by Naomi West
Hawk approached the car, looking around to see if anyone was watching him. He saw no indication of anyone in the house or outside, so he proceeded. He felt his tools tucked into his back pocket. For something like this - a car out in the open, no additional locking devices - he could likely get away with using his favorite tool, a slim jim.
He looked around one more time before sliding the thin metal stick from his pocket. He laid it flat against the window, slid it down and jiggled it. When it slipped into place, he pulled up and the door unlocked. He put his hand on the door lever and heard a shout.
“Get away from my car!”
Hawk took a deep breath and turned. He slipped his tool back in his pocket. “I’m here to repossess your car.”
“Oh, I don’t think so.” The man stormed off of his front porch, right over to Hawk. “Back away.”
“Your bank has hired me to come and take the vehicle for non-payment.”
The man was tall but incredibly skinny and he stepped closer to Hawk. Hawk made a quick assessment. This guy wasn’t big and didn’t look like he worked out. Probably had no training. Which meant he’d be easy to beat if it came to that.
“Then I guess you’re,” he stuck his finger into Hawk’s shoulder “just going to have to go back to them and tell them you couldn’t get it.”
Hawk flicked the man’s hand away and grabbed his wrist. He twisted it and the man crumbled under the pressure of the angle.
“Do not touch me,” Hawk said. “Now. Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to take your skinny ass back inside. I’m going to drive this car off. Does that sound good to you?”
“Screw you!” he half mumbled, trying to break free of Hawk’s grip and stand up straight.
“If that doesn’t work for you, I’m going to put my fist through your face. Then, I’ll put my foot through your ribs. Does that sound better?”
“You can’t threaten me! I’ll call the cops!”
Hawk laughed. “Great. I’ll tell Officer Stanley that you’re resisting the repo and that you physically assaulted me. It would actually help me out big time if you would. In fact, maybe I’ll call them myself. Maybe I even feel like pressing charges today.”
“You can’t do that!”
Hawk finally let the man go, and he stood up, brushing his shirt down and rubbing his wrist.
“I can,” Hawk said. “And I will. It’s up to you. This can be easy, or you can end up with an assault charge on top of losing your car today.”
Hawk crossed his arms and spread his feet, glaring at the man.
“Asshole.” The man stepped back and returned his glare.
After a long minute, when the man did nothing more and said nothing more, Hawk took that as a sign that he was going to cooperate. That didn’t mean he was going to let his guard down, though.
Hawk kept his eye on the man as he opened the door and got inside. He used another tool to remove the lock housing from the ignition, then stuck in his screwdriver to start the car. The man’s eyes widened slightly. Had he been thinking Hawk wouldn’t be able to do it? He smiled at the man, revved the engine and waved, then took off. The man chased after him a few feet, yelling.
“Hey!” The man waved his arms. “No! Get out of my car! How will I get to work?”
Hawk pulled out of the driveway and sped down the road. He then took the car to the lot he rented where all the repossessed cars went until the bank or whoever owned them decided to sell them or do whatever with them.
He spent a moment filling out the paperwork for the completed repo, then used his phone to email the bank that the repo was done. He texted Jared who worked at the lot. Jared was also a repo man, but preferred the tow truck method. The one advantage the tow truck had was not having to figure out how to get back to the place he’d left his vehicle.
They had a good team. Both paid for the lot, they looked out for each other or rode along on a risky repo, sometimes they swapped jobs, especially when one was better for a tow truck or better for doing it by hand. They retained their own licenses, so neither was a boss and they weren’t partners. It was the perfect arrangement that gave them each a little help when needed, but still allowed them both to run their own businesses.
The next six repossessions went off without any major hitches. People got mad or upset when they saw him, one car was filthy on the inside and required him to drive with the windows down, one was tricky when it came to unlocking and took every tool he had to get it opened. He received several more threats and curses, and had a woman fall to her knees, begging him not to take her car. All in all, it was a typical day.
He waved goodbye to Jared and hopped into his own car. It felt strange after a day of hot wiring to use a key. It was rare to get a copy of the key from a bank, so hot wiring was usually what was needed. He turned on the radio and sat back in his very comfortable, very familiar car. It was always nice to be back in his own personal space.
Hawk pulled up to babysitter’s house, ready for a night of relaxing with Damian. He rang the bell and waited for Natalie to open the door. When she did, she gave him a huge smile.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite client.” She put her hand on her hip and tilted her head.
Hawk smiled back. “Hey Natalie.”
“I know he’s not technically yours, but I think Damian got some of your genes,” she said. “He is every bit as adorable as you are.”
“Thank you. I’m sure he did. I always thought he looked a little like me. But so did my brother.”
“Is your whole family hot like you?” She pulled her lower lip into her mouth.
He shrugged. “I guess so.” He took a step inside, hoping to end this exchange quickly so he could get home.
“Come on in. I’ll get Damian ready.”
Hawk followed her and scooped Damian up from where he’d been playing on the floor. Damian cooed and clapped his hands together. He watched Natalie put his things into the diaper bag. Nice body, pretty face. But for some reason, he was never into her like that. She’d made her interest plainly known from the start.
Maybe it was something to do with the fact that she was watching his baby all day. They had business together and it was hard to find a good babysitter. The daycare she ran in her home was convenient, reasonably priced, and allowed for the times his schedule got a little nuts. If something happened with her and it didn’t work out, he would have to find someone else to watch Damian.
He tried his best to be nice to her, to flirt back where he could without leading her on. She was a single mother, too, and had a hard life. He didn’t want to make her feel bad by turning her down. He also didn’t want to insult or offend the person who was responsible for Damian all day.
“Thank you,” he said as she handed him the diaper bag. “You’re the best babysitter around.” He leaned in to whisper, “And the best looking one.”
She blushed and grinned. “One of these days, you’ll have to take me for a ride on that bike of yours.”
“If you think you can handle all that power.” He winked and slung the bag over his shoulder, then walked to the door.
“Have a good night,” she said.
“You too.” He waved and headed to the car.
On the drive home, Damian fell asleep. That didn’t usually happen. Natalie was good about getting him to take naps on time.
When they got home, he took the carrier out of the car. Damian awoke as the cool air hit him and started to cry. Hawk got them both inside and tried to get Damian settled. He rubbed his eyes and didn’t stop crying.
He put him in the car carrier and set it on the ground, then rocked it with his foot as he sat on the couch to do his paperwork for the night. Damian whined and kept up his crying, though it was somewhat subdued. Not his usual hungry or wet cry. Not even his usual tired cry. He wasn’t sure what was going on.
When the paperwork was complete, he decided to pick Damian up and take him outside. Usually, walking around outside in the back yard settle
d him down. The fresh air, the trees and scenery, all of it caught his attention and worked like a charm. He put a heavier sweatshirt on him and slid open the back door.
Damian was still crying when they stepped outside. He bounced him and walked him around, changing positions so the baby could see facing out, then cradled him against his chest. Nothing seemed to be helping.
Hawk heard a sliding door open and turned toward the neighbor’s house. The woman he’d seen earlier stepped out onto her deck. He nodded at her.
“Hey there,” he said. “Sorry for the noise. He doesn’t want to settle tonight.”
“Oh, it’s no problem. Need any help?”
“No, we’re okay. He’ll quiet down eventually.”
She walked to the end of her deck and down the steps, coming into his yard. “Nice to officially meet you.”
“You too.” He held out one hand to shake hers, then put it back on Damian’s back.
“I used to babysit for all the kids in by neighborhood when I was a teen. Can I hold him?”
“Sure.” Hawk handed the baby to her. She probably knew a lot more about babies than he did. Maybe she had some trick. “I’m Hawk, by the way.”
“Alexa. And this is?” She cooed Damian and rocked him gently side to side.
“Damian.”
“Aww, what a little cutie you are, Damian.” She rubbed her nose against his. He didn’t stop crying after several minutes and many attempts on her part. She pressed him against her chest, then made a concerned face. She put her wrist to his cheeks, then his forehead. “I think he’s got a fever.”
Hawk also put his wrist on the baby’s cheeks and forehead, feeling for himself. He felt warm, but he wasn’t sure what temperature he should be. He’d never dealt with a sick baby before, but he figured it wasn’t as simple as taking some cold pills and getting extra sleep. He felt the panic stir in his chest. Once again, he had no idea what he was doing. And now Damian was going to suffer for it.
Chapter 4
Alexa handed Damian back to Hawk. He looked scared and unsure as he took the baby back and cradled him against his chest.
“Do you have any baby medicine to give him?” she asked.
“I have something, but I think it’s only for adults. I can’t give him that, right?” He looked into the baby’s eyes, then back at her. “Should I call a doctor or something? I don’t really know too much about babies, honestly.”
“I can take a look for you. I’m no doctor myself, but I’ve been around kids plenty.”
He nodded and she followed him into the house. This was perfect. He was distracted and wouldn’t be paying much attention to what she was doing. She could get a look around inside and maybe get a bit of information. And if nothing else, she was earning his trust and helping him out.
He took her to the bathroom down the hall and pointed to the medicine cabinet. She checked through it, looking at every bottle carefully. He had some Tylenol, but it wasn’t the kind made for babies so young. Nothing else in there would work.
“I don’t see anything that you can give him,” she told him. “I can run out and get something if you like.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that.”
“Well, you can’t take him out like that. Either let me go get something for him, or I’ll watch him while you go get some medicine.”
He seemed to consider for a moment. “I don’t think I’d even know what to get.”
“That settles it, then. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll be right back.”
“Hang on.” He reached back to pull out his wallet and opened it with one hand. Then he pulled out a ten-dollar bill. “Would that be enough?”
“Plenty.” She folded the bill into her pocket. “Do you need anything else while I’m at the store?”
“Just whatever he’ll need.”
“Okay. I’ll be back soon.”
Damian was still crying and rubbing his eyes as she walked out back and returned to her house. She found her purse and got in her car, then drove to the closest store. She found the baby Tylenol and drove straight back to his house.
She knocked and heard Damian crying before he even opened the door.
“Thank you,” he said. “I think he’s getting worse.”
Alexa dropped her purse by the front door and followed Hawk to where Damian was lying on the floor on a blanket. A toy was by his head, but he paid it no attention.
She took out the package and opened it, then poured the dose. “Want to sit him up and we can give it to him?”
Hawk picked Damian up and held his hands as Alexa slowly poured the medicine into his mouth. Damian made a face and spit some out, but swallowed most of it. He licked his lips a few times and blinked up at Alexa, a look of curiosity on his face – but at least he’d stopped crying.
“I think he likes it,” she said.
Hawk picked up the bottle and looked at it. “I’m sure the grape flavoring helped. Hopefully that means I’ll be able to give it to him myself later. I don’t think I could have managed this time alone.”
“Well…” She thought quickly. This couldn’t sound like she was too eager, but like she was the best new neighbor ever. “I can stay and help you. I have a lot of experience with sick babies.”
“You do?”
She nodded. “I was homeschooled. I told you that I babysat a lot of the kids in my neighborhood. Well, since I was home all day, many times when a parent had to work, they would leave the sick kid with me.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Why would a parent do that?”
“I didn’t grow up in the best neighborhood. For some people, missing a day of work could mean losing their job or not being able to pay the bills. Having me around, who they knew and trusted… made sense I guess. And they usually paid me a little something, so I didn’t mind.”
“I appreciate your offer, but I can’t let you do that.”
“I only live next door. It’s not like I’m far from home, and it’s no bother at all. I work from home. And, I don’t mean to sound mean or anything, but you don’t seem like the most confident person when it comes to sick babies.”
He looked down and closed his eyes. “I’m not,” he said softly. “I hoped it wasn’t that obvious. He’s not my kid. He’s my nephew. I guess I didn’t have the time to get used to a baby or read all the books or take classes or whatever new parents do to prepare. I woke up one day and boom, there he was.”
He hadn’t specifically said his brother was dead, and this was no time to try to get him talking. He had to trust her first. Maybe her not asking would help secure that trust. She put her hand on his shoulder.
“It’s okay. Even new parents are often not well prepared. And all parents feel like they don’t have a clue sometimes. It’s normal. I’m going to spend the night and help you. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
He gave her a crooked, humorless smile. “Thanks. If you want to sell your house immediately to get away from the loud baby and clueless bachelor, I understand.”
She forced a laugh. “I don’t have a problem with either of those.”
“You should also know I have a motorcycle. It’s loud. Might wake you up in the middle of the night sometimes. Just warning you.” He gave her a wink.
She leaned in and said conspiratorially, “I kinda have a thing for bikes and for bikers.”
He looked her over, then bounced Damian twice. He’d been quiet for several minutes now. “What should we do with this little devil?”
She ran her fingers over Damian’s forehead and he closed his eyes in contentment. “I’d say maybe a warm bath, then off to bed.”
She followed him back to the bathroom and they bathed the baby together. Damian had periods of being fussy on and off, but seemed to be feeling better overall. His fever had come down some by the time they got him into bed. He did wake up several times in the night, just wanting to be held. Alexa fell asleep in the glider in Damian’s room, cradling Damian to her chest while Hawk slept in his bed.<
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When the baby stirred and woke her up, she smelled eggs and bacon cooking.
“Good morning, Damian,” she said.
She stood with him to stretch, then smelled what he’d been cooking in his diaper. She laid him on the changing table and got him cleaned up and into a fresh diaper before finding a clean outfit. When she brought the baby out to the kitchen, Hawk was there and Damian let out a squeal when he saw him.
Hawk turned and smiled. “I guess he’s feeling better?”
“I’d say so. He doesn’t feel as warm. I’d maybe give him more baby Tylenol just to be sure, though.”
