Chapter 28
Hawk held the knife in his hand and peered out the window beside the door, beneath the cereal box he’s used to patch the hole. Jax was on the porch, with Cowboy, Matteo, and Logan standing behind him. Cowboy bent his head toward the window and waved at Hawk as he would a toddler.
Two things occurred to Hawk at once. Logan had ratted him out, and it had finally stopped snowing.
Hawk opened the door and met Jax’s stony stare. Hawk stepped back for them to enter. “Hello, Logan,” he said pointedly.
Logan looked from Hawk to Jax and back. “I’m sorry, Hawk.”
“No problem. It’s always good to know who’s got my six and who doesn’t.”
Jax turned his head sharply. “Don’t you put this on him. This is all you, Hawk. From the moment you heard the first intel on Steele, you were packing your bags, HERO Force and my orders be damned.”
Trevor raised his chin. “I’m doing this for HERO Force. I’m doing this for Ralph. Do you remember Ralph, Jax? Tall guy, about six three…”
Jax pushed Trevor in the collarbone, making him take a stumbling step back. “How dare you imply I don’t take care of my men?”
“Then why don’t you act like it, huh? Why don’t you go after that bastard yourself instead of chastising me for doing it?”
“Outside,” commanded Jax. “We need to talk.”
Olivia appeared in the hallway. “Uh, excuse me.”
The men turned toward her in unison. Someone hummed appreciatively.
“This is Olivia Grayson,” said Hawk. “We were in a car accident together.”
Cowboy walked over and tipped his hat. “How you doin’, ma’am? I’m Leo Wilson, but you can call me Cowboy.” He winked.
She bit her lip. “Trevor, may I speak to you for a minute?”
Matteo raised his eyebrows and said quietly, “I think you’re in trouble, Trevor.”
Trevor put his hand on her shoulder. “Give us a minute.”
“But I need to tell you something.” She looked upset, and he didn’t blame her. The team could be overwhelming, and from her rosy cheeks and bed-tossed hair, it wasn’t hard to imagine what they’d been doing. She must be embarrassed.
He touched her shoulder and ushering her back in the bedroom. “It won’t take long, Livy.”
“If you don’t mind me saying, it’s colder than a witch’s tit in here,” said Cowboy. “You got any wood for a fire?”
Trevor shoved his feet into the ski boots. “We can’t be seen.”
Jax held open the door and Hawk stepped outside, crossing his arms and squinting against the sunshine.
“How’d you find me?” Hawk asked.
“GPS in your phone.”
“The explosion didn’t knock that little fucker out?”
“It sends a ping every few minutes. We used your last known coordinates.”
“If I knew you were coming, I’d have baked a cake.”
Jax crossed to Hawk. “Is this a fucking joke to you?” he asked. “Dragging all of Alpha Squadron across the country after you were given a direct order not to pursue Steele?”
Hawk took a good look at his friend, his SEAL brother.
They’d been through more together than most people could imagine.
Fought for their country, for right over wrong and good versus evil.
They’d gone through Ralph’s death together.
Then somehow, Jax had just disappeared. Let Hawk down.
Dropped the most important ball he’d ever held in his hands. Steele.
Hawk shook his head. “You’re the joke, Jax.”
Jax punched him square in the belly. Trevor doubled over but came up swinging, catching Jax’s cheek and nose with the solid uppercut they’d been begging for for years.
It felt good to hit Jax. It even felt good to be hit, knowing from this display that Jax hid some kind of emotion about Ralph down deep inside.
It was Jax’s apathy that had been so hard to bear.
His canned answer about good tactical decisions and bad, month after month, while their friend rotted in the ground and Hawk ached.
The punches flew, with a random kick thrown in for good measure, until the men were bloodied, sweaty, and worn.
Jax spit out blood. “You’re out of HERO Force, as of right now.”
“Tell me why you did it,” said Trevor. “Tell me what was so important to you that you sat back on your heels and let Steele get away with murdering Ralph.”
“You think that’s what I wanted? That I enjoyed letting that fucker walk this earth after what he did? Hell no! Homeland Security told me to back off. They were in the middle of an active investigation and if we interfered in any way, years of working to get Steele would be washed down the drain.”
Trevor shook his head. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
“It was need-to-know, damn it. I couldn’t tell you.”
“And you don’t think I needed to know? You didn’t fucking trust me?”
“It wasn’t my call. My hands were tied, Hawk. There wasn’t a damn thing I could do without HERO Force getting blown out of the water, until now.”
“What’s changed?”
“When you went rogue and came out here to pursue Steel, I had to notify Homeland Security. I was told their investigation is on hold indefinitely.”
“Why?”
Jax shook his head. “Don’t know. Don’t care.” He met Trevor’s stare. “Ralph’s waited long enough for justice, don’t you think?”
Hawk put his arms in the air. “Booyah! We’re going to get that motherfucker!”
Jax shook his head. “You’re staying here.”
“What?”
“Insubordination. If I can’t trust you off the field, I sure as hell can’t trust you on it.”
Hawk covered his mouth and squeezed his cheeks.
Jax was right, that was the worst part. Classic military methodology. Hawk’s mind raced. “But you need me. I know how to stop Steele from taking the women away. I have access to a walkie-talkie that’s connected to someone right in his compound, and I know the only entryway that isn’t secured.”
“Give me what you’ve got, Hawk.”
Hawk stared at him, determined to win this battle of wills. “No way. You wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me. I’m the one who watched Ralph die; I’m the one who wouldn’t let it go. I deserve to be there, damn it.”
Jax cursed under his breath. “Fine, but it doesn’t mean you’ve got your job back.”
“Deal.”
They went back inside.
“Leave the door open,” said Cowboy. “It’s warmer out there than it is in here.” He cocked his head and looked at Hawk. “It’s a miracle you two didn’t freeze to death. How’d y’all keep warm, anyway?” A devilish grin spread across his face.
Matteo chuckled.
“Shut up, Cowboy,” said Hawk.
Jax’s voice rose above the others. “Tell me why you can’t be seen. You’re far enough from Steele’s house you shouldn’t have a problem.”
“Steele’s goons came around, looking for a runaway from his current shipment.” He filled them in on the mysterious snowmobiler and the radio call.
“Good for the one who got away,” said Matteo.
Trevor crossed his arms. “We have to save the rest of those girls.”
Jax nodded. “Agreed. Tell us what you know about the compound, and we’ll make our plan.”