Christ. I’ve never been good at lying. “Yeah, well. For birthdays anyway.” I slide the card in my pocket and glance behind him.
Hawk must sense how uncomfortable he’s making me because he backs up another step. “I’m sure you have plans then. If I’d known, I would have done something for you here.”
“That’s okay,” I say before passing him. I don’t look back when I say, “I need to go. I’ll see you for my shift tomorrow.”
I’ve never moved so fast in my life without running. Darren knows where I am. He’s known long enough to be here now. Heck, he could be watching. What would he think if he saw me with Hawk? What trouble would he start for me here?
I have to get out. I need to get away. I can have my bags packed and be on the next bus out of town within an hour. I have no idea where I’ll end up or what I’ll do for money, but I can’t stand the thought of that man anywhere near me. He’s manipulative enough to make everyone I care about believe the worst about me.
Like he did with my mother. I won’t let that happen to anyone again.
Hawk
I am not going crazy. Something is seriously up with Lo, and I intend to find out what the hell it is.
She’s out the front doors before I can stop her. At the bar, Jonus is catching up on drink orders. He’s late for shift, again, but I don’t give a fuck about that right now. I step behind the bar and begin filling orders alongside him.
“I’ll have it caught up in a sec, boss,” he says.
I don’t answer. I don’t care about the damn drinks. I just want a second alone with him to find out what he knows about Lo. Once we have the orders under control, I pull him over to the side and start the inquisition.
“Did you know we missed Lo’s birthday?”
Jonus’s eyes go wide and he shakes his head. “No. I thought it was in August.”
“I did too. What about her family or friends? Anyone new been hanging around your place? Has she talked about anyone giving her trouble?”
Another head shake, this time with a grimace. “She’s been aloof lately. She sticks to home and work, but that’s Lo. Nothing new there.”
I need something more to go on. “Any reason she’d be jumpy? Who was that card from that she had in her hands just now?”
Jonus swallows hard. “I haven’t noticed anything. Should I have?”
When I don’t respond, he goes on to my second question.
“Someone from Kentucky. I figured it was from her mom or someone back home. Why?”
“No reason,” I tell him. “You’re locking up tonight. Leave the till for tomorrow.” The last thing I need right now is one of my employees jumped while taking the night’s payout to the bank.
Jonus nods and when I step away, he’s back to filling mugs, though I feel him watching me. I’m sure the second I walk out the door, he’ll text Lo. He’ll warn her I’m coming. I don’t give a shit about that. I’m going to find out once and for all what has her on edge. Even if it pushes her further away from me.
I could take my bike the eight blocks to Lo’s apartment, but I’m afraid I’ll pass her on the way. Besides, I need the walk to cool my temper. If someone is messing with her, I’m going to take care of it.
I’m going to take care of her.
I reach their apartment calmer than when I left the restaurant, but I’m still on high alert. I don’t like when my employees keep secrets from me, especially when it’s Lo. When I knock on the front door, it creaks open. It’s not locked, and the handle hasn’t engaged.
“Fuck,” I curse under my breath. They all should know better than to leave their doors open. I knock again, but since the door is already open, I invite myself in. The place is quiet and dark, except for a stream of light coming from under a door in the hallway.
I call Lo’s name and walk slowly, listening for her reaction, but I hear nothing. My heart jumps up to my throat. She’s better be in there and she better be okay. If something happened to her, I’ll never forgive myself for letting her walk out of the restaurant alone.
The handle turns when I try it, and the door opens. Lo is standing over her bed throwing clothes into a duffle bag and crying. She’s moving so quickly from the closet to the bed, I don’t have a choice but to catch her by the arm to stop her. When I do, Lo turns to me, her mouth open, her eyes blank. I don’t see the left jab coming until it’s too late, and she lands her fist along my cheek hard enough to make me release her.
I’ve taken my fair share of hard hits before, and some have been from women, but I’ve never felt the amount of power Lo put into her punch before. My whole face jerks to the side and I lose sight of her for a second. It’s all the time she needs to grab her bag and make a run for the door.
“Lo,” I yell, stalking in her direction in long strides. She’s fast, but I’m on a mission and I catch up to her in time to slam the front door shut with one hand, pinning her between me and the closed off exit. “Lo.” I breathe her name on an exhausted breath. “What the hell is going on?”
She doesn't turn to me but lowers her head instead. She’s still holding her duffle bag as if she’s going to somehow magically get the door open and make a run for it. I need more security than that. I reach up for the latch and lock the door before I use both hands to turn her around to face me.
Her cheeks are tear stained and her eyes are red. She’s looking down, even when I lift her chin with my finger.
“Lo. Answer me. What the hell are you so damn afraid of?”
“Nothing,” she mutters before she twists her head away from me and looks at the ground again.
I’m not sure what I’ve done to make her distrust me, but it’s fucking killing me inside. I can’t stand feeling helpless while she stands in front of me holding back tears and shaking as if I’m what is making her so afraid.
I try another approach, hoping it’ll lessen the fight-or-flight response I know her body is locked in. I step away, giving her room to leave if she wants to. “Fine. You don’t want my help? I’m not going to force you to take it. But I know something is up with you, and I’m betting it has to do with your past.”
“Hawk, I—” She starts then stops just as suddenly. “I can’t. I should have told you sooner, but I just…”
“Just what?” I’m almost yelling. I want her to tell me what’s wrong so damn bad. I lift her chin up to look at me again and this time she does. “Lo, I told you when you started working for me, your problems are my problems. Tell me what’s wrong and we can fix it together. Keep it to yourself and there is nothing I can do to help you.”
“I know,” she whispers. She lets her bag drop into my hands, which is a good sign that I’m getting through.
“Then come sit down here and tell me what’s going on.”
“You have enough on your plate already,” she answers. I watch her body coil back up, ready to try for the door the second she feels me back off. “I can deal with this on my own.”
“I’m sure you can.” I take her bag and move it away from her, hopefully making her think twice about making a run for it. “Your right hook is something else. But you don’t have to.”
When she doesn't respond, I take her by the hand and notice when she jumps. Her knuckles are red and she’s holding her fingers together.
“Damn, Lo. We need to get some ice on this hand.”
I’m afraid if I let her go, she’ll run for the door, so I take her into the kitchen with me. I find a towel hanging on the oven handle and I fill it with ice. Once I have her settled on the couch, I hold her swollen hand in mine and lightly lay the ice on top.
She makes a hissing noise at first, but soon settles.
“I’m in a little trouble,” she says once she takes the ice back from me. “I don’t want to get you or Camila or Jonus involved.”
I pat her knee. “I’m already involved.”
“I wanted to tell you yesterday, but when I saw you with Camila, I chickened out.”
“This is what the text was
about?” Fuck. She’s been worried over something big enough to make her want to run away from home and she’s been holding on to it for two days. “You should have just told me, Lo.”
“I tried.”
She looks up at me with those big glassy brown eyes and my chest tightens. I want to pull her into a bear hug and never let her go again. I want to tell her that while she is mine, no one will ever be able to harm her. But I can’t make the words come out. The last thing she needs right now is a man confessing his love to her.
“I really wanted to tell you,” she says. “But then you were already mad and I know how much you’ve had to deal with lately and—”
“And none of that is more important to me than you.”
Her gaze locks on mine. I’ve shown her my hand, but it seems to be working. She’s softening to me.
“He’s from my past. A guy I dated only a few times. I thought if I ignored him for a while, he’d go away. I avoided his calls. I called in sick when he showed up at my work. I even called the police when he helped himself into my home one evening. Nothing stopped him.”
She’s shaking. I want to wrap her in my arms, but I know better. Instead, I sit on the couch next to her, keeping one hand on her knee. And I do what guys like me do. I ask more questions.
“Does he know where you are now?”
“I didn’t think so,” she says, then she pulls the letter from her pocket. “Until this came, I thought maybe he’d gotten lucky and found my cell number.”
“He’s been texting you?”
“Only a few times. I don’t know where he is, Hawk. He could be here waiting for me to be alone. Or he could be back in Kentucky with my mother. He has her convinced he’s a nice guy and she wants nothing more than for me to settle down. That’s why I left. That’s also why I cut her out completely.”
“Christ,” I grind out. “What did the police say?”
She takes in a ragged breath and I pull her into my side. “Darren would have to threaten me in order for them to intervene. They don’t seem to understand there is more than one way to control a person.”
“My God, Lo. I had no idea.”
“No one did. I didn’t want to involve anyone else. Every time I do, he turns them against me. Just like my mother.”
I turn her to face me and take her face between my palms, so she has no choice but to hear me. “No one will ever be able to turn me against you, Lo. You have to know that by now.”
She gives me a sheepish glance. “I know. You watch out for us girls. You need some ice for your cheek.”
She begins to lift the towel to my face, but I put it back down. “The cheek can wait, and you’re more than one of the girls to me.” I’m dropping my guard, but I need Lo to trust me and right now that trust might be earned by giving her a little of my own. “Lotus. I’m here for you.”
Her gaze drops and she twists free from my hold. She’s wounded, but I don’t know how. She walks to the kitchen and opens the freezer, pulls out a pack of frozen veggies and returns, handing the bag to me. I take the bag, but I’m too concerned with the change I’m seeing in her expression. Somewhere on her short trip to the kitchen she’s gone cold. “Camila will be home soon. It would be best if she didn’t see us together like this.”
“Lo.” I drop my head to meet hers, but she won’t even look at me. “I can’t just leave after what you’ve told me. This Darren guy... What if he’s in town? You said yourself that you need help.”
Lo sucks in a deep breath that makes her shoulders rise and fall before she looks up at me again. “I panicked. The card threw me for a loop, and I freaked out. I’m fine now. I can handle Darren on my own.”
“I don’t think you can.” My tone is flat and I’m frowning at her more than just looking. I’m disappointed. Not a feeling that goes well with how I feel for Lo, but it’s there. Eating away at the pit of my stomach. “Are you still planning to run away?”
She reaches for her bag from the floor and hoists it over one shoulder. “It’s the only way to keep him out of my life. I just have to always be one step ahead.”
I’ve heard enough. Years in the services taught me what happens to people who have no security. They come unhinged. Slowly at first, but I already see it happening with Lo. She’s the strongest-willed woman I’ve known. Stronger than most of the men in my club. And she’s willing to live a life on the run to avoid facing her danger.
I can’t let that happen to her. I won’t sit back and watch her world fall apart.
“You’re coming home with me.”
Lo whips her head back, sending her hair splashing out over one shoulder. “No, Hawk. I’ve made up my mind. I’m moving on.”
“The hell you are.” I take the bag off her shoulder and throw it on mine before I grab the keys out of her hand and the little wallet they are attached to. “You want your stuff? You’ll have to come with me to get it back.”
She protests, but I’m out the door and already through the outdoor corridor that leads to the street.
She can follow me back to the restaurant or she can leave town without her stuff. Her choice. Because I’ve made up my mind. I can put aside my feeling for Lo for long enough to save her. But first, she’s going to have to show me she wants to be saved.
Chapter 4
Lotus
Hawk can be a real dick at times. Right now is one of those times.
To keep up with his long strides as he’s gliding down the sidewalk, I’m almost running. No matter how many times I call his name or beg him to slow down, he doesn’t listen. I’d like to say I’m enjoying the view. Hawk has a nice ass. Watching him walk away isn’t a chore on most days, but right now he has my life thrown over his back and my wallet in his hand. I’m ready to pick up a pebble off the street and throw it at him if he doesn’t stop.
We’re halfway back to the restaurant when he’s caught by a traffic light and I’m able to catch him. I’m winded from the walk-running, but he’s not even phased. When I call his name, he ignores me. I pull on the strap of my bag, but he doesn't budge.
“Hawk, please.” I beg. “My bus leaves in an hour.”
“You don’t have a bus,” he answers, keeping his head up high and staring out over the sidewalk and away from me.
“I can’t stay with you,” I say.
The older woman standing with us at the corner gives me a curt look, then wrinkles up her nose at Hawk. I give her a weak grin and shrug my shoulders. The light turns and Hawk’s off again with his gargantuan strides that make it impossible for me to keep up.
“Have you thought about how this will make Camila feel?” I throw at his back.
He turns his head slightly to me. “No. The only person I’m worried about right now is you.”
“Oh, that’s funny,” I push out through my burning lungs.
Hawk slows a beat and glances at me over one shoulder. “How so?”
“You’re making me chase you through the streets because you're concerned about me. Don’t you see the irony in that?”
He stops and I almost run headfirst into his back.
“All I see is how hardheaded you’re being.” He’s off again and moving even faster, if that’s possible.
I don’t catch him again until we’re at the front steps of his apartment. I’ve never been inside before, but I do know his front door is to the side of the restaurant. He’s climbed the steps and has the door open before I’m able to catch my breath and follow. Another, much longer flight of steps follows, and by the time I reach the top, he has his apartment door open and my things on a couch in the middle of a cozy living room.
It’s a masculine kind of cozy. A brick fireplace is surrounded by off-white walls and photographs of the city. The kitchen is small and opens to the living area. In the back corner, I spot the bed and a single door I’m guessing it closes the bathroom off from the rest of the studio room.
“Don’t even think about grabbing your stuff and running. I still have your wallet.” He’s ta
lking while pulling pots out of a cabinet and dropping them on a small stove.
“That’s fine,” I say, dropping to the couch beside my stuff. “You have to sleep sometime.”
Hawk laughs. It’s a rough, guttural sound that makes my skin prickle.
“You can’t make me stay here.”
“You’re free to go whenever you like.”
He’s had his fun. He’s played the part of the overly concerned boss. But my time is running short. I stand and step into his path in the kitchen, so he has no choice but to acknowledge me. “You’ve proven your point, Hawk. I need help. But right now, my bus is leaving and if I miss it, I’m stuck here until the next one.”
He moves past me with ease as if he’s had practice dodging disgruntled house guests. “When’s the next bus?”
“In three days.”
“Good,” he says, filling the larger pot with water and putting it on the stove. “That’s enough time for me to do some digging on this Darren guy.”
I fold my arms over my chest and drop my shoulders. “Did you not hear me back in my apartment? I’ve tried that. There is nothing to find. The police couldn’t come up with a single reason to detain him.”
Hawk fills the second pot with a red sauce from a jar, then he stops and catches me between the kitchen counter and his chest before he puts both of his arms on either side of me. I’m trapped with no choice but to look into his stormy green eyes and feel myself falling hard for the man who’s breaking my heart.
“I’m not the police, Lo. Give me those three days to see what I can find out. If I come up with nothing, you are free to go. But, until then, I’m your shadow.”
I swallow the lump that’s formed in my throat from his closeness. “What’s my second choice?”
He leans in closer until the smell of his spicy soap overtakes my senses. My knees are weak but resist crumbling. I’m fighting to push him away. Giving in would be so easy right now, but I’ve been here before and it only got me into more trouble.
“You don’t have another choice, Lo. For the next three days, this is your home. Here and the restaurant. Anywhere else you want to go, I go with you.”
Hawk: Tempest Elite MC: Tempest Elite MC Book # 5 Page 3
