Page 44 of Outlaw Xmas
“The old ladies,” Banger said. “Belle’s in charge, and she got a few of them together to help.” He looked at Hawk. “She said Cara couldn’t make her delicious sausage and peppers because she was cooking for a family dinner. If you gotta leave to join her, that’s cool. Just make sure to stick around until all the officers from all the chapters get here. It may be kinda late. Not sure how long the dinner’s gonna go on.”
“I’m here for the night.” Hawk turned away and watched Kristy and Lola as they carried in platters of ribs and fried chicken. Kristy smiled and waved at him, and he lifted his chin to her.
“Who makes your food?” Jax asked Steel.
“We have a cook, Lena.”
“Fuck, aren’t you all sophisticated and shit? You have a cook,” Jerry said, and they laughed.
“Hey, Hawk,” Wheelie said, squeezing between him and Axe to get a drink.
“What’re you up to?” Hawk felt his phone vibrate.
“Not much. This should be a good party. I’ve seen some brothers I haven’t talked to since August in Sturgis.” He grabbed a drink and stood in front of Hawk.
“You doing good?” Hawk watched Wheelie’s face to see if he could pick anything up. Ever since Wheelie had offered to watch Sofia that weekend Tigger had gone on a poker run, Hawk had been anxious. He really liked the brother and didn’t want to have to beat his ass. The brother he couldn’t stand was Tigger, but he was a patched member and deserved the respect and loyalty afforded to all in the brotherhood.
“Yeah. Why?”
“Just asking.”
“I’ll see you.” Wheelie ambled away and vanished into the crowd.
Hawk looked at his phone. Another call from Cara. And a text. He put the phone in his pocket. She had to respect him and not question his decisions when it came to the club. He loved her so much and had shown her in so many ways that she was number one in his life, and her questioning that left a real bitter taste in his mouth.I bet Belle wouldn’t have said shit to Banger. She understands he’s got a responsibility to the club. She knows her role. Cara could take some fuckin’ lessons from her.
“Hey, cutie. You look super pissed. Aren’t you having fun?” A soft hand curled around his bicep.
Glancing sideways, he saw the new club girl who kept trying to get his cock in her pussy. For the life of him, Hawk couldn’t remember her name.
“Don’t feel like talking? That’s okay. Do you want me to get you some food?” She came in closer, and he could see her tits through her skimpy top.
“I don’t want anything. Circulate. They’re a shitload of out-of-state brothers who need taking care of.”
“Just call me if you get lonely.” She sashayed away.
His phone kept vibrating, and he almost answered it when the presidents of three of the chapters came up to him, pulling him into a bear hug.
As the night wore on, Hawk talked too much, smoked too much, and drank too much. By the time two thirty rolled around, he was plastered, sitting on a bar stool breathing in smoky air. His head spun and the whole room whirled around as if it were on a carousel, slow at first and then faster and faster. Swaying on the stool, he gripped the edge of the bar and stood up. Blood rushed to his head, and he pressed his hands to his temples as if the simple gesture would stop the constant throbbing.
“Need some help, cutie?” A woman in a low top with big tits pressed her soft body against his.
“Cara? What the fuck are you doing at the club, baby?”
“My name’s Heather,” the woman said stiffly.
“Heather? Who the fuck are you?” He swayed on his feet.
“I’m just here to help you make it to your room safely. That’s all.”
“I don’t want you. Get Cara. Tell her to get her ass to my room. I need my woman.” He pushed Heather away and staggered, his hands gripping anything he could to steady himself. Officers maintained rooms even if they didn’t live at the clubhouse, and he slowly clumped up the stairs to his on the third floor.
It took several minutes for him to put the key in the lock, but finally the door opened. Pushing it closed, he leaned back against it, waiting for the room to stop swirling. With much effort, he made it to the bed, pulled off his boots, and flopped on his back. Closing his eyes, darkness came.
***
Hawk raised hisheavy eyelids, quickly closing them halfway when shards of sunlight pierced them. Draping his arm over his eyes, he groaned. His head felt like an axe was planted in it, and his throat was like sandpaper.Fuck.Taking his arm away from his pounding head, he forced his eyes open again and cursed the brightness of the morning as he struggled to cope with it. On the nightstand, he saw his phone and fumbled for it. When he saw a ton of texts and several missed calls from Cara, his stomach turned sour.I really fucked up.Deciding he better get his ass home and smooth things over, he tried to move but it felt like he was in quicksand.
Then he heard a soft sigh and something bump against his left leg. Glancing over, he saw a woman sleeping next to him. He bolted up. “Fuck!” he yelled, then held his head. Nausea grabbed him as realization hit him: a woman other than Cara was in his bed. Squeezing his eyes shut, he tried to remember what the hell had happened the night before.Did I fuck her? I couldn’t have. I never would’ve done that to Cara.He was pissed at her, but he’d never take another woman in his bed. But therewasanother woman lying next to him.
