Page 17 of Hawk

Eventually, she pulled back with a shaky breath.

“I should—I need to work,” she whispered. “I need to keep busy and try not to spiral.”

I didn’t want to let her go, but I did. Barely.

She stepped away and moved toward her computer, swiping at her cheeks with the sleeve of her shirt.

At first, I searched for something to say, then I realized that the silence between us wasn’t strained by tension. It was comfortable and easy. Like simply being in each other’s company was all we needed.

I adjusted the bulge in my jeans and went to work setting up the final security feeds in the studio. I used the same method I would for any high-level asset.

Except this wasn’t any client. This was Gemma. And that made what I found next a hell of a lot worse.

Buried in a light fixture above the chaise lounge, so small I nearly missed it, was a bug.

The device wasn’t high-tech, but it was expensive enough to have decent audio. I looked closer. And video.

Fuck!

My entire body went still, then tight with fury.

They’d been listening to her.

Fuckingwatchingher.

For who the fuck knew how long.

My jaw locked, and I turned to stare at Gemma’s silhouette as she sat at her desk in the corner, the light catching her profile.

They’d been spying on her.

Onmywoman.

My pulse turned to thunder.

It didn’t matter that she’d only been mine for a day. Or that she didn’t even know it yet. This motherfucker was gonna suffer. No one fucked with the people I cared about. Especially not the woman who belonged to me.

After taking a picture and sending it to Deviant, I snapped the bug in two, crushing the pieces in my fist as I marched across the room.

Gemma turned, startled. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re not staying here.”

She stood, blinking in confusion. “What?”

“You’re moving to the Iron Rogues compound. Tonight.” My voice was hard, leaving no doubt that I wouldn’t budge on this.

Her head cocked to the side, and her brows drew together. “Wait. What? No. I have clients. A business. I can’t just?—”

“You can,” I snarled. “And you will. End of discussion.”

Her lips parted like she wanted to argue more, but something in my expression made her close them again.

The last thing I wanted to do was make Gemma scared to be in a place that was usually her sanctuary. But she deserved to know why I was putting my foot down about this.

“The studio was bugged, baby. For the moment, you’re not safe here.”

Gemma gasped and covered her mouth with one hand as her brown eyes filled with tears.

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