“He’s going to get the surprise of his life when she confronts him. He’ll lose his wife and career if she decides to out him.”
“Which means he’ll pay whatever she wants to keep her quiet.”
“Depends on how ruthless and motivated he is to shut her up.”
“She’s been doing this long enough to know how to stay one step ahead of her targets. Her father is the sheriff. That alone gives her some leverage.”
“Are you going to stay on her today?”
“Yep. I can’t wait to see what she does next. This shit is mind-blowing. After all she’s done to her best friend…I wouldn’t put anything past her at this point. She meant to kill Lucky by dumping her in the middle of nowhere.”
“She’s ruthless.” Hawk secured his pack in the back of the helicopter and waved his teammates over so they could do some last minute prep. “She’s not getting Lucky alone ever again.”
“I’ve got eyes on her now. I’ll call Damon once I follow her back to your place when she picks up her kid.”
Hawk was happy to have his younger brother home, and that he and Lucky would finally meet. “Damon will stay with her until I get home. Tomorrow, we end this.”
“I can’t wait. I hope it goes to plan.”
“You and me both. Thanks for helping like this. I know it’s your job, but it still means a lot. She’s strong, but enduring this is taking a toll, especially now that she knows Desiree betrayed her with Neil. Lucky’s a good friend to have on your side. Desiree never appreciated that.”
“There’s something not quite right with that girl.”
“Understatement of the year.” Hawk held up a finger to let Kash, Pete, and Bryce know he'd be ready to go on patrol in just a minute.
They loaded their gear and got strapped in, ready to do some training maneuvers.
“Call if anything comes up. I’ll be flying some, so I may not be able to respond. Cell coverage is spotty out here. Anything urgent, you can use the SAR dispatch to get me.”
“Got it. Are you going to update Lucky?”
“Yeah, as soon as I get home. I don’t want to keep anything from her. She needs to know everything, including what kind of person Desiree truly is. She’d hate what Desiree is doing to other people just as much as what she’s done to her.”
“I’ve never met anyone as truly nice as Lucky is, even after what she’s endured. I’m glad she has you.”
Hawk savored the knowledge that Lucky was his. Now and forever. “We let this thing between us grow over the last couple of years. Now…I can’t imagine my life without her in it. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough. We’ll end this once and for all and she’ll be free to live her life without looking over her shoulder.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Lucky answered the doorbell with Krystal by her side and Damon at her back. He’d been such a big help today, keeping her and Krystal company, playing with her pseudo niece, and making her feel safe, knowing she’d have to face her nemesis again, while she pretended not to know everything she knew now. She’d enjoyed his company and getting to know Hawk’s brother. He was definitely the easy-going one, ready with a smile and one humorous or disastrous story about his travels after another.
Hawk would be home in another hour for dinner with them. He couldn’t wait to see Damon, too.
Jase had texted that Desiree was on her way back about ten minutes ago after she’d finished gathering her blackmail on the district attorney.
Lucky’s stomach turned at the thought of her going out of her way to ruin people’s lives like it was nothing but an errand.
She opened the door and held up Krystal’s backpack. “I fed her lunch. She’s ready for dinner.”
“I have my own snack cupboard,” Krystal announced.
Desiree didn’t respond to her child. Her eyes were glued on the Gunn brother behind Lucky. “Well, well, well, looks like the wandering Gunn is back. And looking really fine.”
Damon’s gaze shot to Lucky’s. “You were right.”
Lucky smirked at her new friend. “Told you.”
“What the hell is going on?” Desiree planted her hands on her hips and glared at both of them.
