Page 9 of Requital

Hawke

Although my visit with Sumner and Tatum was shorter than I’d liked, it was productive. Not only did they book their dream wedding, but I got to see my gorgeous little granddaughter crawl. The simple things in life bring joy to an old man like me, and that little girl brings me more joy than I ever imagined I’d be entitled to … especially after the life I’ve chosen to lead.

Before leaving Brooklyn, though, I visited Jimmy in the hospital. The joy and surprise on that man’s face were evident when I walked into his hospital room. In Jimmy’s own words, he’s just an old man whose heart misses a beat now and again.

On the other hand, his nurse advised that Jimmy had triple bypass surgery and was recovering well. They hoped to release him into his daughter’s care in the coming days, but as I prepared to leave, he teared up while thanking me for visiting. I promised to return as soon as possible to check up on him, and as soon as this mission is completed, I will keep that promise.

“You know they’re trying to find a call sign for you, Hawke,” Charlie informs me as I take a seat at their dining table.

“I already have one,” I state.

“About that, how did you get Hawke as a call sign anyway?” she’s quick to ask.

“Because I like to fly.”

Laughing, Charlie tells me that doesn’t surprise her. When I ask why her husband and Jackson feel the need to give me a call sign, Charlie informs me it’s because they didn’t know my real name until just recently.

“No one has called me by my actual name since college. I’ve gone by Hawke for so long now; I don’t even know if I’d answer to Alex anymore,” I confide.

“Wait,” Charlie suddenly declares. “Are you Alexander James Lawrence?” she then asks.

Huh?

“I thought Mark would have shared my details with you by now, considering he made me complete a three-page employee form.” I laugh.

Suddenly the realization of what she just said hits me. “How do you know my full name?”

“My father,” Charlie whispers.

As she continues, Charlie recalls her father mentioning me to her mother on many occasions, yet he always used my name, not my nickname. It never occurred to her that the Alex her father spoke of often was me, and she only knows my complete name because it’s in one of her father’s journals.

“And you should know by now, Hawke, I don’t get involved in Cole Security business unless I need to,” Charlie concludes.

“There aren’t many who know my name, Charlie. It has been the only way of protecting who I once was for the longest time.”

Placing her hand on mine, Charlie promises to speak with Mark, assuring me that my secret is safe with her.

“Anyway,” she continues. “Hawke suits you.”

“Do you know much about the upcoming mission?” I quiz before disclosing anything further.

“Only that you, Liam, and Quinn are heading to Bojayá tomorrow to retrieve a stolen arms shipment.”

When Charlie asks me how Emily is taking the news of this mission, I grimace and admit that she’s not coping with it as well as I’d initially thought she would.

“Do you know anything about her past?” I inquire.

“Enough,” she confirms. “Mandi had me investigate the deaths of her adopted parents some years ago. Emily believed their deaths were suspicious, but we couldn’t find evidence supporting her concerns.”

Admitting that I don’t believe my girl would appreciate us discussing her behind her back, I confide in Charlie and reveal that I’m worried about leaving her. At lunch last week, the look of fear that shadowed her eyes worried me, but her pleading for me to be careful concerned me the most.

“Have you forgotten she nearly lost you when Gregory shot you last year?” I hear Charlie snap. “Did you consider that might be the reason for Emily’s worry?”

The mere mention of what could have been last year reminds me of how protective my woman became once I was released from the hospital.

“I guess I hadn’t,” I finally admit.

“You know, Princess, us menfolk believe we will live forever,” I hear Mark declare as he enters the room and approaches the table.

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