Page 179 of Forbidden Fate

I see Hawk’s mind working. I’ve dissected everything myself so many times, and I know exactly what’s going through his head.

A Vega man kills another Vega man. Bad man kills worse man. Captor rescues captive. Enemy saves sister.

Nothing fits.

I know the feeling.

“And then?” Hawk asks.

“And then Cruz told me something.”

The part I came in here to say.

The part I still don’t know how to say.

Daniela stands and walks to me. “Robin.”

I look at her.

Her dark eyes are gentle, and that nearly breaks me.

I take a breath. “Cruz was the one who drugged Eagle.”

Hawk rises again. “What?” he says through clenched teeth.

“He gave Eagle the drugs, made it look like he relapsed.”

Hawk stares at me.

Then his eyes change.

“Eagle,” he says.

I nod.

“Cruz did that.”

“Yes.”

Daniela covers her mouth.

Hawk turns away.

For one second, I think he might punch the wall.

He doesn’t.

Probably because this is my mother’s sitting room.

Maybe.

He faces me again. “Why?”

“Because Vega told him Eagle was close to figuring out something he didn’t want known.”

“About what?”

“Vega.” I swallow. “And Dad.”