The Pattels
Page 8
“You seen K. tonight?”
“Yeah. He made it back almost a hour ago. He was sorta dressed like you.” Junie nodded to Hawk’s tuxedo pants, snow-white shirt, and black dress shoes. “He’s upstairs.”
Hawk nodded slowly and glanced around. “Was he alone?”
“Nahhhh,” Junie cackled. “That lucky son of a bitch had a bad ass sista on his arm when he walked up. Pretty lil thang. Looked like a lil doll. All classy-like.”
“Yeah, she was all’a dat but da bitch was fine as hell, too,” one of the other men chimed in with a snickering laugh. The others nodded in agreement and gave each other some dap while a few more crude words to describe certain parts of Raven’s anatomy bounced between them like a ball they took turns throwing.
Hawk’s gaze turned ice cold as he stared at them. Junie picked up on the tension before anyone else. With his eyes remaining peeled on Hawk’s face, he hurriedly shushed the other men and shook his head for them to shut up. Finally realizing that they had unknowingly stepped into a shit storm of possibly epic proportions, everyone suddenly grew quiet. The air around them sizzled heavily with sparks of electricity. They all looked like they wanted to run and duck for cover but were too scared to move without Hawk’s say so.
Once again, Junie stepped up to calm things down. “They didn’t mean no harm, Hawk. Just bein’ a bunch of assholes like always.”
“Sorry, Hawk,” one mumbled.
“Yeah, sorry bruh.”
A chorus of muffled apologies was delivered one after the other but Hawk knew they weren’t the only reason his temper had flared. They may have fanned the flames but this wasn’t something he could blame on them. Kruz got the credit for all of it.
Hawk glanced up at the apartment Kruz lived in. He could’ve moved out of the projects a long time ago but he told Hawk that this was where he felt he could do the most good. Kruz had love for the neighborhood. Hawk understood that. He even admired it. But he should never have brought Raven there.
Brushing past the men, he angrily swung the door of the building open and went inside. Knowing the elevator worked whenever it had a mind to, he took the stairs. His long legs climbed them two at a time until he got to the third floor. Hanging a left, he walked down a hallway that was clean, but had obviously seen better days, until he got to Kruz’s apartment. Without hesitating, Hawk knocked on the door and waited impatiently for him to answer. A few seconds passed and he knocked again, this time harder and longer. He had just raised his fist to bang on it again when the door was snatched opened.
“What tha’ fuck!” Kruz stood in front of him wearing a pair of sweatpants and white fitted tank top. Thick, neat braids that fell past his shoulders were pulled back and held with a piece of brown leather. Tattoos lining the muscles of his arms and neck made the menacing scowl he wore even more intimidating.
When he saw that it was Hawk at his door his expression turned quizzical then knowing. Folding his arms, he cocked a dark, arrogant brow skyward. “Really, Pattel?”
It took everything in him not to answer Kruz’s question with a fist to his face. “Where’s Rae?”
“I swear, you are one stubborn muthafucka. Always have been.” Kruz brought a hand up and wearily rubbed the back of his neck. “Man look, it’s been a long night. Why don’t we just sleep on this bullshit and sit down and talk about it in the morning.”
“Last time. Where’s Rae?” Hawk was milliseconds away from ripping Kruz’s head off.
Kruz’s eyes popped wide for a second before narrowing in anger. “She’s asleep.”
Confirmation that Raven was actually there felt like a sucker punch to his gut. Jealousy sliced through him like a jagged, rusty knife, leaving him raw and bleeding. Seconds later, anger set in, superseding his rational state and destroying the last bit of control he desperately clung to. Everything else ceased to matter as Hawk stared at Kruz through a red haze.
Instinctively knowing what was coming Kruz stood in a tense stance with his feet apart and fists balled tight. Hawk wasn’t sure who threw the first punch but he put all of his weight behind the fist that connected with Kruz’s jaw. Maybe he was running off adrenalin but he barely felt the blow Kruz delivered.
Hawk hit him again, hard enough to send him staggering back into the apartment. He followed Kruz inside ready to put him down. However, like a boxer on the ropes, Kruz rapidly shook his head to clear away the webs of aftershock from the punches Hawk landed. His face twisting fiercely like that of a furious bull, Kruz charged at Hawk straight on. Hawk ducked away from Kruz’s swing and struck him again. He followed it up with a roundhouse kick then sent Kruz flying against the wall. A lamp resting on the end table beside him went crashing to the floor.
“Where the fuck is Raven?” Hawk snarled.
Breathing heavily, Kruz wiped the blood from his mouth and glared at Hawk. “Get tha’ fuck out. Right now.”
Hawk squinted threateningly and advanced towards him. “Seems like there’s somethin’ about my question you not understandin’ but I got all night to help you figure it out.”
“Nah, you ain’t understandin’ you crazy son of a bitch!” Kruz growled back. “You’re the reason she’s here, not me! You’re the reason she wanted to leave the charity event tonight and you’re the reason she didn’t want to go back to her apartment! You and nobody else!”
The truth of his words hit Hawk like a physical punch to the chin. “Stay out of my fuckin’ business and stay away from Raven!”
“That’s not up to you, is it!”
“Muthafucka...” Hawk was poised to go after him again when he heard Raven behind them.
“Stop it! What’s going on!” She stared at him in much the same manner Kruz did when he opened the door. “Hawk, what the hell!”
Hawk twisted around to look at her, but when he saw how she was dressed–or rather her state of undress– he froze. A t-shirt...and nothing else. His eyes slowly travelled over her, drizzling layers of ice in their wake. Just the sight turned Hawk’s anger to a slow, all¬-consuming rage that demanded a release. Kruz gave him the opportunity when he stepped in front of Hawk and stupidly opened his mouth.
“Before you take this the wrong way, it’s not what it looks like. Raven was upset and needed a place to chill so–”
Hawk lunged forward and popped Kruz in his face before he could finish the sentence. Somewhere in the blurry recesses of his mind he heard Raven scream but his anger was now controlled by his emotions not, by intellect. His fury ran unrestrained. Each punch he landed was well executed in order to cause the most damage.
But Kruz was a street fighter. He quickly regrouped and came at Hawk with teeth viciously bared and ready to do bodily harm. Hawk anticipated that he would, even welcomed it. There was no satisfaction in an easy fight.
“Hawk, stop!” Raven screamed. “Hawk!”
But neither of them paid her any attention. They tumbled around trading blows and breaking items in the apartment in the process. When the coffee table they fell on collapsed underneath them, neither noticed. Kruz plowed his fist into Hawk’s ribs several times. Hawk grimaced in pain but ultimately gained the advantage. Straddling Kruz he hit him with a tornado of punches until he felt someone drag him back. It took him a minute to realize that it was Danny.
“Hawk, that’s enough. That’s enough,” Danny repeated quietly when Hawk continued to struggle. In contrast to the chaos happening in the room Danny was the calm voice of reason. “Let’s get Ms. Randolph and go.”
Hawk jerked away from Danny’s hold. His breath came in ragged heaves. Leaning forward, he rested his hands on his knees and spit out a pool of blood. When he inhaled, his body tensed at the sharp catch in his ribcage. Wincing from the pain, Hawk braced himself before clenching his teeth and straightening up.
Kruz stood as well. Pulling the tattered t-shirt off, he glared at Hawk while wiping the blood from his lip. “So much for addressing this in a mature manner, eh?” he taunted.
“Fuck you!”
“No! That’s enough!” Raven rushed forward and stood between them. It was obvious she was mad at both men but the majority of her ire was directed towards Hawk. “I want you to leave!”
“Oh, I’m leavin’,” Hawk sneered. “But so are you. Get dressed.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you!”
“Get your–” Pulling himself up short, Hawk caught the words just in time. Grinding his teeth he pushed his face close to hers and glowered darkly. “You either get your clothes on now or I’ll drag you out of here wearing just that damn t-shirt. ”
“Who do you think you’re talking to?” Raven frowned. “I said no! I’m not going!”
“Enough of this drama, Hawk,” Kruz interjected sharply. “She said she don’t wanna go so she ain’t got to.”
Hawk turned furious eyes to Kruz. “What part of stayin’ out of my business don’t you get?”
“I wouldn’t be in your business if you hadn’t come over here to my fuckin’ apartment.”
Danny let out a long sigh. “Mr. Pattel...”
“You know what, fine! I’ll go!” Raven snapped. When Hawk kept eyeing Kruz as if still trying to decide whether or not to put his fist down the other man’s throat she grabbed his arm to get his attention. “I said I’d go! Just stop fighting!”
“Rae...” Kruz looked at her imploringly. His expression told her he thought she was making a mistake.
“No I’ll be okay, Kruz. And I’m so sorry for all of this. I...” She glared furiously at Hawk before turning in a huff to go back to the bedroom to change.
Hawk watched her until she slammed the door behind her. He didn’t care if the damn t-shirt she had on was long enough to reach her knees. The fact that she was even wearing another man’s clothes and sleeping in another man’s bed...
“Damn. You got it bad, don’t you,” Kruz said quietly. He had been watching Hawk the entire time.
Ignoring his comment Hawk spoke his next words slowly and deliberately so that there would be no misunderstanding. “If you value your life you’ll stay away from Raven.”
“What the fuck is your problem?” Kruz flexed his jaw open then cringed in pain. “All the years you and me ran together we ain’t never had no beef. Not like this. Especially not over a woman.”
Seeing that the situation was somewhat under control, Danny discretely walked away a few paces to give them some privacy.
Hawk stared at Kruz for several long seconds without speaking then asked, “What happened here tonight?”
“You fucked up, that’s what happened.” Kruz went to the small kitchen and opened the freezer. Grabbing a dishtowel, he put some ice cubes in it then held it against his throbbing jaw. “You don’t realize that yet?”
Hawk’s eyes narrowed at the evasive answer but before he could press him further the bedroom door swung open. Hawk’s gaze ran over Raven in the same little black dress and sky-high heels she’d worn at the gala tonight. For some reason he didn’t feel much better; the t-shirt she had on before was longer than her dress.
“Let’s go,” he snapped at her. Jealousy made his words come out sharp and harsh.
Raven stopped and gave him a stare that was pure fire before sharply cutting her eyes away from him. She continued on to the door but paused when she saw Kruz in the kitchen leaning against the counter.
“Thanks for letting me bend your ear tonight. If I’d known this would happen...” She shot Hawk another nasty glare then looked back at Kruz. “Again, I’m sorry. For everything.”
“Don’t worry about it, it’s not your fault. You just take care of yourself.” His eyes found Hawk and locked into place, but his words were directed at Raven. “Make sure you call me if you need me.”
Hawk’s hands clenched into fists in reaction to Kruz’s deliberate dig. Raven nodded and left. After a few tense seconds, Hawk started to follow her but before he got out the door, Kruz’s words made him stop.
“You got the drop on me tonight, Pattel. Guess I’m gettin’ rusty. Next time, things will go a whole lot different if you come at me like that again.”
Hawk backed up a couple of steps and leveled a cool stare at Kruz. “As long as you stay away from Raven there won’t be a next time. If you don’t, you’re right. Things will go a lot different.”
Hot rage flared in Kruz’s eyes but he quickly suppressed his anger. “Guess we’ll see.”
“Guess we will,” Hawk retorted back.
However, as far as he was concerned the issue was resolved. Like he told Kruz, as long as he stayed away from Raven he didn’t have a problem with him. There were three things he didn’t fuck around with: His family. His money...and Rae, with her being top priority. He remained rooted in place, waiting to see if Kruz wanted to go for round two.
The two men glared at each other like hungry alphas dogs fighting over the last juicy steak. Finally Kruz broke the stare. “Get the fuck outta my spot.”
Hawk let out a rough snort. That’s what he thought. Dismissing Kruz as any serious threat, he shook his head and walked out. The door slammed behind him hard enough to splinter off the hinges but the situation with Kruz was already in his rear view. His focus now was dealing with Raven J’adore Randolph and hoping like hell she didn’t continue with the same attitude she had at the present time.
Because with the mood he was in now...things would only get worse.
CHAPTER 13
When Hawk made it outside, the group of men he chatted with on the way in were still standing in the same spot. They all faced the Denali, watching as Danny opened the back door and assisted Raven inside. However, when they saw Hawk, they turned as one unit and gawked at him with their mouths open wide. The pristine shirt he wore prior to going inside hung open because half of the buttons were missing. In addition to the ripped sleeve, red splashes of blood now stained the previously snow-white material.
“Daaammmnnn.” One of the men whispered, elbowing another one standing by him. “Maybe somebody need to go up and check on K.”
Junie gave Hawk another one of his sly gap toothed grins. “I see ya’ found her, eh?”
A wave of snickers and sneaky laughs followed Junie’s remark. Hawk gave them a quick glare but didn’t respond. He kept walking, ignoring the buzz of their murmurs and whispers. Passing a dumpster overflowing with trash, he tore the soiled shirt off and tossed it on top of the other garbage before continuing to the truck where Danny retrieved a spare one.
“Are you going back to Ms. Randolph’s apartment, Mr. Pattel?” Danny asked, handing the shirt to Hawk.
“Yes!” Raven glared at him through the back door that was still open.
Hawk slowly turned his head to look at her as he put the shirt on. She returned his stare for a few seconds then sucked her tongue and rolled her eyes away from him. Seeing a bottle of water lying on the floor, Hawk reached inside and picked it up. Unscrewing the top he filled his mouth with water then spit it out to remove the metallic taste of blood before answering Danny.
“Take us to my estate.”
Raven’s head whipped back around to stare at him. “Take us where?”
Hawk slid onto the seat beside her without commenting. Danny closed the door then went around and got behind the wheel.
“Where did you tell him to take me?” Raven asked again. When Hawk remained silent her eyes darted from him to the front seat. “Danny, take me home, please.”
Without looking at her, Hawk pressed a button and rolled the partition up.
“Danny, take me home!” Raven quickly tried to get the words out before the window closed, separating them from the driver, but it was too late. “Ugh!” she screamed before angling her body towards Hawk. “I’m not going to Connecticut. Tell him to take me to my apartment.”
Hawk’s gaze ran over her before meeting her furious eyes with a nonchalant expressio
n.
“Did you hear what I said?!” Raven repeated sharply.
Hawk pinned her with a dangerous look that told her she was treading on paper-thin ice. “This is not the ideal time to be demanding things, Raven. I suggest you sit back and keep quiet.”
“Oh, screw you! You can take you suggestion and stick it up your ass!”
Hawk’s eyes narrowed threateningly. “Keep pushin’ me. I guarantee you won’t like the outcome.”
“Is that supposed to scare me or something?”
“Take it however you want.” Hawk’s voice rose in volume with each word he uttered. “But since you got so much mouth right now, how ‘bout you tell me what the hell was goin’ on back at Kruz’s apartment!”
From the second they pulled off, Hawk tried to calm himself down so that he and Raven could talk without arguing but that wasn’t going to happen. Every time he looked at her he thought about her sleeping in Kruz’s bed wearing nothing but that damn t-shirt and got pissed off all over again.
“First,” he continued before she could say anything. “You don’t tell me you’re back in town. I have to find out by seeing you with some other mu’fucka at a charity event the Pattels sponsor. Then–”
“What do you mean the Pattels sponsored the charity event?” Raven cut in.
“Like you didn’t know.” Hawk’s voice was full of skepticism.
“I swear, you and that ego of yours!” Raven sneered. “Did it look like I knew that I would see you there? Believe me, I never would’ve gone if I’d known.”
“But you did go. With Kruz. Which brings us back to your relationship with him. You said that you met him how?”
“Psst,” Raven scoffed. “I don’t answer to you.” Folding her arms, she flounced her body around to face her window. She sat mumbling under her breath determined to ignore him.
“Is that right? Okay. Cool,” Hawk nodded, pressing the intercom button on the panel beside him. “Danny, turn around and take me back to Kruz’s place.” He was going to get an answer one way or the other.