Page 35 of The Maverick

“Any history with Vanessa?”

“He tried to top her one time,” Dawson said from behind the screen. “She declined. Twice. Then filed a club notice when he wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

Hawke’s jaw tightened. “What happened?”

“Nothing actionable. He backed off after the second redirect from staff. But it put him on the quiet watchlist.”

Silent obsession. The worst kind.

“Does he know she’s staying with me?”

“If he does, it didn’t come from us.”

“Then he’ll follow,” Hawke said. “And I’m going to let him.” He turned to Gavin. “I need you to stay with her. Maybe get Keely and Roxie down here?”

Gavin nodded.

“Where are you going?” Vanessa asked.

“To put a tracker on the little bastard’s vehicle so we know where it, and hopefully he, is at all times.”

Hawke headed upstairs. Once clear of the elevator, he pulled his phone from his back pocket and texted Jesse, who was positioned by the side entrance where Charles had parked. A moment later, Jesse replied with a single word:

Confirmed.

Hawke made his way toward the door, turning on the magnetic tracking device he’d concealed in his pocket. Quick,reliable and untraceable. It would give them movement data, map patterns, track proximity.

He waited until Charles stepped out, paused to light a cigarette, then headed toward the lot. The man never looked around. Too cocky or too clueless to realize he was being watched. Hawke followed at a distance, the shadows along the edge of the club’s back lot covering him like a damn gift.

When Charles passed the corner of the building, crossing to his vehicle and then getting inside, Hawke closed the distance fast and dropped to one knee beside the rear passenger tire. In one fluid motion, he attached the tracker to the undercarriage and slipped back into the darkness. No sound. No eyes.

By the time Charles drove off, Hawke was already halfway back to the vault. Vanessa was sitting in a large chair her feet curled beneath her, her skin still flushed from earlier. She wore a soft sweater and leggings.

She looked up when he entered. “Did you ever tire of bossing people around?”

He walked straight up to her, placed both hands on the armrests of the chair she was curled in, and caged her in. “Other people yes. You? Not so much.”

Her lips parted. She didn’t move. “That so?”

He dipped his head lower, letting his mouth brush her ear. “You did well tonight.”

Her breath stuttered. “Was that a compliment?”

He pulled back just enough to meet her eyes. “No. That was a promise.”

She flushed beautifully.

“Do you think Charles is the one?” she asked.

“I think he just moved to the top of my list.”

“And if he’s not?”

“Then he’ll lead me to whoever is.”

She swallowed. “You’re not sleeping tonight, are you?”

“No.”

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