Road to Redemption

by Piper Davenport

“You okay?” he asked.

  “Is it wrong to admit I don’t miss you?” she asked. “I miss Lily, but I have to say, not waking up at the crack of dawn is kind of nice.”

  Hawk laughed. “Well, you got the week to enjoy it.”

  “I bet Payton will love that.”

  “You’d think.”

  “What did you do?” she challenged. “Did you have a rational conversation with her, or did you go all Tarzan on her?”

  “Coulda been somewhere in between.”

  “Love you, bro, but you’re an idiot.”

  “I’m not having this conversation with you, Kay.”

  Kayla laughed. “Okay, okay, but if you drive her away again, I will kill you.”

  His heart dropped at the thought. “I won’t.”

  “Okay, gotta jet. Talk to you later.”

  “’Bye.”

  He hung up and loaded his email. Brock and Chuck walked in just as the video loaded, so he pressed pause. “Need anything?”

  Chuck shook his head. “We’re done.”

  Hawk nodded.

  “Where’s Pay?” Brock asked.

  “Downstairs I think,” Hawk said.

  “I’m going to clean up,” Chuck said, and headed out of the kitchen.

  “You okay?” Brock asked, and grabbed a glass of water.

  Hawk sighed. “I’m missin’ somethin’.”

  “With the Jenny situation?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Want to map it out?”

  “Kayla sent me a video.” Hawk stepped closer to Brock and pressed play.

  When the video ended, Brock shook his head. “She’s fucked up.”

  “Yeah. She was a wacko before Lily, but add drugs to the mix, and she’s… I don’t know. Fuckin’ gone.”

  “Where was that taken?”

  “The Pink Fox.”

  “Shit, really?” Brock said.

  Hawk nodded. “Why?”

  “We busted a human trafficking ring a while ago. The bastards who ran the operation owned that club. Among others.”

  “Who’s running it now?”

  “On paper? A guy named Brian Nolan.”

  “None of this makes any fuckin’ sense.”

  “Forward it to me, I’ll look into it,” Brock offered.

  Hawk nodded and fired it off to Brock just as Payton walked into the kitchen, rinsed her plate, and dumped it in the dishwasher… all without speaking. Brock raised an eyebrow at Hawk, waved his phone, and left the room, also without speaking.

  When Payton moved to leave, Hawk grabbed her arm and pulled her against him. “I know you’re pissed.”

  “You’re a freakin’ genius, handsome. Well done.”

  “I’m doin’ this to keep you safe, Payton. Fuckin’ cut me some slack.”

  “I might be a little more inclined to ‘cut you some slack’ if you weren’t so beat your chest, I am man, you are woman about it. I also might be a little more inclined to cut you some slack if you gave me some credit.” Payton pushed away from him. “But since you don’t seem willing to do that, then we’re at an impasse, bub.”

  He pulled her to him again.

  “Hawk,” she snapped.

  Hawk wrapped his arms around her waist and slid one hand into her hair, tugging it gently so she’d drop her head back. “Baby, I don’t know how bad this threat is. I’m feeling a little overwhelmed that you and Lily might be in danger, so, if you don’t mind, could we just hang here at your parents’ place until I get a better read on the situation?”

  He smiled when her eyes narrowed, mostly because she was trying to keep from smiling. “You’re a butt,” she retorted.

  “So I’ve been told.” He cupped her ass. “Love you, baby.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You should. I’m amazing.”

  He leaned forward and kissed her nose. “I will make this up to you. I promise.”

  Payton’s body relaxed and she sighed. “I want boat time… with play.”

  “Fuck me,” he whispered as he kissed her neck. “Don’t say shit like that in the middle of your parents’ kitchen.”

  She grinned. “Payback’s a bitch, handsome.”

  “Daddy!” Lily exclaimed as she rushed into the kitchen. “Can we go to a movie? Pweese?”

  He released Payton and hunkered in front of his daughter. “Not today, baby girl, but I bet we can find a movie to watch downstairs. All three of us. What do you think?”

  “Can we have popcorn?”

  “Of course we can have popcorn,” Payton said.

  Hawk smiled up at her and mouthed, ‘thank you.’

  Payton smiled back and headed to the pantry.

  I WAS WRITHING against Alex as his mouth licked, sucked, and generally made me crazy. My legs were over his shoulders and he held my hips still so I had limited movement, while he ate me. I was enjoying the process, but when he slid two fingers inside of me, I came so fast, I groaned in frustration. “Damn it, honey, I was enjoying that.”

  He chuckled as he climbed over me. “I have never once heard a woman complain about fuckin’ comin’ until you, Payton.”

  “Well, I happen to like your mouth on me and it’s always far too short.”

  “Unless I’m takin’ too long and you want my cock,” he countered, and slid into me.

  I arched my hips. “Well, yes. That’s true, but you should be able to read my mind by now.”

  “Want me to stop and go back to what I was doin’?”

  I grabbed his arms. “Don’t you dare.”

  Alex surged into me as he covered my mouth with his. He braced himself with an arm on the mattress beside me and cupped my breast, rolling a nipple between his fingers. Before I could climax, he came, falling on top of me, his breath coming in pants. Within seconds, he pulled out of me and slid his fingers in, thumbing my clit while he finished me off. I drew my knees together and rocked against his hand, clenching around his fingers as I came.

  I grinned and craned my neck to kiss him. “You’re forgiven.”

  He wrapped an arm around me and pulled me close. “It won’t be for long.”

  “You don’t actually know that, honey.”

  “Your brother’s helping.”

  “He is?”

  Alex nodded. “I think it’s bigger than just Jenny wanting Lily.”

  “Well, that changes things a bit.”

  “Yeah, it does.”

  I dropped my head against his shoulder and kissed his chest. “Can we at least look at a few houses? Together? I want our own space.”

  “Give me a couple of days, yeah? Just need to see what Brock can find and then we’ll go from there.”

  “Well, you better keep me and Lily occupied, then.”

  He grinned and cupped my breast. “Promise.”

  * * *

  Two days later, Hawk left the safety of the Williams’ home, but only because Brock stationed a plain car on the street. He was meeting Brock and Dallas at the Portland FBI office and, after a little prodding, was able to get Payton to agree not to leave the house. She was getting antsy, as was Lily, but it couldn’t be helped.

  He arrived and was ushered by Brock into a private office. Dallas shook his hand and they introduced him to Jaxon Quinn, another member of their close-knit team.

  “We know who was at the store,” Brock started, and slipped a file toward Hawk. “His name is Arseny Bekhterev and he’s the baby brother of Boris and Vasily, whom we busted in the human trafficking sting. The family has been lying low, but it would appear Arseny has been working quite quickly to build the family business up again.”

  Hawk glanced through the file. “So, how does Jenny fit into all of this?”

  “Well, according to Jenny, who is currently in custody and going through withdrawals in a secure medical facility, he is her pimp.”

  “Fuckin’ bitch got into prostitution?”

  “Not on purpose. She met Arseny, fell in love, and he has been turning her out ever since he got her hooked on heroin. Wh
at we’ve discovered, however, is that she has done some very stupid things, including stealing dope, and they want payback.”

  “Which means?” Hawk pressed.

  Brock grimaced. “Lily.”

  Hawk’s blood ran cold. “Are you saying she’s offering Lily up as payment?”

  Dallas nodded.

  “What the fuck!” Hawk stood, slamming his chair back against the wall. “Take me to Jenny. I’m gonna kill the fuckin’ whore.”

  “That’s not gonna happen, Hawk,” Brock said.

  “I can’t believe she’d sell my…” He dragged his hands through his hair. “Fuck!”

  “We’re on it, Hawk.” Brock waved to his chair. “But there’s more.”

  “Fuck me,” Hawk whispered and took his seat again.

  “Ashley is your club president’s daughter, right?”

  Hawk nodded.

  “Well, she got a little too close to Boris’s son, Vadim, and he felt humiliated when Ashley dumped him. Jenny said the family wants to bring down the club.”

  “Shit.” Hawk dragged his hands down his face. “Ash has been gettin’ death threats ever since she cut the guy loose, but he’s disappeared.”

  “Well, yes and no,” Dallas said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “He has a few aliases,” Brock provided. “They all do.”

  “Makes sense,” Hawk said.

  “You may want someone to watch her,” Brock said.

  Hawk nodded. “She’s already covered.”

  “Good,” Brock said. “Let’s figure out what we can do in the meantime.”

  Before they could delve into anything, a knock at the door brought a young agent, his face set with concern.

  “Brock, Smith and Flores got an issue at the house.”

  Brock and Dallas stood and left the room while Jaxon picked up the office phone. Hawk grabbed his cell and dialed Payton, his heart in his throat.

  “Hi honey,” Payton said.

  “You and Lily okay?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Fuck,” he said, his breath leaving his body.

  “What’s wrong?”

  He rubbed his forehead. “Somethin’s going on at the house. Not sure what yet. Do me a favor and stay close to Lily. Can you get your gun and have it holstered and on you?”

  “Sure. Honey, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”

  “Don’t know yet. I’m on my way home, so just stay put.” Hawk pulled his keys out of his pocket. “Love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  He hung up and rushed out of the room. Jaxon was still on the phone, talking to someone internally, but Hawk couldn’t wait for information. He needed to get home.

  “Hawk, wait up,” Brock called, and jogged to catch up to him. “I’ll walk out with you.”

  Hawk pressed the elevator button, his stomach churning with fear. “What did you find out?”

  “Pizza delivery. Guy looked off, so one of my guys patted him down. He was carrying. A little more investigation found the real pizza guy bound, gagged, and unconscious in his car a couple blocks away.”

  “Fuck me,” Hawk breathed as they stepped into the elevator.

  “It’s one of Arseny’s guys, but he’s in custody. I sent another car and two guys will stay in front while the other two do a sweep. We’ve got this.”

  Hawk nodded, but wouldn’t feel better until he got back to the house and could physically hold his girls.

  “Payton should carry at all times,” Brock continued. “Not sure what she should do at school, but we’ve got a week, so we’ll sort it out when the time comes.”

  Hawk nodded again.

  “They’re safe. Bailey’s there as well and she says they’re fine. My parents left an hour ago, so the house is locked up and the alarm is on.” Brock stared at the wall. “Bailey knows the drill, as does Payton.”

  “I hear you, but until they’re in front of me and I can touch them…”

  Brock grimaced. “I get it.”

  “You comin’ home?”

  Brock shook his head. “I trust my team. I need to find out what else this bastard is into.”

  Hawk nodded and stepped out of the elevator with a chin lift to Brock as he headed back upstairs. Hawk pulled out his phone again. Brock might trust his team, but Hawk would only trust his family to his brothers.

  * * *

  I had been pacing the house for what felt like forever, occasionally peeking outside to see if I could see anything. I saw a man in a pizza uniform being led away in handcuffs and was irritated that our dinner had been destroyed… that was until Alex called. Then I was glad our dinner was the only thing that met its death in that moment.

  At about five thirty, I heard motorcycle pipes, and glanced outside to see a million bikers driving up to my parents’ house. Okay, a million might be an over exaggeration, but there were a lot. I recognized Booker and Mack by name, a few others I recognized by sight, but just as many were strangers to me.

  Lily came running into the foyer from the family room where she and Bailey were watching a movie and she smooshed her face to the window. “Uncle Mack is here. And Booker!”

  She reached for the doorknob, but I held her back. “We need to wait a bit, honey. I don’t know if it’s safe yet.”

  “But thewa dogs, Payton. They always keep me safe.”

  I smiled. Her absolute faith in these men was adorable. “I know, baby, but with Daddy not here, I need to make sure first, okay?”

  She sighed. “Okay, Mama.”

  “If you want to check it out, I’ll wait here with Lily,” Bailey said, joining us.

  I nodded and pulled open the door, making my way toward the group of some of the best looking men on the planet. Even the feds were gorgeous in a buttoned up, official kind of way. Of course, I knew them somewhat as they worked with my brother, but only in a casual capacity.

  “Hey, babe,” Mack said, and gave me a chin lift as he approached with Booker.

  “Hi guys. Did Hawk call in the cavalry?”

  Booker chuckled. “Somethin’ like that.”

  “There’s a little girl dying to see her uncles. Do you want to come in?”

  “We’re gonna wait for Hawk,” Mack said.

  “Oh, okay.”

  I turned to leave but Mack caught my arm. “Where you goin’?”

  I nodded toward José Flores, one of the agents. “I was going to say hi. I’ll be right back.”

  “Hawk wants you inside, Payton,” Booker said.

  “And I will be… as soon as I say hi.”

  “Don’t think that’s what he meant,” Mack countered.

  “I know these guys, Mack,” I said, keeping the irritation from my voice as much as possible. “It’s all good.”

  I’d barely managed to say hi to the men before Alex pulled his truck into the driveway. He looked worried as he stepped out of the truck and walked toward me, but when he caught my eye, he looked pissed. I forced myself not to roll my eyes as I closed the distance and met him halfway.

  “You’re supposed to be inside,” he hissed.

  “I was until about ten minutes ago. Lily’s dying to see her uncles, but I told her I wanted to check things out first.”

  “Where’s your gun?”

  “In my holster at my back,” I said.

  “Is it loaded?”

  I scoffed. “Are you serious?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Ohmigod, Hawk, this isn’t my first rodeo. Of course it’s loaded.”

  He slipped his hand to my neck and thumbed my pulse. “You’re okay.”

  I wrapped an arm around his waist. “Yes, honey, we’re both okay.”

  His body finally relaxed and he leaned down to kiss me quickly. I smiled up at him. “That’s the most appropriate way to greet me, husband-to-be.”

  Alex chuckled and kissed me again.

  “Okay, we need to let Lily out,” I said. “She’s been really patient, but she’s missing you.”

&nb
sp; Alex scanned the area and then nodded, so I waved to Bailey and the front door flew open just in time for the little flurry of blonde to make a mad dash for Alex. “Daddy!”

  He bent at the waist and caught Lily, lifting her and hugging her tightly. “Hey, baby girl.”

  “Owa pizza didn’t come.”

  “I heard,” he said. “I’ll have a recruit pick another one up, yeah?”

  “Okay, Daddy. Can I get down now?”

  Alex lowered her to the ground and she made a beeline for Mack who lifted her the same way Alex had before hugging her and handing her off to Booker who swung her up in the air.

  “Yo, Binky,” Alex called.

  A young man who looked about twelve, but must have been at least eighteen, came jogging up to us. “Yeah, boss.”

  “I need you to get pizzas. Two cheese, large combo, pepperoni.”

  “No problem.”

  I reached out my hand and smiled. “I’m Payton.”

  He shook it, his grin wide. “Binky.”

  “Nice to meet you.”

  He gave me a chin lift and went off to find food.

  “Mama, can Uncle Mack stay?” Lily patted my leg and smiled up at me, her hand firmly in Mack’s.

  I giggled. “Of course he can.”

  “Yay. Come on, Mack. Let’s watch Fwozen.” She tugged him away and he looked back at us helplessly.

  “So, his appeal isn’t just to the adult female population,” I mused.

  Alex raised an eyebrow. “What the fuck, Payton.”

  I giggled. “Not my type, honey. Don’t worry.”

  “Better.” He smiled and kissed me quickly before turning toward the crowd. “Booker. Inside.”

  Booker gave him a salute, left the man he was standing with, and followed us inside.

  “Should I send food out?” I asked.

  “Nah, they’re splittin’ up shifts,” Alex said. “When the dust settles, we can go from there.”

  “Okay. I should probably call my parents and warn them that there’s a biker gang in front of their house.”

  “You do that. I’ll grab the beer from my truck and talk to my brothers real quick.”

  I nodded and dialed my mom.

  The rest of the night was shared with Mack, Booker, Dani (who came with Macey and Dallas), Brock and Bailey, and my parents. I have to give my parents credit. They welcomed these men into their home having never met them, and made them feel like part of the family. I got the distinct impression Mack didn’t want to leave, and I think my mom would have been fine with that.