“Have you talked to him? Is he okay?” She tried not to sound worried but wasn’t sure she pulled it off.
“He’s fine.” His voice softened. “Charlotte, you’re new to all of this, and I know it’s scary. Maybe it will help to know Hawk is one of the most capable, deadly humans I’ve ever met. And that wasbeforethese men came after you.”
“Thank you, Cole.” Her shoulders relaxed. Only then did she realize how tense she was.
“We’ll check in when we can.” Cole ended the call.
Being involved with Hawk would require a great deal of trust and resilience. But her feelings for him were stronger than anything that might come between them.
Charlotte wasn’t sure how much time passed when the burner phone buzzed on her lap again and she started awake. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but the stress of the past few months was beginning to catch up with her.
She snatched it up, sat forward, and tapped the screen. “Hello?”
“Hey, Sweets,” Hawk said.
“Hawk!” She pushed up from the floor, and Remy jumped to his feet at hearing Hawk’s name. She shook out her legs. “Are you okay?” He sounded okay. “Did you guys get them?” God, she hoped they got them.
“I’m okay, and yes, we got them.” Hawk continued, “We’re waiting for some folks from the sheriff’s department and the coroner’s office to get here.”
“Coroner’s office?” From his calm tone, she assumed his teammates were all okay. “For whom?”
“Viking took down one of Kimball’s men.” Very matter-of-fact and to the point. “We’ve got a few things to wrap up here, then I’ll come home and tell you everything. Okay?”
“As long as I know you’re okay, then I’m okay.” Movement from one of the monitors captured her attention. She did a double-take and stepped closer for a better look.
Oh shit!
“Um, Hawk, should I be concerned that there is a bear in your backyard?” And it looked pretty dang big.
“Nah, that’s just Carl.” He chuckled. “I’ll tell you about him, too.”
“Oookay.” She watched the bear until he vanished into the woods behind the house.
Why was she not even a little bit surprised that Hawk had a bear for a neighbor?
“I’ll be home soon,” he said.
Home.
“I’ll be here.” She hoped she could always be there for him when he came home. To be his safe harbor, his refuge from the brutality and ugliness that came with the work he’d dedicated his life to doing. That they’d both dedicated their lives to.
Because she loved him. Simple as that.
“See you soon, Sweets.” He ended the call.
Some people might assume her feelings were merely a result of the emotionally charged situation she found herself in. But she’d been drawn to him before any of this craziness started.
But Charlotte was still hesitant to say those three words to him. Because she wasn’t sure what she would do if Hawk didn’t feel the same way.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Leonardwastryingnotto lose his shit. He hadn’t heard from Vince in two hours, and every time he tried to call him, it went straight to voicemail.
His mind raced with possibilities.
Had his best friend backed out of going after the girl? Nah, Vin had never had a problem with handling Leonard’s dirty work. Did he have trouble finding guys to help him out with the job? Could be, but he would’ve given Leonard a heads-up. Maybe he turned his phone off so he wouldn’t be disturbed while he was taking care of the Cavanaugh chick.
“Yeah, that’s gotta be it.” Satisfied with that answer, he grabbed his prized bottle of Macallan 18 Year Sherry Oak single malt scotch and poured another two fingers in his glass. “I just need to be patient.”
