Page 105 of Leading Conviction
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR
Despite being the daughter of a four-star Army General, Hannah was an art teacher through and through. Everything she knew about the military, crime scenes, and justice came from theHistory Channel,CSI, andLaw & Order, none of which she could stomach for very long, even when their episodes were only an hour in length.
Real life was nothing like that.
When the team covered the General’s body with a white sheet, it didn’t magically make the aura of death go away. Something thick and heavy clung to the air, and the metallic stench of blood, gunpowder, and urine filled the room. Not to mention it was still painfully obvious there was a corpse underneath.
Thankfully, Hawk insisted on carrying Tommy from his hiding place with Nora up to the war room. Without Hannah having to ask, Hawk had cupped her son’s head and secured him against his chest, effectively covering his eyes and protecting her eight-year-old from having to see or smell death.
After that, Hawk led Hannah and Tommy to the apartment level for ice cream of all things. Hannah’s mind wrapped around the past few hours—the past few days, really—as Hawk took care of her son. His attentiveness gave her the chance to slump into the couch and quietly process while he and Tommy chatted away about the latest Braves game and their season.
The sight had made her teary with relief. Having someone help bear the emotional burden she’d carried alone as a single mom for the past eight years was like a weight lifted off of her chest.
While Hawk ensured Hannah and her son were comfortable, the mess downstairs was left for his teammates to deal with until the authorities showed up. Devil and the other team’s medic had a little patching up to do, but none of the injuries required hospitalization. Once the FBI rolled in, Hannah and Hawk’s work began.
Naomi insisted on helping out and left the team’s mountain cabin to arrive at the BlackStone facility in record time. She and Thea kept Tommy preoccupied on the residential floor while Hannah and Hawk went back downstairs to speak with the federal agents. Inside the war room was a whirlwind of activity and a standstill all at the same time.
Jules and Assistant District Attorney Marco Aguilar were there, too. The team had been nervous about the legal ramifications of having a dead—previously missing—four-star general in their basement, so Jason had called his fiancée to be their defense attorney. And although ADA Aguilar had been visibly disappointed their lead trafficking conspirator and witness was dead, everyone had breathed easier after he’d promised Hawk wouldn’t be charged for murder since he’d done it in Hannah’s defense.
Hannah recounted every detail she could remember and answered every question to the best of her ability. The investigators asked about everything, from her childhood to why she thought her father had been obsessed with her, and she couldn’t help squirming with discomfort. She’d squeezed Hawk’s hand until it had to hurt, but he’d refused to leave her side. Tension had built in her chest again, only releasing when Hawk fielded the most uncomfortable topics. He answered what he knew they needed to know and allowed her to keep other details—ones she’d only just come to terms with—to herself.
After hours of Hannah and Hawk getting mildly interrogated by the FBI, the Bureau’s investigation moved to other aspects of the case. The new MF7 team stepped up to the plate for that inquisition, tagging in to fill in the gaps and explain what happened at the CTI warehouse. No one other than the BlackStone team could crack Vlad, though.
The Russian had stayed compliant, bound, and cuffed the entire time the two teams squared off on the roof. But he’d refused to speak to any of the investigators directly, only answering questions when they came from a BlackStone team member or Callie.
All things aside, it was kind of hilarious to see an FBI agent ask Vlad a question, wait for him to answer, only to be met with a stone-faced reply until a BlackStone teammate asked the same exact question. The scenario played out the same with every query. He’d turn his head slowly and answer the BlackStone team instead, leaving the agent bewildered, Draco and Callie annoyed, and Phoenix with a wildly satisfied grin on his face.
As exciting as it all was, Hannah was dead on her feet. She leaned against Hawk, holding his hand as they stood in the corner of the war room waiting for the next inevitable third degree. The moment Marco gave her the go-ahead to leave, she was beyond ready.
She lifted her head from resting against Hawk’s bicep and sighed, weary to her bones. “I need to nap for centuries.”
“Don’t blame you.” His lips were soft against her forehead, and his light chuckle made her lower belly flip.
“Hawkins Black? We have a few more questions,” an agent sitting at the conference table called out, beckoning the BlackStone leader using two fingers without even looking up from his paperwork.
Hannah rolled her eyes on Hawk’s behalf and gave him a wry smile. “I’ll be right upstairs.”
She tried to loosen her hold, but Hawk’s grip tightened. When he fell in step beside her, she couldn’t hide her surprise.
“Wes, you got this?” Hawk asked Wes who nodded underneath the ice pack on his lip.
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks,” Hawk replied before nodding to the agent. “Whatever I know, he knows. If you absolutely need me, I might be available tomorrow.”
The agent’s brow furrowed, but Hawk wrapped his arm around Hannah’s waist and led her out of the room toward the elevator.
On their way out, Callie passed by them, but Hawk stopped her before she could enter the war room.
“Hey, Callie?”
Callie’s sleek, black ponytail flicked over her shoulder as she spun around. “Yeah?”
“Thanks.” His voice was hoarse with emotion. “You protected Hannah when I couldn’t. I owe you everything.”
Callie shifted on her feet, seemingly uncomfortable with the praise before a smirk curved her lips. “I’d say anytime, but how about we just pray it never happens again?”
“I second all of this,” Hannah huffed.
