Bad Boy Series: Hawk's Call (Bad Boy Romance Book 1)

by Simone Carter

  It wasn’t a perfect move. She felt the knife slice into her arm, but she did manage to shake it loose from his fist. It clattered to the floor and Junior scrambled after it.

  “I got it, Guts. I got it,” he crowed, snatching up the knife. “Should I stick her?”

  Guts moved in and snared her waist, clenching her to him. “Nah, don’t stick her, Junior. Let me do it.”

  He belted a steely arm around her waist and hugged her to him. He held the other hand out for the knife.

  Robyn strained against the arm, kicking and slamming her fists against him. God, let her get free, let her hurt him. If she didn’t, she knew she would die here in this filthy shed… and so would Crystal.

  “Let her go, Guts.” The man’s voice cut like a rapier through the shadows. “Let her go or die.”

  Four pairs of eyes turned as one to stare at Hawk standing there, a pistol in his hand aimed directly at Guts’ head. Brady stood next to him, and behind him stood Rocky, Cruz, and several regulars from the bar, most of them grasping pistols of their own.

  Guts flashed his hand up and held the knife to Robyn’s throat. “No way, man. Just stand back out of my way and let us through. We’re going to leave here and you’re not going to stop us.”

  “You’re crazy, Guts. You’re never going to get away from here, not with her with you. Let her go, and you and the twerp there can go free. We’ll let you pass.”

  Guts tightened his grip around her waist, forcing her to raise on her tiptoes. She felt the sharp edge of the knife bite into her neck, felt blood flowing freely from the cut on her arm. He began to walk forward, dragging her as he went. “One wrong move, fellas, and I slit her throat.”

  Silence reigned. Hawk eyed him warily then slowly waved his arm for the men to back off, allowing Guts to proceed. Junior crept along behind him. Guts had just edged outside the shed door when a gunshot rang out.

  For a moment, nothing changed. Then Robyn felt his arm tighten one last time and Guts fell to the ground, dragging her down with him. Junior squealed and took off running. One more shot and he stumbled, clutching his shoulder.

  “Hold it right there,” a deep voice boomed out, then Detective Burkholder stepped into view. “I’d like nothing better than to shoot you again so I advise you not to give me a reason.”

  Everything after that happened so quickly it was a blur in Robyn’s mind. The next instant Hawk was kneeling beside her, his hands running over her searching for injuries, his face a mask of concern. He breathed her name over and over again, gathering her to his chest and holding her close.

  Robyn gave Hawk a hungry kiss then moved to go to Crystal. Her sister was crying, shaking, still bound by her chains.

  “God, Robyn, I’m so sorry. So sorry.” Her words were gasps. “I could have got you killed.”

  “It’s okay, sissy. Everything’s okay.” Robyn wrapped her arms around her and rocked her like a baby. “Everything’s going to be okay now.”

  Then an ambulance came and they freed Crystal from her chains, loading her onto a gurney. Robyn fought them when they tried to treat her like a patient, too.

  “You might as well give up.” Hawk chuckled. “If she doesn’t want to go in the ambulance, she won’t go. Don’t worry. I’ll bring her in.”

  “No, we’ll bring her in.” Detective Burkholder stepped forward. “I’ve got some questions for her.”

  Robyn tried to explain everything that had happened on the ride to the hospital. She told them about the phone call and arriving at the deserted farmhouse. She told them about finding Crystal, about Guts and Junior attacking her.

  “And you know what happened after that,” Robyn concluded, cradling her wounded arm. The pain was starting to set in now. And so was the reality. God, she had come closer to dying tonight than she ever wanted to again. She cuddled into Hawk’s sheltering arms and let the tears come.

  Robyn got seventeen stitches in her arm. The doctors wanted to keep Crystal overnight, and Robyn refused to leave her side, so Hawk stayed with her. They slept cuddled together on a love seat in Crystal’s hospital room, her head resting on Hawk’s shoulder.

  She stirred just as the first pale rays of morning light filtered into the room. She opened her eyes and looked into the amber depths of Hawk’s and immediately felt of wave of emotion overtake her. He was here. He hadn’t left her.

  “I’m going to go get some coffee for us,” he murmured, dropping a kiss on her forehead. “Just right down the hall. I won’t be gone but a minute.”

  Robyn nodded and raised her lips to brush a feather-light kiss across his mouth. Somehow she knew he wouldn’t go far.

  Hawk left and Robyn turned her gaze on Crystal. God, she looked awful, so fragile and thin. Her face was marred with bruises, a look of sadness etched on her face even in sleep.

  Crystal’s eyes fluttered open just then, and Robyn quickly moved to her bedside, running her hand across her forehead, brushing her bangs back from her blackened eyes. Her heart broke as she gazed into her sister’s pained expression.

  “Robyn.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “I am so sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry. We’re okay,” Robyn said, trying to reassure her. She didn’t want Crystal to feel guilty. She just wanted her to be okay.

  For a long moment Crystal simply stared at her, her lips quivering. Finally she spoke.

  “He seemed so cool when I met him. He had a great sense of humor, and he wanted to see the world, just like I did. He treated me so good at first. I thought I loved him. I guess I’m more like Mom than I thought.”

  “No. You were just hungry for love, hungry to spread your wings and fly away from home.”

  Crystal nodded. “I thought you were too strict. I had a curfew, too many rules. I thought you were always getting in my business. I was so stupid, Robyn.”

  Crystal’s voice broke then and Robyn wrapped her arms around her sister’s shoulders.

  “We were both wrong, Crystal. I was strict. I wanted so much to break away from the lifestyle we’d had with Mom. I wanted you to know something better. But I was too strict. I know that now. I should have trusted you more.”

  “And I should have trusted you.” Crystal buried her head in Robyn’s shoulder and let her tears fall.

  “Guts changed after I left with him. He became possessive, mean. He started hitting me if I upset him in any way. He tried to scheme to make money. He was a pickpocket and he made me act as a… a… distraction. Then he found out I called you for help. He got so angry.” Her words were tumbling out now. “He started keeping me locked up when we weren’t ‘working.’ If he had to go somewhere, he had his toady, Junior, watch me. Then he got some woman named Lacey to call you. You were getting too close so Guts wanted to get rid of you.”

  “Shh, enough. You need to rest. We’ll talk later.” Robyn cast a worried look over her sister. The girl was crying, sobbing. It broke Robyn’s heart to watch her. She stroked her hair and settled her back on her pillows. In just a moment the girl was asleep, tears still dampening her cheeks.

  “She does love you, you know.” Hawk’s stood in the doorway, watching her as she sat by her sister.

  “I know.” Robyn rose and went to take one of the cups of coffee from him.

  “And so do I.”

  At first his words didn’t sink in. Had he just said he loved her?

  “Robyn, I told you my parents fell in love at first sight. I guess I’m a lot like my father. The minute I laid eyes on you I knew you were the girl for me.” He sat his coffee cup down on an end table and reached to take hers from her hands, setting it beside his. “I love you. I have from the first moment I saw you by the side of the road, soaking wet and mad as all get out.”

  She couldn’t believe he was telling her this. He loved her?

  Then she knew it was true… and she loved him, too. God, she hadn’t wanted to. She hadn’t asked for this to happen.

  But she was so glad it had.

  She blinked and said in an awe
struck voice, “I love you, too. I really do. I love you.”

  “Don’t sound so surprised,” he chuckled, pulling her into his embrace. “I’m a very lovable guy.”

  “You can say that again.” She melted into his arms, a symphony of joy playing in her ears. She had never heard truer words in her life.

  Epilogue

  A crackling fire burned in the fireplace, a giant Christmas tree standing next to it. The tree was decked with whimsical ornaments, each of them dangling by a silver ribbon. Lights twinkled magically through the veil of tinsel that covered it.

  The air was filled with the smell of mulled cider and the fresh pine scent of the tree. A mound of wrapped presents sat beneath the lowest limbs and soft carols played in the background.

  This was their first Christmas together as man and wife. They hadn’t waited to get married. Just a few weeks after Crystal got out of the hospital, they had a beautiful wedding at Hawk’s Nest. Crystal stood proudly by Robin’s side as her maid of honor, her bruises completely faded away. She looked almost like an angel to Robyn, clad in a soft pink chiffon dress. Robyn wore traditional white, her hands holding a bouquet of pink roses. The ceremony was short and sweet and witnessed by dozens of friends.

  Hawk hadn’t wasted any time getting started building their house. Robyn was kept busy picking out colors and flooring, and the finished product was a combination of their visions. The home had been finished two weeks ago and they’d moved in. It was almost like paradise to Robyn, especially considering some of the places she’d grown up in.

  Now she sat curled on the couch next to her husband, waiting for the first of their guests at arrive for their Christmas party. Crystal would be here soon, coming from her dorm at nearby Indiana University. She’d decided to become a nurse and Hawk was happy to foot the bill.

  “I have an early Christmas present for you, Hawk.” Her voice trembled with excitement. “I think you’re going to like it.”

  “Hey, that’s not fair. We’re not supposed to exchange presents until Christmas morning.” Hawk tapped her nose with the end of his finger.

  “I don’t want to wait to give you this one.” She slid her hand into the pocket of her emerald green velvet dress and pulled it out holding a little white stick. “Here.”

  His fingers shook as he reached out to take the slender rod.

  “Is this… oh my God, is this a pregnancy test?”

  Robyn felt tears burn in her eyes as she nodded.

  “You mean… I mean… holy crap.” His face exploded into the biggest grin Robyn had ever seen and he caught her in his arms, smothering her cheeks with kisses. “God, what have I done to deserve all this? I’m the luckiest man in the world.”

  Robyn smiled into his neck. And I’m the luckiest woman. She wrapped her arms around him, joy bubbling inside her. And she knew.

  Christmas miracles really do come true.

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  About Simone Carter

  Simone Carter is a passionate Romance Author. She initially started writing in her spare time after University, and 10 years later she's managed to turn it into a full time venture.

  She loves to write promiscuous stories that feature strong, sassy women, in an array of different settings and scenarios.

  Simone lives in Colorado with her husband and two children. When she's not creating steamy story lines, you can find her spending time with her family, hiking trails, or at home on her balcony with a book and a nice glass of wine.

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