Page 39 of Storm Warning

Hawk held on for dear life as the Bronco spun along the wet road and edged off into the ditch. “Are you trying to get us killed?”

He couldn’t hold back his complete frustration. With himself, not Remi.

“I’m sorry.” She stared at him. “Maybe you could have told me sooner. What do youmeanhe’s your brother?”

Anger flashed in her eyes. That and a lot of confusion. She reached for her gun, slid it out, and gripped it, keeping it ready. Well, that was just great. His dreams were finally coming true. She was looking at him like he was a bad guy now.

Hawk lifted his hands in surrender, palms up. “I didn’t know my brother was the guy behind your attacks, I swear. But now that we know the truth, please believe me that I have nothing to do with what happened to you.”

“Do you even hear yourself? It cannot be a coincidence that your brother is here at thesame timeyou are. He attacked me. Abducted Jo. You probably know about my missing days. You lied to me, didn’t you?” She shook her head.

She wasn’t wrong about the coincidence.

“Listen—”

“I don’t believe this.” Beyond willing to listen, she cut him off, and then she stared at him, a long, mean, scrutinizing stare that left him wondering if he should fear for his life. After huffing a few times, her face relaxed a little, and a hint of warmth replaced the cold in her eyes. “I would tell you to get out of my Bronco, but I’m supposed to take you to the hospital.”

She shifted into four-wheel drive. The tires spun as she floored it, and finally the old Bronco gained traction. The back end fishtailed as she sped back onto the road. How did he make her understand when he was still trying to figure it out?

“Start talking, Hawk. Tell me right now what’s going on.”

Oh, I’d love to, but ...“You need to let me get a word in for that to happen.”

“I—” She glanced his way, then closed her mouth.

He might have smiled at that on a better day, but he wasn’t going to comment. Hawk just wanted to close his eyes and rest in a nice, soft bed for maybe a thousand years, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep even if he was cozied up under a bunch of heavy, warm blankets.

She was waiting.

“His name is Cole Mercer.”

“Wait, not Beckett?”

“He changed his name.”

“But why?”

“Just ... didn’t want to be part of the family anymore. We were competitive growing up. Too competitive. I hadn’t seen him in person for eight years.” That didn’t mean he hadn’t been searching, especially when he’d heard that Cole had shifted to the dark side, working for the wrong people. Hawk needed to weigh just how much to share at this juncture.He needed to find solid footing. “At times I’ve even wondered if he was still alive. Tonight, he was the one to hit me over the head and tell me to stay out of it.”

“It. Stay out of what?”

“You. It’s all about you.”

My brother even threatened to end me if I got up.Hawk had been shocked to his core. He’d tried to find him and then received the news from John eighteen months ago that Cole was a gun for hire. He and Cole were close growing up but, at the same time, at odds their entire lives. Hawk would take back everything he’d ever said to get his brother back. His words might have been the catalyst to send his brother away.

Regardless, Cole was lost.

He glanced at Remi, unsure what he would see in her eyes. Compassion? Understanding? But she didn’t look at him. Instead, she remained focused on the road, her lips pressed into a thin line. Her hands squeezing the steering wheel too tightly.

And he couldn’t stand the silence filling the cab. “I get it. You don’t know what to believe. You don’t know if you can trust me.”

“Did you tell Deputy Hunter more than just his description? Did you tell her that Cole is your brother?”

“I told her his name and that he’s a hired gunman. Though maybe that was a mistake. Telling her could just make things worse and put you in more danger.”

“I can’t believe she didn’t tell us everything that you shared. And she knew this information and let you walk out of there. She has to know that you’re connected somehow.” Remi’s voice shook.

“She doesn’t. I didn’t tell her that I’m connected, but she’ll find out soon enough.” Man, he was digging his own grave here. The deputy might have detained Hawk, and then whatwould happen to Remi? This conversation wasn’t going well, but there was no good way to break this news to her.

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