“What the fuck are you doin’ here, Kylie?” Banger loomed in the doorway.
They all jumped at Banger’s voice, and Johnnie busied himself by emptying the trashcans as Jerry, mug in hand, dashed out of the room. Cara cringed when Banger threw Jerry the evil eye.
“Hi, Daddy,” Kylie said. “Cara and I were arranging when I can start my cooking classes.”
Banger’s face softened. “Okay, that’s good, but you know I don’t like you hangin’ ’round here unless I’m in the room with you.”
“Oh, Dad, these guys are my extended family. They always have my back, you know that.” Throwing her arms around his neck, she kissed him on the cheek.
In front of Cara’s eyes, Banger melted, and the way his eyes shone with love for his daughter reminded Cara of her relationship with her own father. She padded out of the kitchen so father and daughter could share some time together.
As she started going upstairs, her phone beeped.
Sherrie: Where r you? Been trying to find you????
Cara: Sorry for disappearing, had to get away. Will be back in a few.
Sherrie: R u in Denver?
Cara: No, in woods resting. Needed the break. Don’t have good reception here. Will call when I get back. K?
Sherrie: K, but know u aren’t telling me whole story. :(
Cara: Will tell u everything when I get back. Promise. All is good. See u soon.
Cara hated to lie to Sherrie about what was going on and where she was, but she couldn’t risk Sherrie’s involvement.
As the pack of motorcycles roared into the compound’s parking lot, the ground vibrated. Cara’s heart leapt with joy as she let out a sigh of relief. Hawk’s home and he’s okay. Tingling with excitement, she ran to the great room as the front door opened and a group of members clad in blue jeans and leather walked through it. The minute Hawk came into the room, their eyes locked and she rushed up to him, flung her arms around his neck, and hugged him close to her. He dropped his head and crushed her mouth with his. Hawk’s lips tasted of salt and grit, and he smelled like the wind and the earth. As he devoured her mouth in front of everyone in the room, a primal sexiness emanated from him, and not caring how many eyes were on them, she pressed into him and stroked his broad back. Hawk was back and that was all that mattered to her.
“Oh, Cara,” he murmured, his nose running along her jaw down to her neck.
“Is everything okay?” she asked as she cradled his head against her shoulder.
“Yeah.”
Opening her eyes, Cara saw a young, pretty blonde with heavy makeup behind Hawk. “Who’s that?” she asked.
“Who, babe?”
“That girl behind you?”
Hawk swung around and saw the girl. “Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. “What the fuck is she doing here? Can’t anyone do anything right?” he yelled.
“Who is she?” Cara asked again.
“I don’t know. We kinda found her. I don’t think she speaks English.”
Cara stared at her in disbelief. “Hawk,” she whispered. “She looks like the women who’ve been murdered by the Mountainside Strangler. It’s too creepy.”
Hawk’s eyes widened. “Yeah, she does. That’s why she looked familiar to me. She’s been made up to look like the next victim. I fuckin’ knew the Nomads were involved in this sick shit.”
“Where did you go this morning?” Cara questioned.
“Club business. Change the subject.” His voice dripped ice.
Cara opened her mouth to protest but changed her mind as many pairs of eyes shot through her. “What’s she doing here?”
“Fuck if I know,” Hawk said, looking around to find Jax.
“I didn’t want to go to some fuckin’ safe house,” the blonde snarled.
The room fell silent as all eyes were on the petite blonde.
“Why the fuck is everyone staring at me?”
Hawk cleared his voice. “You’re American? Why the fuck didn’t you tell us you spoke English?”
“Because you didn’t fuckin’ ask me.”
“What were you doing with all those foreigners?” Jax asked as he approached her.
“Assholes picked me up. I was hitchin’ a ride, so I jumped on one of the bikes and my hell began,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Cara, go up to the room. We got club business here,” Hawk said.
When she opened her mouth to object, Hawk sent her a look that told her to back off. She turned around and went up to Hawk’s room.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Once Cara left, Hawk glowered at the girl. “You should have fuckin’ told us you were an American. Were there any other Americans in the group of women?”