Chapter Five

Hawk

"I need to talk to you guys." I stood near the bar of the Steel Demons clubhouse with a cold beer in my hand and waited for my club brothers to turn to face me.

Diesel's blue gaze met mine, silently asking if everything was okay. "We're listening."

I nodded and looked around at each of my brothers because I knew what some of them would say when I finished. "Los Ochos are extorting local businesses and they killed Mark Winchester last week, because he refused to pay."

"Shit! How didn't we hear about that? Los Ochos? Aren't they a small-time gang still finding their footing?" Rocky scowled. "How the fuck are they extorting anyone?"

I shrugged. "I don't know, but if I hadn't been at the community center when it all went down, I'm not sure anyone would know about it. None of the business owners have said anything to anyone as far as I know." Which was the part that really didn't make sense since we made every effort to keep them safe.

"What the hell were you doing at the community center?" Maverick, our sergeant-at-arms, asked.

"I was hoping to accidentally run into the pretty nurse who stitched me up." There was no point pretending when it would all come out eventually.

"Makes sense," Rebel laughed. "But that's not all?"

"No. They tried to kidnap her, because she was helping Winchester when they came back to finish him off. They must have tracked her down. I stopped them from abducting her and doing who knows what they had planned. But I had to tell them she was my woman to stop them."

The clubhouse fell silent for a long damn time, but I wasn't foolish enough to think it would last.

"Holy shit," Rebel began with a laugh as he shook his head. "Holy shit, man. Are you serious?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm serious."

Rocky laughed. "Aren't you the same one giving us shit about damsels in distress?"

"That was Rebel." I pointed at my brother, who was still laughing.

"You agreed," he shot back with a satisfied smile.

"Yeah, I did. And now I'm the one saving a damsel in distress. Mock me all the fuck you want, but I'm not letting those assholes get their hands on her."

"And she's agreed to be your girlfriend?" Leave it to Diesel to ask the important questions.

"She has agreed for the sake of appearances, yeah."

Rebel and Slate howled with laughter.

"Hawk went and got himself a fake girlfriend," Slate shouted between pants of laughter. "Fucking priceless, brother."

I flipped them both off. "Say no if you want, I get it. But I already told her I would help her."

Rocky stood and crossed the floor to grab another round of beers. "We're with you, Hawk. Don't even fucking think otherwise. You need us to pitch in, we will. Got it?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I got it." Now that was taken care of, there was something else bothering me. "Not one fucking person has said anything about the extortion. Why the fuck not?"

"That is a damn good question," Diesel chimed in. "We ought to find out the answer."

"Not sure asking directly is going to get us any answers, especially after killing Mark right in front of his own fucking bakery." That shit pissed me off—not just that Laura had to witness it, but that it fucking happened at all.

"You have an idea," Rocky guessed, a question in his eyes.

"I do, actually. Laura said he was married, and they ran the place together. Have the girls put together a basket, a casserole, or some shit, and go directly to his widow for answers."

"It's a good plan," Diesel agreed. "But seeing as your girlfriend knew the victim, at least a little, going to see her, as the happy couple might be better." He grinned at my scowl. "Laura saw it happen and she can pretend she doesn't know who it is or why, but she's worried they might be after her. It'll play better."

I wasn't sure Laura would go for it, but if my club brothers had no problem with helping her, she had to help in return. "I'll give her a call."

"If you play your cards right, maybe she'll become your old lady for real." Rebel was teasing me, and I knew it wouldn't let up for a long time. If ever.

I left the clubhouse and made a quick stop before I headed to the hospital to see my girlfriend.

My fake girlfriend.

***

The hospital buzzed with activity. Nurses rushed around with purpose and the flimsy plastic chairs were populated with people looking sick, injured, or just fucking miserable. Before I reached the nurses' station, the swinging doors of the ER opened to reveal Laura and her friend Kristy.

"Hawk." She stopped, her gray eyes wide and filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

I flashed what I hoped was a charming boyfriend smile and shoved the flowers at her as she approached. "I'm fine. Just missed you." I leaned in and wrapped her in a hug, noting the feminine scent underneath the antiseptic smell of the hospital. "And you forgot to give me your phone number."

I didn't miss the shiver as she stepped back and stuck her nose into the bouquet. "These are gorgeous."

"Nothing compared to you," I replied honestly.

Laura gasped and then flushed furiously. "Hawk."

"Damn," Kristy said. "That was sweet and hot. Think I'll go change my soaked scrubs now. You two be good."

I laughed.

Laura groaned. "What's up?" she asked when we were alone.

"I need a favor." I hoped she didn't think I was taking advantage of the situation.

Wariness crept into her gaze, but she simply nodded. "Is it an emergency?"

"Not urgent, but pressing."

She pulled out her phone and handed it to me. "We're slammed right now. My shift ends in an hour, but it'll be more like ninety minutes. Can I call you then?"

"You can call me anytime you like, Laura," I said as I put my number in her phone and handed it back to her.

"You are such a flirt," she accused with a smile that told me she didn't mind all that much.

"Aw, honey, you noticed." I wiggled my brows. "Call me when you're finished."

"Yes, sir."

Heat flared in my chest and spread at her words even though I knew she was just teasing me. I immediately wondered if she was that compliant, that submissive between the sheets. "I like it when you call me sir."

She rolled her eyes. "Later," she said, and put her hand on my chest to push me away.

Her eyes went wide when I gripped her wrist and pulled her close, pressing a soft kiss to the side of her mouth. "Have a good shift, babe. Be sure to save some lives." I winked and strolled out of the hospital, aware of all the eyes on me.

It was all part of the plan, and if her scent lingered a little longer than it should, well that couldn't be helped.