Hawk left the basement in disgust; he was the last one to judge how people fucked, but it was about pleasure, not forcing women to do this shit. It figures that asshole Viper has to rape women to get them to fuck his limp dick. Where the hell is that sonofabitch?
Surveying the upstairs rooms, Hawk nodded in satisfaction while he gave the brothers the thumbs-up for clearing the room of all evidence. Looking at the women they found in the house, Hawk thought the club could find something for them to do in some of the MC businesses, and he figured they’d rather work at a dispensary or restaurant than be deported, but he’d let the women decide what they wanted to do.
As the brothers prepared to leave, Ruben came up to Hawk. “Word is Viper and two of his members are in Pinewood Springs.”
“Why the fuck didn’t any of you see him leave? Who the hell dropped the ball? Shit, let’s get going. I want to find that fucker.” Hawk’s jaw tightened. Cara was in Pinewood Springs. He signaled the Insurgents to follow as he raced to his woman.
In the distance, the low wail of sirens echoed in the canyon before Hawk’s phone rang.
“Fuckin’ badges are comin’. Shit, there’s a goddamn light show,” Jax said.
“Get your asses outta there!” Hawk shouted. “Leave the truck and haul ass. Take the back roads, and we’ll meet up with you at South Bend.”
“What about the women?”
“The badges will find them and deal with them. Do any of them speak English?”
“Not that I could tell,” said Jax.
“Good. Everything’s been cleaned up, bodies gone, and nothing links us to any of this shit. Now get the hell out. We’ll see you in about an hour.”
Increasing the speed on his motorcycle, Hawk and his brothers rode toward Pinewood Springs.
* * *
Streaming sunlight woke Cara up and she stretched out her arm, hoping to find Hawk’s warm body. Nothing—he was still gone.
She sighed and worry creased her brow as images of him hurt and bleeding stabbed her mind. Fretting, she washed up and went downstairs for a hot cup of coffee, entering the kitchen she looked around; she didn’t want a repeat performance with Lola or the other ladies. Thankfully, no one was in the kitchen.
After she poured a cup of coffee, Cara opened the refrigerator and searched for something to eat. A chair scraped against the concrete floor, and Cara whirled around; a young blonde woman greeted her with a big smile. She was a pretty girl with sparkling blue eyes that looked familiar. Walking over to Cara, hand extended, she said, “Hi, I’m Kylie. You must be Cara.”
Smiling, Cara shook the young woman’s hand. Of course, this is Banger’s daughter. I should have known that from her eyes.
“How do you like it here?” Kylie asked as she took a bite of a chocolate iced doughnut.
“It takes some getting used to.”
Kylie shrugged. “I suppose. This has always been my life, so I don’t know anything different.”
“For someone not used to the life, it can be a little overwhelming,” Cara said.
Kylie eyed Cara as she chewed her doughnut. “Aren’t you the one who’s supposed to teach me how to cook spaghetti sauce and other things?”
Cara smiled. “Your dad mentioned it to me. If you’re interested, it would be my pleasure.”
“My dad sure loves your cooking. He’s crazy for your spaghetti sauce. I’ve never heard him rave about anything so much. He wants me to learn how to make it.”
“We can set up a time in the next few weeks,” Cara said.
“How long are you staying here?” Kylie asked.
“I don’t know, but I hope to go home soon.”
Jerry walked in and grabbed a cup of coffee. He looked Kylie up and down and lingered on her rounded ass and curvy hips. Since Kylie had her back turned, she didn’t notice Jerry checking her out, but his lustful sweeps over her body were not lost on Cara.
“Hi, Kylie. You’re looking good,” Jerry said.
Kylie spun around, her cheeks reddening. “Thanks.”
“Does your dad know you’re here?” he asked.
“Maybe,” she replied.
“I bet he doesn’t. You better go on home before he sees you.”
“I don’t care. It’s boring at home. Anyway, I haven’t seen you guys in a long time.” She placed her waist-length hair behind her ears, jumped up on the counter, and crossed her long legs. Cara saw the lust in Jerry’s eyes as he looked at Kylie’s denim-clad legs while he shifted from one foot to another.
“Better watch yourself, or Banger’s gonna beat your ass if he catches you staring at his daughter,” Johnnie said under his breath.
Cara didn’t notice Johnnie come into the kitchen because the exchange between Jerry and Kylie distracted her. Her stomach twisted when she heard Johnnie warning Jerry. Knowing Johnnie spoke the truth, she hoped Jerry heeded his words.
“He’d beat your ass even harder if he finds out you’re talking to his daughter.”
Jerry hurled Johnnie a steely glare while Kylie, twirling a strand of hair around her finger, said, “So what if she talks to me?”
In the short time Cara was at the clubhouse, she picked up on two rules: Prospects didn’t talk until they were spoken to, and no one, patched or not, talked to Kylie unless Banger approved it. Kylie was off-limits to club members, and to men in general. The way Jerry acted toward Kylie was unacceptable, and if a member saw him, Jerry would receive a beatdown. Cara overheard him tell Johnnie that Kylie was the prettiest woman he had ever seen. Cara liked Jerry, but she knew Banger was overprotective of his daughter and had no tolerance for anyone who talked or flirted with her, especially a club member.
“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?”