“I hope to hell I’m strong enough to let her go.”He fell silent, looking for the right words to say what his president needed to hear.Hawkeye schooled his features, using the blank face he wore when he didn’t want anyone to see what he was feeling.He didn’t need anyone, not even his brothers, knowing how hard it would be for him to let the little dove in his arms go.“I never want to keep her where she doesn’t want to be.I want her happy.I want her laughing and relaxed.If that means she’s not with me to have that, then I’ll live with it.”
Raven stared at him for a moment, then nodded once.“That’s what I was hoping to hear.”He tilted the top of his head toward the bedroom where Hawkeye had taken Delilah earlier.“Why don’t you take her and lay down for a bit.We can handle things while we wait for Wrench.If we need you, I’ll come get you.”
“All right.But just you.She’s been pretty docile so far, but I don’t know how she’ll react to someone she’s not at least a little familiar with coming in while she sleeps.”
When Raven nodded, Hawkeye adjusted the way he held her then stood, taking her with him.In the bedroom, Hawkeye laid her on the bed then kicked off his boots and stretched out beside her.He hooked an arm around her middle and tugged her over until her back was snug against him.Then he closed his eyes and tried to relax.
****
Hawkeye breathed arelieved sigh when he caught sight of the clubhouse.It wasn’t that they’d been gone long, it had been under twenty-four hours.He was just glad to be home.Glad to be somewhere he could take a deep breath and relax.He’d gotten used to not having to look over his shoulder for someone ready to betray him all the time.He still felt that itch when he was away from home.Home was Craven’s Creek, not just the clubhouse.
The warm presence at his back reminded Hawkeye he wasn’t alone and while he might want to unwind, there were things that needed to be done.He would make sure she was settled first, then grab a drink to take to his computer.Then he could get started finding everything he could about Jericho.He would take them down, one way or another.
Chapter Eighteen
Delilah’s eyes wentwide, she bit her lip, and fought the urge to push away from Hawkeye when she spotted the fenced area where they were headed.The only thing that stopped her was knowing if she moved too much she would fall off the motorcycle.She didn’t know how fast they were going but she didn’t want to hit the ground at this speed.
She held on as they rode through the gates and forced herself not to twist around and watch them close, locking her in.Instead, she turned her attention to the large building where the men who had been riding with them, one by one, backed their motorcycles into a line along the front.She stayed where she was until Hawkeye had walked his into position.When he tapped her thigh, she braced herself on his shoulders, stood, and swung her leg off the rear of the motorcycle.Once she was off, she hit the release on the helmet then pulled it off.She had taken the time to check out the latch before putting it on this morning, so she knew how to work it now.
“Here.”She held the helmet out to Hawkeye once he was standing.“Thank you for letting me borrow it,” she said when he took it.She didn’t miss the frown and glance at her before he turned back to the bike and stowed the helmet.
“Come on, little dove, let’s go inside and get something to drink.”Hawkeye placed a hand on the small of her back and urged her forward.
Her stomach churned as she looked around, wondering if everyone was watching her and wondering how stupid she was.Delilah let her gaze search the front of the building, even craning her neck to look up all the way up toward the roof.She wondered briefly if there was anyone up there, but she didn’t have long to wonder.Hawkeye’s hand on her back urged her forward.Taking in the building hadn’t helped the churning in her belly.Had she gone from the frying pan into the fire?Was this group no different than the Crows?The Royal Crows hadn’t mistreated her, much.They’d mostly ignored her, unless the meal was late.Still, even then, they hadn’t done anything to her that Warren hadn’t—far less, in fact.She hadn’t known how long that would last.How long until they decided they had a better use for her than to cook and they dragged her out into the main room and used her like they did the rest of the women?That was the fear that had left her terrified to sleep each night.
Stepping inside, she wanted to stop and let her eyes adjust, but couldn’t because there were people behind her trying to get in.Not knowing what else to do, she let Hawkeye guide her.He urged her to a table along one wall.
“Have a seat.”He waited for her to slide into the booth that looked like it belonged in some diner, not a biker hang out.Where did they get these anyway?When she’d slid into the seat and all the way over, leaving room for him, he sat beside her.At first, she wished he would sit across from her, giving her a little space, but when someone she didn’t recognize came up and sat down across from her, she realized Hawkeye was putting himself between her and everyone else.He sat next to her to protect her.
“What do you want to drink?”Hawkeye asked.
She turned and looked at him, and her mind went blank.She blinked several times before her brain seemed to shake loose.
“Water.”
He frowned.“I know you’re only nineteen and that’s not legally old enough to drink but you’re not going anywhere, at least not today.If you want something stronger, it’s okay.We have some sodas, too, if you’d rather have one of those.”
