Page 32 of Hawk

Me

I am. Are you going to take your dog away from me?

Andy

I am. We’re pulling into town now.

Me

See you in a minute then.

I went into the living room to find Hawk sitting on the couch, leaning over a computer that was sitting on the coffee table, reading a report of some kind.

“Andy and Jesse are on their way to pick up the dog.”

He looked up. “Did you tell them I was here?”

“No, I probably should have.”

“It’s up to you what you tell them, mouse.”

“Trust me, Andy would never forgive me if I was in danger and didn’t tell him. He’s a little bit protective of me.”

“Sounds like he’s a good friend.”

“He is.” A knock sounded from the front door. “And apparently, when he said they were on their way, he wasn’t kidding.”

I started in that direction, but Hawk called out for me to stop. “You don’t answer the door, Mika. I do, okay?”

“Oh, yeah, okay. That makes sense.”

Hawk looked through the peephole, pulled the door open, and stepped back to let them in.

“Oh, hey, Hawk. I wondered whose truck that was out there.” Andy smiled at him and came inside with Jesse right behind him. As soon as he was past Hawk so he couldn’t see him, he gave me ayou got some explaining to dolook, but lucky for me, Seph heard his voice and came flying around the couch to greet him.

He dropped to his knees and hugged Seph like he hadn’t seen her in years instead of days. “That’s my girl. Did you have fun while we were gone?”

“She was the best girl, as always,” I said.

He gave her a few scratches and then stood back up. “So, you want to tell me what’s going on here? When Hawk opened the door, I thought maybe you two were having some fun—finally. But you’re both way too uptight for a couple of people who are having sexy times.”

That was the problem with having friends who really knew you. There was no pulling the wool over their eyes. I looked at Hawk, and he gave me a nod of encouragement.

“So remember that day that I thought I saw Butch at the Farmers Market?”

“Yeah.”

“He’s here. In Vesper. He came to my house and banged on the door.”

“When?”

“The day y’all left. Seph scared him away—if she hadn’t been here...” I swallowed down the lump in my throat. “Anyway, I called Hawk, and he came to the rescue.”

“Well, we’re back now, so you can come stay with us,” Jesse said. “He won’t look for you there, and Seph will be there, just in case.” Andy was standing there beside him, nodding his head.

I’d told Hawk that was what they would say, so it didn’t surprise me at all. Hawk hadn’t thought it was a good idea then, and apparently, he hadn’t changed his mind.

“That won’t be happening,” he said. “I’ll be staying with Mika until the problem is resolved.”

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