Chapter 5
Hawke
I will not covet my best friend’s sister. I will not break the ‘no go’ code.
She’d felt so damn good with her long leg hitched over my waist. Her chest pressed to mine. Her head on my shoulder, her breath whispering over my neck.
She’s like the little sister I never had.
She’s a fucking beautiful woman who is no relation.
Bro Code. Remember the Bro Code.
She should be mine.
She’s too young for you. In years and experience.
She’s strong, independent and wise beyond her years. She’d chew up some simpering little boy her age.
She is your best friend’s little sister... ‘No go’ Bro Code.
Leaning my head on the shower stall I take a deep breath. She deserves so much better than the man I am. The things I’ve seen, the lives I’ve taken. My soul, my heart, my mind traveled the dark road, and those memories will always be with me.
I’ll protect her with my life, but she deserves someone untainted and whole to make a life and home with. She’s a white picket fence kind of girl.
I’ll take out the trash hunting her then disappear so she can find and make a loving, clean future.
I turn the water colder and let it pour down on me. Rubbing the soap over my chest, I let my hand slide lower and lower until I grip my rod. Closing my eyes I pretend she’s with me, her hand on me, giving me the pleasure and release only she and her image can provide.
Two hours later I stand behind the one-way glass and watch the medical masseuse treat Laney’s leg, hip, and other injuries.
I’ll join once the session is almost done so I can learn what I need to do to help her while we’re isolated.
I don’t want her to be in pain or lose the flexibility she’s gained.
Everything is ready for us to be relocated.
While part of me wants to hunt the bastard terrorizing her myself, I don’t trust her safety to anyone else.
Vance and I have gone over every contingency we can come up with, and I have back-ups for all my back-ups.
With a hot line directly to Vance if the worst happens and we’re found.
She’ll be safe, I just want this nightmare over for her. That only happens one way. Vance knows I want in on the end. That’s a price my soul is willing to take. I need the confirmation.
When I walk into the room, the massage therapist glances up. “You’ll be the one assisting her?”
“Yes.”
She raises an eyebrow. “You’re trained?”
“I know some stuff from my time in the military. I’ve also had some personal experience with what you do.”
She rolls her eyes. “Give me your email. I’ll send you some videos.”
“Stop at the desk before you leave. They’ll tell you where to send them. We don’t have personal accounts.”
The next hour she goes over every exercise with me, demonstrating then making me repeat the process.
“Well, you’re better at this than I expected. She needs to follow the plan which I’ve written down. No skipped days. I want to see her as soon as you get back. I was told that’s in two weeks.”
I hope so, too. I want the bastard found and this to be over for her. Yet I’m looking forward to being with Laney.
The chopper takes us to a private landing field a forty-five-minute drive from the secure cabin.
We’re met by an identical decoy car that will ensure we aren’t followed.
They will also distract anyone suspicious if we need to reroute.
The nearest other cabin is vacant and almost two miles down the mountain from where we’ll be staying.
Our trip has been timed so that our drive up the mountain to the house gets us there before we’ll need to turn on the headlights, hopefully making our arrival less noticeable.
The cabin is its own little fortress with light blocking windows, top of the line security, and sensors in the cabin, I can monitor from my phone.
The home office has the same access and will be monitoring as well.
Although I haven’t been to this site before, I know we’ll be secure. The team is good. They’ll find him.
Hidden in the woods the nondescript cabin has its own secured and camouflaged enclosure for the generator. Keying in the code and opening the door, we walk into an open floor plan. Large enough we won’t trip over each other, small enough she’ll always be within reach.
Kitchen to our left with plenty of counter space for prep and a breakfast bar for eating or working.
A round table with four chairs. Two extra wide refrigerator freezers and a six-burner stove with oven.
Double pantries are built-in, along the wall.
The entrance to the panic room is through the second pantry.
To our right a couch and rocking chair sit in front of a propane fireplace lined on either side with an assortment of books.
Straight ahead, one king size bed. Shit. My gaze slips to the couch then back to the bed.
“Don’t even think it,” she snaps. “We’re adults. We can share the bed. Just like we did last night. I don’t bite.”
Crossing to the kitchen she opens the first pantry. “Chips! Oh, I hope they have dip in the fridge.” She turns to check it out. “Yes, my favorite. Oh, and ice cream. Lots of ice cream.”
Her gaze shifts to me, her countenance softens. “You told them all my favorites, didn’t you? The ice cream. The chips and dip. I’ll bet there’s even mac-n-cheese and peanut-butter M&M’s.”
“I want you to feel at home. I remembered your comfort foods from when you were studying for exams. We might be here a couple weeks. Check out the books and movies for the DVR. I think there are at least a few of each you’ll like.
If not, I can ask for more. We need to stay offline as much as possible. ”
“Thank you, Hawke. You’re the best.”
“I want to do a quick perimeter check. You have the satellite phone they gave you in case of emergency?”
She taps her pant pocket. “Yes. I’ll see what I can find for a simple dinner. Maybe just sandwiches and soup. That okay with you?”
“Anything is fine with me.”
After thirty minutes I head back to the cabin. I would have liked to have been able to do a more thorough search of the area, but it will be dark soon and I want to be with her. We can study the security screens together.
One bed. One bed with the woman I’ve wanted for years. What the hell was Vance thinking. Shit, did Evie pick the safe-house? She’s sharp as hell. Did I let something slip? Did she sense my possessive feelings? Damn.
I text Laney that I’m on my way back and get a smiley face, thumbs up, fork, knife, and plate. I smile. She’s such a light in my life. The one bright spot. But she’s a fighter, too. She will survive this.
Looking at her, being isolated with her while wanting her the way I do... Your best friend’s little sister. Do not pass go.