“He knew,” she gasped. “He already knew it was you.”
Dakota nodded. “I told him in the hospital.”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone before that? Colt? Hawk?!” Jessie asked, her heart beating out of her chest.
“We’re wasting time, Dakota! He told you he wasn’t going to wait much longer to get that drive back. Today was it. It’snearly midnight, and you don’t have it, do you?” Adrienne shook her head, laughing. “I’m taking the baby. Jess is the price you’re going to pay for fucking with our business.”
Our business.Her friend really was involved in all of this.
“I’m not going anywhere. I don’t have anything to do with whatever is going on between Dakota and your boyfriend.” Jessie was trying to figure out how the hell she could get herself and Bee out of the room and to wherever Hawk was. Her stomach rolled thinking about what had happened to him, because she knew there was no way he was okay and just not coming back up the stairs.
“Myhusband, Jess.” Adrienne laughed. “You know, the first day he saw you at the diner, we were already so in love. I knew that little pat on your ass would rile you up and Dakota would overreact about the possibility of losing the client. You both played right into my hand.”
Dakota took a step towards Adrienne.
“None of that matters now. I’m not letting you leave this fucking house with her baby, Adrienne. You have to know how insane that sounds.”
A tear spilled over Jessie’s cheek, Bee making a smacking noise before grunting and fluttering his eyelids.
“It may be insane, but that’s how it’s going to work. And Mack is going to be happy because now he won’t have to wait for her to give birth. You know how hard it was to convince him that I’d be able to look after the baby. He won’t give me one of my own. Refuses to get his vasectomy reversed.” Adrienne rolled her eyes. “But I really will love Bee like he came from me.”
Jess gasped as she looked her friend in the eyes, trying to see something that resembled the woman she knew. But she was met with a cold, emotionless stare that made her want to crawl out of her skin. “Don’t cry, Jessie. This is the best solution. I’ve always wanted a son. He’ll never miss you, not for asingle second because I’ll be there to love him like he’s my own.”
“No, please,” Jessie sobbed. “You can’t take him. There has to be a different way. Where’s Hawk? What did you do to him? He can help us come up with a plan. I shouldn’t have to pay for whatever Dakota did. He doesn’t even care about me that much. I’m just his best friend’s little sister.”
“Oh, Jessie. Come on. Dakota’s been in love with you for years. How have you never noticed?”
“What?” Jessie’s eyes flew to Dakota, who’d turned bright red.
“He’ll still be punished, Jess. Forced to live in our organization knowing his actions were responsible for your death. Trust me, his punishment will be a lifetime of living with that guilt.”
A buzzing sound came from Adrienne, her smile doubling as she reached into her pocket and read whatever was on the screen.
“It’s time to hand him over, Jess. I’ve got to get him into his car seat. If he’s not ready by the time Mack gets here, he won’t let me take him. You understand what I’m saying?”
Jessie choked on her tears. She understood that something terrible had happened to Hawk. If it hadn’t, he would have been there. And she knew that meant she needed to do everything within her power to keep her son safe. Jessie nodded, her arms raising her sweet boy up to hand him over to Adrienne.
Fuck.
His head was throbbing. What the hell happened?
Hawk opened his eyes, waiting as they focused after a few agonizing minutes. As soon as he saw the fridge open at his feet, the night came rushing back to him.
Hawk was up, groaning as the room spun. Before he even took a single step, his hand was in his pocket, pressing the button combination on his phone to send an SOS to his team. They would call for backup. They might even think to call Colt. Which would be good if he wasn’t able to eliminate the threat all by himself. But he was going to try. He’d fucking die to protect his family if he needed to.
Hawk could hear voices in the distance. Someone was pacing on the floor and Jessie… she was crying. Arguing with a voice Hawk couldn’t place. A second, deeper voice joined in the conversation and Hawk moved with the experience of a SEAL. He didn’t stop. He didn’t let fear for his family cloud his mind.
Silently, Hawk moved to the front of the house. And then up the stairs. He’s memorized every stair that squeaked or groaned the moment he started overseeing renovations, and used that to his advantage. Not a single sound was made as he maneuvered to the second story of the house. Finally, he made it to the landing, and crouched down silently as he listened inside.
“It’s time to hand him over, Jess. I’ve got to get him into his car seat. If he’s not ready by the time Mack gets here, he won’t let me take him. You understand what I’m saying?”
He placed Adrienne’s voice immediately. It didn’t matter that Hawk had no idea who the hell she was talking about. He needed to neutralize her, then get ready for Mack to arrive, if his team wasn’t there for backup in time.
Hawk shouldered through the door, wobbling on his feet as he took in the scene before him. Jessie was holding Bee out to Adrienne. No. NO!
As if she could hear the shouting in his mind, Jessie pulled the baby back to her chest. It seemed to be a big enough shock for Adrienne to pause, and that gave Dakota an opening.Hawk watched him lunge, knocking Adrienne into the nightstand, before wrestling her to the ground.
Perfect. Hawk didn’t give one single fuck about what the two of them were doing. He jumped into action, moving towards the bed before scooping Jessie up into his arms. Adrenaline was dumping into his body, and Hawk no longer felt the throbbing in his head. All he knew was that he needed to keep his family safe. And nothing was going to keep him from completing that mission.
