Cocky Senator's Daughter: Hannah Cocker (Cocker Brothers of Atlanta Book 8)

by Faleena Hopkins

She lowers her head and loses the smile. “Sorry.”

  When we get a private distance from outside the entrance, Dad locks onto me. “You wanna tell me what happened?”

  Ben starts to talk but Dad holds up his hand and jerks his chin at me — he won’t have anyone else telling this story.

  “Dad, it’s kind of hard to explain.”

  To my father.

  Who I idolize and yet sometimes want to hit.

  Rebellious Sofia blurts, “The jerk she was dating called Hannah a slut.”

  Dad’s eyebrows furrow even deeper as he cocks his head. “He what?”

  I don’t think I could be more embarrassed than I am right now.

  Ethan and Ben start explaining that they had no choice, they had to kick the guy’s ass. I swear to God it’s like we’re kids again only now their voices are so much deeper as they speak over one another.

  Dad growls, “What’s his name, first and last, and where does he live? I’m taking my car. You all go with Ethan and lead me there. I have some calls to make and I want to be alone for that.”

  Okay, things just got weird.

  Eleven minutes later we’re all outside Joe’s door, Dad knocking on it with the heel of his shoe so hard he cracks the wood. Joe and his buddies appear, all bruised up. The one who pulled a gun on us is gaping at my famous father.

  “It’s this one, isn’t it?” Dad demands, jogging a thumb at Joe.

  Sofia mutters, “Wonder how he knew.”

  Appalled I shout at her, “Because he’s the one who isn’t ugly!”

  My cousins snort.

  Joe’s friends glare at me.

  But Joe? He’s fucking terrified.

  “Mr. Cocker.”

  “Call me Senator Cocker you piece of shit. Let me get something straight. Did you have sex with my daughter?”

  “No, sir, I would never touch your daughter.”

  Dad sneers at Joe’s lying face and asks me. “Did you have sex with this kid? This guy is beneath you.”

  Bulldog’s pissed I called him ugly so he grunts, “He was on top of her.” Dad punches him, sending the guy flying back into the house. Just one clean punch that happened so fast we’re all reminded where we get our tempers.

  Joe has daddy issues, too. My daddy.

  He’s backed up against the wall with fear in his eyes.

  “So you are honored that someone as incredible as my daughter takes you to bed, and you call her a slut? What the fuck is wrong with you? What year is this? I thought slut-shaming died a decade ago? How ‘bout you apologize to her.”

  The gnat pulls out his phone and starts recording.

  Ben warns a deep and rumbly, “Uh, Uncle Justin…”

  Dad glances over. He snatches the phone and tosses it to Ben. “Smash it.” Then he cocks his head at Joe and waits while my cousin crushes the cell with a couple heavy foot stomps.

  Joe blinks toward me. “I’m sorry, Hannah.”

  I stop chewing my lips to say, “Thank you.”

  He nods. Funny thing is, he means it.

  My father just hit a chord in Joe.

  Which feels pretty fucking good.

  Dad inhales and goes to leave. But then his torso twists around and he knocks Joe to the ground with one punch, too. Only Joe’s still conscious and groaning in pain. This hasn’t been his day.

  “You ever see her in public, hide. Watch yourself, Joe Laroby, because I called some people and your social media accounts are being watched. You try a smear campaign against my daughter and your reputation will be ashes before you even check for likes. I also found out your names.” He points to Bulldog who’s still out cold, and Gnat. “Dale Hooper and Leonard Feodor. Your accounts are being watched, too. Anything comes up about my daughter or my family, you will regret it.”

  “Jeezus, he just threatened us,” Gnat mutters, shocked. “Like the mafia.”

  Ethan growls, “You’re high. Go back inside, fool.”

  We can all smell the pot. They must have lit up as soon as the cops left from asking them questions.

  Dad grabs my elbow, my cousins following us away from the house.

  Emma glances back. “Uncle Justin, I think you just made Joe wish he had you for a father.”

  “Joe can go fuck himself from now on,” Dad mutters. “Hannah, choose better. Look at this place. Do they even mow the lawn?”

  He motions for Emma and me to get into his Tesla. He’s wordlessly saying playtime with our cousins is over, and I feel ridiculous.

  She and I mumble goodbyes to Ben and Ethan, and Sofia waves at me like I might not see her again for a long time. She’s about to go back on the road where she belongs. I’ll miss her so much, I run over and give her a big hug.

  “I love you, Soph!”

  “Love you too, Hann! Bye Uncle Justin.”

  “Tell your father what happened today,” he smirks. “Tell him I said he wouldn’t have done a better job.”

  She grins at him. “Oh, I will.”

  Emma’s in the backseat waving to everyone. She and Sofia blow kisses to each other while I’m in awe of my father because today, despite the fact that I’m a grown woman, I don’t mind being treated like daddy’s little girl.

  Deep in our hearts we girls all need our fathers to protect us.

  This same night, when Emma’s asleep in her room and I’m trying to sleep but can’t, a text comes through. At first I’m afraid it’s from Joe, that he might be that sadistic, but when I see Sofia’s name I sit upright and read:

  I’m outside. Be quiet and let me in.

  After tiptoeing through the apartment I slowly open the door and whisper, “Hi!”

  That mischievous smile we all have appears, and her grey eyes glimmer as she whispers, “I have a proposition for you. Come with me on the road.” She holds up a wallet.

  “What’s that?”

  “I picked Joe’s pocket after I kicked him.”

  My eyes widen. “How did none of us see that?”

  “You need to get out of Atlanta. You’re a caged wild child, Hannah Cocker. I say, no more.” She hands me a shiny, black helmet. “Bought this for you today. It’s your key to freedom.”

  Shackles Begone - Hannah

  So, I used to have a phone.

  Sofia said I needed freedom and she was right. But it wasn’t only the wind whipping through my hair while I rode on the back of her Harley Sportster 1200 that did it. And it wasn’t the fact that we never planned anything over the last week and let instinct lead the way, that unleashed me. It happened in a split second where I said to her, “Why am I checking this stupid thing so often?”

  Sofia shrugged. “Because you’ve forgotten how to live in the moment and just be?”

  My lip curled at how awful that sounded. “Gross.”

  “I don’t even have an account.” She stared out into the darkness, the headlight of her motorcycle piercing a hole as bugs danced in the beam. “You think there are gators out there, Hann?”

  “You think they’re hungry?” I asked, palming my phone.

  Sofia side-eyeballed me with a sexy smile. “I think they’re starving.”

  “Let’s find out.” I swung my arm and let the shackle go. A quiet splash sounded in the distance as the swamp ate my iPhone, and we whooped and hollered until we finally ran out of cheer, falling quiet. A light, warm Florida breeze lifted our hair as we stared at the murky water. But then a large branch snapping turned our heads, and my heart started to pound from sheer gut instinct.

  Sofia grabbed my arm, holding a finger to her lips.

  From out of some trees to the side of the road stepped a man who hadn’t showered in months, the shadows of heavy eyebrows giving him an eerie look, especially with only the motorcycle’s headlamp as light for us to see by.

  In a thick country accent he drawled, “Gawd done brought me a present. How are you two fine lookin’ ladies doin’ this evenin’?”

  He didn’t slow, and Sofia backed us up as he advanced, pulling me behind her as
she smoothly asked, “What’s a handsome man like you hidin’ in the bushes for?”

  “I live near here.”

  “With the snakes?” she asked. “Are they your parents?”

  His lip curled up and before I could see her do it Sofia had pulled a knife from her pocket. I heard it click open before she stuck the guy in the arm. He reacted as she pulled the weapon out of his skin, but he didn’t cry out like a normal person would, had they been stabbed. This guy was numb like he had demons in him.

  “Get on the bike, Hannah!”

  He swung at her but Sofia ducked and stuck him in the leg as I raced to the bike and turned it on since I’d watched her do it so many times. But that was the extent of how I could assist her. Terrified and helpless I heard my cousin growl as she kicked him, right where she’d stabbed his thigh. He gave the first sign of pain, shouting obscenities at us.

  She rushed to the bike.

  He lunged for her.

  I shouted, “Sofia!” but wasn’t in time.

  He brought her to the ground.

  I started to get off the bike but she yelled, “Stay there, Hannah!”

  With him on top of her, he tried to hold her down. It was too dark to see how she did it but she flipped him over by some sort of twisty thing with her arm looping through. I watched her thunder clap his head as soon as she was on top of him. She boxed it a few times, jumped up and slammed her heel into his stomach. He grunted and doubled over to the side.

  Sofia rushed to me, panting, climbed on the front of the bike and got us the hell out of there.

  As the roar of her engine ripped through the lonely, pitch-black road I shouted, “You have to teach me how to protect myself!”

  A little stunned, she just nodded. We went from tranquil to fearful within seconds back there. Neither of us saw the switch coming and we wanted to get far away from that moment as possible. As women, are we ever really free?

  Who’s The Blonde? - Tobias

  Giving the bag a few dozen whacks to warm up, I keep checking out the blonde who’s learning how to fight.

  Andy passes me on his way somewhere and I grab his arm. “Hey, who’s the Nordic-looking beauty that new trainer is working with?”

  “She’s not from Boca. And the trainer isn’t one of mine. I tried to get her attention so I agreed to the temporary membership she wanted for them. After that she’s completely ignored me. Isn’t interested in anything but training her cousin how to defend herself.”

  “Hmm. Something happen to her?”

  Andy’s volume lowers. “I don’t know what happened, but they’ve been here twelve days in a row. The blonde’s getting a little better, but she’s still holding back. Hasn’t believed in herself yet.”

  Pale green eyes drift my way and hold on me. She pauses with her fists in the air. I lower my chin and keep our gazes locked. Fuck if she’s not the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I want those long legs wrapped around my head. Let me see what I can do about that.

  Andy pulls my attention back by asking, “How was Greece?”

  “Didn’t succeed in my goal.”

  “Your aunt didn’t go for it?”

  “Nah. She’s more stubborn than a wart on a pig. The only person over there I give a shit about is my grandma. Barely speaks English. And I don’t know much Greek, but we managed. Her cooking, man.” I shake my head.

  “Now you’re making me hungry. You stay with her?”

  “Sometimes. Other times in other beds.”

  He laughs and says, “I get you, man. I get you. Anything you brought home?”

  “Still disease free,” I joke.

  Andy loses the casual manner. “I heard why you came back.”

  Tugging my gloves tighter onto my fist I mutter, “It’s no secret.”

  “I want to be there.”

  I meet his eyes. “Nobody’s stopping you.”

  “Tobias, you know you’ve got a friend in me, right?” He pauses, waiting for my expression to change. When it doesn’t, he says, “You’re a stubborn bastard you know that?”

  My eyes settle on the blonde again. Discussion ended.

  Jealousy’s Map - Hannah

  Sofia sighs after I kick the bag. “Harder! You’re not going to do damage if you lightly tap a guy.”

  As I fix my ponytail beads of sweat are dripping down my neck. “I didn’t lightly tap it. I kicked it really hard!”

  Sofia’s eyes flicker with stifled amusement. She motions for me to back up, then kicks the bag and proves her point. The bag grunts and sways like it doesn’t know what hit it. She’s also shorter than I am.

  “Fine,” I mutter, facing it again.

  “Fists up. Always be ready. Don’t make me keep reminding you!” The private boxing gym is crackling with people training behind her as she squats down in her black workout clothes to watch. Jump ropes zipping the air. Coaches egging people on. The place smells of healthy sweat, its air charged with purpose and determination.

  I love being here more than I remember loving anything athletic. I’ve tried all kinds of trending classes that were too boring to name. A lot of my cousins liked them, because everyone’s got their thing that inspires them. None got me to the gym more than twice. This, though? I can’t get enough of punching and kicking this thing, even if I’m a slow learner.

  I never want to feel helpless again.

  I’m no victim.

  At least, now I won’t be.

  “Hey Tobias, you back from Greece, man? Thought you were gone until summer.”

  My glance flits over Sofia’s head to watch as some guy interrupts Andy, the owner, from talking with that man who keeps staring at me, the one with raven-black hair and stormy blue eyes. I haven’t seen him working out here before. He’s enormous, like he could lift both the men he’s talking to.

  Tobias…

  I love that name.

  Suits him perfectly.

  As he nods to the guy asking about Greece, there’s a lot of mystery behind his steady gaze, like he’s sizing this guy up. I think they’re strangers or slight acquaintances.

  “You sticking around for awhile?” the guy asks. “Back to show your hometown some love?”

  “Came back for a fight,” Tobias says, blue eyes sneaking up to me again.

  Sofia glances back, long ponytail falling over her shoulder as she whispers, “Well, hello there mountain.”

  Though he couldn’t hear her quiet words, he sees her looking and so he gives her a nod. She returns it.

  “Who you fighting?”

  Dragging his gaze back to the guy, that shadow over his face deepens as his voice lowers to a rumble. Sofia and I strain to hear him say, “Vance.”

  “No way, man! I never thought I’d see that happen again. That’s some badass shit. When’s the match?”

  Andy answers for him, “Tomorrow night. How do you not know this?”

  The guy glances away and runs a hand over his head. “Some stuff went down with my family. I’ve been outta the loop. Shit, bet it’s sold out, huh?”

  Andy nods, “You’re outta luck.”

  “Close your mouth, Hannah.”

  I glance down to find Sofia grinning at me. Snapping my jaw shut I focus on the bag but my mind is elsewhere. He’s a professional fighter. So that’s why his body is so insanely hot. I’m from a family of well-shaped men, but this guy looks like he could carry them all on his back.

  “I wouldn’t mind him training me to do a few things,” I mutter to her in between hooks and jabs.

  “Right?” she chuckles.

  “What fight is he talking about?”

  She looks over her shoulder at him. Tobias glances her way at that exact moment and stares at her.

  Am I holding my breath? I am. Fuck.

  But what if she’s more his type than I am?

  Focusing on the bag, I grit my teeth and try to let it go.

  Even though Sofia Sol and I are first cousins the only things we have in common are big boobs and light color
ed eyes. Other than that, she’s exotic and I’m not at all. She’s badass and I’m just normal.

  Also, she’s five-five and easy to pick up.

  I get put down with the words: this looks easier on T.V.

  “Breathe, Hannah,” she smiles.

  Irritated and feeling worthless, I punch the bag.

  She’s suddenly excited. “Good! Like that! That was the hardest you’ve hit that thing so far!”

  Under my breath I mutter, “Because I was picturing it was you.”

  “Picture it’s me under that guy and kick it!”

  Snarling I kick harder than she did a few minutes ago. My eyes go wide and a grin flashes on my face as the bag groans and sways. Pointing my boxing glove at it I cry out, “Did you see that!?”

  She chuckles, “Phew girl! I’m not messing with you again! Dayum!” Rising up from her squat she leans in to privately tell me, “You just needed a reason. It’s the passion!” Laying her hand over my heart she holds my look. “When you’re feeling weak, you look in here. What pisses you off? What gets you furious? Use that! Understand?”

  “Yes,” I whisper, listening to every word.

  “Good. Again!”

  This time I picture Joe on top of me, pretending to be inexperienced just so I wouldn’t see his deception. And the training goes up to a whole new level.

  Give A Taste - Tobias

  That kick she just did showed improvement. “Andy, I’ll see you later.”

  “You’ll see me tomorrow. I’ll be in your locker room.”

  “No you won’t.”

  Strolling over to the girls I rake scarred fingers through my hair as I watch her grunting and giving everything she’s got to that bag. Is it wrong that I want to be in its place? I want to feel that on me.

  The blonde notices that I’m coming to talk to them. She blinks a couple times as I give her a nod. Her cousin gives me a skeptical look from over her shoulder. That girl has seen dark things. The blonde hasn’t. I can always tell, because I’ve seen ‘em, too.

  “Hey,” I jerk my chin at her cousin. “You’re new here.”

  “Nope.”