I stayed where I was for another second, breathing slowly while the adrenaline still rushed through my veins.
Then suddenly Hawk turned. Before I could react, one large hand came up and settled against the back of my head. His palm pressed into my hair, guiding my face toward his chest.
“Don’t move,” he murmured quietly.
The words weren’t harsh, but there was something firm in them—commanding. His hand stayed there, keeping my head turned away from the road like he didn’t want me seeing whatever might be happening behind us.
I didn’t fight it. My eyes slipped closed as my forehead rested lightly against the solid wall of his chest. My good hand fistedinstinctively into the front of his cut, gripping the thick leather like it was the only steady thing left in the world.
Hawk didn’t comment on it, but his hand tightened slightly at the back of my head. The contact grounded me instantly.
Hawk was huge. His body was broad and hard beneath the leather of his cut, heat radiating through the fabric and into my skin. Even through the layers of clothing, I could feel how solid he was—strong, unmovable, like leaning against a wall made of stone.
But what surprised me the most was the way he smelled—leather, smoke, something warm and masculine underneath it all. The scent wrapped around me in a strange kind of comfort that made my shoulders slowly relax.
I breathed in slowly. Then again, trying to steady the frantic rhythm of my heart.
Against my cheek, I felt the faint rumble of his chest when he spoke. “Ghost.”
“Yeah, boss.”
“Get on it.”
Ghost didn’t hesitate. “Got it.”
I had absolutely no idea what that meant, but something in Hawk’s tone made it clear whatever he was asking for was already in motion.
Then Hawk spoke again. “Riot. Diesel. Ranger.”
“Yeah?” one of them answered.
“Head back. Check the bar. Round up.”
“You want updates?” another voice asked.
“Call me if anything looks off.”
Boots shifted on the gravel as the men moved toward their bikes.
“I’ll be back later,” Hawk added.
“Got it, Prez.”
Footsteps moved away from us. Then engines roared to life. The sudden explosion of sound made me jump violently. My whole body jerked against Hawk before I could stop myself.
The motorcycles were loud—so loud the vibration seemed to shake the ground beneath my feet. One by one, the bikes peeled away, their headlights disappearing down the road until the night fell quiet again.
Only Hawk’s bike remained. And Hawk.
Slowly, his hand slid from the back of my head. Then two fingers hooked gently beneath my chin, tilting my face upward.
My eyes met his.
Up close, his gaze was intense in a way that made my stomach flip. Dark eyes studied me carefully, like he was trying to read something beneath the surface.
“You better tell me what the fuck happened to you tonight,” he said quietly.
His voice wasn’t loud, but there was a weight behind the words that made my chest tighten.
