Page 109 of Shadow's Surrender
As the men spoke, Scarlett looked harder at the tall man talking to them and she noticed his leather vest had the titleVice President.
“You’re Hawk,” she blurted out, remembering Kristy had told her Hawk was the vice president of the club.
Everyone at the table stopped talking and fixed their eyes on her. The vice president glared at her, a deep frown embedded across his forehead.
“I know your wife, Cara. She’s on my committee for the Sheridan Center gala. She’s awesome. Her dad has done some legal work for my dad’s real estate company.”
“Who thefuckare you and why thehellare you talking to me?” Hawk folded his arms across his muscular chest.
What’s his damn problem?“I told you—I know Cara. Cara Minelli’s your wife, right?”Maybe Kristy was bullshitting so I’d make a fool of myself. These women around here can’t be trusted.
“So you know my old lady. That doesn’t answer why you’re talking to me.” He glanced around the table. “Who does this woman belong to?”
“Me,” Shadow said. He put his sore hand on top of her thigh as if to shush her, but there was no way in hellthatwas going to happen.
Scarlett sat up straighter in the chair as irritation pricked at her skin. “I don’tbelongto anyone since I’m not a piece of property. I’m with Shadow—he’s my boyfriend. Besides, I was just asking a question so there’s no reason to be so rude.”
The room grew quiet like a tomb, and the tension in the room was as oppressive as the heat outside.
“Set your woman straight if she wants to ever come back to the club,” Hawk said to Shadow as he turned away, dismissing her. “I’ll let you know what comes up with the cameras and we’ll go from there.”
“Sounds good.” Shadow said but there was an edge to his voice.
Is Shadow seriously mad atme? After this jerk was so damn rude?
“Later,” Hawk said as he squeezed Shadow’s shoulder and walked out of the room.
“What the hell is—”
Shadow threw her a death glare and she clamped her mouth shut. For the next hour, Scarlett fumed while he and his friends talked about motorcycles. She glanced at her phone and saw Kiara had sent her a text inviting her to join the group—Ashley, Daisy, and Shelby—for dinner at the club. She looked over at Shadow then back at the message. At that moment Scarlett wanted to tell Kiara she’d be there, tell Shadow and his club to fuck off, and get the hell out of there.But I don’t have a car.Yeah … that would definitely thwart her dramatic exit.Shit. I doubt Lyft would come here to pick me up.She giggled at the thought of it then slid out of her chair.
“Where’re you going?” Shadow asked.
“I need some fresh air,” she replied curtly before turning on her heels and stalking away.
The sound of the river beckoned her and she followed it around the back of the property. Scarlett saw a doe across the way near the edge of the water, and nearly hidden behind it were two white-spotted fawns. Afraid she’d frighten them away, Scarlett stopped in her tracks and watched them, marveling at the beauty that surrounded such a misogynistic club.
“Are you okay, Scarlett?” Shadow asked.
Without turning around she replied, “Not really.”
“What’s wrong?” He stood beside her, the tips of his scrapped fingers running over her bare arm.
“You just sat there letting that asshole speak to me that way,” she said, her voice rising in anger.
The doe raised its head and stared at them from across the river. Sensing no danger, the deer lowered its head back to the water.
“It doesn’t work that way. Hawk’s the VP.” Shadow quirked his lips.
“That’s the best you can give me?” She shook her head. “Unbelievable.”
“It’s the way our world works, babe. I should’ve explained things to you before you came to the club, but last night I wasn’t in a real good way. I always thought I’d prepare you before I brought you to see where I live and hang out.”
“So rudeness to women is part of your world?”
“Not really. It’s just that the club isours. What I mean by that is it belongs to the men, not the women. The women aren’t members of the Insurgents only the men. So the women are there by invitation of the members.” He cleared his throat. “They’re in the background, so to speak.”
“What does that have to do with Hawk being rude to me?” She sank down on the grass, and pulled on several of the blades.
