Like his name was a signal, he walked back into the room with a smug grin, looking at his wife. “Hawke is my name, darlin’.”
“No, it’s not. What kind of a name is that?”
He smirked as Fallon went to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “It is the only name I’ve had since I was thirteen. It’s Hawke. I chose it because it meant change and protection. Growin’ up in a bad place like I did, I needed a guidin’ light. There was a hawk outside my ma’s house, so when I finally left, I chose that name.”
“Sexy name for my sexy man,” Fallon added as she kissed his cheek.
He grabbed her, pulling her closer to him before turning his attention back to me. “Sorry ‘bout the boss. She can be a lot,” he said. Fallon giggled against his throat at the statement.
“That’s an understatement. Is she the fucking mayor?”
He laughed. “No. That woman is nowhere near political.”
“Yeah? Well, she’s a fucking cunt.”
He ran his hand behind his neck. “She is…she has her moments. But I gotcha a job if you want it. You won’t be workin’ for Ricky,” he proclaimed.
I cringed. “Where?”
“A local club. Hades. Best in town. It’s a strip club, but if you don’t wanna strip on stage, you can be a waitress and do private dances, only if you want to.”
Fallon looked taken back, like she was shocked it was offered. I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing spilled free. In my sophomore year of nursing school, I joked and said I was going to drop out and become a stripper, but my so-called friends and Dominic all said I didn’t have the body to be a stripper. Strippers were supposed to be size zeros with perky tits. My size sixteen hips and double D breasts did not meet the criteria.
Dominic always made me insecure about my curves and my belly, but he praised my big boobs and fat ass. He also made fun of my scars on my thighs and wrists. I accepted his mean words, trapped by his conflicting pretty words as they fell from his traitorous lips, when I should’ve kicked him in the balls and ran for the fucking hills. I really let a man ruin my self-esteem and destroy my life.
I was silent for a while. I knew Hawke was waiting for an answer, but I kept looking between him and the expression on Fallon’s face. My trauma was fresh; I was still licking my woundsclean. I didn’t know how I was going to react to dancing for men to give me cash. Besides, I didn’t plan on telling the entire town what happened to me. Hell, I didn’t know why I bothered telling Hawke. The words just flew from my mouth like vomit.
“I need an answer, darlin’,” Hawke said.
“I…” I paused. “I can’t be a stripper.”
“Why not?” he questioned.
I looked down at my body. “I don’t have the body to be one. I’m not the prettiest, either. It’ll be a waste of everyone’s time.”
“Please,” Fallon said with a smile. “No one here is in the mindset of strippers needing to be ten pounds with triple H tits. You are gorgeous, and that body of yours? Sinful.”
Hawke squeezed her ass, and she giggled. “I don’t know what that boy did to you before, but he ruined that pretty little head of yours, kid. You’ll do a damn good job at Hades.”
I felt my cheeks burn and gave them both a soft, genuine smile. “Thank you. I’ll take the job. What do I need to do?”
“When the time comes, the boss will have to interview you. Just wear lingerie and a smile. If you’re comfortable, you can dance, but you won’t be forced to do anything. We all love sex and seeing naked women, but only if they enjoy it, too.”
“And babe,” Fallon laughed, “weallenjoy it. Have you seen the men here? Fuckable and marriage type. The best of both worlds.”
“The only man fucking you is me,” Hawke growled at her before looking at me again. “You’re safe here. We make sure our people are safe.”
I arched my brow, giving him a soft smile. “Ya know, for a big, scary tattooed biker, you really are a teddy bear.”
“A sexy teddy bear until he has to maul someone for hurting his family,” Fallon cooed.
CHAPTER 14
BLAIZE
Hawke had informed me that Kadence should be waking up soon, and the quicker she woke up, the quicker she could get out of my fucking town. Four days passed since I killed the two men for hurting her, but it didn’t change the fact that I didn’t like strangers, and she came out of nowhere. Who knew who she could be working for? There was enough bullshit going on in my town, I didn’t need to add her to the mix. I didn’t care how beautiful she was.
I didn’t address anyone in the clubhouse, I only sprinted to the infirmary. I heard Hawke’s voice. He was doing a good job of interrogating the girl. He was asking about Ricky and why she was at that sleazy fucking diner. I still don’t understand why I let him stay in business in my town.
