Page 31 of Hawk
The call disconnected and Stella lifted her eyes to me. “He . . . he was looking for me all these years?”
“Skid is Jacob’s older brother and he’s a man of his word, so if he says that’s the case, then I trust him.”
“So, my brother really is a good person, even if he’s a little unorthodox, as you put it earlier?” she inquired before exhaling.
I couldn’t be completely sure about Stella’s other brother, Lucian the lunatic, but as far as the madman goes, apparently there was something else he cared about more than himself—Elise, DJ, and Stella.
And it appeared he’d been looking for Stella since the very beginning of Callahan Cyber Security. That told me more about him than anything else.
The madman had a heart.
Chapter 11
Stella
After listening towhat the man on the phone had to say about Devlin looking for me, I felt some of the tension ease from my shoulders. I’d constantly worried about him and after seeing his picture in the paper and all over the news a few years ago, I’d worried he was worse than our father.
Apparently, I was wrong.
I looked at Hawkins and explained, “A few years ago, I saw him splashed all over the news and I feared he was using his company to bolster his illegal activities. I guess I was mistaken.”
“He’s a tough nut to crack, but I assume his heart has always been in the right place.”
I decided I needed to finally confront that part of my past in order to have a future with Hailey. “I’ll need a few days to get things closed up here and to take some time off work, but I think you convinced me to go to Portstill.” He smiled at me, and I added, “I don’t want anyone to know I’m coming, though. Can you do that for me?”
He reached over and placed his hand over mine. Normally, I hated anyone touching me, but the warmth of his skin was reassuring as he spoke. “I’ll do whatever you ask, but if it’s okay with you, I’ll stay here until you leave. I’d feel better knowing you had an escort back to Portstill.”
“Do I have to worry about my safety?” I inquired and reached out to grab the small case sitting on the table.
“Never. I just wanted to give you the support you may need. I can’t imagine the nervousness you must be feeling, and it would make me feel better to travel with you. Is that okay?”
“I’d like that,” I admitted as he retracted his hand from mine.
Carefully, he took the case and opened it, before pulling out a joint and lighting the tip. He inhaled deeply and handed it to me before he stood from his seat. “I’m gonna grab us something to drink.”
“Thank you,” I remarked, and he leaned over, placing a kiss on the top of my head before sauntering back into the house.
