Poisoned Rose (Dark Roses #1) Read Free Page B

tell they were young, early twenties the three of them, and the loud one with the short blond hair throwing back a beer seemed to be the leader of the pack.
                  The soldier approached Hawk and leant on the bar.
                  ‘It’s a buck’s night for the one in the booths.’
                  He then left to make another round of the club.  Hawk considered the leader of the pack again as the boy wolf whistled at the stage before leaning forward and making some sort of bet with his friends.  He was tall and toned and Hawk couldn’t help but think he’d make a good Mason soldier.  He seemed familiar, but Hawk came across a lot of people and it was more than likely he’d seen the boy in a club.
                  It was clear he was the best man and Hawk found himself turning towards the private booths and wondering what the groom was like.  Was it possible the groom was someone he knew and that was why the best man seemed familiar? But he stopped himself from over thinking it.  He didn’t have time to consider who they were and if he was being honest with himself, he didn’t care.  They’d overstayed their welcome and he had to get them out of there.  As he approached the table, the two boys grew quiet and apprehensive, while the best man didn’t seem to notice until Hawk was standing right behind him.
                  ‘Alright boys I think you’ve partied enough.  How about you round up your friends and go find a couple of cabs.’
                  It wasn’t a request.  The best man looked up at him.
                  ‘Shit man you’re huge!’
                  ‘So I’ve been told.  You having a good night?’
                  ‘Hell yes! It’s my brother’s bucks, twenty two and already tying the knot, can you believe it? Kid’s crazy.  I’m Austin by the way.’
                  Austin extended his hand and Hawk gave it a firm shake. He didn’t seem to notice that Hawk neglected to reveal his own name.  He never introduced himself.  His reputation preceded him and if someone didn’t know him, there was a good reason for that.
                  ‘Start gathering up your friends so that when your boy gets back you can head on home.  Take him back to his missus in one piece.’
                  He expected them to argue or beg him to let them stay but instead they nodded and Austin told him they’d do just that.  Hawk clapped him on the back and went to take his seat at the bar, waiting for them to leave.  He was willing to give them another ten minutes but he wanted them out.  He didn’t know how long the men outside had been waiting and the last thing he felt like was a shootout and a morning of burying bodies. Still, he wasn’t a heartless bastard, and the thought that one of those boys was going to get killed frustrated him.
                  As the manager of The Den strode out of his office and approached him, Hawk noticed the curtain to one of the private booths pull back.  He didn’t bother taking a look at the buck as he walked back to his friends; he had no desire to put a face on a possible dead man walking.  Instead he decided to go with the manager back to his office.  He didn’t talk to club managers unless he was collecting money or there was a problem.  Since the manager had paid Honor earlier in the night, the man was nervous and he stumbled on his words as he explained the state of the club.
                  Hawk half listened as the manager started to sweat, moving from one file cabinet to another and pulling out security reports that Hawk had seen direct from his soldiers.  He was watching the clock and after ten minutes, he nodded that he was satisfied with the manager’s work and left.  The group of boys were gone and as he was leaving, he called Ty to confirm if all the money runs had