and then I’d have to hand the man over. As much as I wanted to gut the fucker right here and now, I couldn’t. I’d have to let the wheels of justice turn and put this asshole behind bars. But if he got away, if they didn’t lock him up, then he’d be mine.
I leaned in closer and dropped my voice to a low growl. “You show your face around here again, you manage to get away with a slap on the wrist, and I will be waiting. You understand? Next time, you don’t walk away.”
“You’d have to find me first.” He smiled. “And your girl because I’ll be coming for her. Now that you’ve broken her in, no reason I can’t treat her like the little whore she is.”
My hand tightened on the handle of my knife and I nearly slit his damn throat. Instead, I slammed the end of the butt of it into his head. He dropped to his knees, coughing and trying to shake it off. A well-placed kick to his temple knocked him the fuck out, right as the chief of police walked up.
“Didn’t think I might want to question him?” Chief Daniels asked, his eyes flashing with anger.
“He pissed me off. Called your daughter a whore. I decided I’d heard enough from the likes of him.” I sheathed my knife. “Could have been worse. I wanted to slice him open. World would be better off without him around.”
The chief nodded and gazed down at the man on the ground. He nudged him with the toe of his boot, but the asshole was out cold.
“Want us to dump him in your cruiser?” Grimm asked.
“Just as soon as I get some cuffs on him.” He pulled a set from his back pocket and knelt, securing the man on the ground. “He give you anything?”
I shook my head. “Other than spouting off shit about Hayley, no. He wouldn’t give up his name or say why he was following her.”
Chief Daniels watched Grimm haul the man off. “I appreciate the help apprehending him. And I know my daughter will feel safer now that he’s in custody. She doesn’t need the stress right now.”
I wanted to ask if she was all right, if there was anything I could do, but it was clear she hadn’t told her dad about me. Which meant I needed to keep my mouth shut. Even if her dad was the chief of police, and she’d said he was overprotective, I didn’t think she’d let them stand in her way of being happy. Would she? It didn’t seem likely and just solidified the fact she hadn’t wanted more than one night with me. I’d known going into it that she deserved better than someone like me. Some part of me had still hoped she’d want more.
Chief Daniels eyed me. “You know, I typically don’t let Hayley hang out with bikers, but since you’re responsible for keeping her safe, would you like to meet her? She’d probably like to thank you in person.”
I knew I should say no. Didn’t mean I had the ability. “I’d love to meet her.”
Snake raised his eyebrows with a what the fuck expression on his face. Yeah, I wouldn’t be able to explain away this one. I only hoped no one figured out I was all messed up over this woman. Only Preacher had seen us together, and he wasn’t here. I figured I was safe, unless he’d blabbed to his brothers.
I followed the chief to his back door, and he motioned for me to follow him inside. Hayley sat at the kitchen table with a cup of tea in her hands, and I noticed they slightly trembled. Her eyes went wide when she saw me.
“Hayley, this is…” He glanced my way. “Sorry. I didn’t catch your name.”
“Hawk.”
“Hayley, this is Hawk. He caught the man who’s been stalking you. The guy is in my cruiser right now and I’m about to take him in. Thought you might want to say thank you in person.” The chief shoved his hands into his pockets and stared his daughter down.
Hayley cleared her throat. “It’s nice to meet you, Hawk. Thanks for helping find the guy who’s been…”
I gave her a nod. “No problem. Long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters.”
She sank her teeth into her bottom lip. I wished she’d say something else. Ask me to stay. Anything. Instead, she sat quietly while the chief ushered me back out the door. I looked