“Can I hold him?” I nod and watch as she gently scoops Gabriel up in her arms. She holds him close to her and kisses his head while breathing him in. She rocks him gently and looks at me. “I hope so, Brooke. I'll come by as soon as I get a chance. There's no way we won't be seeing each other again soon. There's no way I could go long before cuddling this little angel.” She grabs my hand, and I hold on tight.
I've missed her so much; I couldn't bear the thought of not seeing her again. I know it won't be easy. Her husband is a monster. I also know Marnie is strong and will get away from him as soon as she can to come to see Gabe and me.
“I love you, Marnie. You will be careful; won't you?”
“I love you, too, and this little man, so very much.” She kisses his head again. “Don't worry about me.”
“It's hard not to worry about you, Marnie. Your husband is a monster.”
“Hey,” She says softly. “I can handle Paul.” She can't. She may think she can, but she really can't. That man has put her in the hospital before now. He's hurt her so badly in the past I thought I'd lose her. Hank didn't even care. He told me, ‘That's what happens when you misbehave.’
I want to tell Marnie to stay here with me, that the Snakes will take care of her. Nothing can happen to her if she's here with us, but I know she won't take the help. My sister thinks she can handle Paul by herself, and she would never put anyone else in his angry path. Even though I want to force this, I won't make a big deal out of it because I don't want to make her mad, she'd leave here upset, and I won't do that to her. It wouldn't keep her away from me, and she wouldn't hold on to the anger, but I'd feel guilty.
Why does life have to be so hard?
Why can't my sister find happiness as I have?
Maybe one day she'll be brave enough to leave that man and go out in the world and find her happy ever after.
I hope.
I'd give anything to see her truly happy.
Anything.
Chapter Fourteen
Hawk
She sure told you.” Trace laughs.
“She sure has some fire in her belly.” CueBall knocks back his whiskey, then slams his glass down on the bar. “She'd make a powerful man a good wife.”
“Pity she's married to a worm who abuses her.” I shoot Wrench a warning look. That wasn't his story to tell!
CueBall turns his eyes to my brother and me. “One day soon, her husband will get what's coming to him. A woman with that much passion and fire ain't as beat down as her old man thinks. You mark my words, that little girl is a force to be reckoned with – one her jackass husband'll wish he'd never fucked with.” With that, he turns back to the bar and pours himself another drink.
Wrench looks at me and shakes his head in amusement. I, along with everyone else around the bar, laughs.
My eyes are drawn to Brooke and Marnie as they come strolling into the main room, arm in arm, and big smiles on their faces. I can't help smiling at the sight. I love the smile on Brooke's face. It's just beautiful to see.
I know she's going to be happy here with me for the rest of her life, but something will always be missing, and that something is Marnie. Until Marnie is away from the husband of hers, safe and happy, Brooke never truly will be.
“I'm just going to introduce Marnie to the girls. I want her to meet them all, including your mom.” Brooke smiles up at me while wrapping her arms around my waist. I sling my arm around her shoulder and pull her to me.
I kiss her plush lips. “Go ahead, beautiful, I'll be right here waiting when you're done.”
“Will you listen out for Gabe, and yell if he needs me?”
I stroke Brooke's cheek with the back of my hand. “Do you even need to ask?” She shakes her head with a smile on her face and then lays her head on my chest.
“Hawk?” I look over Brooke's shoulder at Marnie. “Thank you.” She says no more than that, but she doesn't need to, I know she's thanking me without words for loving and keeping Brooke and Gabe safe. I don't need any thanks for what comes naturally to me.
* * *
It's been a while since we did a stakeout like this. We received information from an anonymous source, via a letter left in Shepard's mailbox. Information about the Dirty Coyotes and the fact they turn a blind eye to the abuse of their president's daughter. The letter didn't give much away other than this was no joke, and that we just needed to help this young woman.
Under normal circumstances, Shepard would have looked into something like this, make sure we have all the facts before we even think about acting. However, something must have happened between the time Shepard got that letter and speaking to Kong. His mood went from calm to ‘Get on your damn bikes and follow me.’ No questions asked.
There is fifteen or so of us here right now, including Kong, who look like he's about to have a heart attack. Which isn't like him. He's a motherfucker you don't want to cross. He's my age, but that's never stopped him showing us all just why Shepard named him Kong. He beats down on his enemies like a gorilla, and he's a tall, big, and powerful. King Kong CueBall calls him.
We're all parked behind a motel just outside of Moreston, this being the place whoever sent the letter said the girl would be. Hammer has made the point that this could be an ambush. Shepard has also made the point that that's why we're packing, and have plenty of lookouts all around this dump just in case.
“Did this person state when the girl would be here?”
“No, Jett,” Prez tells him.
Kong climbs off his bike, biting the pad of his thumb, while nervously pacing. Not like him at all.
“What's his problem?” Wrench whispers toward me.
I shrug my shoulders. I don't have a damn clue what's wrong with Kong. Roman drawing his gun instantly, has every man climbing off his bike, and drawing his weapon.
“Don't move!” Tank yells.
“Don't move, you stupid fuck!” Roman yells not a second later at whoever is walking towards us. It's not easy to see who the person is, or if they're male or female with nothing but a streetlight lighting the back carpark. “Stay were the fuck you are, or we'll blow your
damn brains out!”
My adrenaline is pumping; every one of us is ready to take this fucker down if we have to. You never can be too careful, this person could be carrying a hand grenade for all any of us know.
“I'm unarmed,” A woman, I see her silhouette as she comes closer. “I'm the one who asked you to meet here.”
“Alison!” Kong physically pushes past Tank and me, rushing to the woman in front of us. She reaches for him, crying as he wraps her up in his arms. “Shh... I'm here now. I've got you.”
“What the fuck is going on?” Red asks no one in particular.
Shepard steps forward. “Kong?” He turns his head and looks at Shepard, without letting go of the girl. “Is she all right?”
Kong looks at the girl and tips her head up so he can look at her closely. “What did he do to you this time?”
“He,” She hiccups. “He found out about our baby,” Wrench looks at me. We both know this girl is the president of the Dirty Coyotes daughter, and our Kong has been messing around with her. What is it with my brothers and forbidden fruit? “He was so angry, Elliot. He choked me.” She sobs. “He said he'd kill me if I ever saw you again. He said that I never learn, and he let me get away with it the first time, but not twice. He took Teddy from me, Elliot. He won't give him back!”
“You listen to me. We'll get him back, I promise you. I would never let anything happen to either of you. You know that, don't you?” Alison nods her head. “How did you manage to get away from Click?”
“My mom, she took the letter I wrote and delivered it to your president. I knew that would be the best way to get help, go straight to the top. I would have called you, but I knew you'd come for me, and I didn't want to risk anything happening to you.
“Mom waited until Dad left a short while ago, and she brought me here. She had hoped we could bring Teddy, but my dad took him with him. He hasn't let me see him in two days.”