Page 72 of Rebel Hawke

It isn’t happening tonight. Or ever, if I can keep my shit together.

But I have to say something.

I shrug, trying to brush off the importance and truth of my own remark. “Rehab was a bitch. That guy’s probably going to be fine in two weeks.”

Pope nods slowly, still eyeing me suspiciously. “You’re right. He probably will be.”

Leaning my good shoulder against the glass, I watch a lonely boat make its way down the river, running lights glittering off the water, chugging along as slowly as my recovery seems to be.

Isaac walks over and joins me, leaning against the glass to face me. He follows my line of vision for a moment, then releases a little sigh. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Saying ‘no’ has never stopped you from doing it before.”

He smirks and sips at his beer. “This thing with Wren… Is it real, or is it just some macho overreaction to finding Satriano with her?”

My first reaction is to lash out at him, call him a fucking asshole for even suggesting it, but it’s a fair question, given the circumstances. Not to mention my history with women.

“It’s real. I already felt it even before he showed up…”

Twenty damn years ago.

Though, I won’t admit that tohim.

“So, what now?” He looks my way, Hawke-blue eyes sparking with question. “You’re going to keep her here and have Bishop or one of the other guys on her at all times?”

The way he says it, like it sounds insane, makes me bristle. “What wouldyoudo?”

Isaac sighs and runs a hand through his thick, dark hair. “The same. I already have guys on Jack and the kids when I’m not with them, even though she can more than defend herself.”

“She definitely can.”

He taps the lip of his bottle against the glass. “I have a feeling he’s up to something again. Why come for Wren?”

Exactly.

“There wouldn’t be any reason to, except she was fresh meat. Maybe he thought he could somehow get to her without us knowing about it.”

Isaac shakes his head. “Nah, the man is too smart for that. He knew you’d be there. He knew you’d show up and react.”

“To what end, though?”

“Remains to be seen.” He takes a sip and considers the problem at hand for a moment, the same way I’ve been obsessing over it for days. “Until then, you just keep your woman safe.”

WREN

I finish droppingthe last of the takeout containers into the garbage, then make my way back to the long table where Kennedy, Astrid, Bishop, Allie, and Angie all wait, chatting excitedly amongst themselves.

Astrid’s eyes flick up to meet mine as I approach, and she grins, reaching down to pull out something from a bag near her feet. “Now that we’re done eating, we can really get down tobusiness.”

Pausing behind the chair I just vacated, I wrap my hands around the top of it, examining Atlas’ twin sister for any hint as to what she’s talking about. “What business?”

She holds up her computer. “Well”—she sets it on the table and opens it—“We’ve been working on something the last couple of days that I need to show you.”

“Me?” I glance around at the rest of the girls, but none of them offer me anything but excited grins.

What is going on?

They’re acting a little weird—even for them.

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