Hawk sensed Charlotte coming up behind him.
She moved to stand next to him, set her hands on her hips, and looked at Kimball.
Hawk’s instinct was to put himself between her and the murderous asshole and would have, if Kimball wasn’t restrained. But he understood that it was important for her to face down the piece of shit who had been tormenting her.
“You came here to kill me, didn’t you?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Well, guess what. You failed … miserably, I might add. And you know what else?” She stepped closer to the helo.
Eddie, displaying the protective impulse he’d gained from having seven sisters, clamped his hand tightly on Kimball’s shoulder.
“I’m going to make sure your friend Leonard Everett—he is your best buddy, right?” She noticed his flinch at the mention of the name. “Yes, I thought so. Well, we are going to find out how he’s involved in all of this. And when we do, I am personally going to see to it that he faces justice and never sees daylight as a free man again.” Charlotte gave him a sweet and somewhat chilling smile. “And do you know what else I’m going to do? I’m going to make sure he knows it’s your fault, that you’re the one who put him there.”
She started to turn away and stopped.
“Oh, silly me.” She thumped the butt of her hand against her forehead and pivoted back to face him again. “I almost forgot the other thing I wanted to tell you.” She paused for effect, then hit him where it hurt. “Your girlfriend is toast, too.”
At that last jab, Kimball lost his shit.
“You bitch!” he shouted. “You leave Helene alone!” Spittle flew from his mouth, and he struggled against the three-point harness.
“Have fun in prison, Vincent.” Charlotte waggled her fingers in a little wave and turned to Hawk. “I’ll warm up that meatball stew now.”
She patted the center of his chest, and in all of her glorious righteousness and without a backward glance at the helo, sauntered up the porch steps, opened the front door, and went inside.
“Okay, that was pretty fucking cool.” Eddie sounded genuinely impressed.
Charlotte Cavanaugh was fucking magnificent, and Hawk intended to tell her that and much more.
Her taunt about Helene had provoked a very interesting response—Kimball’s reaction to her getting busted had been way more severe than how he’d reacted to the idea of Leonard Everett, his closest childhood friend, suffering the same dire fate.
That piece of intel could come in handy.
Kimball continued to shout obscenities long after Charlotte was out of sight.
“Shut the fuck up before I take off my shoe and shove my sock in your mouth. And I don’t want you contaminating them with that nasty mouth of yours.” Eddie looked over at Hawk with a grin. “Is that your mom’s meatball stew recipe Charlotte’s warming up?”
“It is.” Hawk crossed his arms over his chest.
Leave it to his friend to ask about food at a moment like this.
“Man, I love that stuff.” Eddie’s eyes rolled back, and he laid his hand on his belly. “I don’t suppose you could save some for me?”
Viking maneuvered his large body and sniper rifle into the seat behind Eddie.
Lucas climbed into the pilot’s seat.
“Belt up.” He flipped a bunch of switches and pressed some buttons, and the helo blades slowly began to turn.
“I’m sure there will be plenty left for you.” Hawk chuckled and ducked his head as the blades sped up.
“Sweet!” Eddie grabbed the door handle. “I’m going to hold you to that.” He sat next to Kimball in the seat behind Lucas and rolled the door shut.
His teammate had an uncanny ability to compartmentalize. Most people who didn’t know him would think his joking, making light of things, and inability to commit to one woman meant he wasn’t a serious guy.
Hawk knew differently.
Eddie had some pretty dark things in his past that not many people knew about. It was part of what drove him to do the kind of work they did.
“Good work tonight.” Cole strolled up to Hawk, careful to keep his head down. “Andi arrived a couple of hours ago and is at our facility, ready to question Kimball.”
