Page 10 of Hawk

When I finally made it back to the couch, I curled into a ball at one end, not even bothering to look for a blanket.Sleep claimed me almost instantly.

I jolted awake to the sound of the door opening.Disoriented, I shot upright, my heart hammering in my chest.

“Easy, Killer.Just me.”Hawk’s deep voice cut through the panic.He stood in the doorway, his massive frame blocking most of the light from the hallway.“Sorry I woke you.”

I blinked, trying to get my bearings.“What time is it?”

“Just after two a.m.You’ve been out for about three hours.”He stepped inside, closing the door softly behind him.The room was dim, the only lighting coming from the kitchen area over the stove.

I swung my legs over the side of the couch to sit properly.Not sure what to say, I gestured over my shoulder to the bathroom.“I, uh, my clothes…”

“Don’t worry.I’ll take care of them.”

“Do I…” I cleared my throat.“I mean, should I keep them?Like for evidence or something?”

Hawk snorted.“Nah.I can disappear those if you’d like.Probably the best idea anyway.”He crossed slowly to the couch and sat on the other side from me.“You up for a little talk?”

Instantly my hackles rose.I pulled my knees to my chest and focused my complete attention on Hawk.“Am I in trouble?Did you call the cops?”

“Honey, no one here is gonna call the cops on you.We avoid them at all costs.”

“Even if someone deserves it?”

“We take care of it ourselves.”He studied me for a moment, his gaze intense but not unkind.“You hungry?I brought food.”He gestured to a bag I hadn’t noticed before.

My stomach growled loudly in response, and I felt my cheeks heat with embarrassment.“I guess that’s a yes.”

Hawk’s lips quirked in a half-smile as he stood and moved to the small kitchen area.“Hope you like burgers.Not much else available at this hour.”

“Anything sounds amazing right now.”I watched as he unpacked the food -- two large burgers, fries, and some cans of pop.The smell made my mouth water.“Thank you.”

He brought the food over, setting it on the coffee table between us.“When’s the last time you ate, Carrie?”

I shrugged, unwrapping my burger with trembling hands.“Yesterday morning, I think?Maybe the day before.”Time had become a blur lately.I’d been focused on simply surviving to pay too much attention to anything else.

“Eat up, honey.”He set a pop on the coffee table in front of me.“I can get you something else to drink if you want.”

“No.”I grabbed the can and popped the top, chugging a good portion before swiping the back of my hand over my mouth.I started to set it down, but thought better and chugged the rest.Which was followed by an impressive belch.

I clapped a hand over my mouth, mortified.“Sorry,” I mumbled.I cringed and ducked my head.I wasn’t typically this rude.At least, I didn’t think I was.But I was so hungry, and the food smelled amazing, and the caffeine in the soda had gone straight to my head.

Hawk just chuckled, the sound rumbling deep in his chest.“Don’t apologize.Nice to see you’ve got an appetite.”He sat back in his seat and rested one ankle on the opposite knee.“Impressive range.Better out than in.”

I couldn’t help the surprised laugh that escaped me.“That’s what my brother Zach always says.”The memory made my chest ache.Despite everything, I missed my family.Well, my brothers, anyway.

Hawk pushed the container of fries toward me.“Eat.Then we’ll talk.”

The burger was like ambrosia, greasy and perfect.The fries were hot and salty, the best thing I’d ever tasted.I devoured the innocent sandwich and deep-fried potatoes with embarrassing speed, barely pausing to breathe.When I finished, I wiped my mouth with a napkin and eyed the second burger.

“That’s yours too,” Hawk said, gesturing to a second wrapped burger.“I already ate.”

“You sure?”My stomach growled again, making the decision for me.I reached for the second burger without waiting for his answer and the big oaf grinned but stayed silent.I got the feeling he had something to say, but was holding back.

As I ate, Hawk watched me with a calculating expression that made me nervous.“What?”I asked around a mouthful of food.

“Just trying to figure you out, Killer.”He leaned back, his massive frame making the couch look small.“Where’d you learn to fight like that?”

I swallowed hard.“Told you.Six brothers and a hard-ass dad.”

---