Soldier's Christmas Secrets

by Laura Scott

  They played for a while before Hawk interrupted them. “Jilly? The guys are going to head out to get sandwiches for lunch. What would you and Lizzy like?”

  “I was going to make egg salad sandwiches for the group,” she protested.

  “No! I want a grilled cheese,” Lizzy announced.

  “We can save the eggs for breakfast. Is that okay with you, Jillian?” Hawk asked.

  She shrugged. “Sure, why not?”

  “What would you like to eat?”

  “Turkey with cheese, lettuce and tomato,” she responded. “When are you leaving?”

  “Not until later this evening. Maybe nine or ten tonight.”

  She nodded, understanding the need to go in while it was dark.

  Hawk went back into the kitchen to relay their order but then returned shortly thereafter. “Will you please tell me exactly where you put the letters?”

  She didn’t answer right away, listening as Lizzy sang the opening song to Beauty and the Beast. “In Lizzy’s closet,” she finally told him. “There’s a small lace-covered jewelry box that I found at a secondhand store. There’s a velvet shelf inside that lifts out. The area underneath is meant for larger jewelry but I used that as a place to store the letters.”

  “Is that where you put your diamond engagement ring?” he asked.

  “Yes.” She lifted her gaze to his. “There’s also one of our wedding photos in there. Those were the keepsakes I was saving for Lizzy.”

  “Thank you.” Hawk tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I appreciate that you tried to keep me in our daughter’s heart.”

  Suddenly it was all too much. “Don’t go. Stay here with us. I’m sure the others can find the letters without your help.”

  The words had barely left her mouth when Hawk shook his head. “I can’t do that. This is my problem. It’s bad enough I’m exposing my friends to danger. I need to be the one to take the biggest risk.”

  He was right. Logically, she understood, but her heart rejected everything about Hawk being in the center of danger.

  “How’s your shoulder?”

  “Fine.” His gaze skidded from hers in a way that convinced her he was stretching the truth.

  “I want to see it.” This time, she wasn’t taking no for an answer. If the wounds were dramatically worse, then she’d insist he allow one of the others to go inside Lizzy’s room to get the letters.

  Hawk let out a sigh and nodded. “Fine. But I’m telling you it looks okay. At least the front does. It’s hard to see the entry wound in the back.”

  “I’ll be the judge of that.” She gestured for him to sit at the other end of the sofa.

  He slipped his arm out of the T-shirt and showed her his shoulder. The dressings covering the front and the back looked fresh from the morning. She peeked beneath the gauze, not liking the redness that puckered the edges of his skin. To her eyes, the front wound looked worse than the back.

  “I’m not sure how much longer you can let this go with just oral antibiotics.” She set the old dressings aside and left to get fresh gauze. The packets were in the bathroom and she returned and quickly redressed them.

  “They’re working fine.” Hawk winced as he put his arm through his shirtsleeve. “I’ve suffered worse.”

  She knew he meant after the plane crash. The strength of will he’d used to survive in the mountains amazed her. She wanted to throw herself into his arms, but the low rumble of a car engine indicated the guys were back with the promised food.

  The rest of the day passed by with excruciating slowness. Lizzy was pretty good at keeping herself occupied, but by the time they were finished with dinner, even her daughter’s mood had turned cranky.

  “Bath time,” Jillian announced, eager to get her daughter down for the night.

  “Okay!” Lizzy happened to like baths and eagerly ran toward the bathroom.

  “Jilly.” Hawk caught her hand before she could follow their daughter. “We’re heading out. Keep your disposable phone handy, okay? Matt and Duchess are going to stay here with you while the rest of us head into town.”

  “I know.” She was glad to have Duchess around, since the dog kept Lizzy entertained. “Hawk, promise me you’ll be careful.”

  His blue eyes bored into hers. “I promise.”

  She gave him a quick hug and a kiss, then pulled away to follow Lizzy, feeling the intensity of Hawk’s gaze on her back as she went.

  The only thing she could do now was to wait. And pray.

  Dear Lord, keep Hawk and the others safe in Your care!

  * * *

  Hawk hated leaving Jilly and Lizzy at the cabin but reminded himself they would be safe with Matt and Duchess watching over them.

  He desperately needed some sort of break in the case. Having the photo of Yonkers with the insurgent was a start, but he needed more.

  It was a lot of hope to pin on a handful of old love letters.

  The trip to Brookland seemed to take longer than it had the previous day. Hawk didn’t want to believe it was because Jillian and Lizzy weren’t with him, but he couldn’t deny the keen sense of loss.

  How had he become so dependent on them? For the past five months he’d been content to live nearby, offering nothing more than a helping hand.

  Now he wanted more. Maybe even a chance at a future.

  An impossible dream if he couldn’t figure out who was behind the recent attacks.

  “I think I need to pay Yonkers a visit,” Ryker said, breaking the silence. “Maybe I can infiltrate the Blake-Moore organization.”

  “Not yet,” Hawk protested. He didn’t like the idea of any of his friends being in danger. “We don’t even know if they’re involved. This could be something Yonkers did on his own.”

  “Then maybe we should kidnap him and bring him to the cabin for questioning,” Ryker pointed out. “It’s a way to get to the heart of the issue. Your wife and daughter deserve to be safe.”

  Hawk was touched by Ryker’s offer but wasn’t convinced. “Hold that thought for now. We’ll go that route if we have to.”

  “The address you gave me is on the next block,” Mike said from the driver’s seat. “Where do you want me to park?”

  “Here is fine.” Hawk zipped up his leather jacket and pulled on his gloves. Jilly’s keys were in his pocket, but he suspected he’d find the door already open, the way the school’s had been.

  “We’ll give you ten minutes,” Ryker said. “If you’re not back by then, we’re coming in after you.”

  “Got it.” Hawk silently acknowledged he’d missed working with a team. Being with Ryker and the Callahans reminded him of the men he’d served with on the Bravo team.

  He straightened. Bravo team! He had a clear memory of standing outside their camp with the men of his team. He wished more memories would fall into place. The sooner the better.

  Hawk slipped out of the car and into the darkness. The earlier sunshine had melted much of the snow, making it easy to avoid leaving tracks as he approached Jilly’s.

  As expected, the door was ajar. The interior had been ransacked the same way her classroom had been, only worse. The Christmas tree was on its side, the ornaments broken into dozens of pieces. He clenched his jaw, furious at how they’d ruined Jillian’s home. Holding his temper in check, he carefully made his way to the upstairs bedrooms.

  Lizzy’s room had been searched but not messed up like the living room. Inside the closet, he found the lacy jewelry box. He checked to make sure the engagement ring and the letters were inside.

  They were. With a sense of relief, Hawk tucked the box beneath his arm and moved back across the room.

  A creak on the staircase on the other side of the door made him freeze in his tracks.

  Someone was out there!

  TEN

  As much as he didn’t want to le
t go of the jewelry box with the letters, Hawk carefully set it down on the floor so he would have both hands free. He didn’t move for ten full minutes, waiting for the hostile on the stairs to reveal himself. He didn’t so much as blink, keeping all five of his senses laser sharp. When he heard the slightest brush of fabric against the wall, he knew his patience had been rewarded.

  Yet he continued to wait. When he heard another sound, closer this time, he mentally judged the distance between himself and the doorway to Lizzy’s room.

  Not yet, he warned himself, despite the fact that every muscle in his body was tense with the need to move.

  Another sound and the barest movement of the door.

  Now!

  Hawk lashed out with his booted foot, kicking the door into the intruder. There was a muffled thump, but then the door flew open, nearly hitting him in the face.

  The intruder came straight for Hawk like a mini bulldozer. Hawk used the guy’s momentum to spin him around, slamming him into the wall. Hawk’s momentary satisfaction evaporated when the guy continued to fight, hitting and kicking with all his might, refusing to go down easy.

  Hawk took several blows, including one directly in his injured shoulder, which caused a red haze of pain to cloud his vision. Gritting his teeth and ignoring the pain, he wrapped his fingers around the guy’s neck, wrestling him to the floor. He continued to hold pressure against his carotid arteries, until the hostile’s strength faded. When he felt the man’s body go limp, he eased upright and took a moment to draw in a ragged breath.

  His shoulder throbbed and he could feel the dampness of fresh blood oozing from the through-and-through bullet wounds. He sighed. Man, he was getting too old for this. He found some of Lizzy’s hair ribbons and used them to bind the attacker’s wrists, then took off the guy’s boots so he could use the shoelaces to tie up his ankles. Once he had the intruder trussed up like a Christmas turkey, Hawk pulled off the ski mask and waited for him to regain consciousness.

  This ridiculous game of hide-and-seek had gone on long enough. He wanted answers.

  And this time, he wasn’t leaving until he had them.

  Knowing Mike and Ryker would be waiting, Hawk called Mike’s phone. “I’ve got a hostile tied up here, will be out soon.”

  “Did you find the letters?” Mike asked.

  “Yes.” Hawk disconnected the call because the guy on the floor began to move. When the hostile realized he was tied up, he stopped his struggles and looked up at Hawk.

  “Who sent you?”

  The assailant didn’t answer. Hawk felt his body tense with frustration. He leaned over, getting in the guy’s face.

  “Who sent you?” he repeated, his low, gravelly voice harsh with anger.

  Again, the man didn’t respond.

  Hawk pulled out his gun and put the barrel against the perp’s temple. “Give me one good reason not to kill you right here, right now.”

  There was another pause, but the frightened look in the guy’s widened eyes gave Hawk hope that he’d start talking.

  “I’m following orders,” the intruder finally said.

  “Whose orders?” Hawk pressed the barrel of the gun more firmly against his temple. “Who from the Blake-Moore group is giving the orders?”

  The surprise in the guy’s eyes confirmed Hawk was on the right track. “If I talk they’ll kill me.”

  “I’ll kill you if you don’t.” Hawk hoped and prayed the guy wouldn’t call his bluff. “Which one? Kevin Blake or Harper Moore?”

  “Moore,” the man finally admitted.

  The answer surprised him. “Why?”

  The intruder shook his head. “I don’t know. I just do what I’m told.”

  “Tell me your name. And if you were you one of the men up at the cabin.” Hawk pressed.

  The guy’s gaze skittered from his in a way that confirmed Hawk’s suspicions.

  “I guess I should have killed you then.” Hawk stared down at the guy. “Why did you go after Jillian Wade?”

  “We weren’t supposed to hurt her. We only wanted the photographs.”

  Hawk nodded. So far this guy was confirming their suspicions, but he needed more. “Who hired the Blake-Moore group to come after me?”

  The intruder shook his head. “I don’t know. I told you, my job is to follow orders.”

  “What’s your name?” Hawk wasn’t sure why he cared so much about who this guy was, but he wanted to verify he was former army, too. He didn’t think a private mercenary group would hire anyone but former military, but maybe former law enforcement?

  “Ben Dugan.”

  “Okay, Dugan. Tell me about the weapons being sold in Afghanistan.”

  Dugan frowned. “I don’t know anything about that.”

  Hawk wasn’t sure he believed him. A noise at the doorway had him spinning around with his weapon ready. But it was only Tillman who’d come to offer assistance.

  Hawk turned back to his hostage. “You said you only wanted the photographs. You didn’t know what was on them?”

  “No. I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”

  “We can make him talk,” Ryker drawled.

  “I’m not sure he knows anything,” Hawk answered.

  There was a long silence as Hawk considered his options. It wouldn’t necessarily surprise him that the boss of the operation had withheld key information from his men. Yet he knew Dugan had every reason to lie.

  “Fine. Don’t tell me about the gun sales. We’ll figure out the rest on our own.” Hawk glanced at Ryker, who shrugged and nodded.

  “What should we do with him?” Ryker asked.

  Hawk gestured toward the door. “We’ll leave, then call the police. They can arrest him for trespassing and vandalism.”

  “No! Wait! Don’t! They’ll kill me!”

  After tucking the frilly jewelry box beneath his arm, Hawk hesitated, staring down at the mercenary. “And if I don’t turn you in to the authorities, you’ll just come after me again. I can’t risk it.”

  “I have money saved up, they pay us well.” Dugan’s tone was pleading. “Let me go and I’ll disappear.”

  He wasn’t sure he believed him, but at the same time, he didn’t want any more blood on his hands. The one mercenary he’d killed in self-defense was more than enough.

  “I’ll take care of him for you,” Ryker offered. “I’ll haul his butt into town and dump him on the cops’ doorstep.”

  Hawk appreciated it but shook his head. “It’s not worth it.”

  “We can’t just leave him here,” Ryker pointed out.

  “Sure we can. We’ll give him fifteen minutes before calling the cops. That seems fair enough.” Hawk headed toward Ryker, then glanced over his shoulder. “And Dugan?” Hawk waited until the guy looked him in the eye. “If I see you again, I will kill you.”

  Dugan didn’t answer, but Hawk didn’t care. Getting out of his binds wouldn’t be easy, but it was possible. Hawk followed Ryker as they stealthily made their way through Jilly’s house and out the back door, making sure to take care in case Dugan hadn’t been alone.

  But they didn’t see anyone else when they met up with Mike at the SUV.

  Ryker jumped into the back, leaving Hawk to ride shotgun. He settled into the seat and glanced at his friend. “In twelve minutes, we’re going to call the police and report the intruder and subsequent vandalism,” Hawk told him.

  Mike lifted a brow at the strange request but didn’t ask anything further. “What did you find out?”

  “His name is Ben Dugan and he works for the Blake-Moore group, as we suspected. He claims his orders came directly from Harper Moore and that the intent was only to get the photographs from Jillian without hurting her or Lizzy.”

  Mike let out a snort. “Yeah, right.”

  Hawk gingerly rotated his injured shoulder, u
nderstanding where Mike was coming from. The bullet hadn’t been a warning but an attempt to silence him for good. And it galled him to know that his body had protected Jillian and Lizzy. If the bullet had been lower...he shook his head, unable to finish the thought.

  “You and Ryker left him tied up?” Mike asked, breaking the silence.

  “Yeah. Gave him fifteen minutes to get away before calling the cops.”

  “Why?” Mike asked, his expression mirroring his confusion. “Don’t you want him arrested?”

  “I do but he claims the mercenaries will kill him if he gets caught by the cops. Figured we’d give him a chance to escape.”

  Mike glanced at the rearview mirror, exchanging a look with Ryker. Hawk knew they were curious about his motives, but he didn’t care. Hawk closed his eyes, trying to relax despite feeling every blow Dugan had landed.

  The wound in his shoulder would need medical attention, soon. Hawk fought off the sense of overwhelming despair. He’d gotten the letters and a small amount of information, but still nothing solid to go on.

  He needed to find a way to keep Jillian and Lizzy safe from the mercenaries who stalked him. No easy task, considering the wealth and power these men had to get what they wanted.

  Remembering how Jillian had prayed made him wonder if that would help. Was God really up there, looking out for him? He felt as if it was worth a try.

  He sent up a silent prayer, asking for the strength and wisdom to keep his wife and daughter safe from harm.

  Relishing the sense of peace that washed over him.

  * * *

  Jillian couldn’t relax while Hawk, Mike and Ryker were gone. Oh, she appreciated Matt’s being here with Duchess to watch over them, but it wasn’t the same as having Hawk protect her and Lizzy.

  Strange how much she’d come to lean on Hawk over these past few days. To the point she didn’t feel safe or at ease without him at her side.

  Matt’s phone rang. Jillian leaped up from the sofa, her stomach knotting with worry. She trusted in Hawk’s abilities and was grateful he wasn’t alone, but she feared the call was bad news.