Katarina
The rest of the afternoon was relaxing and Hawk took me and Klara around the clubhouse. He hadn’t hidden me before, but something about how he paraded me around and introduced me to people I hadn’t really spoken to besides a small hello or even a smile before, was nice. I even met the elusive Keys. He had a great setup, similar to the security room at Papa’s home.
“Why haven’t I ever seen him before?” I asked as we strolled back to the bar.
Sugar rushed over. After a few exchanges, she passed Hawk a glass of the Crown Royal that Papa had sent with Niko,and she had my vodka ready quickly after. Klara asked for a vodka martini, and Niko requested a vodka, shaken.
After thanking Sugar for the drinks, I sipped as I walked to Hawk’s table and took a seat beside him as the others sat around the table.
“Keys wasn’t always like that. I think the shock of Pops then Butch shook him up. Everyone processes things in their own way,” Hawk said as he rolled the whiskey around in the tumbler.
There was that name again.
“Well, I’d be happy to help him come out of his shell,” Klara said before she sipped her drink, wiggling her brows.
Niko’s lips flattened and he picked up his glass, taking a large gulp.
“You alright, brother?” I asked.
Niko cleared his throat, then gave his million dollar smile. “Yes, just a very long day. Your husband runs a tight ship.”
There was business between them, that’s how I ended up here, so I assumed that’s what he meant and knew better than to ask questions about it. Especially in mixed company.
We sat and chatted for a while, Hawk somehow touching me at all times. He either had his arm draped over my shoulders or his hand on my thigh, squeezing. Curiously, while Klara and I carried on our side chat, I caught Niko watching her several times. She seemed clueless, and surely she would have told me if there had been any kind of non-platonic encounter with my brother. I should speak to her later, though. While I lovedmy brother, I also knew the type of man he was when it came to women. And sadly, I doubted Papa would ever consider someone like Klara for Niko.
Klara and I were laughing when the front door burst open and Eagle, Lacy, and the others piled in.
“Honey, we’re home!” Eagle called out as he scooped up Lacy in his arms like he was carrying her over the threshold.
She squealed, and Falcon and Daisy were behind them, arm in arm. I stood up to greet them, and Daisy’s smile grew wide when she saw me.
“Hey Katya! I got you something!” Daisy said as she hustled over, throwing her arms around me. My eyes were wide as we squeezed each other but I smiled at the gesture, and at Lacy.
Lacy patted Eagle’s shoulder. “Baby, put me down. I gotta get my souvenir bag!”
Daisy let me go and started digging around her bag.
Lacy ran back outside so I told Daisy, “You didn’t have to do that. And you look so sunkissed. Did you spend that much time at the beach?”
“Oh, yeah,” Daisy said as she finally pulled a small bag out. “The weather was fantastic. Next year, you’re going.” She shoved the bag at me.
A small soft package wrapped in tissue paper was inside. Opening it carefully, I grinned when I saw my name. “You got me an airbrush shirt?”
Daisy was beaming then flung her jacket open like shewas going to flash me. “We all got one, so we had to get you one, too!”
The design had a colorful pink and orange sunset on a beach with a motorcycle near a sand dune, then my name in hot pink and DEMC underneath.
Lacy came in and pouted for a second before she came closer. “You showed her without me?” Her big blue eyes looked so sad, so I grabbed her for a hug.
“Oh Lacy, I love it so much. I’ll go change in just a second. Wait, where’s Shiv?”
Lacy fished out a small bag and handed it to Kristie as she walked over to see what all the commotion was. Then she handed me a plastic bag. “Oh, she made Jackal stay an extra day without all the craziness.” She grabbed my arm and leaned in closer. “Because oh-my-gosh, was itcrazydown there.”
Kristie squealed as she held up her shirt. “Oh my God! We have matching shirts! I’m changing right now. Be right back.”
As she took off down the hall, I poked around the bag and Lacy said, “It’s not much, but I saw them and had to get them for you.”
Pulling out several utensils, I grinned so hard my face hurt. “There’s little motorcycle things on them,” I crooned. At the end of each utensil was either a helmet, a wheel, or even a mini motorcycle.
