Tiny snorted. “I’m sure she’s loving that.”
Casanova scratched, completely missing the cue ball as he burst into laughter. “Wait, what? Hilary is going to pretend to be a house mouse? How’s that one going to work? I’ve seen that woman almost make a prospect cry. Now she’s going to flip the script?” Casanova bent over and clutched his stomach as he laughed harder. “I-I don’t even think she knows the meaning of meek.”
“Jesus, fuck you guys,” Hawk said. “I’m going to get a drink.”
“Yeah, you should. You’re going to need it,” Tiny said.
“Dick,” Hawk said under his breath. Tiny had been with Boston for about five years, but before then he’d been the same as Hawk. How easily people forgot what it was like to be single. Not that he was complaining. He rolled solo by choice. He’d yet to experience the secret brand of magic woman unleashed that changed men.
“Summer, I need a whiskey straight up.” He leaned against the bar, admiring the curve of her ass as she walked over and picked up a black-labeled bottle.
“Where’s Hilary? We saw her leave with you and then she just disappeared,” said a familiar voice behind him
So much for peace.
Summer set a shot glass in front of him, and he downed it. Giving a nod of thanks to Summer, he turned to face a concerned-looking Joey, Juliette, and Evonne.
“At ease, ladies, Hil is fine. She finished up her crap with the cops and she’s in another room talking to some of the other girls. She’ll catch up with you later.”
Joey wrinkled her nose. “No offense, but why?”
“She can explain that to you when you see her.” He stared them down, daring them to ask more. Their eyes widened, and they glanced away. That’s right, ladies. Don’t forget who’s had your back all this time.
“I’m sorry; we didn’t mean to come at you like a hurricane. We’re just…on edge and worried,” Juliette said.
“It’s good to have people who care. She’s good. Now if you’ll excuse me I have a date with a bottle.” He turned back to the bar. “Summer, top me off will you?”
She walked over and poured him another shot. He slammed it back, wishing he could get mind-numbing drunk. The last time he’d been tasked with guarding someone, he failed miserably. Not this time.
* * * * *
Ten Years Earlier
“Son of a bitch.” Hawk slapped the dashboard of the car as he maneuvered the sedan through the slick streets. Rain came down in sheets, and he hunched over the wheel searching the deserted streets and alley for Rayen. His parents had needed a break from bringing their manic drug-addicted son down from another binge. He was clean, but Hawk knew it wouldn’t stick. He hadn’t hit rock bottom yet. Heroin was near impossible to kick, and without the will to do it… Hawk shook his head. Five minutes he’d been out of the room to take a piss, and Rayen had been out the door. Now he was out here searching for him in the middle of what felt like a fucking monsoon.
His entire life he’d been raised to be free on his own terms. But somewhere along the line he’d gotten shackled with the weight of his baby brother. He loved the man more than life, but he was tired of being some sort of keeper. Resentment boiled beneath the surface as he turned the corner and drove deeper into the shady part of town. Right now I should be in the clubhouse picking a woman to bed down for the night. His phone vibrated, and he picked it up from the cup holder, flipped it open and pressed it to his ear.
“Yeah.”
“You still looking for Rayen?” Tiny said.
“Fuck, yes. That asshole.”
“I got a call; someone saw him heading toward an alley between First Street and Vine. You know the one.”
“Yeah, I know it.” The popular spot for drug deals was always busy and rarely raided. The cops didn’t venture this far down into the slums where they were grossly outnumbered, and quite frankly, not worried about keeping shit clean.
“Be careful. Bad place you’re venturing into.”
“Always. I’ll call if I need backup.”
“You’d better. I don’t want to get my asshole stomped out because you get fucked up on a solo mission.”
“My brother, my problem.”
“Just because he’s not patched, doesn’t make him any less family. We understand why he didn’t become a prospect.”
“Yeah because he’s too busy looking for his next fix and we couldn’t count on him for shit. Fuck. I could kick his ass for getting into this shit, but I know he probably wouldn’t even feel it. I was gone for less than five minutes man.”