Hawk blew out his breath.
“Beau, just fucking tell us what happened.”
“We rushed up there and Dakota was holding her down, the gun kicked clear across the room. Colt detained them both and now an entire fleet of deputies are coming in to sort out what the hell happened. I’m still fucking baffled myself.”
“Lachlan.” Jessie’s eyes were wide, but he could see shadows starting to form under them. He needed to get her tucked into bed. She needed rest. And where the hell was Daniel with Dolly and the baby?
“What about him?”
“The deputies will need to question him too. He hid things with Dakota. They should have come forward. They should have talked to Colt.” Her voice was wavering, and Hawk felt her start to shake.
“Okay, mama. That’s enough for now. Let’s go.”
Hawk picked Jessie up again in his arms and climbed the stairs to her old room. Just as his feet hit the hallway, Dolly emerged with the baby.
“What’s going on?”
“We need to stay here tonight, Doll. Is that okay?”
“Of course it is. I had Daniel bring down the cradle from the attic and he got it all cleaned up earlier tonight. He’ll bring it up here in a minute. Are you alright? Jessie?”
“We’ll be fine,” Hawk answered for her. “I just need to get her somewhere she’ll feel safe enough to rest.”
Dolly nodded, reaching through the doorway to Jess’s old room and flipping on the lamp beside the bed.
“You’re always welcome here.” Dolly bustled around theroom as Hawk slid Jessie onto the mattress. “Here, honey, have your son back.”
“Thanks, Dolly.” Hawk smiled as he took Bee back into his hold.
“I know it’s not official yet, Hawk, but I wouldn’t mind if you started calling me ‘Ma’ like the rest of my kids do. You’re family, after all.”
Hawk wrapped his free arm around Dolly’s shoulder and leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Thanks, Ma. I appreciate you saying that.”
“Good boy.”
Dolly left the room as Hawk lowered himself onto the mattress right at Jess’s hip.
“He’s okay, isn’t he? We should have Stone come up and look him over. Do you think the car ride jostled him too much?”
“Jessie, you kept him safe,” Hawk’s voice caught and he cleared his throat. “I’m so proud of you. I failed you both… but I promise, if you give me a second chance, I won’t ever fail you again.”
Jessie’s hand rested against his cheek, her thumb brushing away a tear that tracked down his face.
“You are the reason we are safe right now. Please don’t think for a second that we would have made it out of that house without you. Because I know we wouldn’t.”
“I love you, Pretty Girl. With everything in me. I love you.”
“I love you too, Chief. We’re going to be okay.”
“I know we will.”
Forty-One
Eight weeks later:
“Are you ready to get out of here?” Hawk bounced a smiling Beckett back and forth. His son was wide awake, eyes full of wonder, even though he hadn’t slept well all night. The first break of dawn was their son’s favorite time of day, it seemed. “I don’t think he’s going to nap unless we get him into the car seat.”
Jessie laughed as she slung the diaper bag over her shoulder. “I’m not the one who hasn’t wanted to go back there, Chief. I’ve been ready for a while now.”
