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“Don’t make me answer that question, Braxton, you might not like the answer,” Hawker snides before addressing Prez again. “It appears we share an interest for the same person. I’m here for any information you have on Ivan Cooper.” Hawker has that glint in his eye, and I watch on as my brothers all make their own judgment whether to trust him or not.
“What makes you think we know anything about Cooper?” Prez responds coolly.
“Ahh.” Hawker raises his finger before he slams a brown file onto the table between him and Prez. Prez flicks through the pages then passes it back over his shoulder for Jessie to take a look at, and when he’s done he passes it to me. I open the file and check out the pictures inside. They’re surveillance photographs of the crack house Ivan was running before we blew it up a few months ago, and there’s an aftershot of what’s left of it.
“I think we all know who was responsible for that.” Hawker smirks, snatching it out of my hands and tucking it back under his arm.
“Whoever did do that, seems to be doing ATF’s job for ‘em. Ain’t you boys supposed to be the ones shutting these places down?” Prez points out.
“Don’t play games, Jimmer. You want Cooper out of town and I can help you do that.” He rests one of his business cards on the bar and taps his finger over it.
“My details. If anything comes to mind, feel free to contact me. I’ll be sticking around for a while. Getting a feel for Chief Roswell’s town.”
Hawker gets up and nods his head at Prez before he leaves, and Jessie stares him all the way out the door, looking ready to lay one on him.
“Well, that was interesting.” Squealer breaks the silence first, heading straight for the bar and lining out ten shot glasses. “Fucker missed this.” He picks up the huge block of coke from under the bar and slams it on the surface.
“This could work for us,” Prez nods his head thoughtfully.
“If we can trust him.” Jessie looks doubtful. “How can we be sure he ain’t playing us off against each other?”
“We don’t, which is why we think this through before we react. This place needs to be squeaky clean. He may not have had a warrant this time, but next time could be a different story. Jess, have Maddy keep an eye out for that.” Prez looks to his VP who immediately nods back. “The cage leaves early in the morning.” Prez takes the block off Squealer and tosses it at me. “Tac, Thorne, you hit the road first thing. Troj, you need to stay focused on your fight,” he orders.
“Guess that’s the end of the party,” Squeal sighs.
“The birthday girl had to be put to bed early anyway.” Jessie strikes a glare across the room at Screwy, but he doesn’t seem to notice.
“Fucking Hawker.” Prez storms out the room, no doubt to take all his frustration out on Haven’s pussy.
I tiptoe onto the porch of my cabin, being cautious not to wake Dyanni, and I’m too terrified to scream when a firm hand grabs at my wrist and drags me down the side of my cabin. Memories of the alley and the man who had his skull crushed attack me again.
“Tawk!” I get a sudden rush of relief when the moonlight catches the side of his face.
“Where have you been?” His grip on me tightens.
“You’re hurting me,” I struggle against him.
“I’m sorry.” Instantly, he releases me and the look of disappointment on his face almost has me feeling sorry for him.
“What are you doing sneaking around?”
“I was worried about you when you didn’t come home tonight. What are you wearing?” He lowers his eyes to Rogue’s dress in disgust. “Were you at the club, with him, dressed like this?” There’s hurt in his eyes among all the anger.
“Tawk…”
“No, listen. I’ve never really shown you what you mean to me. I’ve never really known how to be around you, but…” he inhales and takes me completely by surprise when his lips press tightly against mine. It’s firm, it’s possessive, and I let it go on for a little longer than I should before I push my hands against his chest and force him away.
“Tawk, me and you, we aren’t supposed to be together,” I whisper, trying to catch my breath and holding him at arm’s length.
“How can you say that? You’ve been mine for as long as I can remember. I’ve spent my entire life becoming the man who deserves to be your husband. I can provide for you, take care of you. I’ll build us a better cabin. You and I are the future of this village, Shaniya.” He speaks so passionately, it’s hard to believe this is him.
But it doesn’t change anything, and tears well in my eyes as I shake my head back at him.
“I don’t love you, Tawk,” I admit, hating myself for having to say words that will hurt him.
“But you love him?” Tawk stares back at me like I’ve just speared him in the guts. “You aren’t supposed to be with him. He’s an outlaw, they’re different to us. Look how they’ve changed you already. What would your uncle say if he saw you now?” I feel his disappointment penetrating into me through his glare.
“If I’m not meant to be with him, then why do I only feel like myself when I’m with him?” I snap, ducking under his arm and rushing toward my door, but he’s not ready to give up on me, and his hand curls around the top of my arm and pulls me back.
