CAGE’S FALL: The Vulture’s MC Page 8

  I scoffed coming to the bar. I didn’t have a fucking heart. A man with a heart would have told her that Lit was sleeping with Amy every second night.

  I grabbed a shot glass, and the spirits.

  “You getting on the piss?” Jacob walked in, frowning. “Thought you were tired?”

  I looked up, my jet black eyes telling him to stay the fuck away from me and not ask questions. He rose his hands. “Well pour another one will ya, I just had a one on one with Wild.”

  I poured him a drink and at the time I didn’t see getting on the piss with Jacob as a bad thing. But if I had known what would have come out of it as a result. I would have put the fucking cap back on the bottle.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Autumn

  All my life I was given everything I had. I had never had to work for anything. I was given a private school education, from my mother. Then Hawk continued to pay it for the last year when she passed.

  Never had to have a part time job to pay for anything. Not when the Mother Chapter President was your step dad. Nope. Your bank account never got below the ten grand mark.

  Though I was responsible with my money, well the money Hawk gave me. I never went and spent it on things I didn’t need.

  But now I was back at his club house, a part of me was furious with Jacob and Hawk for putting me back in this position. But I knew that I didn’t have independence. I wasn’t living on my own independently. So I made myself a goal. When this lockdown ended. So did me being a leech on Hawk.

  I was going to earn my way. Starting right now.

  Walking down into the pub, I scanned the members looking for the President.

  Then knowing there was only one other place he would be I walked to the church doors. Knocking once.

  “You don’t want to go in there girly.”

  I turned seeing Wild.

  “Why?” I asked.

  “Bad night with the boys. He’s in a foul mood—” Wild went to explain further when a ‘What’ was barked out behind the doors. Well I couldn’t not just go in now.

  I opened the door and walked in. Seeing him at his chair, cigarette in hand-first I saw surprise, but then his expression turned sour.

  “Sorry to bother you.” I was quick to say before he threw me out. God knows I deserve it.

  “What is it you want Autumn?” He kept his tone semi friendly, or at least held back on his temper.

  “I wanted to know if you need a bartender, or a waitress, or something.”

  “Got club girls.” His eyes narrowed on me. “Suddenly got a career interest in bartending, waitressing or something?” He arched his eyebrows at me.

  Okay. How do I approach this, without him thinking the worst of me. Or me insulting him? “I want to work for the money you give me. I’m not a charity case. I want to earn the roof over my head.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  “I do.”

  “You’re family. I look after family.”

  “We both know I’m not your family.” The words came out, in a way I had not intended. Or intended for them to be so harsh. “I mean,” I quickly corrected myself. “I don’t expect you to care for me. You made no obligation to.”

  He reached into his pocket pulling out his wallet. I didn’t know why, till he pulled out a piece of paper, and he held it in the air. “This says different. This says I’m the adopted father of an Autumn Bentley. This,” he rose up, “proves to me, that I’m to care for you.”

  I didn’t know what to say, because he had kept it in his wallet. All these years.

  “Hawk, we both know that ended when I turned eighteen.”

  Hawk’s eyes went glassy. “I knew then and I know it now, that I’d never replace your father. But I thought, that you considered me like a dad. And that was enough for me. But if you really want to cut me off fully, from looking after you… Which was the only thing I had left. Then…”

  “Stop!” I cut him off. “Don’t you get it! I’m trying to meet you halfway here! You have been giving me everything. Now I want to give you something.”

  Hawk scoffed. “Don’t you get it, you ain’t the fucking problem! You’re the solution!” He said something that completely threw me. I did not understand. “You’re the reason I get up in the morning Autumn. You’re the reason I run this club. Hell you are the only reason I fight to stay out of prison or not to end up in a ditch. When are you going to see, you’re all I got!”

  His words stunned me to the core. He was basically saying he did everything he does for me, not for the club.

  “Never been a man to earn clean. But I can tell you now, the reason I’ve stayed deep in this lifestyle is so you are cared for.” Hawk sat back down. “You were the first baby I ever held. Your father made cracks at me not to drop you. I watched you grow Acorn, and then when you lost your father I made a promise to God that nothing would ever happen to you, while I was breathing.” He looked back at me with tears in his eyes. “You’re my family.”

  Emotions flooded my body so quickly, and I moved across the room to him. Hawk had been the one to hold my hand when I got that cast put on me in the ER. Hawk had been the one to be there for my graduation, even when I was barely speaking to him.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck, and his arms went around me, twisting the chair and raising to his full height. I clung to him, he always made me feel safe, and I had turned my back on that because of what the club was, and it was here, standing while hugging my dad, that I realized that the club was; it was family, and it was time I accepted my family and I wasn’t doing wrong by them anymore.

  Because the club, was who you called, when ya life was falling apart. This club, this family, caught you before you hit rock bottom; and I had always taken that for granted.

  I wasn’t doing wrong by them anymore. I was stepping up.

  CAGE

  The food was being dished out onto the tables. I didn’t know whether it was the fact I was used to prison food, but I swear the club food had gotten better. Wasn’t just casseroles and BBQ’s. Nah, the girls had stepped up their work in the kitchen and it was noticed, not just by me.

  Everyone’s mood had lifted because of it. Men were arriving earlier for lunch and dinners. Hell, we basically had a packed hall for lunch- which rarely happened because it was usually sandwiches, but not lately.

  Sitting at the main table, Hawk at the top of the table at my left. Jacob, Lit and Wild across from me. Vod was next to me.

  “So we need to talk about these businesses, anyone find one with substance?” Jacob asked, lighting up a cigarette. We were currently hunting down new business fronts to launder money through.

  “Nah, nothing that could clean the type of cash we need.” I said, the only place I could find was a Fish n Chip shop.

  Hawk’s eyes were on his phone. Had a smirk on his face.

  “So who is she?” Wild piped up, and Hawk didn’t realized Wild was talking to him.

  I gave Wild a look not to push it. Just because Hawk had been in a good mood the last week, didn’t mean we should fucking start prying on the why.

  Food started coming to our table, and then I spotted her at the bar. She was bending over, and fuck it was a good sight, before I saw her putting beers on a tray. Then to my surprise she walked towards us, holding a tray of different beers.

  Hawk put his phone down.

  Jacob didn’t even glance at her when she placed his first choice of beer in front of him, beside his dinner. Then I noticed how she did the same with Wild and Lit. She knew what their preferred drink was.

  “Got to admit sis, you taking over the kitchen hasn’t been the best for my weight.” Jacob said, as she undid Hawk’s bottle cap, placing his preferred beer in front of him.

  Then she was at my side, and I was fucking shocked when she placed my preferred Jack Daniels in front of me. How the hell did she know I liked bourbon over beer?

  “Thanks Acorn.” Hawk said, and the niceness in his tone— was heard by all us. Take a
seat.”

  “Can’t Dad, got apple pies in the oven.” Autumn was still standing beside me.

  “Those club girls, listening to you?” Hawk said cutting up his steak.

  Jacob scoffed. “After the black eye she gave Alisha I think that put all the club girls under her thumb.”

  “Well, it was fair enough for them not wanting to listen to me, I’m not sleeping with a member, like them.” Autumn did what she always did and defended the under dog.

  “No, but ya club blood. So they better fucking listen.” Hawk looked up, his eyes on her.

  “Dad, don’t worry about me, I can handle myself. Now, I better check on those pies. To think those ovens hadn’t even been used till last week.” She was off, and I watched her ass sway as she headed back to the kitchen.

  Couldn’t fucking lie and say I wasn’t furious that she was cooking for all these men. She wasn’t a fucking slave. When she disappeared around the corner, I turned to look at Hawk. Only his eyes were on me, with a glare to them.

  I wrapped my hand around my Jack Daniels, she had even taken the cap off mine as well.

  “Autumn makes the best apple pies.” Jacob broke the ice at the table, and was then back to stuffing his face with steak.

  I couldn’t say anything. But boy did I fucking want to. Autumn had gone from wanting nothing to do with the club, to now making fucking sure the members got good meals. Why? What had changed?

  * * *

  “We aren’t buying a fucking clothing shop Jacob.” Hawk barked at him. It was late, we had moved from the dining hall to the pub, sitting in a booth drinking and trying to determine what type of business we were going to buy.

  I lit up a cigarette, listening to them go at it back and forth with bad ideas.

  “Autumn thanks for tea.” Wild spoke up, telling them both that we weren’t alone.

  Then I felt her standing at the booth, watching her hands wrap around the empties, putting them in a trash bag.

  “You’re welcome Wild.” She gave him a genuine smile. “How’s the night going?”

  “Trying to find a business to launder money through.” Jacob said, causing me to choke on the mouthful of bourbon I had just tried to drink. He couldn’t be fucking serious! He just opened up and told her that!

  “Guessing you need it legit?” She said, emptying the ash trays into the trash bag. “You should try The Grind, the owner wants to sell it.”

  “The gym?” Jacob knew what she was talking about.

  “Yeah, Neil the owner is moving overseas. I’ve seen the books, it runs a good amount of cash through it. Not to mention super popular with college kids. Guess that could help with another business adventure of yours.” She added with a wink, implying we could filter drugs through it as well. Before walking off.

  Fuck she’s brilliant. And I wasn’t the only one thinking it, as I saw the expression on the boys faces.

  “But Neil won’t deal with bikers.” Jacob blew out a mouthful of smoke. “But I know for a fact there is someone he will deal with.” And his eyes were on Autumn as she spoke with a member at the bar, her laughing could be heard from here.

  I couldn’t help but think, she was showing all the signs to be a perfect old lady.

  Autumn

  Oh my god why did planks have to be so damn hard. I stayed in position, waiting for the timer to go off on my phone. The good thing about a twenty four hour gym was I could come at times when there was barely anyone around. Like after hours.

  The gym itself wasn’t known for being the safest gym, having no lock or key pass on the door. It was, however, staffed but I saw Neil out of the corner of my eye sneak out the back with a woman.

  I was exhaling sharply, when all of a sudden my ear bud was ripped out of my ear.

  “What the fuck!” I yelled, and then dropped to the ground, looking up at my brother and Cage. On my back. Saw Cage’s eyes run up and over my bare legs, and then my sports bra. “Why are you two in my gym?” I grit out, getting up. “Last time I checked, you work out like cavemen in a shed at the club.” Then my concern went up. “Did something happen to Dad?”

  “No, no, calm down.” Jacob said, scanning the equipment. “It’s a bit dead.”

  “It's eleven at night Jacob. That’s sort of the point.” I picked up my towel wiping the sweat off my forehead. “Now, why are you two here?”

  “Wanted to see the place before you bought it,” Jacob said and my eyes widened.

  “What do you mean me?”

  He grinned. “Club needs a favour. Neil won’t sell to us. But you’re the woman he loves to watch work out and…” Jacob took a step towards me. “You’re all about proving ya place in the club at the moment right now, right? So what do you say about doing the club a favor?”

  My eyes went from Jacob to Cage, who was glaring at the ground. Why did I have a feeling he didn’t like this plan?

  CAGE

  “Don’t see why we couldn’t just fucking threaten him to selling it to us,” I said to Jacob walking from the gym. Leaving Autumn in there barely wearing a thing, fucking was hard. Nearly as hard as knowing she was going to approach that sleaze of a gym owner to buy the gym.

  “He could alert the cops mate. Come on what’s your real issue with Autumn doing it?” he mounted his bike, and I didn’t know what the real reason was. I just had a fucking bad feeling about it.

  “Just don’t want her alone with him.” I said before starting my bike. I just knew something bad was going to come out of this; and I really didn’t like Autumn putting herself in the firing line.

  Autumn

  Neil’s hand brushed mine, as I went to sign the piece of paper. Over and over again, every signature I did, he insisted on brushing my hand with his. I shouldn’t have fucking agreed to sign the papers at his house.

  I should have done it in public.

  Instead I was alone at his house. Every time he touched me, my fear that I was, here alone— would strike.

  “I should go.” I said, as soon as his pen finished signing the sale of the gym to me.

  “Or you could stay.” He blew in my ear and I immediately stepped back, but his hand wrapped around my waist. “Come on sweetheart enough of playing hard to get.”

  “I’m not playing anything.” I shoved him off, scared and the fact we were in his locked apartment scared me more.

  “Okay okay,” he rose his hands trying to calm me down “How about a drink?” Neil said, and then he poured two wine glasses. God I needed a drink to take the edge off.

  I nodded my head, taking the glass and sipping it, then throwing most of it back. A satisfying grin went across Neil’s face.

  I frowned. Then looked down at the glass, seeing something dissolving in the bottom of it. I immediately got up, and ran for the door. Only to reach it and start feeling extremely light headed. My hand wrapped around the door handle, as my mind got cloudy.

  I turned my back to the door, my hand going to my head.

  “No more playing hard to get sweetie pie.” He said, and I watched him undo his belt, and I wanted to fight. I wanted to scream. But I could barely keep my eyes open, as I slid down to the door.

  The last thing I remembered was him lifting me up.

  CAGE

  “I swear if he smiles one more damn time, I’m calling the cops, telling them an alien has taken the Prez.” Vod muttered to the table. We were all watching Prez, and Wild laughing.

  “He’s been like this all month,” Lit said, his eyes on Hawk too. “Ever since Autumn came back into the picture.”

  “Yeah, well she is the golden child,” Jacob blew out some smoke. “Though, I didn’t know her being nice to him would result in his cold ass going soft. Did you see he didn’t even pull Wild up on that speeding fine? I got two months from the table when I got one.”

  “Someone turn the fucking music off!” Hawk roared, and all our heads whipped in his direction. Didn’t even realize he was on the phone.

  When no one turned the music off, he pulled
his gun out pointing it at the sound system and firing.

  “Great there goes thousands,” Jacob muttered.

  The room went eerily quiet after that. Why had Hawk’s mood suddenly changed?

  We all watched him hang up. We all saw him run his hand over his mohawk.

  “What’s going on?” Jacob spoke up, and he was the only one with balls enough to ask Hawk what had caused his bipolar mood change.

  “Autumn.” Hawk turned and I saw it in his eyes. I saw the grief. Panic. Rage. Pain... All flash across his eyes across his eyes. “She’s in the ER.” And that was enough, Jacob was up.

  He didn’t ask questions. Neither of them spoke. They headed out the door for their bikes. And I was right behind them.

  Hawk gave me a look when I mounted my bike. But he had to know, I cared about Autumn. I did a prison sentence for her, and if she was hurt— I needed to know how bad.

  And more importantly, how and why she was hurt.

  Chapter Twenty

  CAGE

  The doctors greeted Hawk at the door with security, before we were shown to a private waiting room. While Hawk demanded to see Autumn, the doctors said they needed to get her treating doctor.

  Finally, after some time, the man who was suppose to talk to us showed up but he wasn't alone. Following him was the mother fucking police.

  “Keep your shit together Hawk,” I muttered beside him. Then looked at Jacob, he nodded his head. Agreeing to keep his shit together too but also telling me he was ready to pin Hawk down as soon as they told him what had happened to Autumn.

  It was clear they thought Hawk was going to take the news badly.

  Which made my heart pound with nerves. I needed to know and if they didn’t hurry the fuck up, I’d be the one snapping and being arrested.