Locked On

Chapter 8

Hawk

It had been over a month since I had practically forced Venus from her job at the Midnight Lounge after I realised her boss had hit her. I had heard that she managed to find regular work at a bar but I still felt a bit guilty over ruining her main source of income. I rang her landlord and started paying half her rent and utility bills but told him to tell her in was a long term tenant discount or something like that. My thoughts were still constantly plagued by her small delicate frame, blue hair and plump lips. Even though I hadn't spoken to her or even made my presence known I'd been regularly riding past her apartment building. I had a crazy strong urge to make sure she was safe even though she wanted me to stay away from her. I really had to get a grip. A woman hasn't effected me in years and yet here I was pining over a stripper I hardly knew like some pathetic virgin.

I once again found myself heading to the strip club. I would rather shoot my own foot then give my money to that woman abusing asshole, Montarrio, but it was JD's birthday and he insisted on a visit to The Midnight Lounge. My brothers and I pulled our Harleys up in the parking lot and headed inside. We settled over a few table near the left stage. Most of my brothers were in high spirits as a blonde haired woman twirled herself around the pole on the stage in front of us. My mood however was growing increasingly black as I caught sight of blue hair swishing around. I stood abruptly catching the attention of my brothers sitting with me. My eyes narrowed as I confirmed the blue hair did in fact belong to Venus. She was grinding rhythmically upon the lap of some greasy fat bastard.  I strode over to her and griped her arm pulling her off the man receiving the lap dance.

'Shows over dickheads!' I snarled at the men game enough to voice their complaints and the quickly found another area of the club to sit. Venus tried unsuccessfully to remove my vice like grip from her upper arm.

'You're hurting me,' she hissed. I quickly released her arm and guilt flushed through me as I saw the red mark already forming from my hand.

'What the hell are you doing here?' I asked her trying to hold my anger at bay as I took in her appearance. The dark circles under her eyes spoke of obvious exhaustion but it was the bruising around her jaw and throat that had me wanting to burn the whole place down.

'Working,' she replied with a casual shrug.

I shook my head and grabbed a hold of her arm, gently, this time and began walking towards the exit pulling Venus along with me.

'And just where do you think you're going with my prized whore?' The sly voice belonging to the owner of the club asked as he stepped out of his office with two jacked up goons trailing behind him.

'I already paid for Venus to be released from her contract. I'm taking her home,' I replied as calmly as I could even though I wanted to rip his head from his shoulders for calling her a whore.

'Ah but you see, Venus signed a new contract,' the sickening grin on Montarrio's face was further fuel to the fiery rage brewing inside me.

'How much?' I snarled. Hoping I could throw some more money at the prick and avoid an further confrontation.

'Unfortunately this new contract doesn't have a release clause. So Venus here is my property until I say otherwise,' Montarrio laughed as if he really thought he had the upper hand here.

'The FUCK she is! I told you asshole Venus is under the protection of the Club.' I snarled pulling my revolver from the back of my jeans and levelling it at Montarrio. My brothers who had been silently watching the exchange happen were on their feet and pulling their own weapons and the sight of mine.
Montarrio's goons had both pulled out their piece as well however the were incredibly outnumbered as my five brothers came to stand by my side.

'We'll be taking our leave now,' Maddox our Club President called out as he too came to stand by my side, 'and we'll be taking Hawks girl here with us. You can consider her contract terminated too unless you want a firefight?'

Montarrio raised his hand to signal to his thugs to lower their weapons and let us pass. 'You regret disrespecting me Maddox!' He spat as we exited the building.

Out in the parking lot Maddox whirled around his glare levelled at me, 'What the fuck was that Hawk?! We had no beef with Montarrio but we sure as shit do now! What the fuck possessed you to pull your weapon out in there huh? All over a piece of ass!?'

'It's not like that Pres..' I made to explain but Maddox held up his hand silencing me.

'We'll discuss it at the next sit down. Take the poor girl home Hawk,' he let out an exasperated sigh and shook his head before throwing his leg over his bike and thundering off with the rest of the Club members following in his wake.

I looked at Venus who was standing silently beside me with wide eyes shining full of terror. I sighed roughly as I ran a hand through my hair. I passed her my helmet and she put it on without complaint. Her silence was mildly concerning but I'm sure the nights events had shocked her.
I settled onto my bike and she climbed on the bike without prompting. I felt content as her arms settled around my waist squeezing tightly as the bike roared to life.