Page 56 of Hawk
“Thanks.”
He disconnected the call, and I knew immediately there was someone I needed to speak with. The phone rang twice before he picked up.
“Hawk, brother, I heard you got back yesterday. Did you have any luck finding her?” Skid asked.
“She’s at Devlin’s right now. Apparently, she got into the building without anyone knowing and they’re talking.”
Skid chuckled and reasoned, “That explains the report I got this morning about an unused code being entered into the system. I guess she’s as crafty as her brothers.”
“Brother, you don’t know the half of it. I need you to do some digging for me, on the downlow.”
“Name it,” Skid responded without hesitation.
“I need you to look into Lucian for me. There’s something Stella said the other night that makes me wonder a few things about him. Can you check without being detected?”
“Oh, ye of little faith. I’ve got you covered. Where are you?”
“Halfway to Pierce Bluff. I need to make sure she’s okay. Can you let me know what you find?”
“Yep. Later,” Skid replied and disconnected the call.
I knew he was loyal to Devlin, but Skid was a Death Hound down to the marrow of his bones. If it was about the club, he would and had gone against the Callahans to garner information. Whatever it was about Lucian that pissed Stella off so badly, I knew Skid would discover it.
The last few miles of the drive caused my worry for Stella to grow. Pulling into the parking garage, I parked my car and started walking to the elevator. I knew I was being watched on camera, and if anyone tried to stop me, I would have to handle them. There was no way I would allow Stella to be alone with Devlin for too long.
She could make her own decisions, but so much had happened in her life since I’d walked into her house in Alabama, I worried about her mental state. Having survived what she did, I knew she was probably teetering on the edge, and I wanted to be there for her . . . however she would let me be.
The elevator door opened and James was leaned against the wall, a shit-eating grin on his face. I stepped inside and the door closed as I clenched and unclenched my hands. He looked at me and shook his head.
“You’ve got it bad, man. She’s fine, I promise.”
“I’ve had it bad for a decade, but that’s none of your business.”
The elevator slowed to a stop before the door opened into Devlin’s apartment. I heard laughter coming from the side, and James clapped me on the back as he moved around me, muttering, “Follow me.”
In the dining room, near a sliding glass door, I saw Devlin, Elise, and Stella sitting at the table with a box of pastries in front of them. DJ was sitting on Stella’s lap, happily enjoying his breakfast. Everyone turned to look at us as we entered the room, and Stella ducked her head as I approached.
“Let’s get you cleaned up, buddy,” James said to DJ as he lifted him from Stella’s lap.
I walked to her and acknowledged an attentive Devlin and Elise without words before squatting in front of Stella.
She looked at me and lowered her eyes, like I was going to punish her. Slowly, I lifted her chin, bringing her gaze back to mine, and offered her a smile. “I wasn’t expecting you for a few more hours. Was there a change of plans?”
“Let’s give them some privacy,” Elise offered, and Devlin helped her stand from the table.
Her pregnant belly was protruding in front of her, and she seemed unsteady on her feet as they walked out of the room, leaving Stella, me, and a sleeping Zeus.
“Please don’t be mad at me,” she started, and I placed a finger gently over her pouty lips.
“I could never be mad at you, darlin’. I’m just confused. I didn’t think you’d be here so early, and certainly not here.”
Her chin trembled as I took a seat beside her. Gently, I brushed the back of my fingers across her cheek, and she leaned into my touch as she explained, “I needed to make sure what you were telling me was the truth. Not that I don’t trust you, but I worried I couldn’t trust him.”
“And now?” I asked, and she smiled.
“Now, I know you were right and he’s nothing like our father. I’m . . . I’m sorry if I made you mad.”
I leaned over, unable to stop myself, and gave her a light kiss on the lips. She softly returned the embrace as I told her, “I’ll never be mad at you, and I don’t want you to think you have to hide anything from me.”
