So he wasn’t young enough to really be Hawk’s son, but these last few months seemed to have added decades to Hawk’s age. “You aren’t too far away from being fourteen,” he said, stabbing him with a direct stare. “You think it’s normal for fourteen-year-olds to run around among adults night in and night out and be horny, huh?”
There was a slight reddening in the other man’s face as Hawk continued to hold his gaze. “Well, they’re whores.”
“Ah. And whores get horny all the time, right?”
“Well, no. Man, what’s it with you? It’s just the way it is around here. You know, they must need the money and all that. Why, I give them presents all the time. They like baubles, you know? Don’t you give your favorite girls anything? They treat you better, I swear, give you more personal attention than just lie there with their legs—Hey!”
Hawk had lifted him off the flat of his feet, pulled him close enough that he could whisper into his ear. “One of these days, boy, if you end up in prison somewhere and you get the attention of some of the older inmates in there, remember one thing. It’s just the way it is around those places. Nothing wrong with a group of men and you in the middle without a single one of them caring what language you’re speaking, hmm? And don’t forget the baubles. You’ll collect quite a few in there, too, or so I’ve heard.”
Hawk casually dropped him back on his feet. He had done everything in one smooth motion, as if he had something private to share with a friend, which he did. His young man’s face had lost some color. Good. Maybe this one actually had some brain cells left.
He could still feel the fury roiling unabated inside. He’d better walk away before he actually beat up someone. Maybe talk to Thomas now or get some fresh air. Something.
He caught the reporter’s eye and started to make his way toward him. Someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned. It was one of Dilaver’s men.
“Hey, you’re wanted at Dilaver’s table. He wants you to meet someone.”
“Okay.”
Dilaver had his own table near the back exit, usually surrounded by his guards. A quick call from any informant that a raid was coming and he would be the first out of there, leaving the scene for his men to clear out.
“Hawk, this is my aunt, Greta. She’s just arrived.”
Hawk turned to look at the woman sitting across from Dilaver. She was fiftyish, with short stylish brown hair. Her gaze was narrowed, sharp.
“Same build and dark looks. That’s not him, but he looks very similar to Steve McMillan,” she said in excellent American English. “He’s an agent, Dragan. Take him. Alive.”
Adrenaline rocketed through Hawk’s system as Greta’s words registered. He had no idea who she was, but somehow she had seen through his cover. All the background action receded as Dilaver’s men rushed at him. Hawk crouched into a fighting stance. No time to run.
18
Amber smiled as she combed her hair. Theimage in the mirror showed she had that silly small secretive grin of a woman who had been having naughty thoughts about her lover. She could hear Lily’s mocking voice now. She hadn’t told her friend about waking up with Hawk’s little piece of body jewelry in her hand when she had called earlier. Nipple rings weren’t on the Wretched Wench List, she would say.
She knew why he had left it with her. He wanted her to think about him while he was away. She still didn’t understand why the sight of it on him made her insides clench up. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t seen body piercings before, but there was just something sexy about Hawk wearing it. It was totally so out of character for a macho guy, but everything about Hawk had been a surprise to her so far.
A very pleasant surprise. The more she got to know him, the more intrigued she became. He wasn’t just a very good-looking man; from their conversations, she had found out he was also very quick-thinking and intellectual when he wanted to be. He could talk about anything, from opera to politics to philosophy. He had even read all her favorite books in their original languages. She suspected that it was a side of him that he didn’t show to many people.
Everything was a contradiction. He opened doors for her, was very protective about women. He had all the young girls and even the two housekeepers in the safe houses eating out of his hand by treating them with unexpected gentle respect that Amber found very charming. She discovered, just by watching him interacting with her girls, that he was quite a gentleman to all women, and irregardless of age, they all responded with typical feminine flirtatiousness.
Yet she also knew he could take care of a problem with lightning-fast decisiveness. The way he had saved Lily’s ass when her mercenary was in the line of fire. Tatiana, whom he had treated with such utmost care that the young girl had clung to him like she had known him all her life. Amber had seen him in action and knew, from his line of work, that he had taken lives before and that behind that smooth, teasing façade was a very complicated and at times ruthless man. There was something very sexy about a quiet, very gentlemanly male who had a very dangerous air about him.
Amber sighed, her smile fading a little. She should be afraid, really. She was in danger of falling for the man. She was too happy when he was around. Too turned on at the sight of him. Thinking of him too much when she was alone. Wanting to do things with him too much. Too everything, in fact. This was probably what was bothering Lily and had sort of bruised their friendship. She hadn’t spent as much time with her friend as she usually did.
Logic told her that this happened in relationships, especially between good friends. A third one who came in always caused some friction because sharing was involved, no matter what the gender. She hoped Lily and Brad had worked out their feelings for each other. Then maybe her friend wouldn’t feel so angry and left out.
She checked the time. It was too early to do anything, but she couldn’t fall back asleep. Hawk hadn’t left any goodnight notes on the instant messenger program, so he must either still be at thekafenaor partying with Dilaver somewhere. A shiver of apprehension ran through her. She wondered whether he had gotten hold of Thomas and helped him secure a private interview. It was a risky thing for Hawk to do, but he had assured her that he would be fine. Still, she felt uneasy about it. What if the girl reported it to her “Mama”? It wasn’t unusual for the girls to tattletale on each other just so they could gain some favors.
She heard the phone extension ringing when she came out of the bathroom. It couldn’t be Lily….
“Amber? It’s me, Brad.”
“What’s the matter?” She was suddenly wide awake. He would never call her at this hour. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Hawk. I just got a call from Thomas. Something’s happened.”
Hawk struggled as they bound him up with ropes. He had taken down the first wave of Dilaver’s men coming at him. They had picked up whatever was close by—bottles, chairs, anything long and deadly—trying to overpower him amid the confused customers. Surrounded, he had fought back, dodging the weapons hurled and swung at him as he tried to find a way out the front. Then someone fired a shot and bedlam ensued.
Fights broke out among groups of men, some of whom were peacekeepers. Hawk couldn’t really tell; he was too busy avoiding being bashed in the head.
