Page 136 of Hawk
“I was thinking something cold and refreshing before we headed to the cabin,” Stella reasoned, and Jacob agreed.
Taking her hand into mine, I said to the group, “We’ll be right back.”
Together, we walked into the kitchen, and I opened the giant freezer. Counting out ice cream sandwiches for everyone at the table, I placed them on the counter and closed the door. A pair of arms wrapped around my waist as Stella hugged herself to my back.
“I’m sorry,” she said, and immediately, I turned in her arms and wrapped mine around her.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, darlin’. I’m the one who should be apologizing,” I returned, and she shook her head slightly before trying to hide a wince from the pain. “Yes. It was my crazy ex who hurt you, and it was my omission about Lucian that caught you off guard.”
“I understand why you lied about Lucian. And her craziness isn’t your fault. I’m just sorry that I worried you.”
Softly, I brushed a piece of hair from her face as I said, “I’ll always worry about you, darlin’. That’s part of loving someone. But I don’t want you to think any of this is your fault. She was insane and deserved what she got.”
“She . . . she was going to sell Anna,” Stella whispered, and I saw a haze of red.
If the two crazy motherfuckers outside hadn’t killed her already, I would’ve walked directly outside and shot her myself for even threatening something so vile. Stella held on tighter to me as the anger subsided some. The kids didn’t need to see me so angry. Not tonight. Not ever.
“What can you tell me about Carla?” I asked quietly, and she shook her head.
“Not much. But from what I saw in her bedroom, someone was hurting her. She’s so small, and I’m afraid to even ask how old she is. Who are her parents and why would anyone want to do?” Stella wondered out loud, and I kissed her gently.
“Let’s take the ice cream to the kids, then we can talk with her before we get her settled for the night. I’m going to ask Gunner to give her a guard just in case she tries to run away before we can get her sorted.”
“Thank you,” Stella replied, and I kissed her again, needing to feel her in my arms.
Our tongues tangled briefly before I broke the embrace. Resting my head against hers, I let the silence between us speak more than words ever could. She was my everything and having her in my arms gave me a peace I’d never felt before. With Stella, everything was right.
We took the ice cream back into the dining room, and I noticed Sadie wasn’t sitting at the table anymore. Jacob gave me a subtle nod toward the outside, and I lifted my chin as Stella passed out the cold treats. Matthew and Anna dove into their dessert, happy they were getting sugar so late in the evening, and Carla took small, dainty bites of hers, savoring it like it was the last one she would ever receive.
All too soon, dessert was finished, and Hailey and Jacob stood from the table. “We’ll get the kids cleaned up and bring them to your cabin when we’re done.”
Carla looked around, unsure whether she was supposed to follow them or not, but she sat silent as Stella walked over to Hailey. She hugged her daughter before pulling Jacob into the embrace. Matthew and Anna were waiting for theirs, and once Stella released Hailey and Jacob, she kneeled on the floor and opened her arms to my children.
“I love you both so much,” she said to them, and they both smiled as their hug went on longer. “We’ll be at the cabin in a little while. Will you be good for Hailey and Jacob?”
“Yes, ma’am,” they said in unison.
Stella watched as they walked out of the dining room, then she returned to the table and took a seat next to Carla. The young girl seemed a little scared, but when Stella took her hands to hold, she relaxed.
“I wanted to ask a few questions but want you to know a few things. One, you don’t have to answer any that you don’t feel comfortable answering.” Carla nodded, and Stella smiled at her. “You don’t have to speak in front of Hawk if it makes you uncomfortable.” Another nod. “Most importantly, you don’t have to tell me anything that brings up bad memories. I don’t ever want to do anything to cause you any pain. Okay?”
“Okay,” the girl said, and she had a sweet voice.
“How . . . how old are you?” Stella asked.
“I’m sixteen, almost seventeen,” Carla responded, and I was a little shocked. She was small, like a kid in fifth or sixth grade, so I assumed she was younger.
“Was . . . are you related to anyone who was in the house?” Stella delicately inquired.
“No, ma’am.” She glanced at me, and I went to stand when she said, “Please stay.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to think you need to talk in front of me. It’s okay if you would feel better with just Stella,” I reasoned, but she shook her head with a smile.
“You don’t make me uncomfortable. It’s okay if you stay.”
“If you change your mind, just say the word.”
“Okay,” she started and glanced down at her hands linked with Stella’s before she said another word. I worried what she was going to say would break another piece of my heart, and I tried to remain calm as she began to explain. “My mom died when I was eleven and I went into foster care. A nice family took me in about a year later, but . . . the man wanted things from me I wasn’t going to give him. No one believed me since he was a preacher, so I ran away just before my thirteenth birthday.”
