd definitely take her to the apartment because I'm guessing few people know about it." And it was probably how he was able to cheat on Laura so effectively.

"I agree," Diesel said. "We need to split up just to cover all bases."

"Agreed. I'll go to his main residence," Rocky offered. "See if we can find anything to incriminate this asshole."

"You will," I assured him, and relayed Kristy's info to the group. "If he manufactured that evidence, then he did it at home. Whatever else he's into is probably there too."

Diesel nodded. "Yeah, and if you find anything drop the dime to Cross. The sheriff will be grateful."

"Let's go, then. Laura needs us." She was probably scared and pissed off, both of which could trigger Eric to do something fucking stupid.

"I got the layout of the apartment building. It's a ground floor unit on the corner. Two rear facing windows and one to the west plus the front door." Slate rattled off more information that we all took in as we prepared to rescue my woman.

And possibly kill a cop.

***

It took no time at all for us to get armed and ready and to hit the road, rolling up to the rundown apartment building in groups of two to avoid drawing attention to ourselves. In a neighborhood like this, there were bound to be plenty of unemployed or shift workers who might see us and report back.

"You sure this is the plan you want to go with?" Diesel stood beside me, a supportive hand on my shoulder as we stared at the dark green door that stood between me and Laura.

I nodded. "Yeah, I think this is the best way to go. He'll think I've gone off half-cocked and it'll lower his guard. He won't think twice about killing me and concocting some self-defense story."

"And if he shoots you?"

I shrugged. "I'm wearing a Kevlar vest. As long as the fucker doesn't take a headshot, I'm good. It'll give you more time to get Laura far away from him. Don't worry, brother, I'll put up a good fight to buy you some time."

Diesel laughed and rolled his eyes. "All right, hero. Let's do this."

I waited two full minutes for my brothers to get in place and out of sight before I put my game face on and stormed to Eric the prick's front door and raised my fist. I let out a deep breath and began pounding on the door like a madman. "Open the fucking door, Eric. I know you're in there!" When he didn't answer right away, I turned my back to the door and kicked it with enough force to rattle the walls.

"What. The. Fuck." Eric opened the door, red-faced and filled with shock. "You. What the fuck do you want?"

I smiled and took half a step back to prepare for whatever this fucker did next. "I think you know exactly what I want. Laura."

He laughed. "She finally wised up and left your ass, huh? Good."

"Nope, she didn't leave me. You kidnapped her."

"That's one hell of an accusation to level at an officer of the law." His smug smile only pissed me off even more and my hands itched to knock him on his scrawny ass.

"Not an accusation. Almost all of my neighbors have cameras that clearly show you with a gun aimed at her. Bring her out and we'll go back to being regular adversaries."

"Don't know what the fuck you're talking about, Hawk, but I suggest you get the fuck out of here before I put a few bullets in your chest."

"You'll have to get to your gun before I do," I said, and pulled out the piece I kept holstered at my hip and pointed it at him. "Oops, bang bang, you're dead, motherfucker,"

He barked out a laugh. "You're not gonna shoot me. Everyone knows what happens to cop killers. What did you think was gonna happen here, Hawk? You'd come and ask, and I would just, what, hand her over?"

"Something like that. But I hoped you wouldn't make it too easy." In fact, I hoped he made me kick his ass a little. It was just what I needed.

"Oh, I won't. I'll kick your ass and then put two bullets in your head before I kill Laura with your gun. Everything will be wrapped up in a neat little bow. Sweet nurse, got involved with an outlaw biker and he killed her before I could save her."

"Maybe." I shrugged with a smile. "Or maybe you're not as good a cop as you think?"

"I'm better," he shot back, because the arrogant shit just couldn't help himself.

"Yeah, well, a good detective might have at least taken time to gather and destroy all the evidence Laura has at her house."

"Bullshit." That was what his mouth said, but I saw the fear as it flashed in his eyes.

"Not bullshit, actually. She has proof that you manufactured evidence, and that you're in business with criminals."

Okay, the last bit was bluffing, but I was pretty sure once Slate started digging, then we'd find enough evidence to put the fucker away for life. That's if I didn't put a bullet in his skull and bury him in the desert first.

He laughed, but it was brittle and emotionless. "My business is criminals, or haven't you heard?"

He was a little too cocky, and there was only one reason for that. "I've heard that you're a dirty cop and my sweet Laura has proof."

"I've been following her," he offered with a smile.

"But have you been listening to her calls?" I arched a brow and all the blood drained from his face. "Doesn't matter, does it? We have all the evidence now and we'll keep it safe if you hand Laura over."

"Not happening, asshole. Get the fuck out of here or else."

"Or else," I drew the word out and got in his face with my gun, "what?"

"Or else I'll have to fucking make you." With that he suddenly made a grab for me and wrestled the gun from my hand and was trying to aim it under my chin. Dammit, I should have shot the arrogant bastard on sight. My arm went up, just as my knee collided with his balls and the gun went skittering down the hallway.

Bare knuckle fighting, my favorite.

I shoved him back and laughed when he stumbled. "I don't see your boys in blue anywhere, so how do you plan to do that, cop?"

"They'd only get in my way." He lunged forward, shoving his head into my midsection with a grunt.

I raised my arms and clasped my hands before I brought them down against his back with enough force to make his knees collapse. The asshole brought me down with him and he scrambled to get on top of me, landing a few ineffective blows to my shoulders and chest. "That all you got?"

He grinned and continued landing blows that didn't slow me down but instead gave me time to think. I balled my hands into fists and landed several jabs in his right side until he couldn't take it anymore, and then I switched to the left side as he laid on top of me.

He grunted in pain as I pummeled him from the disadvantaged position. I shoved Eric off and he rolled onto his back, panting and breathless. I got to my feet and stared at him. "Stay down, asshole, and I'll let you live."

I grabbed a couple of cable ties from my pocket and tied his wrists together, fucker could still move his legs but at least he couldn't get to his gun.

"You really gonna kill a cop?"

I shrugged. "If your body is never found, no one will ever know." Diesel gave strict orders not to kill the bastard, so I couldn't do it unless it was absolutely necessary, but a man could dream, couldn't he? "You'd be surprised how many bodies are buried in the desert."

He shrugged. "I wouldn't, actually, but when this is all over, I'll be sure to add that to your lengthy file."

"I'm sure it'll be added to yours when Internal Affairs opens an investigation into you." The arrogant bastard really believed he had won.

"Asshole." He spun around on the floor and kicked out in an attempt to sweep my feet from under me, but I took a step back and avoided it.

"Where is she?" I asked, and grabbed him by his collar, pulling him to his feet. "Fine, make me beat it out of you. Been looking forward to it since I found out you were the asshole stalking Laura."

"Stalking? Hardly." He got to his feet and lunged forward, trying to headbutt me.

Fucker was determined, I'd give him that. I dodged him and rewarded him with jab straight to the nose. "Just following to find out where she was staying." I hit him again. "You smashed her windshield too."

He laughed even as the blood trickled down his face. "Good luck proving it."

He was such a cocky little shit it made me wonder what Laura saw in him. "Don't need your luck, asshole." I lifted one leg and gave him a sharp kick to the gut, smiling with satisfaction as he fell onto the coffee table and broke it.

I used the time to look around, hoping Laura was already gone.

"She's not here." He grinned too wide for his words to be true as he slowly got to his feet.

"Probably not anymore."

Understanding flashed in his eyes, and he got in my face. "Move."

"Make me, shit stain." I smiled and stood to my full height, which gave me a few inches on him. He shouldered me out of the way, and I followed him into the lone bedroom and the tiny closet in the corner. Then he nodded his head at it. I opened the door and stepped back.

"Where is she?" His voice was filled with disbelief as he stared into the empty closet.

"Who? The woman you didn't kidnap and weren't holding here against her will?"

"Don't fucking get cute with me." He charged forward, to do what I don't know, seeing as his hands were bound and he probably was on the way to having a hell of a headache. A smarter man might have moved, but I stood my ground as each step brought him closer and closer. When he was close enough, I lifted my left arm and brought it up to land on his jaw and stop his forward momentum.

Detective Owens collapsed to the floor instantly, unconscious and unmoving.

A perfect knockout.

I checked his pulse to be sure I'd not killed him and rushed outside to make sure my brothers had gotten Laura to safety. I barely made it a few steps before I spotted her blonde hair blowing in the wind, her face buried in the chest of my president. "Laura!"

She spun around and watched me run towards her with wide eyes. "Hawk!"

I wrapped her in my arms and held her close, inhaling her scent as she cried and trembled against my body. "You're okay. You're safe now."

"Thank you," she sobbed. Her tears soaked my shirt, and her hands clutched me tight. "You came for me, Hawk."

I kissed the top of her head. "I'll always come for you. No matter what."

She pulled back and her gray eyes were red-rimmed and filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry. I should have realized he was a dirty cop, I should have—" she began, when I cut her off.

"Sweetheart, he had everyone fooled. I know you found evidence that he'd faked the date on one of the photos. Kristy told me when she called."

"I trust you Hawk, you've shown me what a good man you are. I don't care what you do, because I know you've got a good moral compass. I trust that you'll keep us safe, that's if there's going to be an us after all this? I mean, if my life is no longer in danger, then we don't have to pretend to be a couple anymore."

I smiled at her and kissed her again. Hearing the words from her mouth, knowing that she trusts me, made me happier than I realized. "My little firecracker, of course there's gonna be an us ," I laughed, and kissed her softly. Slowly. "I love you so fucking much."

She gasped in shock. "You do?"

"Fuck yeah, I do. I knew I had feelings for you, but it was only when I thought I'd almost lost you, I realized what a hole you would leave in my life. In my heart." I hated this mushy shit, but I knew Laura needed to hear me.

"Hawk." She put her hand to the side of my face and smiled. "I love you too. I didn't want to. I didn't plan to, either. But you're pretty hard not to love."

"I am, aren't I?"

She laughed. "I'm sorry for not believing you at first," she said in a more sober tone. "You've shown me in so many ways who you are. The man who stepped in to protect me when no one else would. Who looks out for an old man who has no one else in the world. You were there when I found out about Kristy being in the hospital and every damn time, you were there. My shoulder to cry on, a hug when I needed one." She let out a shaky laugh. "You were the best damn gift I never knew to ask for, Hawk."

Sirens sounded in the distance, and I knew Diesel had called Sheriff Cross.

"Should we get out of here?" Laura's brows dipped with concern.

"Hell yeah. We can talk to the sheriff later. Much, much later." I pulled her close and guided her to my bike where we—literally and figuratively—rode off into the fucking sunset.