Page 183 of Forbidden Fate

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CRUZ

Robin’s jaw drops.

For one second, I let myself look at her.

Really look.

She’s home. She’s safe. She’s dressed in clean clothes, her hair is clean, shiny, and loose around her shoulders. She looks like she belongs here, in this sprawling Texas house surrounded by people who would kill for her without hesitating.

She also looks like something I should never touch.

The man who answered the door is Hawk Bellamy. He’s easy to identify—the only Bellamy brother with blue eyes.

I watched him for days in Texas. Not up close like this. Not with him standing between me and Robin like he’d gladly tear my spine out through my throat and then enjoy what smells like a great dinner.

But I know his face. His build. The way he carries himself.

The woman beside him is Daniela Agudelo. Daughter of Jacinto Agudelo, who was once in Vega’s circle.

Hawk’s eyes narrow. “You going to answer me? Who the hell are you?”

I keep my hands visible. No sudden movements. No reaching into pockets. No glancing around. “My name is Cruz Moreno.”

Hawk’s eyebrows nearly fly off his head.

His lips twist into a scowl. “You have a lot of nerve showing up here.”

Robin inhales sharply. “Hawk⁠—”

He ignores her, stepping closer to me. “After what you did to Eagle.”

I don’t move.

“And Robin.” His voice drops into something colder than shouting. “You show up at my family’s front door?”

I hold my hands in front of me. “I need to speak to her. To all of you.”

Hawk clenches his jaw. “You don’t need to do a goddamned thing except turn around before I beat the shit out of you.”

He comes at me.

I don’t step back.

Maybe I want him to hit me.

But Robin moves first. She grabs Hawk’s arm with both hands and steps between her brother and me. “No.”

Daniela grabs Hawk’s hand. “Hawk,” she says quietly.

He doesn’t look at her. His eyes stay on me. “Robin, Daniela, move.”

“No.” From Robin. “You and Dani should go back to the party.”

Hawk finally tears his gaze from me to look at her. “Absolutely not.”

“I can handle this.”