Chapter Twenty-Seven
One week later.
The Texas Heat team had gathered around the table. In the center was a digital voice recorder that Hawkeye had recovered from under the flooring at Margo’s apartment.
Hawkeye and Sharp had listened to the entire recorded conversations between Leo and Silver and now they shared the details with the team.
In the conversations, Silver had named two agents, Rudolf and Dash.
They specifically talked about the hit ordered on the team as well as many other crimes.
Silver fell right into that trap. Hawkeye guessed Leo was smarter than he had been given credit for.
On the recording Silver specifically made threats to Leo, saying that if he didn’t get Silver freed of all pending charges he’d end up as shark bait. With all the current information, Silver would face additional charges. His transfer to Upstate Penn was put on hold.
Hawkeye wondered how long it would take the bastard to talk.
Although the recordings were a great find, Hawkeye didn’t feel like celebrating.
Margo had chosen to stay in the city and Hawkeye had no choice but to leave her at Mario’s. What she didn’t keep Hawkeye from doing was staying in her apartment. In the end she agreed. He refused to leave her until he knew she was safe.
The team looked around at each other while chatting about what they wanted to do next. Some wanted to retaliate, while Sharp, the level-headed one told them, “We need to be smart about this.”
“Then what do we do now?” Zane asked.
“We hunt down Rudolf and Dash.”
“I think Santa Claus has lost his thug reindeers,” Sin joked.
“We’ll find them,” Hawkeye said grimly. “Are you taking the recordings to Grayson?” he asked Sharp.
There were a few seconds of hesitation. “I’ve thought about this.
I think, for now, we keep this within our team.
We need to move confidently and carefully to find who we’re looking for.
The chain goes up, way up. We can’t lose our leverage.
Taking down these agents, Rudolf and Dash, will only make the others aware that we’re onto them. ”
“I agree,” Bear said. “I think we use Rudolf and Dash as bait.” He looked at Hawkeye. “Does Margo know what’s on the recordings?”
Hawkeye shook his head. “No.” She didn’t want to be a part of any of it, or him.
“Give me a day or two to figure out your assignments,” Sharp said.
The men nodded and dispersed from the office as if they were running a marathon. Hawkeye wondered if they were mad at him because he wasn’t staying at the ranch. Even Bear seemed aloof.
Hawkeye started for the bunkhouse to get his things before he left for San Antonio. He didn’t know how long he’d be staying in Margo’s apartment. He guessed he was milking the opportunity. He just wanted to be close to her.
What the hell was wrong with him?
Maybe he should stay at the ranch?
Although he didn’t like Margo being so far away, he believed that she’d be okay with Mario. She’d even said that she was giving up her apartment because she didn’t want to go back in there. She wanted to wash her hands of everything Davani had touched.
Hawkeye was drowning in his thoughts. He’d fucked up royally. He was about halfway to the bunkhouse when he saw a flash of someone who looked like Margo walking into the barn.
No, not possible.
She was in San Antonio.
His chest tightened.
It couldn’t be her. Could it?
He switched directions and headed to the barn. He stepped inside, looking for her.
Only Hope was in the stall.
“Hey, girl,” he patted the calf on the head. She had come far and looked strong.
He heard a sound behind him. He swiveled on his heel and that was when he saw her.
“You weren’t supposed to know that I was here. I thought you had left already.”
She was preparing a bottle for Hope.
She looked like sunshine on a rainy day. She was heaven to his eyesight.
“What are you doing here?” He was confused.
Her shoulders slumped in the bulky sweatshirt that hung on her small frame. “Don’t be mad at anyone. I asked everyone to keep it private that I was here.”
He clenched his hands into fists. “How long has that been?”
“Five days.”
“You mean I’ve been in San Antonio all this time thinking you were holed up in Mario’s apartment while you’ve been here” He wasn’t sure how to feel. Proud that she could pull that off or angry because she did. He was angry with his team for not telling him. “How could no one tell me?”
“Like I said, don’t be angry with anyone.
I needed time. I wanted to be here near Hope to take care of her and to continue writing this book.
” She replaced the nipple on the bottle.
“I wanted to tell you, but I wasn’t quite ready to speak to you.
” She walked past him to the stall. Hope’s ears perked.
The calf was starting to act like a dog.
Whether she liked it or not, his buddies would get a piece of his mind later.
“How about now? You ready to speak to me?” he asked, hopeful.
She looked up at him, concern in her gaze. “I’m not sure what I’m feeling.”
“I guess that’s better than hating me.”
She sighed. “I could never hate you. I would like to know if you’re done staying in my apartment so that I can give notice that I’m moving. I’m not going back so there’s no reason to keep it.”
“Done. More than done. Where are you going to live?” He took a step, leaned his shoulder against the stall and hooked his thumbs into his front pockets.
“That depends.” She stood. Hope had sucked down every ounce in record time.
“On what?”
“On us.” She held his gaze.
“Margo, I’ve realized a lot about myself since you came into my life.”
“So have I. I don’t like secrets and lies.
A relationship can never be constructed on a rocky foundation.
” Her face softened. “However, I look back and see that you weren’t lying because you’re a liar, like Leo.
I had a very good conversation with CaDee and she shed light on the situation.
She and Sharp have agreed that he doesn’t have to share work stuff unless it directly affects her and the kids.
I suppose I could compromise. I don’t need to know everything, but I do need to feel like I can trust you. ”
He swallowed hard, wondering if he was hearing right. “Does that mean you’ve forgiven me?”
She shrugged. “I mean, I’m still a little butt hurt but seeing you helps me realize how much I’ve missed you.” He pushed off the beam, but she lifted a hand to stop him from coming any closer. “Not so fast, cowboy.”
He rubbed the tension out of his neck. He wanted nothing more than to grab her up into his arms and make sweet love to her.
But that wasn’t all that he wanted.
Being apart from her made him realize that he wanted all of her. Her mind, heart, and love. In return, he wanted to give the same things to her.
“Margo—”
“Nope. You need to hear what I’m going to say. I can’t just stay in something where I’m spinning my wheels. I need more. If you and I can’t be more—”
“We can be more.” He cut the distance between them, grabbed the bottle and tossed it aside, then took her hands into his.
“Margo, you’ve changed my body and soul.
I want you in my life. Not part-time, or when it’s suiting to my needs.
I want you to stay at Creed’s Creek with me.
And Hope of course. I don’t know the extent of the power you have over me, but you own my heart. I love you. I do.”
She cracked a smile. “It’s a good thing because I love you. God help me, but I do.”
He wasted no more time. He grabbed her up and swung her around. She was now laughing.
When he set her on her feet, he held her gaze. “I can’t believe you left me in San Antonio all this time.”
“You’re not the only one who can maintain a good cover.”