Page 78 of Cryptic Curse
“Damn it!”Hawk slams his fist into the drywall with a crack like a gunshot, his knuckles tearing through plaster and leaving a jagged hole that trembles with the force of his fury.
I gasp.I’ve seen men get violent before.I don’t like it.
But already I know Hawk wouldn’t hurt a fly.Only a wall.
I grab his wrist.His knuckles are bleeding.“Let me take care of that for you.”
“I’m fine.”He glances at the wall.“Sorry for that.I’ll have someone come by and repair it tomorrow.”
“Hawk, I don’t care about the wall.I care about you.Come on.”
I lead him through my small living area to the second of my bathrooms, where I keep first-aid supplies.
I pull out the plastic box and open it.Then I start running water.“Come on, wash your hands.”
“Yeah, okay.”He obeys me, pumping soap out of the dispenser and washing his hands thoroughly.
I watch the strands of blood go down the drain.
Blood.
No matter where I go in my life, no matter what I do, I always seem to see blood.
Hawk’s hand is so large in my own.I spritz Bactine over his knuckles and then bandage him up with Band-Aids.
“Does it hurt?”I ask.
Hawk shakes his head.“When you’ve been tossed off a busting bronco, you learn to deal with pain.”
I nod.
Then he takes his bandaged hand and cups my cheek.Shivers course through me at the contact.
“I promise you, Daniela.I promise that we will get to the bottom of this.”
I nod again.“Thank you.Thank you for coming when I called.”
He burns his gaze into mine.“I’ll do whatever I have to do to protect you.I will get security on you, and I’m going to stay here until Vinnie and Raven get home.”
25
HAWK
Damn.
I almost wish I had brought Eagle with me.I could use a third wheel about now.
I could also use a shower.I’m dirty as shit from digging.
I can’t ask Daniela to let me use her shower.
I don’t have a change of clothes here anyway.Though I could probably borrow something from Vinnie.
“Daniela,” I say.
“Yeah?”
I draw in a long breath.“As you can see, I kind of need a shower.”
