Page 23 of Hawk

“I know it was naive of me, but I didn’t understand what a biker gang really was. They were things of fiction, and books and movies tend to glorify ’em, you know?”

Hawk

I nodded in agreement because I knew exactly what he meant. The rebel attitudes and the outlaw mystique made it easy to glamorize the biker lifestyle, but the truth was, most of them weren’t good guys. On the contrary, they were some of the most dangerous.

“They were involved in all kinds of illegal activity. Guns, drugs, theft. I don’t even know what all. So I made a plan, and the first opportunity I had, I took some money out of a coffee can that he kept hidden in our kitchen and caught a bus east. I’ve been here ever since.”

He looked so tiny sitting there with his legs tucked under him. I wondered if he sat that way out of habit or if he was trying to make himself seem small. It took everything in me not to reach for him. I wanted to hold him close and reassure him that I would keep him safe, but everything he’d just told me explained so much about why he was so skittish, and the last thing I wanted to do was trigger him. He’d already been through enough tonight without the person who was here to help him adding to his trauma.

“So how long have you been here?” I asked.

“A little over two years. I don’t know how he found me. I really thought I’d left all that behind me, but obviously not. You know, I thought I saw him last week at the Farmers Market with Andy, but I told myself it was just my overactive imagination. Then there was the note. I should’ve known then.”

“What note?”

“It was before class this week. It was on my car.”

Ah, so that explained why he’d been so jumpy in class.

“So you still have the note?” The note could be used to establish harassment if it came to that.

“I do.” He got up and went to a decorative table that sat by the door. He opened a drawer and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “It saysI see you. Like I said, I should’ve realized then it was him. I just didn’t want it to be. I wanted it to be a harmless prank or something.”

Seph stood up and gave herself a shake and then did what I wanted to do. She hopped up on the couch next to him and offered him comfort. He mindlessly ran his hand through her fur and let out a long sigh.

“I don’t want to leave Vesper. I like my job, my friends, and my house. I like my life here.”

“I don’t think running is your best option. If he found you once, he can find you again. And if he’s still looking after two years, he isn’t going to stop.”

I didn’t want to scare him, but I wanted to be honest. Two years was a long time, and I didn’t think he was hoping for a happy reunion. My guess was he was looking for revenge. Having his boy run off like that was bound to have hurt his reputation.

“I know you’re right, but I don’t think I can think about that tonight. I do want to thank you for coming, though. I was so scared.”

“I’ll always come if you call me, mouse. You have my word on that.”

He ducked his head, and his cheeks flushed. Fuck, he was adorable. But tonight wasn’t the time for me to be thinking about how damn cute he was.

“Do you have any place you can stay tonight?” I asked because there was no way I was leaving him here by himself.

“No. I have Seph until Andy and Jesse get back in town, and I can’t imagine taking her to a hotel.”

“Could you stay at their place while they’re gone?”

“Normally, they’d let me, but they’re having their windows replaced so that isn’t an option this time.”

“Okay, no problem. I’ll just stay here then.”

“Oh, I can’t ask you to do that. I don’t have an extra bed.”

“You didn’t ask me, mouse. And this couch is plenty comfortable.”

Chapter nine

Mika

I woke up to the sound of snoring next to me and rolled over to find Seph curled up in a ball, pressed against my side. I reached for my phone and looked at the time. 6:30. It was early, but I was surprised I’d managed to get any sleep at all—and I probably wouldn’t have if Hawk hadn’t been here.

I normally started my day with a cup of coffee, but I didn’t want to wake Hawk if he was sleeping, so I planned to just take a peek and see if he was up. Apparently, Seph had other plans because the second I opened the door, she hopped off the bed and ran around me and out into the living room. I had no idea dogs could go from snoring to running in the blink of an eye, but it seemed like she could. I hurried after her and bit back a laugh. She’d gone straight for Hawk, who was lying on the couch, and proceeded to lick his face.

---