Camp Hardwood by Alexa Riley

Chapter Two

Hawk

Iglance down to see her oversized shirt covering her up, but I don’t like knowing she’s so exposed with these men in her cabin. Each one of them comes pretty close to matching me in size, and one on one I wouldn’t be so worried. But with all three of them against me, my odds aren’t looking too good.

“Nice to see you again,” I say to the one in the middle. He was the guy at the front desk, the one who told me he hadn’t seen my Piper.

“I’m Ford Cyprus, and this is my son Van.” He nods to his left. “And this is our camp ranger Moose.”

The man on his right crosses his arms over his chest, making him look bigger and my fingers itch to reach for the gun in my belt. I need to keep this situation calm so I take a step in front of Piper.

“She’s not dressed, so I think we should all step outside.” I use every ounce of self-control I have to talk smoothly and defuse the tension.

“Hawk,” Piper hisses at me, and I turn to glare at her. She presses her lips together and looks away. I’m hoping for once in her life she can listen to me.

“Fine,” Ford agrees as he and the two other guys back out of the cabin.

“Muñeca,” I say softly, and she looks up at me. “The scent of your naked pussy is the only thing I can smell right now. Put something on and come outside when you’re dressed.”

“I was dressed before you came in here and ripped things off of me,” she huffs, then stomps over to the dresser.

Now it’s my turn to keep quiet as I step out of the cabin and close the door behind me. So much for locks around here.

“We know who she is.” Moose’s voice is firm and Ford nods.

“Then you know why I’m here.” I decide to play my cards close to my chest because this is my fucking business and it’s between Piper and me.

“You’re not taking her.” Van is young, but he looks just like his father and I can see he’s just as stubborn.

“That’s not for you to decide.” I look between the three of them and hear the door to the cabin open behind me. “Get your things, Piper. We’re leaving.”

A silence passes and I turn around to see her shaking her head. “I’m not going with you.” She places a protective hand over her belly and I clench my fists at my side.

“That’s not for you to decide either.” The sound that comes from me is low and grumbling. “I’m not asking you, Piper, I’m telling you. Get your things or we’ll leave them here. It doesn't matter to me.”

“I think you heard her,” Ford says as he steps closer to me.

I hold my hand out and he stops his approach. “Come another step and you’ll regret it,” I warn, and he narrows his eyes at me.

“Hawk,” Piper pleads from behind me, and I don’t like that I can’t watch these men and her at the same time. “This is my home now. I’m eighteen, and I don’t have to do what my father tells me to.”

“We need to talk,” I tell her over my shoulder and I notice that the other two men moved a bit closer when I wasn’t looking. I chance a glance back at her and just as I do, I hear the sound of gravel crunching under boots and then I’m being tackled.

I feel my gun fall out of my belt as I roll on top of Ford and land a punch to his mouth. Just as I make contact, my arms are yanked back and Moose has me in a headlock. I kick out and make a direct hit into Van’s chest before he goes flying back. I’m fighting but Moose is strong and the hold he’s got me in is cutting off blood flow to my head.

“Fuck,” I grit out, trying to fight it but I know I’m going to pass out.

“I think you’ve done enough talking,” Ford says as he gets up and uses the back of his hand to wipe the blood from his mouth.

“Hawk!” Piper shouts and I look over to see two women holding her back from getting to me.

Everything inside of me boils and my adrenaline surges. But it’s too late. The black spots around my eyes are getting bigger and I can’t breathe.

“Muñeca,” I feel myself mumble just before my whole world goes black.

It feels like hours or maybe even days later when my eyes open. It’s dark all around me and I have no idea what time it is. The floor is cold concrete and my whole body aches from being in the same position for too long.

I curse as I roll over onto my back and my head swims. I hear a small sound nearby and I look over to see a faint light coming from across the room. I blink a few times to get my eyes to adjust.

“What the fuck?” I whisper when I realize I’m in some kind of cell.

Thoughts of Piper screaming my name come rushing back and I’m on my feet in a second. But it’s too fast and I stumble to the floor, nearly hitting my head on the concrete. I take a few deep breaths and then get up again, because I have to get to her. I can’t lose her. Not again.

“Easy,” a soft voice says, and I look up to see a blond woman I recognize from the office the first time I visited Camp Hardwood. “I’m Honey. I believe you’re the man who punched my husband and kicked my son?” She raises an accusing eyebrow and I don’t bother denying the charges.

“Where the fuck is Piper?”

“She’s okay. We had to force her to lie down because she was pretty upset,” Honey says, and her eyes soften. “Your visit upset her, to say the least.”

“I need to see her,” I plead, grabbing the bars and moving in close. “Please.”

I don’t remember the last time I said that word, but it doesn’t matter. I’d do anything to get to her and have her back.

“I’m just here to check on you and bring you some food. When she’s ready we’ll let her come here and talk to you. But until then she needs to take care of the baby.”

The look on her face is a mix of pity and recognition. She isn’t going to let me out, but she’s at least telling me at some point I’ll get to see her. She holds out a tray of food and slides it under the door to me. Then she passes me a bottle of water and I take it from her gently.

“There’s a cot in the back. Try to get some sleep.”

She turns to walk away and I swallow hard before I speak.

“Just—” I begin, and she stops to look at me. “Make sure she’s okay.”

She nods and a sad smile pulls at her lips. “She’s our family. We’ll make sure she’s taken care of.”

I don’t expect the stab of jealousy to hit me so hard, but I have to take a step back because it’s so sharp my head is dropping. Honey walks out of the room and the metal door closes behind her.

I walk to the back of the cell and sit down on the cot with a thud. What the fuck have I done?