Chapter Twenty

Laura

"A re you sure you're all right, Kristy? No offense, but you still don't look that great." Her skin was pale and the dark purple crescents under her eyes were the most obvious indicators of her lingering sickness, but she'd lost a few pounds recently too. I felt guilty for not noticing sooner, but the drive by shooting at the community center a few days ago had thrown me. "Talk to me."

Kristy smiled, but it didn't reach her usually lively and expressive eyes. "I'm fine. At least I will be. I think. I hope."

My heart skidded to a stop at the uncertainty of her words. "What does that even mean?"

"It means I suspect it may be something other than a simple cold, but I don't have any answers yet. When I have some, you'll be the first to know. Promise."

I stared at Kristy for a long time, and the longer I stared, the more I noticed. She hadn't washed her hair in more than a few days and her scrubs were wrinkled, which wouldn't be unusual for a nurse except Kristy kept her scrubs clean and her hair styled because she always said Mr. Right could land on her exam table just as easily as a bar. "Yeah, okay, but I expect updates even if there's nothing to know."

"Fine, Mom." Her smile was a little brighter this time, so I let it go. For now. "Good to see you back at work," she said, and rolled her wrist for me to fill her in.

"After all that happened, I was too unfocused and figured I needed to take some time off." I'd wanted to take longer, but after three days the guilt had gotten to be too much. Plus, there'd been no other incidents, and I couldn't hide out forever.

She arched an eyebrow and leaned forward. "And how did you spend these days off? On your back, I hope."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop the flush that crept up my skin. "And my knees. And on top."

"Oh. My. God. It's about damn time! Tell me everything !" She laughed and the sparkle returned to her eyes as I told her about what had been happening with Hawk and me. "So you're, like, dating for real now, right?"

I exhaled deeply. "That is a question I don't have an answer for. It feels like it at times, but he hasn't said anything and I haven't either, so who knows?" I couldn't deny how much it bothered me not to know what was going on with us. "But with the constant state of danger," I leaned forward and looked around to make sure we were alone, "Like the fucking drive by shooting at the community center. It feels odd to ask at the moment. Right?"

"It's never wrong to talk about your feelings, but yeah, you don't want him distracted while he's keeping you safe either." Kristy sighed and took a half-hearted bite of her sandwich. "I need you to stay alive."

"Nurse Carpenter, the police would like a word with you." Dr. Lipski scowled from his position in the doorway of the nurses' breakroom, as if taking a step further might somehow weaken his medical prowess.

"Oh. Okay. Thanks, Dr. Lipski."

His lips pursed in disapproval. "You should really take care to handle personal matters on your own time."

"Thanks," I sniped back. "But if you ever dealt with patients, you'd know that sometimes the injuries that land them in the ER require police intervention." I stood abruptly and walked to the door, sizing him up before I brushed past him.

"Wait up," Kristy called, and joined me in the hall. "He's such an asshole. Why are the cops coming to see you here? Do you think it's about the drive by thing? Oh, what if they know who the guys are who killed that baker?"

"I have no idea, and guessing won't lessen my anxiety." Neither would burying my head in the sand. But the minute we turned the corner, I saw the cop who was definitely not here to question me about a police matter. "Fucking shit," I whispered under my breath. "Stay with me."

"I got your back, Laura."

"You always do." I squared my shoulders and steeled my spine as we approached my meddling ex-boyfriend. "Detective Owens, how can I help you?"

His lips tightened into a straight white line at my formal greeting. "Laura, what the fuck is going on with you lately? You're hanging out with a biker. A criminal."

I folded my arms and did my best to look bored. "I haven't committed a crime, so I don't see how who I spend time with is any of your business."

He sighed, incredibly annoyed, and put his hands on his hips like I was one of his suspects. "You need to be careful."

"I'm a lot more careful than I used to be, don't worry."

His nostrils flared. "I'm serious, that guy Hawk isn't a good guy. Him and his biker gang buddies are into some really serious shit, like human trafficking."

Instinctively, I didn't believe Eric because, unlike Hawk, he was a known liar. "And they're not in jail because you have too much evidence on them, right?"

"We don't have enough, not yet."

"Then you don't have anything and you're lying because you're jealous."

He reached for my arm and yanked me close. "You're not safe with him."

I used my free hand to push against his chest and put some distance between us. "Get your fucking hands off me, detective!"

He looked around at the stares that drew close. "You need to come stay with me where you'll be safe."

I barked out a loud laugh. "Safe with you? Bullshit. I thought I was safe with you, but you didn't care enough about my health to wrap up your dick when you fucked around on me, so I'll take my chances with literally anyone but you."

"He is selling women, Laura. Who the hell are you that you don't care about that?"

"Don't question what I care about, Eric. If you could prove the lies you speak, you'd have Hawk in cuffs. If you show up my job again to harass me about my personal life, I will file a formal complaint." I'd threatened him with it before, but this time I was serious. It was only the thought of the paperwork that was stopping me from going ahead and doing it right now.

"I thought you were someone who wanted to help people."

I laughed. "And I thought you were a nice guy. We both were wrong. Goodbye, Detective Owens."

He wanted to say more, but wisely, he did not. Eric stormed off like the spoiled man-child he was.

***

Even though Eric was a liar, I couldn't deny that his words stuck with me for the rest of the day, and when Hawk picked me up, my mind had already run a marathon of thoughts. I didn't think he was that kind of guy, but I'd been wrong about men before.

Hawk had never made any excuses or pretended that he didn't sometimes operate outside the law, but trafficking human beings? He wouldn't. Would he? Not possible. The man had a protective streak that wouldn't allow him to hurt people who didn't deserve it.

"Okay, what's going on with you, Laura?" Hawk looked at me across a wooden table at a small burger joint, his brows pinched into a frown. "Did something happen at the hospital today?"

"No," I lied easily.

"Well, something happened because you're in your head and it's clearly bothering you. Talk to me."

I nodded. This was how mature adults handled conflict, they talked about issues and got them out in the open. "Okay, fine. I do have a question. Are you guys pimps?"

His green gaze was inscrutable as he studied my face, but slowly—torturously slowly—a smile began to spread across his face. The smile turned into laughter, and he shook his head, amused rather than offended by my question. "You have an active imagination."

I was not amused, and I folded my arms and glared at him to get my point across. "This isn't funny. It's a serious question, Hawk."

"Okay, fine." He raked a hand through his long hair, which hung free today, no leather tie to tame the wavy beast. He let out a heavy sigh and leaned back, his gaze still focused on my face. "I don't know who's gotten in your head, but we are not pimps and we don't traffic, period. Not men or women or children."

"But you do, ah, facilitate the sex trade?"

He pulled his lips between his teeth and nodded. "Yes. We have girls who work in our brothels. The legal adults are contract workers who can—and do—leave whenever they want."

I believed him. "And you guys don't get mad when they leave?"

He let out a huff of laughter. "No. The high earners will always come back when a relationship ends or when an opportunity falls through, so no, we don't get mad. And if we did, there are pretty girls flocking to the city every damn day, and most of them have no problem relying on their looks to earn money." He bit into his burger with a groan that was so hot it incinerated my panties on the spot. "Who told you we were pimps?"

"Nobody," I lied. "Not nobody , just a few different people."

"Fine." He ate his food in silence.

I moved my food around my plate, unable to eat the delicious-looking bacon cheeseburger even though I was starving. "Look, I didn't mean to upset you."

"I'm not upset," he replied. "Ready to go?"

I nodded as he picked up the to-go bag he'd gotten as well as our order, and his long legs carried him back to the motorcycle while I struggled to keep up. He shoved the brown paper bag into the pannier on the side of his bike and glanced at me.

"You are," I insisted. "You haven't said a word to me since I asked that damn question."

"I'm not upset. A little disappointed that you think I would do that to people, but I'm not upset. Come on."

I kept quiet and hopped on the back of the bike. It felt wrong to wrap my arms around him and seek his protection, but I wasn't comfortable enough to hang on to the back bar. I held on tight, enjoying the sight of the world as it whipped past. My fingers tightened during the turns, but it was damn freeing to be on the back of his motorcycle.

I almost felt carefree as I closed my eyes and just enjoyed the feel of the wind on my face and the heat of Hawk's body against my chest.

***

After twenty minutes the bike stopped, and I opened my eyes to see we were at a park. No, not just any park. It was the biggest park in the city where residents held picnics and couples walked hand in hand, laughing and smiling. "What are we doing here?"

"Stay here," he barked at me while his gaze scanned the park.

"What? Why?" I kept up with his long-legged stride as best as I could. "Are we looking for someone?"

"I am, yes."

"I can help," I offered in an act of pure desperation.

"No, thanks." His stride was purposeful, and I stayed beside him as he asked a few people if they'd seen someone named Axel.

"Who is Axel?"

Hawk didn't answer, probably because he was pissed at me, which I guessed he should be. I hoped we'd talk about it and come to a conclusion, but it seemed like he was going to give me the cold shoulder.

"Okay, fine, ignore me."

"Hey!" He suddenly shouted at a group of young teens who looked like they were just messing around.

"Hawk," I began, but he wasn't paying attention.

"Stop!" He took off at a dead run, forcing me to follow at a pitifully slower pace. He grabbed one kid by the shoulder and yanked him back so hard the kid fell flat on his ass. "Get the fuck off him," he shouted, and tore another boy away.

I was about to tell him to be careful, they were just boys, when the rest of them parted to reveal an old man with a shock of white hair and a split lip. "Oh!" I rushed to the old man to render some kind of aid.

"Get the fuck out of here before each one you fuckers walks out with a limp, and if you touch this man or anyone else again, I will come after you and your families. Got it?"

With wide, terrified eyes, they nodded before they took off towards the nearest exit.

He turned to the older man. "Axel, are you okay?"

The old man laughed, his voice a deep baritone as he shook his head. "I'm fine, just a little busted up. These little fuckers are getting bolder, aren't they?"

"That's for fucking sure." Hawk frowned as he took in the bruise that was beginning to form on Axel's jaw and the split down his bottom lip.

"You put the fear of god into ‘em, so I ain't worried. Ow, that hurts, missy."

"Sorry," I murmured. "Need to disinfect it."

He held up a fifth of whiskey. "This will do that just fine." His eyes sparkled with mischief as he turned to Hawk. "I see you've gone and found yourself a good woman. Finally. Good for you, man."

Hawk smiled at me and warmth spread throughout my body, dammit. "Yeah, I'm definitely getting the better end of the deal, that's for fucking sure."

"Yep, that's how it's meant to be. Us lucky bastards land a woman far too good for us and then we spend the rest of our lives trying to live up to who she sees when she looks at us." His smile grew when he turned back to me. "Thank you, missy."

"You're welcome. Call me Laura." He was a sweet older man, and I was curious as hell about who he was to Hawk.

"Wasn't sure if I'd find you here today." Hawk tried for a casual tone, but even to my ears the worry was evident. "You've been gone a lot lately."

Axel waved off his concern. "Too many new people around here."

"Yeah, I can see that. You know those little shits?"

"Nope. Another group of brand-new shits who enjoy hanging out here lately. Maybe it's time for me to move on."

Hawk grinned. "You leave the desert? I doubt that, old man."

"Still young enough to take you on, boy." The tone between them was playful, almost familial. "What's in the bag?"

"Burgers loaded with the works and ketchup dripping off the sides."

Axel's eyes grew wide and sparkled with want. "No fries?"

Hawk's smile spread as he shook his head. "Onion rings fresh from the fryer. Lots of ‘em too."

"Whooo boy, now you're speaking my language!" He rubbed his hands together gleefully and accepted the bag with a smile. "You're too good to an old man."

"I'm just good enough," he answered with an affectionate smile. "You want to sleep inside tonight?"

Axel opened a burger wrapper and took a big bite as he shook his head. "No need. It's gonna be warm tonight and the stars are gonna be shining like diamonds in the sky. Yours truly," he patted his chest and let out a rumbling laugh, "will have the best view."

"If you're sure," Hawk said, his tone filled with concern.

"I'm sure, Hawk. Don't waste your time worrying about me when you have this pretty little thing to occupy your time." He winked at me and took another bite of his burger.

"Call me if you need anything, Axel. Anything."

"Will do. Thanks, little brother."

Hawk nodded once and walked away. His broad shoulders were stiff, and he wore a frown. I guess he was thinking about our earlier unresolved argument.

"He's your brother?"

"Not by blood, no."

Okay, well, that wasn't exactly an answer. "That was nice, what you did for him."

"Even human traffickers have their moments, Laura." With those words he put the helmet on his head and swung his leg over the bike before starting the engine. I stood and watched as anger radiated off his big body, probably with a good bit of worry for Axel mixed in, not to mention a healthy dose of pissed off aimed at me.

He'd always seemed easy-going, but it was clear that me accusing him of trafficking had affected him badly, and I wished with everything I had, that I could take back my words.

When his gaze met mine beneath his mirrored sunglasses, I nodded and grabbed the other helmet and slipped it over my head. I hopped up on the back of his bike and wrapped my arms around him, which felt wrong for the second time today.

I wasn't too proud to admit that I'd made a mistake with Hawk. I let Eric get in my head when I shouldn't have, and I hurt someone who'd been nothing but nice to me. Kind and sweet, protective as hell. He'd dropped everything whenever I called and came to help.

He did something Eric never did.

He showed up. Over and over again he showed up for me, and how did I repay him? I accused him of being the scummiest type of man in the world, the one who treated other humans as product, as inventory. He wasn't an enslaver, he was just a biker who often danced on the wrong side of the law, but didn't we all at some point?

I was grateful for his bravery, his gray moral code that didn't line up with society's. I was beyond grateful that Hawk was the man that he was, because that man was pretty fucking amazing.