Page 43 of Torn In Two

Hayley Jade just beamed at them all, her intelligent eyes taking in the classroom like it was Disneyland. I supposed to her, it was. There were no classrooms at Ethereal Eden, especially not ones filled with toys and books and educational games like this. It was all brightly colored alphabet posters and kid art.

“Damn, she’s an awesome kid,” Hawk whispered to me, staring at her with pride in his eyes. “She didn’t even cry. And look at her. She’s absolutely the smartest kid in that room. She’s going to leave all these other kids in her dust.”

I couldn’t help but smile at him, and then at my daughter as she waved to us, her excitement so clear in her little face.

“I think that’s our cue to leave,” I whispered to Hawk.

He grunted his disapproval, but I threaded my fingers through his.

“Let her fly on her own wings. She doesn’t need you right now.”

He made a face. “Don’t say that to me. I like her needing me.”

I chuckled, pulling him away from the door. “She still does. But just before nine and after three on weekdays, okay?”

He huffed but waved to her and eventually let me close the door.

As promised, Ice was positioned by the front gates, chatting with the school’s security guard. Talk of fences and new security systems floated back to me, and if I’d had any last worries I was doing the right thing here, seeing how seriously they were taking Hayley Jade’s safety put the last of them to rest.

We’d had a meeting with the school principal and told her everything. She’d listened calmly and assured us we weren’t the only ones in a domestic violence situation and they had procedures in place when it came to the families affected. She’d walked us through every security measure the school had, and even Hawk had admitted he was impressed.

We made our way back to the club van and got in.

Hawk glanced over at me. “What now? We’re kid—and Chaos—free until three?” A devilish look crossed his face. “I could—”

I interrupted him before he could suggest something dirty. Which I knew was exactly where his mind was going. “No. No sex. We’ve done something for Hayley Jade, now we need to do something for us.”

His fingers crept toward my leg. “Last I checked, orgasms were for us.”

“You said you’d volunteer at the hospital with me.”

Hawk groaned, “No I didn’t.”

But we both knew he had. “I can always go by myself…”

He stared at me.

I giggled. “Then maybe you’re volunteering too?”

He put the van into drive. “This is going to ruin my street cred, you know?”

I smiled to myself. So would the way he was caring for Hayley Jade like he was her father, but I didn’t mention that.

14

GRAYSON

The free clinic was a madhouse. It was never quiet, but the last few months, with the weather being colder and flu season in full swing, had put a burden on us that was verging on desperate.

It was my personal motto that we never turned anyone away, but there were so many people lining up each week now that I wasn’t sure we could continue to keep up.

Cringing at the line out the door, I ran my gaze along the line of waiting patients until it snagged on a familiar face. I strode along the line, smile widening as I approached her but silently watching her for a reason she’d be at the clinic so soon after being discharged. “Kara!”

She jerked and then grinned when she recognized me. “Dr. Grayson. Hello.”

My gaze flickered to Hawk standing beside her. “Hawk.”

He nodded back. “Doc.”

---