Page 8

Carrie

I’d spent the majority of my life hiding behind baggy clothes and an invisible persona, so the idea of wearing something that so blatantly proclaimed my connection to Hawk made my stomach flutter with equal parts excitement and terror. The vest was black leather with “PROPERTY OF HAWK” emblazoned across the back in bold white lettering above the Kiss of Death MC patch. The front had my name on one side with “OLD LADY” on the other.

“How does it feel?” he asked, his voice rough with emotion.

“Like armor,” I replied honestly. And it did. Despite the possessive wording, wearing this vest made me feel protected rather than owned. It was a declaration to the world that I belonged somewhere, to someone, and that I wasn’t alone anymore.

“That’s my girl.” Hawk beamed at me like he was the proudest man in the world. And he was looking straight at me.

“When this is over, remind me to thank you.”

“For what, honey?”

“For that look.” I reached up and stroked his beard.

“Not sure what look you’re referrin’ to, but I’ll do my best to give it to you all the time if I figure out what it is.”

I couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my lips, but it faded slowly. “Hawk.”

“What is it, baby?”

“Please tell me you’re real? That this shit between us is real?” I hated how small I sounded. I wasn’t as good as my brothers or as smart as my father, but I wasn’t weak. I could hold my own in a fight, I could think on my feet, and I was generally a decent person.

“Honey, what’s this?” He brushed his thumb over my bottom lip. “We take a property cut seriously. You don’t get one unless a brother’s serious. I’m dead fuckin’ serious, Killer. You’re my woman. I will protect you with every fuckin’ thing in me.” Hawk framed my face with his hands, his eyes dark and intense. “You’re mine, Carrie. Ain’t lettin’ your father or your brothers take you away from me.”

“It’s just gonna suck really hard if you decide this is more trouble than I’m worth and kick me out.” I tried to smile and be flippant about it, but the thought really hurt.

“Never, baby. And I see it now.”

“See what?”

“The false humor. How you keep your face blank when you’re facing someone you’re unsure about.” He shook his head. “You don’t do it with me, though.”

“I don’t?”

“Don’t look so puzzled. I noticed it when you first came to the compound, but you were pretty quick to let me in. Once you did, you didn’t try too hard to hide from me.”

“I did, actually.” I shook my head. “Yet something else my father would be disappointed in me for.”

“Honey, I’m telling you, there’s a difference. When you’re facing someone other than me, your face is completely blank. There is nothing to read because you lock everything down. You look almost serene, but when it’s just us, you’re an open book.” Hawk kissed me once more. “Now. Let’s go meet your brother.”

Hawk took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze as we headed downstairs. Each step felt heavier than the last. My mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Part of me was desperate to see Vic, to know he was safe. Another part feared what his presence might mean for my newfound happiness.

The main room was oddly quiet when we entered. Men stood around, their postures tense, eyes alert. Knuckles approached us first, his expression grim.

“He’s waiting outside the gates,” he said to Hawk. “Says he’ll only talk to Carrie.”

“Not happening,” Hawk growled, his grip on my hand tightening.

“I expected as much,” Knuckles replied. “Told him you’d be with her.”

I swallowed hard. “What did he say to that?”

“He laughed.” Knuckles’ mouth twisted into a wry smile. “Said he’d anticipated that. He’s willing to come inside unarmed.”

“He doesn’t have to have a physical weapon, Knuckles,” I said softly. “He is a weapon.”

“Yeah. I know. It’s an inside joke.”

I frowned. “Inside joke?”

“Honey, your brother’s not here to hurt you. He’s here to make sure you’re OK.”

“You know Vic?” Now I was confused.

“Yep. Didn’t know I knew him until I saw him outside.”

“He’s not mad?”

Knuckles shook his head. “I don’t think so. Your call, Killer.” Knuckles cleared his throat. “Do we let the bastard in or meet him at the gate?”

“Shit,” I muttered. “Little above my pay grade.” I looked up at Hawk. “But no. Until you’re absolutely sure what Vic is here for, don’t let him in unless you’re prepared to fight him to the death. Because that’s what you’ll get if he doesn’t get what he wants.”

Knuckles snorted a laugh, then looked over his shoulder. “You hear that, Torpedo, you pussy? You owe me fifty bucks!” That got hoots and high fives all around while various items exchanged hands around the large room.

“The fuck?” I looked up at Hawk. “What just happened?”

“It appears you surprised more than a few of the guys.” Hawk leaned in to brush a kiss over my temple before raising his voice. “That’s my woman!”

“Y’all are crazy.” What the fuck else was I supposed to say?

“You get used to them.” Pippa hurried to my side with Hannah following close behind. “They’re all pretty gruff and wouldn’t hesitate to kill a motherfucker, but they have a code.”

“Which is basically, leave our family alone and we let you live,” Hannah added with a smile. The guys were still talking over each other and settling bets. Apparently, more than one of them had faith in me. The ones who didn’t have that faith were taking their ribbing good-naturedly. “Family consists of everyone inside this compound. When you told Knuckles not to let your brother in, you proved you’d protect us the same way we’d protect you.”

“Was it really a test?”

“No.” Hannah laughed. “Knuckles knew before he asked you what your answer would be. He was just proving a point to Torpedo.”

I lifted a hand to stop her. “Not my business. I’d just like to talk to my brother, find out exactly why he’s here, then go back to bed.”

“I’m sure you’re tired, considering everything you’ve been through last night.”

“I mean, yeah. A little. But that’s not what I meant.” I gave the women what I hoped was a serious look. “I’ve discovered that I really, really love sex. The last place I want to be is here talking to my brother when I could be upstairs in bed with Hawk.”

Hannah choked on air while Pippa burst out laughing. “Oh my God, Hawk has his hands full with you, doesn’t he?”

“I sure hope so,” I replied with a wink, enjoying their reactions. It felt good to joke with them, like I was part of something. Like I belonged. This place was warm and welcoming while my own home had been cold and hostile.

Hawk came up behind me, wrapping an arm around my waist. “You ready for this, baby?”

I took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah. I’m ready.”

We walked to the gate as a group. Knuckles led the way with Gunnar on his left and slightly behind him while Hawk kept my hand firmly in his as we followed behind the other two men. The rest of the brothers hung back, but I could feel their watchful presence. They were ready to move at a moment’s notice if things went sideways.

As we approached, I saw him. Victor stood just beyond the gate, looking exactly as I remembered. Tall, broad-shouldered, his dark hair cut short, his face expressionless. But I knew him well enough to see the tension in his jaw, the careful way he held himself. The men acting as guards didn’t let Vic inside. Instead, Vic stood on the other side of the fence, waiting patiently.

“Vic,” I said, my voice steadier than I expected.

His eyes found mine instantly, and for just a moment, relief flashed across his features before he adopted a fierce mien. “‘Bout fuckin’ time, Knuckles.” He turned his gaze back to me. “You good, Carrie?”

“Yes.” I didn’t offer any more than strictly necessary, just like I’d been taught. I could tell Vic was frustrated, but wasn’t sure why.

“I said I needed to talk to her alone, man. You don’t keep your word?”

“Ain’t up to me.” Knuckles jerked his head in my direction. “She’s wearin’ Hawk’s property patch. He gets a say in her safety.”

Vic scowled. “She’s my baby sister, Knuckles. You know I ain’t gonna hurt her.”

“I know that because I know you, Vic. Seems your sister isn’t as sure of you.” When Vic opened his mouth, probably to tell Knuckles to fuck off, the other man cut him off. “She wants to trust you. Even told us how you watched out for her and that you wouldn’t always follow your father’s instructions if he ordered you to do something you didn’t agree with.”

“I didn’t have much of a choice when she and Zach were little. Our relationship is complicated, but I would never hurt Carrie, or allow her to be hurt.”

“She told me some about her training growing up.” Hawk sounded pissed as hell. He’d let go of my hand but stayed as close to me as he could with his body between Vic and me, a barrier to what he saw as a threat.

“Did I need to be as hard on her as I was?” Vic snapped. “No. But if I hadn’t pushed her, Flagg would have. Anyone he brought in wouldn’t have pulled anything and Carrie would have been seriously hurt. I taught her what she needed to know while appeasing our father.” Vic turned to me. There was real anguish in his gaze, something I’d never seen before. “I’m sorry, Carrie,” he said, taking a step forward until he gripped the iron of the gate separating us and him. “You deserved better than you got.”

“Father never wanted a girl. Girls are weak.”

Vic shook his head. “Not you, honey. I saw what you did. How you handled yourself. You gave those fuckers more opportunities to attack you than you should have, but I know you. You were trying to give them every opportunity to leave you alone and walk away.”

“Father says compassion is a weakness. If you let an enemy live, you’re inviting him to attack again.”

“I think you know Flagg is a fuckin’ dick.”

A small smile tugged at my lips. “Yeah. He is.”

“He wants you back, but I think I can convince him to let you walk away. If that’s what you want.”

“I don’t want to go back to him, Vic.” My voice cracked at the mere thought. It wasn’t that I was afraid of my father, though that was part of it. “I can’t lose what I’ve found here. This is what a family should be.”

To my surprise, Victor nodded. “I know Knuckles. He was one of my contacts inside the prison in Terre Haute. His word is unquestionable, Carrie. If he tells you something, you can bank on it. And if you’re claimed by a man in his club, Knuckles will make sure you’re protected. And you’re right.” Vic gave me a sad smile. “That’s what family should be.”

“I’m sorry, Vic. How mad do you think Father will be? I don’t want you to take the brunt of his anger.”

To my surprise, my brother snorted a laugh. “Don’t worry about me, honey. I’m actually counting on him being angry with me.” For some reason, that sent a chill up my spine. No one wanted to deliberately incur the wrath of Flagg.

“What have you done, Vic?”

“Nothing you need to worry about, Carrie.” Then Victor looked over my shoulder and addressed Knuckles. “In return for not razing this place to the ground because you kept my sister locked in here, I’m gonna need somethin’ from you.”

“You’ve lost your Goddamned mind, Vic.” Knuckles actually chuckled, though it didn’t sound pleasant. “I don’t owe you anything.”

Victor kept going like Knuckles hadn’t said anything. “You can pay me back by providing a place for my brothers to lay low if they need it in the next few days.”

Knuckles stepped closer to the gate. Hawk gently moved me away and stepped in front of me.

Knuckles crossed his arms over his chest. “Ain’t lettin’ the enemy inside the gates like some Goddamned Trojan horse.”

“On my honor, Knuckles.” Victor stuck his hand through the gate, offering it to Knuckles. “I only want a safe place for my brothers if things get too hot with Flagg. I’m getting ready to bring the house down on him, and I don’t want them to get the blowback. If all goes as planned, you’ll never know anything’s going on.”

“And if things go sideways?” Hawk took a threatening step forward.

“Then the city may get a little nuts until the power void is filled. Either way, no one will be looking in your direction. No one knows about our association other than me, you, and anyone you told.”

“Which is exactly no one, until today,” Knuckles said.

“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think it was necessary, man. And only for my brothers. No matter what, I will need to stay as far away from anyone I don’t want scrutinized as I can.”

“When do you expect things to start happening?” Knuckles reached out and accepted Vic’s hand.

“Forty-eight hours.”

“The only phones and shit we have stays inside the compound. Give Knight your contact info. Any communication will need to go through him.”

“I’ll take it. Expect a call from me in the next three days. If I don’t, then things really went to shit.”

Knuckles stepped back. “Carrie’s safe here. If you need to send your brothers, they’ll be safe too as long as they don’t try anything funny to get Carrie to leave.”

“Unless she wants to leave,” Vic added before looking at me again. “Are you sure this is what you want? I’d feel better if you let me take you somewhere I know you’ll be safe.”

“If you could do that, Vic, you’d have done it years ago.”

Vic didn’t even try to hide his wince. “Yeah, kid. I’m so fuckin’ sorry for that. If I could have taken you away from him, I would have. But I was afraid he’d find you, and we wouldn’t be there to protect you.”

“We?”

“Come on, Carrie.” Vic gave me a pleading look. “You know we all love you. You’re our baby sister.”

“You and Zach, yes. I was never so sure about the others.”

“Flagg pitted us all against each other, but we older boys learned early on to pretend to be adversarial in front of him. But we’re all really tight. We tried to keep you out of Flagg’s notice as much as we could. The best way was to pretend to be annoyed with you so you stayed out of his way. The downside was, you never learned to trust us like you should have been able to.”

“Father never really knew what to do with me.”

“Oh, he knew. He was saving you to marry one of his rivals. To make an alliance.”

“Yeah, not on board with that.” I gave him a cheerful smile I didn’t feel at all, but my sarcastic attitude sometimes got the better of me.

“Never figured you would be.” With a heavy sigh and one long look at me, Victor finally addressed Hawk. “You don’t treat my sister like the fuckin’ princess she is, I will end you.”

“You don’t think she can take care of herself if I’m not good to her?”

“I trained her. I know she can.”

“Then let me just tell you, when she came here late last night, she was covered in blood and was spitting out the remains of one of those bastard’s ears she’d bitten off in the fight. Trust me when I tell you, your sister can take care of herself when it comes to me. Anyone else she needs rid of, I’ll be the one to do it.” Hawk offered his hand to my brother. “I’ll guard your sister with my life. You have my word.”

“His word good, Knuckles?”

“He was my SAA before I went away. He did his time on the inside like the rest of us, but he’s solid as they come. All my men are solid or they wouldn’t be here.”

Vic took Hawk’s offered hand. “I’m holding you to this, Hawk.”

“You take care of your father. Then come back and let your sister know you’re OK.”

I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to feel, but I had the sudden urge to hug Vic, though I’d never done so before.

I stepped forward, ignoring Hawk’s attempt to keep me behind him. “Vic.” My voice broke on his name.

Vic’s eyes widened slightly. He glanced at Knuckles, who nodded almost imperceptibly, then at Hawk, who reluctantly stepped aside. The gate creaked as Knuckles unlocked it, opening it just enough for me to slip through.

I didn’t hesitate. I threw my arms around my brother’s waist and pressed my face against his chest. For a moment, Vic stood frozen, as if he didn’t know what to do with this display of affection. Then his arms came around me, holding me tight.

“Be careful,” I whispered against his shirt. “I just found a family, but I don’t want to lose my brothers.”

His hand came up to stroke my hair, the gesture awkward but sincere. “I’ll be fine, Carrie. I’ve been planning this for years.” He pulled back slightly to look down at me. “You know how Flagg always said I was his best student?” There was a glint in his eye I’d never seen before. “He was right.”

I nodded, not exactly understanding what he meant, but I knew whatever was going on, Victor would win.

Victor kissed the top of my head, and I knew it was time to let go. “Will I see you again?” The question slipped out before I could stop it, and I hated how childish I sounded.

“Count on it, honey. You’ll see all of us again. Soon.”