Chapter 38
Katarina
A familiar woodsy scent hit my nose, mixed with the antiseptic smell of a hospital room, and a warm body was at my side. Cracking my eyes open, I drew in a deep breath and a sharp pain pinched in my chest.
Hawk’s arm was draped across my stomach and my stirring must have woken him.
“Kitty Kat,” he said, low and gravelly.
“Hi,” I whispered, moving my hand until it was atop his.
He leaned up on his forearm, his crystal eyes popping from the redness that surrounded them. “You scared me.”
Grinning but annoyed at how dry my mouth was, I said, “I was scared, too.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” Mama Hen said as she stepped closer to the bed. She grabbed my other hand. “You saved me.”
Squeezing her hand, I said, “I wasn’t ready to lose another mother.”
Mama Hen’s grip firmed, and she sucked in a deep breath as her lips thinned.
Her light eyes glistened and she coughed before looking away.
“Well,” she said finally before looking back at me.
“I’m not ready to lose you. You better be glad it caught your shoulder or I’d have Raven torment you ‘til I got there.”
It hurt to laugh so I winced as I tried to stop.
Hawk moved his hand to my cheek. “Ma, will you give us a minute?”
“I’ll go get her some ice and let the nurse know she’s up on the way back,” Mama Hen answered.
“Is Niko here?” I asked, my voice scratchy.
Mama Hen turned at the door, “He’s around. He was handling some things. I’ll see if I can track him down.”
Smiling, I let out a heavy sigh as she closed the door gently behind her.
Hawk sat up, still next to me on the bed. His shirt was splattered with blood and it had dried on his leather. “I’m not sure how to clean that.”
He looked down. “I got it. Plus, I’m pretty sure Ma ain’t gonna let you do shit for a long time.”
“I’m okay. Just stings a bit.”
Hawk pulled my gown down to expose the bandage on my shoulder. “It may do more than sting once all the drugs wear off. But it went straight through so they said it was easy to clean and close.” He stopped talking, and his jaw ticked.
My hand went to his again. “Hey. I’m fine.”
“I’m sorry, Kat.”
“You? I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snuck away. I was just so angry.”
“It’s my fault,” he said. “I let you doubt your place; what you mean to me.”
“I know how you feel about me, Hawk. I let my anger at her cloud my judgment.”
“Because I didn’t do what I should have from the beginning. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not happy that the two of you tried to go under my nose, but I understand why you did.”
“Don’t be angry with your mother. She only took me because I was going anyway.”
He brushed my cheek. “I know. I’m glad you had her. But I am doubly screwed. You two are so alike.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I teased.
He grinned. “As you should.” He leaned down, pressing his warm lips to mine for a chaste kiss. He pressed his forehead to mine, his eyes still closed. His hand lightly trembled against my cheek. “I love you, Kat.”
Gripping his face, I pulled him back to my mouth for another lingering kiss before I pulled back just enough to say, “I love you and your rugged heart, Hawk. I’m sorry.”
“I’d wrap you up, but I don’t want to hurt you,” he said, kissing my cheek.
“We have plenty of time for that,” I told him, gazing at his handsome face.
“We will.” He sat back up. “First, we gotta get this shit behind us. And a few people are gonna ask you some questions.”
Nodding, I relaxed into the pillow. “Ah yes. I wondered what would happen.”
“Well, just keep it short and sweet and all should be fine. Niko called in a contact,” he said, rolling his eyes.
My brows pinched. “A contact? Here?”
“No, but apparently his pull is enough to buy us some time.”
Hawk spent a few minutes going over what Mama Hen had told the agent that was here already, and that most of our little excursion had been recorded.
I wasn’t surprised. Growing up in my family, I assumed everything I owned was somehow bugged.
As much as it felt invasive, I truly believed it was mostly for my protection.
“I can handle it.”
He grabbed my hand, pulling it to his lips and kissing my fingers. “I know you can.”
My stomach growled and he pulled out his phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Ordering you food. Oh, your father is on the way.”
Hawk hadn’t chastised me, but Papa would. “Great.”
“Hey,” he said, cupping my cheek with his palm. “You’re mine. He won’t disrespect you.”
“Maybe he won’t yell at me, but he’ll make me feel like shit all the same.”
“I have a secret for you, Kitty Kat. All parents do that, whether they mean to or not. Hell, I’m still trying to live up to Pops’ expectations, and he’s dead.”
Chuckling and wincing, I said, “Don’t make me laugh.”
A knock came on the door, and Niko came in with another man who clearly wasn’t on the hospital staff.
As he came over, Hawk slid off the bed. My brother took my hand. “My poor sister. Father is on the way. How are you feeling?”
My eyes looked past him at the man. Niko turned then said, “My apologies. I’m not myself. Katya, this is Special Agent Hicks. He’s working with Special Agent Antonov on the case.”
The man came over. “Yes, I understand this is a difficult time, Mrs. Jones. I won’t take much of your time.”
Mrs. Jones. Nobody had called me that since the impromptu wedding. But I liked it. It also occurred to me that I hadn’t officially had my name changed. Although I was proud of my family name. Hopefully Hawk would approve of a hyphenated last name.
“For the record can you state your name?”
“Legally it’s still Katarina Petrov, but I’ll be changing that soon.”
“Can you tell me how you came into contact with Gianna De Luco?” the agent asked as he looked down at his notepad.
After explaining the woman had been to a few get togethers hosted by my husband and realizing I knew her as someone other than who she pretended to be, I gave the story Mama Hen had.
It wouldn’t have made sense to pretend we didn’t know her at all.
Plus, as soon as Niko announced that Antonov was involved, I knew this would all work out.
I’d still need to leave many details out, but as long as I stuck to the story Mama Hen provided, we’d be labeled nothing more than victims of circumstance.
Once I was done, he tapped his pen on his pad and stood. He reached his hand out and said, “I appreciate you being cooperative at such a difficult time. Your husband has my card, but I expect Special Agent Antonov will want to touch base with you as well.”
“Of course. Anything to assist,” I said as Hawk came over and gripped my hand, standing by the bed.
He shook Niko’s hand then excused himself but before he made it to the door I asked, “Special Agent. The other group they mentioned. I assume women. Were they found?”
“They were. I can’t provide details at this time, but all is well.” He pulled the door open. “Once all appropriate parties have been notified more details will come out. We will notify you when Miss De Luco is apprehended. Get some rest.”
My breath caught, but I tried my best to keep my face neutral. Once the agent left, I looked at Hawk. “When she’s apprehended? How did she get away?”
Hawk shrugged. “Don’t worry about her right now. You need to focus on getting better so we can get you home.”
Niko stepped closer to the bedside. “Katya, once Antonov arrives, we will have to go for a while. But by then, Papa will be here.”
“Ma will probably stay, too.”
Niko continued. “The driver will stay behind as well.”
“I’ll have Coop and Squatch come up, too,” Hawk cut in.
“Oh my God, I get it. I will be smothered!” I said with an eyeroll.
A small laugh left Hawk’s throat as he leaned over and kissed my forehead. “No, just surrounded by family.”