Page 72 of Hawk

“I’m thinking I might go to the park for a walk and then maybe hit Yarnivores for some new yarn.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you just buy a whole bag of yarn a couple days ago?” We both knew I did—he’d been tracking my every move for the past three days.

“Hey, don’t judge my yarn habit. It’ll all get used… someday… maybe.”

He put up his hands. “Hey, no judgment. I’m just trying to decide how big a shelf unit I need to build for you. Or maybe a shelf unit’s not the answer. Maybe we turn the third bedroom into a yarn-o-topia.”

“That. I choose that,” I said, grinning.

Later on, I was walking through the park, looking at all the people who were there in the middle of the day. There was one yoga class going on and various groups of what looked like college students sitting around. All of them just going about their lives like normal, with no idea there could be a human trafficking ring in this area, ready to just snatch them up and make them disappear.

I took a deep breath. That wasn’t going to happen, though, because we were going to catch them. Now that I saw how busy the park was, I decided not to stay long. The last thing I wanted was for someone else to get dragged into my mess.

“So, it’s pretty busy here today,” I said aloud to the empty car once I was safely back inside, doors locked. I knew Hawk and his team were listening. “I think I should go somewhere else.”

“What are you thinking?” Hawk’s voice crackled softly in my ear.

“I think I’ll head to the shopping center on South Seventh. Grab some tacos, maybe look around.” My voice wavered just a little. “I’ll drive by Mary Ellen’s house on the way, just in case someone’s watching.”

“Sounds good. We got you.”

I drove from the park to the neighborhood across town where she lived with the radio off. Not because I wanted to, but because I was a car singer. Like I didn’t just sing along—I performed—and the last thing I wanted was to let Hawk and his buddies hear me. I was hoping to keep the man, not scare him away.

I cut across town and rolled past my house first, then Mary Ellen’s.

“I’m not stopping, but I’m going through the gate,” I said to whoever might be listening.

“Copy that,” came Gator’s voice.

At the gate, I exchanged a brief word with the guard, then drove the winding driveway like I belonged there. I turned onto the little road leading to the pool house and made a U-turn, pausing just long enough to suggest a real visit. “Okay, I’m back on the road.”

I was about halfway to the shopping center when Hawk’s voice came through, quieter this time. Measured.

“Mika, I need you to listen to me and stay calm, okay?”

My stomach dropped. Nothing good ever started withstay calm. I inhaled sharply, bracing for whatever came next.

“Okay. That sounds ominous. What’s up?”

“You’ve picked up a tail. We think it’s one of the Jackals, but they’re not wearing colors.”

My heart stuttered, and I immediately checked the rearview mirror. All I saw was a pickup truck and a sedan—nothing out of place. But Hawk wouldn’t say it if he wasn’t sure.

“So… it could just be a guy out for a bike ride, then?” I asked, clinging to the slimmest thread of hope because as much as I wanted this to be over with, the idea of a confrontation with any of the Iron Jackals was terrifying.

“It could be. But I don’t think so.”

A cold sweat started to bead under my shirt. My throat tightened.

“Okay. Then what should I do?” My hands clenched the steering wheel, and I checked the mirror again. Still nothing that stood out, but that made it worse. They were out there. Hidden.

“Keep heading to the shopping center. When you get there, pull in and park off to the left-hand side of the building, then go straight inside.”

“On the left-hand side? That’s pretty far away from the door,” I squeaked.

“I know it is. And I know that’s pretty much the opposite of what I would normally tell you to do, but Kat’s on surveillance, and Chance is on the way. You won’t be alone, baby boy. You hear me?”

“I hear you,” I said, trying to sound much calmer than I felt.

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