I knew this is where I needed to come to find Bishop.
And I know what I’ll be walking into.
A firing squad…
I tug open the glass doors, and the moment I step into the lobby, four guns are pointing directly at me.
The security team I was introduced to as a coworker not that long ago now stares me down as if I’m the enemy. Because, to them and the Hawkes, I am. Because everyone now believes what Bishop does…
That I was responsible for the bomb.
That this entire time I’ve been working to infiltrate their family and their organization, just to get close, just to have access to create that pain and chaos.
It doesn’t matter that none of it is true.
She believes it is; so will everyone else. Including these men who are paid very well to protect the Hawkes against any and all threats.
I raise my hands. “I’m unarmed.”
The huge former police officer who has been put in charge of the Hawke Tower security force steps forward and re-holsters his gun. Hard, distrustful eyes sweep over me as he approaches. Tony has been with them a long time. One of the reasons he’s here today, because they trust him.
I held that same trust only hours ago.
But it shattered so badly there’s no way to ever piece it back together.
He pats me down to ensure I’m not carrying, then stands in front of me with a scowl that would intimidate just about anyone.
If I care at all about my own safety at this point, I might be more worried, but I stopped giving a shit about that the second I found Bishop in that room. The moment she looked at me like I was a complete stranger instead of the man she so desperately needed last night, I knew there was no point in pretending anymore, no point in anything anymore.
Not if I can’t have her.
“I need to speak with them.”
Tony snorts incredulously. “What makes you think I’d allow you anywhere near the Hawkes?”
It’s a good question. One I would ask if I were in his place today and was told there was a traitor in the security team. A man he himself worked with only days ago.
“Because I have answers they need.” I hold out my hands. “You can cuff me.”
He raises a brow, examining me carefully for a moment before he retreats to snag his radio from the counter. “Mr. Clarke?”
Saint responds to his call immediately, having no doubt been watching and listening through the surveillance feed since the moment I pulled up outside. “Send him up. Cuffed.”
Hearing those words shouldn’t be such a huge relief, but if he had sent me away, or worse yet, had me taken somewhere remote to be dealt with another way, there would have been nothing I could do to try to save them.
To try to save her.
At least now, there’s a chance.
I put my hands behind my back and turn so that he can easily apply the cuffs. He slaps the metal on them. Tightly. Intentionally securing them so the metal digs into my skin. But it isn’t anything I haven’t experienced before, and the small bite of pain isn’t anywhere near what I deserve right now.
All I can do is pray they listen.
Tony grabs my bicep, tugs me into the elevator, then releases me and uses his hand to conceal the keypad and punch in the code for the penthouse, which I’m sure they’ve now changed since I had the old one.
They’re no doubt scrambling to revamp their entire security structure since I not only know it all, but even made suggestions for changes they recently implemented. Everything was supposed to make them safer, which is part of why this guy is glaring at me on the ride up like I betrayed him personally.
But there’s only one person I truly betrayed.
