“I just asked a question.” Mason frowned back at Hawk.
Hawk turned to her. “Mason is FBI. He’s not being nosy, he just wants to help.”
“I appreciate that.” She smiled at the man across the table, wondering if he or anyone else would be able to figure out what really happened. “I woke up with the same image repeated in my head. Neil coming toward me.”
Mason perked up. “He’s the ex-boyfriend who killed your family.”
“Yes.” A wave of grief hit her when she thought of her little brother, the blood running from his slit throat and down his small chest.
“Mason.” Hawk put a warning in his voice.
She put her hand on Hawk’s thigh beside hers. “I brought him up.”
Hawk’s gaze dropped to her hand on him, then his lips widened to a smile and he put his hand over hers. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
“There’s not much I can remember of that night at the bar. I just know I saw him.”
Mason leaned in. “In your mind, is he young or older?”
She tilted her head. “Do you mean like he was a teen when he killed my parents or an adult who just got out of prison?”
“Yes. Which version do you see?”
“Huh. I hadn’t really thought about it because I was so shocked to see him. I hadn’t seen him in so long and he’d changed so much, but not enough that I didn’t recognize his voice and his face.”
“What did he say to you?”
“Something like, are you finally going to let me see her?”
Mason and Hawk shared a concerned look.
“Who was he talking to?” Lyric asked.
She turned to her. “I’m not sure. It’s kind of a blur. I was with my best friend, Desiree, so my inclination is to say her. But that can’t be right. I’m really not sure what happened. And she’d never betray me like that. He killed my little brother. I won’t ever forgive him for that.”
“And your parents?” Mason studied her.
“My father terrorized all of us, me especially, because I tried my hardest to shield my brother. My mother…is complicated.”
“She didn’t save you,” Hawk said simply. “She should have saved you.” Hawk swept in, taking her face in his hands, and kissing her so gently it ached with longing for more. Then his lips were all over her cheeks, kissing away her tears.
She hooked her hands over his wrists and held him tight as she looked him deep in the eyes. “You saved me. I’ve been drowningin loneliness for so long I didn’t see a way out of it, except one.” She choked back more tears. “Because of you…the letters…I held on. Hoping beyond hope.”
“Why the fuck did I wait so long when I’ve known for a while now that you were everything I wanted but didn’t think I deserved?”
She laid her chin on his shoulder and stared into his eyes. “You showed up at exactly the right moment.”
His eyes turned dark and stormy. “I was almost too late.”
“But you weren’t. And I’m still here. And you’re here.”
“And you’re not leaving. Ever. We’ll figure this out, eliminate the threat, and it’ll be you and me from now on.” Hawk kissed her like he’d never get to kiss her again.
She wrapped her good arm around his neck, pressing into him as much as she could because close wasn’t close enough.
They both forgot about their captive audience until a soft sob came from across the table.
They broke apart and stared at Lyric in Mason’s arms, her head on his shoulder. “You guys! You’re so perfect for each other. I’m so happy for you.” Her smile was wide and genuine despite the tears. “You deserve so much love.”
