Page 24 of Freeing Hawk
Using the pass Nikau had given to me, I activated the security lock and waited for Hawk to catch up. She didn’t meet my gaze and I knew she hadn’t gotten over what I’d done.
“Do you want me to apologise?” I asked, my voice soft, raspy even to my own ears.
“No.” She stepped by me. “I don’t think I could stand it. If I’m to be honest, I enjoyed it.”
“Oh yeah?” I inched closer. “Enough to do it again?”
“Maybe not here.” Her voice cracked. “But yes.”
Licking my lips, I locked the door behind us then led her along a corridor, up some metal steps and into the main hub of the joint. We found Nikau in his office speaking to Tex on video chat.
“The two of you already met?” Hawk asked. “How?”
Tex grinned. “I’m magic!” He wiggled his brows at us.
I groaned.
“I’m set up to monitor things.” Tex explained. “I have Kingston’s face ready to go through my facial recognition software.”
“Good.” Nikau nodded. “The VIPs will be coming in any minute now. They have an hour to get around, meet with some of the presenters, get unrestricted pictures—that sort of thing. Tex, you’ll have an easier time with those.”
Tex nodded.
“Are you ready?” I asked Hawk.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” She replied.
Nikau rose from where he was seated on the edge of his desk and handed us lanyards, showing anyone who checked that we were special guests and were to be allowed through any section of the space we needed.
“I figured you wouldn’t want to go around flashing your badge.” He told me. “This is safer.”
Hawk smiled and patted his shoulder. “Thanks, Nikau for doing this.”
“It’s Nik.” He told her. “And you’re welcome. I wish we could get a few extra hands. I mean, the VIP is all well and good, but what happens when the rush comes in?”
“I might have someone who can help.” Hawk pulled out her phone.
She left the room to make her call and Tex said his goodbyes. When the screen when back to the screensaver, Nikau tapped me on the shoulder as I looked down into the event space.
“You like her.”
“What?” I asked.
“You like her.” Nikau repeated. “Sure, you’ve only known her for a few days, but I can tell—you see something in her.”
“I don’t know what it is.” I admitted. “But could we not talk about like or love right now? I can’t handle it. And keep your voice down. She might hear—”
My cell distracted me for a second. “Yeah? Hello?”
“Is that the way you greet your baby sister?” Leta asked.
The static on the line was insane.
“Leta?” I asked. “How are you? Where are you?”
“On top of the world, big brother!” She cheered. “You would not believe the view from this place. I noticed I was getting a signal, so I thought I’d try calling through. Are you okay?”
“I’m good. Are you still on schedule?” I asked her.
