Kings of Hawkings [bxb]

Chapter 34

The following Wednesday, the other Kings joined Hugh and Jonas at Martha's shop. She was surprised by the larger group but greeted them warmly.

"You brought more friends?" she asked, smiling at Jonas.

"I wanted to introduce them," Jonas replied.

Martha nodded, her hands busy assembling a bouquet for Brett's grave. "He would have liked to meet all of you," she said quietly, her back turned. "What you did with this year's Hunt would have meant a lot to him. Thank you."

Jonas began to apologize, but Martha turned around with a firm look that stopped him. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"Don't apologize. You were his friend, and that's what mattered most." She took a deep breath, holding the flowers close. "I'm ready to visit him today."

Jonas smiled and linked arms with her while Hugh walked on her other side, holding her hand. Martha noticed and grinned at the two of them but said nothing.

The Kings hung back as Jonas escorted Martha to Brett's grave. She broke down in his arms, and they waited patiently, giving her time to grieve.

When she calmed, Jonas wrapped an arm around her. "Losing my son was the hardest thing I've ever faced," she said. "But I feel like he brought you into my life. You're like a second son to me, Jonas."

"Maybe he knew we needed each other," Jonas replied. "Being treated like your son has helped me through a very dark time."

The Kings paid their respects to Brett before escorting Martha back to the shop. They watched as Jonas and Hugh fussed over her, helping with the shop until she eventually sent them off to school, snacks in hand. Jonas hugged her and kissed her cheek before they left.

St. Vincent's continued to dominate the city with its deep pockets and influential connections. They skillfully silenced any growing support for Hawkings by controlling the narrative. Through well-placed donations and strategic relationships with local media, they ensured that only favorable stories about their school were broadcast. They downplayed or erased more damaging events from public memory, like the Hunt and the hanging animals in Hawkings' courtyard.

Meanwhile, Hawkings students faced a growing sense of persecution. Their dorms and school were repeatedly vandalized, graffiti covering the walls and windows. The school initially tried to keep up with repairs, but the constant defacement became too much, and they eventually gave up, leaving the marks as a testament to their struggle.

Cars belonging to Hawkings students mysteriously disappeared from legal parking spots, only to be found later in impound lots, requiring hefty fees to retrieve. Worse still, students wearing their Hawkings jackets were regularly stopped by police under flimsy pretenses. These encounters were not just routine checks; they often involved intimidation, harassment, and the abuse of power. The students became so accustomed to it that they instinctively raised their hands whenever they saw a cop car approaching, bracing for the inevitable.

St. Vincent's avoided direct physical confrontations, knowing any Hawkings student could defend themselves—and that the Kings, particularly Mad Dog and the Wolf, were not to be trifled with. Instead, they resorted to psychological and social warfare, using their influence to keep Hawkings under constant pressure.

Parents of Hawkings students tried to step in, rallying to expose the injustices their children faced. However, they encountered an overwhelming wall of bureaucracy and legal obstacles, often finding their efforts stalled by mysterious delays and "lost" paperwork. Even Chuck and Alex, determined to shed light on St. Vincent's dirty tactics, were mired in a slow-moving process filled with unexpected challenges, from sudden legal threats to media blackouts.