Page 27 of Sachie's Hero

“Out here,” Hawk echoed.

Hank and Swede’s faces disappeared, replaced by a blue screen.

Sachie placed the call to her former boss and got his voicemail. She left a message asking him to call her back as soon as he received her message. When she finished her message, she slipped her cell phone into her pocket and looked around at the expectant faces.

“Now we wait for his response. In the meantime, I can’t just sit around and wait for my phone to ring,” she said and turned to Kalea. “Show me the nursery and the color swatches.”

Sachie followed Kalea back to the house, her mind on all the patients or family members of patients she’d worked with recently who might want her dead.

CHAPTER 7

Teller and Hawkexited the outbuilding and watched as Kalea and Sachie walked slowly up to the house. Once the women were inside, the men wandered over to a fence and looked out over the pasture beyond.

“Thanks for answering the call last night,” Hawk said. “Kalea wanted me to jump in my truck and race into Hilo to help her friend.”

Teller shook his head, his gaze on the pasture and the horses grazing peacefully in it. “You would’ve been too late. The intruder was working on breaking down her bedroom door when I arrived, and he was armed.”

Hawk leaned his arms on the top rail of the fence. “There have been many times throughout my careeras a Navy SEAL, and now as a Brotherhood Protector, when I felt I was in the right place at the right time.” He tipped his head toward the house. “When I was given Kalea as my first assignment as a protector, I wasn’t keen on the role of an undercover bodyguard to a spoiled little rich girl.” He grinned. “She gave me a run for my money. I thought my timing was off on that one, but in the end, it was spot on. I was meant to be there for her.” He grinned. “And I couldn’t be happier.”

Teller’s thoughts went to the woman he’d been sent to protect. His pulse raced as he recalled the broken doorframes and how close she’d come to coming face-to-face with a man who might have killed her. He was glad he’d gotten there before that could happen. And now that he’d spent a little time with Sachie, he found he wanted to spend more. Working with troubled teens and children in horribly abusive situations had to be hard. It took a strong individual to deal with all she had to do. He respected her for taking on that kind of work. “I’m glad I was there,” he said and then chuckled. “Although Ms. Moore might’ve come out of that attack all right. She’s wicked with a butcher knife.”

“Kalea says Sachie grew up in an abusive home,” Hawk said.

Teller’s breath hung in his lungs. “Really?”

Hawk nodded. “She went into her career field fully intending to help kids like herself realize they could have a better life. When the young man took his life, it hit Sachie hard. Kalea would have gone to her immediately, but her father and I wouldn’t let her.”

Wow. He had more in common with the feisty counselor than he could have imagined. “There aren’t enough counselors willing to take on troubled teens,” he said, knowing the truth of it. He’d never had a counselor to help him through his teen years when he’d been so angry at the world, his hormones exacerbating his moods. He’d overheard his foster parents talking about him. Joe, the man of the house, had argued with his wife. He’d told his wife that Teller would never amount to anything if he didn’t get his shit together. Most likely, he’d end up joining a gang and dying in a gutter from an overdose.

Joe had had little patience for Teller’s moody aggression and had smacked him around whenever he’d reached his limit.

Teller had taken all he could. He’d packed a few items into his school backpack and was on his way out of their lives when he’d overheard that conversation. He’d started to storm out of the house and never look back. As he’d reached for the doorknob, he’d realized he’d end up exactly as Joe predicted. With nojob, no place to live and no money, he would be on a downhill track.

He crept back up the stairs to his room, unpacked his backpack and settled in to do the homework he’d tossed in the trash. From that moment on, he’d kept out of trouble, not for Joe, but for himself, and finished high school. As soon as he’d had his diploma in hand, he’d joined the Army and left his past behind him, determined to prove Joe wrong. What he’d accomplished was proving to himself he could do anything he set his mind to.

“You’ve been there, haven’t you?” Hawk said quietly.

Teller shot a glance toward Hawk. How did he know?

Of course. Swede was an expert hacker and could tap into any database. Hank had probably performed a thorough background check on each person he invited to become a Brotherhood Protector. Teller couldn’t blame him. His reputation depended on the reliability of his agents. Not only his reputation, but also the lives of his clients.

Teller nodded. “As you know, my childhood wasn’t the greatest.”

“Yet you overcame it, and you’re stronger for having worked so hard to make it better. Not only were you at the right place at the right time, but youwere also the right person to help Sachie. Of all the members of our team, you understand her and her mission better than anyone.” Hawk clapped him on the back. “Shall we join the ladies and see what color they've chosen for the nursery, which I'll likely have to paint tomorrow?”

Teller entered the ranch house behind Hawk with an even deeper appreciation for his client. He could only imagine the kind of abuse Sachie had endured in her childhood. He hoped that someday she would trust him enough to know he would never hurt her in any way.

They found Sachie, Kalea and Mr. Parkman in the big farm kitchen, seated at a table large enough for a dozen people. Each had a glass of lemonade in their hands, sipping and talking about colors, fabrics and what Kalea had packed in her go-bag for when she went into labor. At least the women were talking. Mr. Parkman sat in uncomfortable silence, pretending to be interested.

As soon as Hawk and Teller entered the room, Mr. Parkman looked up in relief. “Thought you’d never show up. The womenfolk have discussed the nursery room design until I’m blue in the face. Anyone want to see if there’s a ballgame on? Or maybe some wrestling?”

“Actually, I’d love to watch some wrestling,” Kaleasaid. “All this talk about babies and nurseries has worn me out.” She lurched to her feet. “I’ll meet you in the living room after I make a detour to the bathroom. The baby is pressing heavily on my bladder.”

“Popcorn or pretzels?” her father asked, heading for the pantry.

“Popcorn,” Kelea answered promptly. “Pretzels go with beer. I won’t be drinking beer until this kid is weaned.” Kalea sighed. “The sacrifices we women have to make.”

Hawk dropped a kiss on the top of her hair. “You’re going to be an amazing mother.”

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