Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Hawk’s lips quirked in a half-smile as he stood and moved to the small kitchen area. “Hope you like burgers. Not much else available at this hour.”
“Anything sounds amazing right now.” I watched as he unpacked the food -- two large burgers, fries, and some cans of pop. The smell made my mouth water. “Thank you.”
He brought the food over, setting it on the coffee table between us. “When’s the last time you ate, Carrie?”
I shrugged, unwrapping my burger with trembling hands. “Yesterday morning, I think? Maybe the day before.” Time had become a blur lately. I’d been focused on simply surviving to pay too much attention to anything else.
“Eat up, honey.” He set a pop on the coffee table in front of me. “I can get you something else to drink if you want.”
“No.” I grabbed the can and popped the top, chugging a good portion before swiping the back of my hand over my mouth. I started to set it down, but thought better and chugged the rest. Which was followed by an impressive belch.
I clapped a hand over my mouth, mortified. “Sorry,” I mumbled. I cringed and ducked my head. I wasn’t typically this rude. At least, I didn’t think I was. But I was so hungry, and the food smelled amazing, and the caffeine in the soda had gone straight to my head.
Hawk just chuckled, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. “Don’t apologize. Nice to see you’ve got an appetite.” He sat back in his seat and rested one ankle on the opposite knee. “Impressive range. Better out than in.”
I couldn’t help the surprised laugh that escaped me. “That’s what my brother Zach always says.” The memory made my chest ache. Despite everything, I missed my family. Well, my brothers, anyway.
Hawk pushed the container of fries toward me. “Eat. Then we’ll talk.”
The burger was like ambrosia, greasy and perfect. The fries were hot and salty, the best thing I’d ever tasted. I devoured the innocent sandwich and deep-fried potatoes with embarrassing speed, barely pausing to breathe. When I finished, I wiped my mouth with a napkin and eyed the second burger.
“That’s yours too,” Hawk said, gesturing to a second wrapped burger. “I already ate.”
“You sure?” My stomach growled again, making the decision for me. I reached for the second burger without waiting for his answer and the big oaf grinned but stayed silent. I got the feeling he had something to say, but was holding back.
As I ate, Hawk watched me with a calculating expression that made me nervous. “What?” I asked around a mouthful of food.
“Just trying to figure you out, Killer.” He leaned back, his massive frame making the couch look small. “Where’d you learn to fight like that?”
I swallowed hard. “Told you. Six brothers and a hard-ass dad.”
“That explains some basic self-defense, but not the skill you used on the two men we found. Also, Knight found the footage and we’ve all watched you fight. You gave those guys every opportunity to run. It looked like you were begging them to leave. Even after you’d already handed them their asses.”
“Yeah. The harder I pleaded with them to leave, the less likely they were to go. I knew that, but I kept asking them to just walk away.”
“Also, there was a third guy.”
I started and I felt my cheeks heat. “Fuck. I forgot about him.” Yeah, my dad would be laughing at me so hard right now. Then he’d tell me how a girl was useless to him.
Knuckles raised an eyebrow. “Forgot? How do you forget a third combatant?”
I couldn’t help but cringe and all the food I’d just consumed threatened to come back up. Typically, what would have followed would be a lecture to do any drill sergeant proud. After that, an epic beating disguised as training.
“I was focused on the two guys in front of me,” I admitted quietly. I put my chin up because I would not cower in front of this guy. I couldn’t afford to. Because, while he was being nice now -- they all had -- I didn’t know these people. Also, this guy talked just like my dad. He used the same words. I could almost recite the coming beratement word for word. I knew better than to lie, though. He already knew I’d lost sight of the third guy, but he didn’t know the full breakdown. I cleared my throat, trying to choke back bile. “I’m not sure I realized there was a third guy. It’s all a blur, really.”
Hawk nodded slowly. “That happens in a fight. Tunnel vision. But here’s the thing -- that third guy? Someone else took care of him.”
My head snapped up. “What?”
“Yeah. Knight found footage of a fourth person who snapped the third guy’s neck after you wounded him. Clean, professional kill.” Hawk leaned forward, his eyes intent on mine. “Any idea who that might have been?”