by Chiah Wilder
“I don’t think so. I know it was Viper. The way he grabbed my hair and his damn fingernail cutting me, it felt like the time he did that crap to me at the office. The guy following me was also tall and lanky, like Viper, and he had a cigarette. No, I’m sure it was that asshole.” Cara shuddered as she thought of what could have happened if she hadn’t made it to her car.
“I told you to drop all this fucking shit.”
“I did. I’m not involved with any of it anymore. I just looked into it because the sister of one of the murder victims came and pleaded for me to help her find out what happened to her sister. I’ve moved on, really.”
“Good. I’m sure this biker guy, what’s his name, will lose interest in you,” Eric reassured her.
“I don’t know. I kind of doubt it. I don’t know what to do. Asher told me I should tell Hawk.”
“Fuck no! Why the hell would you go to him? You’re done with his case, so move on. He’s not of our class. He’s scum.”
“He’s not scum. He’s intelligent, and I’m pretty sure he’d know how to handle this thing with Viper. How did you know I was done with his case?”
“You told me.”
“No, I didn’t tell you. I’m positive I didn’t tell you.”
“Then I must have heard it from the other judges. You know, we do talk about each other’s cases. Anyway, what difference does it make? The point is, you’ve got yourself mixed up with a bunch of trash, and the sooner you stay away from all of them the better you’ll be. You should be concentrating on Luke. He’s a real nice guy.”
Cara rolled her eyes. “He doesn’t do anything for me. I know you, my mom, and many others think Luke is the catch of the century, but he isn’t. He isn’t that nice, and he has ulterior motives, like making partner in my dad’s law firm and placing his greedy hands on my dad’s money. Ha, like that’s going to happen.”
Eric shook his head. “Okay, so Luke isn’t for you. Find another guy in your class then, but don’t degrade yourself by running into the arms of that fucking outlaw.”
Cara opened her mouth, ready to argue, but she remembered Hawk’s hurtful words. He told her more than once she was just another slut to him, and what they shared was just a good fuck. So why was she defending him to Eric? He hurt me, and he hasn’t even called to apologize or see how I am. Crap, why can’t I stop thinking about him?
At the charity ball, Cara perceived hints of hurt reflected in Hawk’s eyes when she told him he wasn’t in her league. Of course, she didn’t mean it, but she was confused and angry at him because he’d made her fall for him while he used her and didn’t give a damn about her. When he tossed her aside, she acted like she didn’t care, but his rejection pained her more than she thought possible.
“Cara, are you zoning out on me?”
Eric’s voice brought Cara back into the conversation. “Sorry, Eric, I guess I did tune you out. I’m tired, and it’s been a long day.” She yawned.
Eric smiled. “Take the guest room. Promise me one more thing, okay? No more bikers and no more investigation. Got it?”
Cara nodded. “Okay, but I would like to check the Nomads’ conviction rates in this county.”
“Cara, you stop it! Now. You’re going to get yourself killed!”
Surprised, Cara said, “Lighten up, I was only kidding. I’m too busy at work for all this. I told you, I’ve moved on.”
“Make sure you have. I know the Deadly Demons Nomads aren’t too nice to people they want to get rid of. Now, go to bed. Tomorrow will be better, I’m sure.”
Cara padded up the stairs and went into the guest room. After slipping out of her clothes, she laid her head on the down pillow, and in a matter of seconds, she was fast asleep.
A shadowy figure, obscured by gnarled-branched trees thick with autumn’s colored leaves, stood outside Eric’s house smoking a cigarette. When he saw the guest bedroom’s light go out, he smiled. “Sleep well, slut. Real soon now, you’re going to be a guest in my house, and I’m gonna fuck you in all your holes before I get rid of you.” Then he stubbed out his cigarette with his steel-toed, black leather boot.
* * *
For the next several days, Cara was a bundle of nerves. She stopped coming in early to work, making sure Asher was there before she was, and she no longer stayed late, leaving when most of the people in the building did. Installing a burglar alarm at her house, deadbolts on all her doors, and extra locks on all her windows and sliding glass doors made her feel more secure.
“What’s going on with you, Cara?” Asher asked.
“I’m just a bit rattled, you know, with the break-in and all.”
“Has something happened besides the break-in here?”
“Don’t freak out on me, okay? Someone has been following me. I think it’s Viper. He almost got me a few days ago in the parking lot, but he ended up with a handful of my hair. Since then, I have a creepy feeling he’s watching me. I can’t prove it, but I know he is. I know he’s trying to intimidate and scare me. Crap, it’s working.”
“This is insane, Cara. You have to go to the police,” Asher said.
“You know they can’t do anything. I can’t prove it’s him. I know it’s him, but how can I prove it? I’m hoping he’ll get tired of this and go away.”
“Seriously? I don’t think guys like him just ‘go away.’ I’m afraid he’s going to escalate things, and I can’t even imagine what he’ll do.”
“Me, too,” Cara whispered.
“You need to tell Hawk. This goes beyond pride and playing games with him. You’re in some serious trouble here, and you need to call him.”
“No, I don’t want him around. I’ll call the police, I promise.”
Cocking his head while he raised his eyebrows, Asher said, “You better do something, Cara, sooner rather than later.”
“I will. I’m so beat and it’s Friday. I think I’ll take off now and go home. I need to think.”
“Do you want me to spend the night with you?”
Cara, touched by his offer, patted his forearm. “Thanks. That means the world to me, but I can’t pull you into my mess. I’ll be fine. If I feel freaked, I’ll go to Eric’s again.”
“You’re taking next week off, right?”
“Yeah. I almost changed my mind, but after the week I’ve had, I need it. I may go to Denver and stay at my parents’ condo. I need to get away from all this.”
“Be safe and call in so I know you’re fine,” Asher said.
“I will, promise.”
* * *
The entire time she drove home, Cara kept her eyes glued to her rear view mirror. Looking around her front yard, she scoured the trees and bushes to make sure no one lurked anywhere. Once inside her house, she turned on her burglar alarm, double-locked the door, and checked all the windows.
Changing out of her work clothes into black jeans and a fitted berry t-shirt, she went into the living room and snuggled on her floral damask couch while leafing through one of the many cooking and travel magazines she had yet to read. She jumped when the doorbell rang, dropping her magazines. Who the hell is at my door? I’m not expecting anyone.
Panic seized her as loud pounding made her door rattle. Leaping to her feet, she tiptoed to the door and looked out the peephole. No one was there. Her body tingled in fear. More pounding, but that time she spied an arm encased in leather banging on the door. Dammit! Will this nightmare never end? Convinced Viper was outside, her body went into panic-mode: small, panting breaths, black spots in front of her eyes, the room spinning. Don’t pass out, Cara. That’s not going to help. Sweat beads formed along her hairline and the back of her neck as she stood frozen, not knowing what to do.
Bam, bam, bam! The door groaned under the assault. Daring herself to look out of the peephole again, she gasped. Standing in front of her door, making all the racket, was Hawk, and he looked madder than hell.
Relief flooded over her, and Cara unlocked the door and flung it open.
“What the
hell are you doing here?” she hollered.
Chapter Nineteen
“Why the fuck didn’t you tell me Viper came to your office?” he demanded.
Cara cursed Asher’s big mouth under her breath. “I didn’t think I had to report everything to you. This doesn’t concern you, Hawk.”
“The fuck it doesn’t! That asshole comes to see my woman, and you don’t think it concerns me? What the fuck’s the matter with you?” Hawk glared at her. Cara had never seen him so enraged before, and she looked down for an escape.
“What the fuck do you have with him?”
“What do I have with him? Nothing. Do you think I’d have anything with that jerk?”
“He didn’t come in for the hell of it. What the fuck’s going on?” Hawk inhaled as he clenched his hands.
“Nothing’s going on. This doesn’t concern you, and you need to butt out.”
Drawing her into his arms, he wrapped them around her waist and pressed her head against his heaving chest. “Of course this concerns me, babe. Everything about you concerns me. Whether you want to admit it now or later is up to you, but we are together. I have your back. Now, tell me what the fuck’s going on.”
They stood, silent as Hawk’s breathing returned to normal. Cara relaxed in his embrace, enjoying how good it felt to have his arms protectively around her. Ever since Viper came to her office, she had been on pins and needles. Hawk holding her, his chest cradling her head, and his scent of motor oil and musk comforted her. A steady, calm pulse and heartbeat replaced the rapid hammering she had felt for the previous couple of weeks. Dealing with Viper and the fear of the unknown had been draining, but in Hawk’s arms, peacefulness covered her like a blanket. She was ready to share the burden with him, ready to let go of her stubborn pride and let him in to help and protect her.
Grasping her chin, Hawk tilted her face toward his then bent down and softly kissed her lips. Cara gasped and wrapped her arms around his neck as she thrust her tongue into his mouth and pressed closer into him. For a moment, time stood still and all seemed right. They just stood there, the late-afternoon sun streaming in from the picture window, sharing an intimate moment.
Hawk pulled back and looked into Cara’s eyes. “Tell me what’s going on, babe.”
She sighed as images of Viper hurting her pierced the magic of the moment. “Viper came to warn me to back off. I guess I was asking too many questions about a murder victim.”
“What murder victim?”
Cara went on to explain how Nadyia’s sister came to see her and prompted Cara to look into the rash of murdered women in Summit and Gilpin counties. She told him the CBI and local investigators believed a biker club was involved.
Hawk shook his head in disbelief. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this?”
“I wasn’t sure which biker club was involved. I didn’t know who to trust.”
“What? You think I could do this shit? Really? You know Banger, Jax, and some of the other brothers. How could you think any of us could be involved in hurting those women?”
“I didn’t know any of you, at that point. After I came to know you and the Insurgents, I didn’t think it involved you.”
“Didn’t involve me? How can you say that? You don’t understand that you’ve caught the attention of a dangerous group of fuckers. Viper and the others are a Nomad charter of the Deadly Demons, and they don’t play nice at all.” Pausing, he said, “Even though they are all about violence and pain, I doubt they murdered those women.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because if they did, their bodies would’ve never be found. Believe me, none of us leaves evidence.”
“How do you know that with such certainty? Have you ever…”
With an edge to his voice, Hawk replied, “Club business stays with the club. I know because I’m in a biker club. All bikers will tell you that. Anyway, that’s not the point, is it?”
Cara shook her head. “The CBI is looking at the Deadly Demons for trafficking women. One of the murdered victims was smuggled, and I think she was being held by the Deadly Demons, the Nomad group.”
“The Nomads have been trafficking for a couple of years now. They’ve been able to do it through this county and others. They’re greasing the hands of the badges and some higher-up officials, no doubt.”
Cara nodded. “I think that, as well. I also think the phony search at your house was a set-up to divert attention to the Insurgents and create suspicion.”
“Yeah, that’s what I think. This fuckin’ sicko who’s raping and torturing these girls is somehow able to let the illegal shit the Nomad Demons do pass without notice, as long as he’s fed a steady supply of vulnerable girls.”
“And I know some cops are involved, because one person couldn’t do this alone.”
“So, you’ve decided to play private eye? Do you know how stupid that is?”
“Yeah, I realize that now. I’m done with it, anyway. I called my friend at CBI and told him about Viper. I’ve moved on.”
“The problem with that, babe, is Viper has targeted you. Believe me, he hasn’t moved on.” After a long pause, Hawk asked in a low voice, “Did he touch you?”
“Viper? No,” she lied.
“Tell me the truth, Cara. Did he touch you?”
“I said no.”
“I know this fucker, and I know you. Don’t lie to me. I need you to trust me. Did he touch you?”
Wringing her hands, she whispered, “Yes.”
Hawk slammed his fist on her coffee table. “That fuckin’ asshole is dead! What did he do to you? Tell me. Now.”
“He—he forced me to kiss him, and he bit my lip.” Her voice trembled.
“Go on.”
“It’s over and done, I’m okay, and that’s what’s important,” she said.
“Go on,” he demanded.
She winced with the memories. “He pinched my nipples, threw me down, and kicked me in the leg.” She exhaled, not realizing she had been holding her breath until then.
“Fuck that! I’ll stomp on his balls. I’ll kill his ass!” He looked at Cara, whose face was a mask of terror. His features softened as he reached out to her. “Come here, baby. I’m not mad at you. The thought of that fucker touching you enrages me. It also makes me worry for you. I know those assholes, and they won’t stop. If anything ever happened to you, I’d lose it.” He held her, stroking her hair and kissing the top of her head.
“I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you, but you told me you didn’t care, so I didn’t want to bother you.” She sniffled into Hawk’s chest, making him hold her tighter.
In a low voice, Hawk said, “I didn’t mean what I said in your office or at the Boys Hope fundraiser. I was mad at you for acting like we just finished a fuckin’ business conference after we spent some incredible time together. You’re never a bother to me, and I want you in my life. I’ve missed you.”
Cara looked up at Hawk, and he lowered his mouth and kissed the tears off her face. When his lips brushed hers, she tasted the saltiness before she kissed him back, pulling him into her. “I didn’t think you felt that way about me.”
“Yeah, babe. I feel that way about you big-time.”
Excitement built inside Cara like bubbles in a glass of champagne, and her body stirred from her toes to her head. She couldn’t believe she had been so stubborn and unyielding, never giving Hawk a chance. Cara had it in her mind that he just wanted sex and nothing more from a woman, not understanding he was protecting himself from being hurt the same way as she was.
“That’s good, because I feel that way about you, too. I didn’t mean what I said about you not being in my league. You hurt me, so I wanted to hurt you back. I’ve been missing you, too.”
“Is that the truth?” he asked, looking deeply into her eyes.
Squeezing him tighter around his waist, Cara nodded.
“I guess I misjudged you. I didn’t think you could see me beyond a fuck ’cause we were from different backgrounds
,” Hawk said.
“I see you as a person and not a list of credentials I have to check off. You do something to me no man ever has. I feel connected to you.”
He tightened his arms around her. “More than you do with that pansy-ass suit?”
“Luke? I don’t feel connected to him. I don’t feel anything for him. You’re the one who occupies my thoughts and dreams.” Brushing her tongue over his lips, she kissed him. He groaned, tugging her closer.
Clearing his voice, Hawk said, “You’re not safe here, babe. You must know that.”
“I installed a burglar alarm and extra locks on the windows and doors.”
“You can’t think that’s gonna keep the Nomads out. You gotta lay low for a few days or more, just until I can get a handle on this.”
“Should I go to my parents’?”
“Not if you don’t want to drag them into this chaos. You’ve got yourself into some dangerous shit. Sherrie isn’t a good option, either. There’s no sense in bringing her into this. You’ll come to my place for tonight. I’ll talk to Banger and the brothers tomorrow, and we’ll go from there.”
“Luckily, I took some time off next week. Let me grab a few things and we can go.”
* * *
Orange and purple brushstrokes painted the sky over the mountaintops as Hawk pulled up to his house. His arms circled Cara’s waist as he helped her off his Harley, and she smiled. “I loved the ride.”
“Did you?”
“Yeah, the first time I rode on your bike it was scary, but exhilarating at the same time. It was fast. This time, I knew what to expect, so I just went with it. It was awesome.” Cara’s cheeks were red from the cold, and her long hair was tangled and messy.
“You’re definitely my type of woman,” Hawk chuckled.
When Cara entered Hawk’s house, she was surprised how neat it was. The décor was western with southwestern undertones. The first floor was all dark hardwood floors, and a large stone fireplace was the focal point in the living room. A sectional couch in a Navajo pattern sat in front of the stone hearth, while sand and oil paintings depicting life on the range adorned the walls.
