Chapter 1
HAWK
I arrive at Vinnie and Raven’s place, slam on my breaks, and run inside without knocking.
Vinnie and Raven are both on their phones, and Daniela…
My gorgeous Daniela…
Is nowhere in sight.
“Dani!” I yell.
“Shh!” Raven gestures to me, still talking to God-knows-who on the phone.
Daniela races down the stairs, but by the look on her face, she’s not exactly thrilled to see me.
How can I blame her? I’ve been ignoring her texts.
How did I trap myself in a hole so deep? This isn’t me. This isn’t Hawk Bellamy, the family fixer.
“God, Dani.” I yank her to me.
I want to kiss her, tell her how much I love her, but Raven and Vinnie are both nearby, on calls.
She pulls away. “I needed you,” she says, “and you weren’t there.”
“I know. I’m sorry, baby. But I swear I’ll be here from now on. Whatever you need.”
She sniffles. “It’s too late. Belinda’s gone. We found a note from her printer, but it didn’t sound like her.” She crumples into my arms and begins to sob.
I hold her.
Hold onto her as tight as I can. I’ll never let you go, Dani. I swear. I’ll never let you go.
Her whole body shakes against me. She tries to speak—something soft and broken—but the words dissolve into another sob. I wrap my arms around her tighter.
She doesn’t fight it. She just presses closer and buries her face against my neck. I can smell her—shampoo, sweat, the faintest trace of perfume—and it hits me how small she feels in my arms.
“I’ve got you,” I whisper.
She clutches at my shirt.
I just stand there, holding her while her world breaks apart, and pretend mine isn’t breaking right along with it.
I’ve got to stay strong. For her. For Eagle too. For Vinnie and Raven.
This is what I get for taking one night for myself. One night to be with Daniela.
I’m done thinking about myself.
When her sobs finally break, I kiss the top of her head.
“Tell me,” I say. “Tell me what you need.”