A few seconds after settling in, she placed a glass of whiskey in front of me and what was probably vodka in front of Niko. She squeezed my wrist as I reached for the drink, and gavea soft smile before she turned and went back to the bar with her friend.
Niko was grinning when I turned back after watching her walk away. Holding his glass up, he said, “Za Lyubov, my friend.”
Chapter 24
Katarina
The last few days were interesting. Hawk was attentive while giving me space with my friend. We didn’t speak about the day at the restaurant again, though. We did have some amazing sex, and something seemed different with him. Not in a bad way. Outside of the bedroom, he stayed closer to me when we were together. His touch was firm at times, like he was making sure I was still there, and other times delicate, like he was afraid to hurt me. The connection between us was stronger, and not just physical. At least I thought so. Even though he was my husband, we didn’t speak much about feelings and I didn’t want to ask a question I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer to.
Klara and Niko were still here. While Niko kept himselfbusy with Hawk and the others, Klara stuck with me. It was nice having her around, especially since the other ladies I’d gotten to know somewhat had been away at the rally in Florida. They’d be back sometime today, though.
Because they’d gone and some of the bunnies were with them, it was quiet. Sugar had stayed and Klara and I spent a lot of time at the bar with her when we weren’t in the kitchen with Mama Hen. Kristie was also around, but she and Rooster were liplocked most of the time if she wasn’t at work, so I hadn’t gotten to know her as well as Lacy, Daisy, and Shiv.
After we had breakfast and helped prep lunch for the guys still around, Klara and I decided to take a little tour.
“I haven’t really looked around the clubhouse,” I told her as we walked down one of the halls. “I’ve been down the other hall where the common area is, but this is new to me.”
From the looks of the hall with doors spaced equally apart, I thought we may be in the living quarters. Most of the guys were either having lunch or not around, and the others still weren’t back yet. Trying one of the doors, it was locked, but the next wasn’t.
It was dark and quiet, so I slowly poked my head inside. There was a bed, completely stripped, a nightstand with a lamp, and a dresser, but it was completely bare. Not just Hawk’s house kind of bare, but empty besides the furniture.
Klara was over my shoulder trying to sneak a peek. “Well, let’s see it. If we’re invading their privacy, at least make it worth it.”
“Shh,” I said as I batted at her arm. “Plus, I’m Hawk’s wife. Is it really private from me?”
She didn’t answer so I turned to find a cocked brow and crossed arms. “Then why are we sneaking around? You’re not one to pull that card. Don’t forget yourself.”
Rolling my eyes, I replied, “Fine. You’re right. We need to leave this hall.”
Just then, a door clicked and we both froze, my hand still on the door knob of the room we were about to snoop in.
“Hey, Katya,” Sugar said, pulling a door behind her. “You lost?”
“Um, w-we,” I stammered, “I was looking for the laundry.”
Sugar came closer, smiling. “I won’t tell. Plus, that was Butch’s room. Nobody’s been in there for a while.”
I recalled that name. “Butch?”
Sugar’s face fell and her stance became rigid. “I need to get moving. If you really wanted to see the laundry, I can show you.”
Waving her off, I huffed. “No, that’s not necessary if you’re busy.”
Sugar forced a smile, then walked down the hall. Once we heard the door that led to the bar open and close, I grabbed Klara’s hand and we kept walking. “Oh, Butch. I didn’t get the full story, but apparently he was a problem. Not around anymore.” I considered that could mean far away or no longer alive. Lacy had told me a grand story, but I got the feeling some parts were missing.
“I thought you said no snooping?” Klara questioned.
Shrugging, I said, “I wanna poke my head in there. She stays in the bunny quarters.”
I had asked the other ladies if the bunnies slept with a new biker each night, and they assured me that the bunnies usually stayed in one of the rooms meant for them. They also alluded to the fact that even if the bunnies spent some private time with anyone, they usually ended up back in the bunny-room before morning.
Stopping in front of the door, I paused.
Klara nudged my arm. “Well, are we going in?”
Suddenly, I was nervous. But I didn’t know why. It was the bunny room. And I knew exactly where Hawk was. Plus, I didn’t think he’d have ever gone in there.Or did he?
My mind was going a hundred miles a minute still when the knob clicked and the door swung open.
