FORBIDDEN LOVE

by LAURA HARNER

  ****

  Dani pushed Tony into the elevator with Beau and Tolley flanking him. The doors behind them slid quietly closed, and Tolley hit the down button.

  Nothing happened for a moment, then the doors to the other penthouse opened and Hawk stood there, eyes deeply shadowed, his face ashen and lines etched into his cheeks and forehead gave him the appearance of a very old man. He stared blankly at the three men in front of him; then Dani watched as comprehension dawned on him in an instant. He put it all together—the handcuffs, the bugs in her apartment, Tony’s comment about the engagement—and he knew.

  Dani stepped out from behind Tony and whispered his name. “Hawk.”

  That momentary distraction was all it took. Tony slammed his back into her, knocking her head into the steel doors behind her and lighting a fresh fire under her painful ribs. An insane-sounding laugh bubbled from Espinoza as he barreled forward from the elevator, head lowered, wrists locked behind his back, charging straight ahead.

  “Charbonnet!” he screamed, as he took aim at Hawk.

  Dani lost her breath with the force of Tony’s blow, but she still tried to squeeze past Beau and Tolley, who both seemed frozen in place. The thought flashed through her mind that they were waiting to give Hawk a shot at kicking Tony’s ass; then she was past them but too late to get between Hawk and Espinoza.

  Hawk widened his stance and caught Espinoza by the throat, easily lifting the FBI agent like a rag doll. His fingers squeezed, choking off Tony’s shouting along with his breath. Tony scissor-kicked, trying to get free, but Hawk drove him back into the wall with a resounding thud.

  No longer capable of movement, Tony hung limply, arms and legs dangling, his face starting to purple. His chest heaved, then his eyes rolled back in his head. Tony Espinoza was no longer conscious.

  “Die, you sick bastard,” Hawk growled through clenched teeth, and he pressed harder against Tony’s throat.

  “Hawk!” Dani shouted, pulling at his arms. “Hawk, I’m all right. Let go! Goddamn it, Tolley, give me a hand here!”

  With his chest pressed to Hawk’s back, Tolley hooked his arms under Hawk’s and wrapped his hands behind the taller man’s head. Dani pried Hawk’s fingers loose then watched dispassionately as Tony collapsed on the floor in a heap. Beau was suddenly beside her and together they dragged Espinoza back into the elevator.

  “Looks like we can add resisting arrest to the charges,” Beau added dryly.

  “Shit! What the hell got into Hawk?” Dani asked. “And what took you guys so long to help?”

  Beau grinned. “I don’t know what you mean. Let’s go, Tolley,” Beau called across the room.

  Dani looked over and saw Hawk sitting, slumped on a low leather chair, holding his head in his hands. He was nodding at whatever Tolley was saying. Tolley gave Hawk a pat on the shoulder, then started across the room to join them in the elevator.

  Hawk glanced up. His gaze met Dani’s for just an instant, and her breath caught in her throat. He looks like a man without hope. Then the doors to the elevator slid closed.

  Chapter Twenty

  Dani dragged herself into Renaissance Tower. Nearly twenty-four hours had passed since she’d gone out to meet Nic. So much had happened. She shifted uncomfortably, trying to draw a deep breath without setting the pain receptors screaming again. She leaned into Tolley as he wrapped a comforting arm around her and together they moved slowly to the penthouse elevator.

  “You okay, Dani, honey?” Tolley asked, carefully taking some of her weight.

  “Hurts,” Dani whined. Now that they were alone, she didn’t have to pretend to be the tough cop any more. She was in serious pain and had steadfastly refused to take the pain medication the doctor prescribed after her shooting. There was no doubt a bruised rib was better than a dead heart. She would have died without the bulletproof vest, so she was grateful she’d worn it, but damn, she was hurting right now.

  “It’s okay. I’ve got you. It’s time for those pain meds now,” Tolley said. He helped her get ready for bed, and once she was settled and medicated, he sat next to her and let her talk away the residual tension.

  “We did good, didn’t we?” Dani said.

  “Honey, that was all you,” he said. “You did great. We’ve got Espinoza dead to rights on your shooting, and now that we can process the evidence from his apartment, I’ll get him for Crease’s murder, too. He was arrogant, kept records, never gloved up. I found the same type of bugs we found here at Charbonnet Hall, along with fingerprints on two of the dirks in Hawk’s knife collection. Espinoza fingered a couple of them before he selected the one he wanted.

  “His partial was underneath Del’s full prints on the bat. A good lawyer will tie that up in court, but maybe Del can tell us something when he gets back.”

  “God, Tony did so much damage, spread so much hate,” Dani reflected. “All for the greater good, he said. But it wasn’t good; it was just a sick obsession. My family has more reason to hate Julian than anyone, but none of us would try to justify hurting someone else in order to get to him.”

  Tolley nodded. “He saw Beaker and Crease as tools in his holy war against Charbonnet. He wrote it all down, said you were a good cop who would fall in the line of duty. He mourned losing you and blamed it all on Julian. He was willing to use anybody, make any sacrifice, because he believed his cause was righteous.” Tolley said. “The man is nuts. Do you think he’ll ever see jail?”

  Dani yawned. “Oh, he will if I have anything to say about it. He doesn’t deserve to spend his days in a mental ward. He was just wrong. A bad cop who thought his own brand of justice was better than the system’s.”

  Her eyes started to close, and she fought to get her last thoughts out before sleep overtook her. “Will you tell Hawk I’m home? In the morning…too late tonight…don’t want to wake him. Tell him…tell him I’ll see him tomorrow…love him.” Dani sighed.

  Tolley gently brushed her hair back from her face, kissed her temple, then quietly left her room, and she finally drifted off to sleep.

  ****

  Tolley pushed the buzzer for Hawk’s penthouse apartment.

  “Where is she?” Hawk asked without preamble as soon as the door slid open. when he opened the door to Tolley.

  “Sleeping. She wants me to tell you something,” Tolley said, noticing the suitcases stacked by the door. He walked into the room without waiting for an invitation.

  “What is that?” Hawk asked, the lines in his face and tousled hair showing the stress of the last thirty hours.

  Tolley flopped onto the couch and stretched his arms along the back. He was bone tired. Dani might have a week’s medical leave, the start of which had been conveniently delayed until after the arrest, but his work was just beginning. Dani had done her job; now it was his turn to make sure the evidence was collected, analyzed, and recorded. After that, it was up to the prosecuting attorney and the courts.

  “Do you suppose I could have some coffee? It was a long day and a longer night. You look like you could use some, too, big guy.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t have much time. I was just getting ready to—” Hawk broke off abruptly then scrubbed his face with his hands as if to wipe away the exhaustion.

  He called down to the front desk and ordered a pot of coffee. The men waited, each lost in thought, for the coffee to arrive. When it was delivered, along with assorted pastries and fruit, Tolley sighed.

  “You sure know how to live, Hawk. I’ll give you that.”

  “You have the same intercom system I do, Tolley. Penthouse delivery is a benefit that comes with your unit. Now, I don’t mean to be rude, but I need to be leaving soon. My plane is waiting. I’m returning to Houston, then back to London.”

  Tolley let Hawk’s words hang in the air between them for a minute while he sipped his coffee. One look at Hawk’s face told him most of what he’d needed to know. The man was a basket case. Even his fingers trembled as he held his coffee cup. Hawk had it bad.

&nbs
p; Dani was Tolley’s best friend and he knew she loved him—of that he had no doubt. She was a generous soul, always giving to him and her family, but her love was something she kept close. She’d rarely dated while they were in the police academy, and even less now that she was finally a detective. She always said it didn’t go with the job.

  He knew this thing with Hawk had been so fast, it had snuck up on her before she’d had time to process it. Especially when you added the combination of the murder cases, Espinoza, and the situation between Hawk and his father. She’d listened to that tape, same as he had, heard what Hawk said to Constantine. It still made his blood boil. Yet the last thing on Dani’s mind before she fell asleep had been Hawk. She’d said she loved him. He’d never heard her say that about anyone before, not about anyone besides him or her family.

  “Tell me why you’re leaving, Hawk,” Tolley said quietly.

  With a disdainful snort, Hawk said, “You know why. You said it yourself, yesterday, just before you hauled that bastard out of here. I’m not good enough for Danielle. I fucked up. I made light of our lovemaking in talking to Constantine because I thought it would protect her.”

  Hawk continued more quietly, “I didn’t have a clue about the more immediate danger she was in. I always think in terms of being a Charbonnet. Or trying not to be a Charbonnet. I get that Espinoza was an anomaly, but my father is not. His war with Constantine, with the Delacroiux, these are the facts of my life. As long as anyone associated with my father thinks she’s important to me, Danielle will always be a target, always be in danger.

  “Yesterday, I thought I’d lost her forever. The world became a darker place for me because I believed the light that is Danielle was gone. I don’t want to live in that world, Tolley. I can’t live in that world. God help me, I can’t.

  “I have to go. I need to get away from here before I see her, before I lose my nerve. I would rather leave her and know she is alive, know she is happy with someone besides me, than ever put her in danger again.”

  “Don’t you think Dani has some say in this?” Tolley asked, uncomfortable now, because he’d not given her a say yesterday when he’d told Hawk to leave in their little post-arrest chat. “I was wrong in what I told you, Hawk. I was wrong to say you don’t deserve her. I’m sorry.

  “I know you love her. I told you she wanted me to tell you something. It was the last thing she said to me before she fell asleep. Dani loves you. She loves you, Hawk! You can’t walk away from love.”

  Hawk smiled an unbearably sad smile, and his eyes shimmered brightly. “I know she does, Tolley. I know she does. It’s why leaving is the right thing to do.”

  Hawk stood, held his hand out to Tolley. “Take care of our girl for me.”

  ****

  “Can you talk or will he hear you?”

  “I can talk.”

  “Which airport?”

  “The Généreux Executive Terminal. Departure in forty-five minutes.”

  “When this is over…”

  “Yeah, I know. We’ll talk then.”

  ****

  “Dani, get up! Hurry. Hawk’s leaving. He’s going back to London. Shit—I’ll explain on the way. Come on.” Tolley handed Dani a pair of jeans and a sweater and tossed her shoes on the bed. While she dressed, he gathered a few things from her bathroom and then he was back, helping her pull her sweater over her head.

  Christ, she was moving so slowly, she was probably still hung over from all the drugs. “Come on, Dani,” Tolley said. “We’ve gotta run or Hawk will be taking his jet back to London and not coming back. He thinks he’s no good for you!”

  ****

  His words hit her like a slap of cold water. Fear gripped her heart and she raced for the elevator. They climbed into her car, and Tolley drove with the lights flashing and siren wailing. Dani blessed Tolley’s organized mind as she used her brush and wiped her face with the damp washcloth he’d brought from her bathroom.

  She listened to his confession of telling Hawk to stay away from her, and put a comforting hand on his arm.

  “This wasn’t your fault, Tolley. I think this has all happened so fast, we didn’t see love coming. Hawk and I don’t know how to deal with each other yet. You were only trying to look out for me. You both were.”

  Tolley flashed a grin at her. “What can I say? You bring out the testosterone in me. Now hang on, we’re almost there.”

  ****

  Deuce watched as the SUV with the flashing lights raced across the tarmac toward the plane. Shit. He should have told Tolley to lose the lights. Oh, well, couldn’t be helped, now. He raised an arm, directing them to park near the base of the rolling stairs.

  He figured Hawk was sitting in his usual spot on the leather sofa on the other side of the plane. He wouldn’t have seen the SUV approach. The preflight checks were complete and the pilot had already filed the flight plan. All that was left was for Deuce to board and then they’d close the hatch. If he waited any longer, Hawk would get suspicious.

  Deuce went to Dani’s door and opened it. His gaze locked with Tolley’s for a long moment, then he helped Dani from her seat and onto the ground.

  “Go on up, Dani. It’s up to you now. You’re the only one who can make him stay,” Deuce said.

  Dani turned to Tolley for a hug. “Wish me luck,” she said with a shaky smile.

  “Aw, honey, you know I do,” he said, then turned her firmly toward the plane. “Go on, now. It’s time to trust your heart.”

  “I think maybe it’s time to trust yours, too,” Dani said, patting Tolley’s hand, but looking directly at Deuce.

  Deuce watched as Dani squared her shoulders, put on a determined expression, and slowly climbed the stairs to Hawk.

  ****

  On the plane, Dani watched Hawk as he sank lower onto the couch, stretched his long, denim-clad legs, and stared out the window. Sorrow and resignation had etched fine lines around his mouth that hadn’t been there a few days ago. So much had happened since they’d declared their love for each other. So much that Hawk no longer believed in the power of their love. He’d really thought this through, she realized. He believed leaving her would keep her safe from his father’s world.

  The last time they’d made love, she’d known he’d planned to pull away afterward. He’d intended to say good-bye that night. Instead, she’d told him that she loved him, challenged him to take a chance. He’d been ready to try, and then their world had been turned upside down by events beyond their control. Shit. Was that really only two nights ago?

  They needed a chance to keep building, but not on sex. She almost snorted. Okay, sex with Hawk was the best any woman could ever have. He was a generous lover, giving and tender. A little rough just when she needed it. There was much about the physical aspect of their relationship to explore, but there was even more to learn about each other besides the sex.

  They needed a history that went beyond this very intense last week. A history that was stronger than the obstacles life would always throw at them. Dani didn’t want him to come back because of sex. If he came back, it would be to build a relationship, to create a life together. If he wouldn’t come back for that, then she would have to let him go.

  That thought caused her heart to plummet, but she wouldn’t keep trying to hold on if he wasn’t willing to take a chance.

  Dani took a small step forward, entering the area that would be within Hawk’s peripheral vision and waited.

  “It’s about time. What the hell took you so long?” Hawk asked, obviously thinking he was speaking to Deuce.

  When she didn’t answer, he tore his gaze from the window. His eyes widened when he saw her. Just for a second, but she’d seen the look. Surprise, hunger, heartbreak.

  “What are you doing here?” He shook his head. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me, but I need to be going. My pilot is standing by. We’ve been cleared for takeoff.” He paused, then repeated, “I need to go.”

  “I don’t think so, Hawk. Not until we talk,
anyway,” Dani said.

  “Look, there’s nothing to say. We tried, but our lives are just too damn different. I’m sorry if I messed up your arrest or anything…”

  He trailed off, and when she said nothing, he tried again.

  “I’m very relieved you’re not…”

  This time when he stopped his voice was thick and had a rough edge to it. He turned his head back to the window, but not before she’d noticed his overly bright eyes. He hadn’t said her name, she thought, a quiet dread filling her at the realization.

  “You’re really leaving me, aren’t you?” Dani asked softly. “It doesn’t matter what I say, or what I feel…what we feel…you’re leaving any way.”

  “I have some personal business. Look, sugar, it’s better this way. I had no right to intrude in your life the way I did. I’ve got to go. I’m meeting someone. Send Deuce up when you leave.” He never even turned to look at her as she made her way to the door.

  Dani fought against the tears. Fought and lost. She took one last, loving look over her shoulder, then covered her mouth to stifle the sobs that threatened to break loose. She pulled in a ragged breath and nearly doubled over with the pain of it. She’d forgotten about her injuries. Hawk was there in a panicked second.

  “Danielle, are you all right?” And for a moment, she thought he cared. Then he pulled his hands back as though burned. “I’ll get someone to take you home,” he said and started to edge around her.

  “I’m fine,” she gritted through clenched teeth. “There are drugs for this type of pain,” she said. “Good-bye, Hawk Charbonnet. I love you. I always will.”

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Hawk studied the latest reports from Andrea on his Généreux holdings in order to keep himself from thinking about what was to happen tonight. He looked at the date and realized it had been six weeks since he’d left Resurgence and all of his other businesses in his assistant’s hands. Six weeks since he’d ripped his own heart out. He’d spent most of that time either mired in the bottom of a bottle or sleeping off the effects of the bottle from the day before.