Page 82 of Cease and Desist

Lacy narrowed her eyes at Remy. “Why don’t you seem happier?”

Happy that she was going to have to tell Hawk that he was forced to marry her? That he could never leave the society or they’d kill him? Yeah, that was going to go over well. She took a sip of tea and immediately tasted the rum. She glanced at Logan, who winked at her. She must look worse than she thought if he was giving her shots of rum at one o’clock in the afternoon.

“The answer to your question is I can’t tell you. I can’t tell you anything. If I speak, then”—she dropped her voice to mimic Archer Gray’s—“there will be consequences.” She shook her head. “All of their consequences seem to involve death and disowning.”

“Whatcanyou tell us?” Mitch asked.

She thought for a moment. So much had happened. She was learning about the society and all of its rules but, more than that, she was realizing it was a whole way of life, and that was truly overwhelming. She didn’t know how the other board members did it. Of course, they weren’t direct descendants of the founders. Only she had that distinction. Only she owned that responsibility.

“I can tell you what happened.” She proceeded to tell them how Hawk got shot, and she had made the choice to bring him into the society in order to save his life.

Alex, who was sitting across from her said, “You’re worried Hawk isn’t going to like the fact that he’s now part of the society. You made the choice for him, and he didn’t get a say.”

She tapped the end of her nose. That and the fact he had to marry her or die. Just a small detail.

“Stop worrying. Hawk would rather be alive.” Mitch grabbed a cookie off the plate on the coffee table. “He’ll figure out a way to make being a part of the society work for him. He’s a smart man. He’s already reinvented himself once. He can do it again.”

Twice. He’d done it twice. Remy didn’t say anything because Hawk was such a private person, but he’d come out of an extreme situation and reinvented himself twice, once in the SEALs after his true parentage was revealed, and then again when he was burnt out and decided to take up law after getting out of the Navy. He made it work before. He could do it again, couldn’t he?

“What are you going to do with the shop? Will you run it?” Gage asked. He was resting a butt cheek on the back of the sofa behind Dani.

“I haven’t gotten that far yet.” She let out a sigh and ran a hand over her face. It had been thirty-six hours since Hawk had been shot. She hadn’t figured anything out yet.

“I saw that it was open this morning when I went by,” Lacy said.

“It was open?” Remy frowned.Archer.He must have opened it.

“Emily was working.”

“Right.” Remy nodded. “I had forgotten she was back.”Liar, pants on fire. This was going to be the way of things. She needed to get used to it. She wasn’t allowed to tell the truth to anyone except Hawk, and who knew how well that truth would go over with him?

“I read in the paper that Asad Najeddine died of a heart attack in his hotel room. The Moroccan royal family is in mourning.” Gage pinned her with his gaze.

She shook her head. “I…have no idea how they pulled that one off. Austin Davis shot him. I think I can tell you that because it happened outside of the society facility. Honestly, I don’t know what I can and can’t say. Just don’t tell anyone, and I think we’ll be fine.”

She took a sip of tea. “Oh, and don’t trust Austin Davis. That whole good ol’ boy thing? Just an act. He doesn’t even have a southern accent in real life.”

“Seriously?” Alex asked.

She nodded. “Yup. It’s just weird, and he’s scary as hell. Avoid at all costs.” She shuttered and then took another sip of tea before setting her mug on the coffee table. “I want to tell you again how grateful I am to all of you for your help. You really stuck your necks out for me, and I am just so thankful.”

“You hired us. It’s our job.” Logan smiled as Lacy elbowed him. “And beyond that, it was our pleasure.”

When she stood, so did everyone else. Lacy moved past Logan. “Seriously, we did it because you and Hawk, you’re family. If you ever need us, just let us know. We’ll do whatever we can to help you.”

Remy hugged her friend. She was so filled with gratitude that, for the first time since Hawk was shot, she almost relaxed. Going forward, moments like this would probably be few and far between. She was determined to enjoy them as best she could.

An hour later, she walked into Hawk’s hospital room. What she’d thought was a full-fledged hospital was actually only a six-bed affair with two surgical suites. It was amazing, nevertheless, and she was beyond impressed.

“You’re awake,” she said as she approached the bed. Her stomach rolled. He still looked pale to her and had way too many machines attached to him for her liking, but he was no longer at death’s door.

He smiled at her. “You okay?”

She smiled back “Now that you’re awake. You had me worried.” The tightness in her chest had eased ever so slightly at seeing his beautiful blue eyes. “I’m good. How are you feeling?”

“Like someone hit me in the chest with a sledgehammer, but I guess it’s better than the alternative.”

The restriction in her chest eased a bit more. “Um, about that.” She sat down on the edge of his bed. “I know you must be wondering how you got here and why.” She started fidgeting with the blankets. “Hawk, it didn’t look like you were going to make it when we saw the wound. I swear, I almost died when I saw you were shot.” She swallowed. She’d promised herself she wasn’t going to cry. The danger was past. Now wasn’t the time for tears.

---