Hawk (Reckless Kings MC 2)

by Harley Wylde

  He gave a nod. “No problem.”

  At least things were looking up a little. Just because Venom arranged for an interview of sorts for me, it didn’t mean I had the job. The guy still wanted to meet with me first. If I totally blew it, I’d still be homeless and jobless.

  No pressure, Hayley. Not at all.

  * * *

  Hawk

  I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Hayley. Seeing her again had been bittersweet. I’d hoped for some sort of reaction from her. A welcoming smile? Some acknowledgment she knew me? I couldn’t blame her for not wanting her dad to know she’d been with a biker. He was the chief of police and not exactly best friends with the Dixie Reapers, much less any clubs from out of state. I’d still held out the hope she’d seek me out that night. But she hadn’t.

  I’d left at first light, needing to put as much distance between us as possible. I’d always gone through women, used them and tossed them aside, but I’d never had one use me before. Or if they had, it had been mutual. With Hayley, it was different. I wanted more. Maybe it was payback. The one woman I wanted didn’t want me back. Was that how all the women had felt? The ones who’d tried to cling to me? Made me feel a little like an asshole.

  Forge came into the backroom, slamming the door behind him. I set down the tool and wire in my hand, giving him my attention.

  “Something going on?” I asked.

  He snorted and looked at all the items in front of me. “Think I should be asking you that, VP.”

  I rubbed the back of my neck. “Just working through some personal shit. Nothing related to the club.”

  “I’ll make room in the shop for this batch, unless you’re keeping any of it.”

  I eyed the pieces on the table. There wasn’t a rhyme or reason to any of it. I’d been preoccupied with thoughts of Hayley, but I hadn’t made any of it for her specifically. Even though I’d found myself sketching out an engagement ring last week, which was fucking insane since I’d never see the woman again. I was so fucked in the head right now.

  “You can sell it.”

  He nodded. “I’ll get it polished and packaged.”

  I gathered the bracelets, ring, and necklaces before handing them over to him. No one knew I made jewelry. At least, no one except Forge. He kept my secret. I liked working with my hands, but I didn’t want to advertise it. I made a little bit of money off the things he sold. Not enough to call it a career. More of a profitable hobby.

  My brothers would give me shit if they saw the dainty stuff I made. Except Forge. He got it since he worked with metals too. Although, he tended to do larger things like cups, knives, and even swords. I’d seen him make jewelry, but he didn’t do it as often as I did.

  “You’ve been in a strange mood for months now,” Forge said. “Want to talk about it?”

  “Not really.”

  He nodded. “All right. If you change your mind, you know I won’t judge. Whatever is going on, I’ll just listen if that’s what you need.”

  I snorted and punched him in the arm. “You’re such a girl sometimes.”

  He waved a bracelet under my nose. “Says the man who made this delicate thing.”

  “Asshole.”

  He smirked and started polishing the items. He held each up, to make sure he’d gotten all the smudges, then started packaging the jewelry in the boxes we kept stocked. A customer had once asked if we’d ever think of offering handmade wooden boxes for the items I made. They didn’t know I was the one making the jewelry, but the question had been posed to me. It wasn’t a terrible idea, except none of us did that sort of woodwork. Or if a brother did, they hadn’t said anything.

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re hung up on a woman,” Forge said.

  “What would you know about it? Last I checked, you didn’t let any of them stick around long enough to get attached.”

  “I think Beast has proven it only takes one look. The second Lyssa walked into the clubhouse that day, she was his, even if neither of them knew it right then.”

  I knew he was right. Not just because of Beast, but it’s how I felt about Hayley. We’d only had the one night together, but it was enough. I’d kissed her and known I wanted more, wanted tomorrow and the next day. If she’d given me a chance, come back that next day, I’d have given her the world.

  I’d started falling for her that night, and I was a little worried it was too late to back up. Apparently, once you started down that road, you couldn’t turn around. I hadn’t let the club girls touch me. Not lately. I’d tried a few times, but couldn’t get hard for them. If anything, the thought of them touching me made me feel disgusted.

  My phone rang and I saw it was an Alabama area code. I started to answer, only to hesitate. It had to be the Dixie Reapers, right? It wasn’t like Hayley had my number. The thought of her tracking me down, calling now, gave me a small burst of hope. I answered the call, only to bite back a growl when I heard Preacher’s voice.

  “Hawk?” he asked, when I didn’t say anything.

  “Why are you calling? And what the fuck number is this?”

  “I left mine at home. This is Tex’s number. And I’m calling because you came running when Hayley was in trouble before.”

  I stopped breathing for a moment. “Hayley’s in trouble? Did the asshole go free?”

  “Nothing like that,” Preacher said. “Listen, I don’t know if you care one way or another. Maybe you just like rescuing damsels in distress. Do you care anything about her?”

  I ground my teeth together. Did these fuckers find it funny I wanted a woman who clearly wanted nothing to do with me? I didn’t say a damn word and Preacher eventually got the hint.

  “Right. Guess I was mistaken. Don’t worry about it. We’ll handle it.”

  He hung up and I stared at the phone.

  “Hayley?” Forge asked from behind me.

  “Don’t go there,” I warned. The last thing I wanted to talk about was the woman who’d stomped on my heart. I’d gone this long without falling for anyone. Why did it have to be her?

  “At least I know I was right. It’s a woman who has you so fucked up.” Forge slapped me on the back. “It sucks, brother. Maybe she’ll come to her senses. Any woman around here would give her left tit to be yours.”

  “Seriously, Forge?”

  “What? Just sayin’. You know the club whores have been pouting since you stopped giving them any attention.”

  “Last I checked, you aren’t exactly diving into pussy every night,” I said.

  “Yeah, well, there are more important things in life than getting your dick wet.”

  I turned to face him. “You stopped fucking random women years ago. Why? Get tired of it?”

  He leaned against another worktable and folded his arms. I wasn’t sure if he’d answer at first. “That’s part of it. Remember when Meg was here and Cinder came for her?”

  I scratched at my beard. “You mean when he nearly took a bullet for her and we damn near lost half our brothers?”

  He nodded. “That’s it. He was willing to die for her. I knew then I wanted what they had. Took him until he was in his sixties to find the right woman, but it seemed like it had been worth it. So I’m waiting. If a woman can put up with Cinder’s cranky ass, surely there’s someone out there for me.”

  He wasn’t wrong about that. I’d been shocked to hear he had a woman. Of course, she’d thought he hadn’t wanted her, and she’d run. They’d both damn near died, but seemed happy now. Yeah, I could see why Forge wanted that. I did too. Except I’d already met the woman I wanted. Hayley.

  “Love can be a pain in the ass,” Forge said. “I’d still rather experience it once than never at all. She might change her mind, Hawk. Besides, who the hell knows what a woman thinks? What if you’re sitting here, all mopey and shit because she doesn’t love you back, and really she’s at home thinking you don’t want her?”

  I thought about it a moment, then dismissed it. No, Hayley wasn’t moping
around her house like me. She didn’t miss me. Didn’t need me the way I needed her. Although, I was curious about the trouble Preacher had mentioned. I didn’t think it was anything dire or he’d have pressed the issue more.

  “So your woman is in trouble again?” Forge asked. “Seemed that way, yet you’re still sitting here.”

  “I can’t keep running off to save her,” I said.

  “Don’t see why not. Maybe she’d realize how much you like her.”

  Or she’d just kick my ass to the curb. Yeah, I was being a pussy. I could admit it.

  “The Dixie Reapers have it handled,” I said.

  Forge held up his hands. “Whatever, brother. But if you lose your chance with her, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself. Just remember that.”

  Why did I feel like he’d just cursed me? I narrowed my eyes at him, but the fucker just grinned.

  Chapter Four

  Hayley -- Nine Months Later

  My back ached and exhaustion tugged at me. Freya had kept me up all night, again. I’d known raising her on my own wouldn’t be easy. My family hadn’t been thrilled over my pregnancy from the beginning, but I hadn’t thought they’d toss me out like unwanted garbage. All right, that wasn’t entirely fair. My dad had been making a point. Problem was I was just as stubborn as him.

  I’d refused to give up Hawk’s name. Especially since Dad had met him. I still couldn’t believe he’d been the one to catch the guy. Why had he been in town? Was it a coincidence he’d been around to help the Dixie Reapers? I didn’t even want to think about the possibility he’d been here specifically to help me. If that was the case, maybe I’d been wrong about him all along. Had he wanted more than the one night?

  No. He’d have said something, surely. Instead, I’d found out he’d taken off early the next morning. That wasn’t the action of a man who wanted more time with me. He’d gotten out of here first chance he had. Which meant I’d been right to keep the pregnancy to myself. I’d warred with myself all that night and had finally gotten up the courage to head to the Dixie Reapers the next morning. I’d called Mariah so I’d have a plausible reason for being there, but the moment she’d mentioned their guests had left, I knew there was no point in going.

  If I’d had any doubts Hawk would want more from me, I’d known then I’d meant nothing to him. He would have stayed otherwise, right? I honestly hadn’t expected more from him, had even assured him it wasn’t likely I’d get pregnant from our night together. I shouldn’t have lied and implied I was on birth control. It was irresponsible and I’d paid the price. Not that Freya was a burden. She was the love of my life, even when she was cranky.

  But Hawk had clearly not wanted any of that. He’d just wanted a good time, and I’d wanted to not be a virgin anymore. We’d both gotten what we needed at the time. I’d just ended up with a free gift with purchase.

  Freya was now three months old. I had a job I hated, but it kept a roof over our heads for the most part. Or it had. I listened to the voicemail again, my stomach knotting in fear.

  I’m sorry, Hayley. I have to let you go and I’ll need the apartment too.

  My boss, James Gilbert, wasn’t a hard ass. He’d actually been super nice, but I also knew I hadn’t been doing as great a job lately as I could have. Whether I liked it or not, he was running a business and not a charity. His family owned several garages around town, as well as a towing service. James had been nice enough to let me work at the location he managed and had set me up in a studio apartment as part of my pay. The worst part of losing the job was feeling like I’d let down the VP of the Dixie Reapers too. Venom had set up the job for me, and I’d blown it.

  But with all the sleepless nights, and Freya being too much for a daycare to handle, I’d missed a lot of work lately. My mom would have gladly kept her, but she’d worried how my dad would react. I loved my parents, but my dad was being an ass. Even my mom said as much. I knew deep down, he was worried about me, and he’d hoped by pushing me, I’d admit who Freya’s dad was so my father could pressure him into doing the right thing. He meant well, even if he was fucking it all up. Because I was just as stubborn as him.

  What the hell was I going to do?

  My hands were shaking when a knock sounded at the door. I went to open it, hoping it wasn’t James with a stack of boxes. Although, it seemed I would need them. I seldom received visitors here. Sometimes Mariah would stop by. We both liked a lot of the same things and would talk while we sipped hot chocolate or tea. We’d bonded a little the last few months, especially after her dad’s club helped with my stalker issue. I wasn’t expecting her, though, so my anxiety shot through the roof as I pulled open the door.

  Delilah, James’s baby sister, smiled at me. I didn’t know her well, so I doubted this was a social call. So why was she here?

  “I heard you could use some help packing.”

  Shit. I rubbed at my temples and nodded. “So it would seem. I just got your brother’s message about a half hour ago.”

  Delilah frowned. “Seriously? He told me a week ago he needed to let you go. It’s part of why Titan and I came to visit right now. I thought you could use some help. I figured with a baby, you wouldn’t have a lot of time to box stuff up.”

  I sagged against the wall, sinking down until my knees pressed to my chest. “He called today. I had no idea, and now…”

  Freya started crying again, making me wince. I loved my daughter, more than anything, but lately she’d been a difficult baby. I let her cry another moment before forcing myself up off the floor and I went to get her out of the crib against the far wall. I cradled her close, wishing I knew why she wouldn’t stop crying all the time.

  The doctor at the free clinic had assured me she was perfectly healthy, but I couldn’t help feeling they were wrong. Something was the matter with my beautiful girl, and it broke my heart when she cried like this. Without insurance, or money, my options were limited. My parents would probably help if they knew, but at what cost?

  “Hayley, where’s her father?” Delilah asked softly. “Why are you doing this alone?”

  Not her too! Why did everyone want to know who Freya’s father was? There were plenty of single moms in the world. Single dads too. Was I doing such a bad job they didn’t think I could handle raising my daughter?

  “We were only together the one time. I’d assured him he didn’t need to worry about there being a baby. I can’t… I can’t just show up on his doorstep with an infant in my arms.” I swallowed the knot in my throat. “He’ll hate me.”

  And that was my greatest fear. I cherished the night we’d had together. The last thing I wanted was to taint the memory with whatever hateful things he’d spew when he found out I’d lied, and we had a baby. I just couldn’t do it. Besides, it was better for Freya to not have a dad at all than to have one who didn’t want her.

  Delilah’s expression softened. We hadn’t been close in school, since she was a little older than me, but she’d always been kind to everyone.

  “He won’t hate you,” Delilah said. “Tell me who it is. I can go with you, if you want? We can tell him together.”

  I shook my head. “He doesn’t even live around here. I have no idea how to find him.”

  She sighed and folded her arms, drawing my attention to the leather vest covering her shoulders. Hades Abyss MC was stitched on the front and I knew the back would say Property of Titan. I’d been surprised the first time she’d come back to town as a biker’s old lady. She hadn’t seemed the type. Although, anyone could see the man clearly adored her, and she was head over heels in love with him. I envied them.

  “Where did you meet?” she asked. “Let’s start there, and before you shake your head at me, you’re out of options, Hayley. You need help, and he has a responsibility to the two of you whether he likes it or not. Your dad was right about that. It’s bullshit you’re doing this alone, and I could kick your family’s asses for not helping more.”

  My mom snuck money to me when she co
uld and visited when she didn’t think my dad or brother would notice. She knew this town spread rumors like wildfire, and I had no doubt my dad knew she came to see me. My mom wasn’t as sneaky as she thought, but Chief Daniels didn’t like the fact his little girl had been knocked up by some stranger and refused to talk, so he’d put his foot down and I was left to my own devices. Mostly. I knew he was waiting on me to come crawling home and beg for forgiveness, but I wouldn’t. I’d done nothing wrong. And if he even tried to tell me he’d been a saint at my age, I’d just stand back and wait for the lightning to strike him dead for being such a liar. I’d heard the stories. Until he’d met my mom, he’d been a man whore.

  Even after he’d met her, he hadn’t exactly been a boy scout. He’d gotten her pregnant without even knowing it. When he’d found out, he’d married her. But Hawk wasn’t like my dad. He wasn’t an officer of the law but more the type to break it. I didn’t think they exactly had the same moral compass.

  “Come on, Hayley. I’m trying to help!”

  “At the clubhouse,” I murmured. “Cuddles ran into the compound and I chased after him. It was just some guy visiting from another club. I didn’t even pay attention to which one.”

  Delilah groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Great. The truce between the Dixie Reapers and your dad is about to blow the fuck up. Do you at least remember the guy’s name?”

  “He just went by Hawk,” I said.

  Freya started to quiet down again, having cried herself to sleep in my arms. Tears streaked her cheeks and she took a shuddering breath before settling against me more.

  “Hawk?” Delilah asked softly. “How old is Freya?”

  “Three months.”

  Delilah’s lips thinned and her cheeks flushed with anger. “Goddamnit! I need to talk to Titan. Forget your dad being pissed at the Reapers, Torch is about to go nuclear.”

  I didn’t understand what any of that meant, or why the President of the Dixie Reapers would give a shit about who I’d slept with. It wasn’t like the guy was part of the club here. Unless he was related to Torch? It didn’t seem likely, unless he was a nephew or something.