Hawk doesn’t bother answering.
“Be my guest if you want to clear up this shit.” I wave my arm in the direction of the smashed tiles. “Or the kitchen. Whatever.”
“Nah,” he says again, and although I know it’s just his way—why say two words when one’ll do—for some reason he’s pissing me off.
Guilt stirs, and that makes me madder than ever. I dissed my brothers for the sake of a chick who wasn’t even worth it, but they still had my back. Still looked out for me and made sure I was okay.
That’s what we do. That’s my life. What was I thinking, to put a girl before my brothers? We’d give our lives to protect each other. All Amelia did was lie to my face every time she saw me.
I always had the feeling she fit right into the biker scene.I know enough, she’d told me once. Know it? She’d fucking lived it, with the Silver Wolves.
“Fuck off, Hawk.” I close my eyes and lean my head back against the couch and try and ignore the way everything’s spinning. Ty was right. I should’ve gotten laid last night. It wasn’t as though the thought didn’t cross my mind. But even with two sexy strippers offering me anything I wanted, all I could damn well think about was Amelia.
It’d just seemed easier to grab a bottle of whiskey and drown the memory of her instead.
Now I’ve got a wrecked apartment to prove it didn’t work.
“I’ll go when I’m ready.” He doesn’t sound riled by my attitude the way Zach would be, but I’ve known him since we were both kids in elementary, and no matter what, Hawk just never loses control.
I give up trying to annoy him and pull out my cell. I don’t know what my fingers are doing, but somehow Amelia’s book fills the screen. I flip it open and right there is her dedication.
This one’s for you, Dad!
All my <3
—Amy xoxo
My heart bangs against my ribs, and I stare at the words for so long my vision goes blurry. There must be a way to delete the book off my cell, but it’s like I’m paralyzed.
For ten years, I’ve battled the frustration of never being able to settle the score against the douche who murdered my dad. Sure, he was avenged. The Bastards saw to that. But it’s not the same as the satisfaction you get from dealing out justice yourself.
If Crane had sons, we would’ve known about it. Maybe even gone gunning for them. But daughters? I don’t remember that ever coming up. Not that it would. The Bastards would never have demanded retribution from girls. That’s not our way.
She loved her dad, even if he was scum.
He was only obeying the word of his crazy president.
I toss my cell next to me and groan. My whole body hurts, and it’s got nothing to do with alcohol and everything to do with the fact she played me like a pro. Right from the start, down in the cellar, when she reeled me in.
And then told me it was a mistake and gave her notice.
I frown. That was a gamble. She couldn’t have known for sure I’d go chasing after her like a fucking idiot.
“You finished with Amelia for good?”
I’d forgotten Hawk was still here.
“What d’you think.” I growl the words at him, not wanting to admit I made such a massive mistake in letting her close. Not that it matters. Hawk knows that already.
“Do you want me to pay Abbott a visit?”
That gets my attention. When Hawk’s this laid back, and he makes that kind of offer, there’s only one thing he’s proposing.
He’s the Bastards’ enforcer, but this is off the record, not sanctioned, and it’s only because we go back twenty years together and he’s the best damn friend a man could have.
I let out a ragged breath. I’m tempted. “I don’t know, bro.”
Was Amelia ever with Abbott? She denied it, and the stupid thing is I believe her. But is that only because I don’t want to think about her and Abbott together?
