Page 23 of Cease and Desist

The man shoved his phone back into his pocket. “Listen to your friend. He seems quite smart. Informing the police wouldn’t end well for you.”

Was he threatening her? “Why? What the fuck are you going to do about it?”

“I’d have to kill you. And the cop.”

She jolted backward a step or two. Was he serious? He was. She knew it with every fiber in her being. He was deadly serious. There was nothing but coldness in those green eyes.

He stood. “I’m sorry about the break-ins. It may happen again. It will be a few days before things…calm down, or it could be longer. You might want to go away for a while. Might be better for your safety.” He looked directly at Hawk. “Finding her a safe place to stay would be advisable. It will take some time for things to…sort themselves out. She will be at risk until that happens.” He started to move around the counter. “Oh, and please stop with the cease and desist letters. The logo is ours. Your great-grandfather designed itfor us. Calling attention to the locksmith shop is not in your best interest, nor is calling attention to yourself, especially now. Don’t waste our time and yours or it will end badly for you.”

She wanted to throw up. The man headed out of the store. “Wait!” When she moved forward toward the man, the bald guy removed a gun from behind his back and aimed it at her.

Hawk immediately pulled her back and stood between her and the gun. She tried to move around him, but he held her arm behind him. She had to peek around his shoulder. “Wait,” she said again. “What’s your name?”

He smiled but didn’t answer.

“Leave my fucking key!” she yelled.

He looked at her and nodded. He pulled the key out of his pocket and placed it on the counter. “Again, I’m sorry for your loss. I liked your grandfather very much. I miss him.” With that, he strode out of the store with the bald guy following.

Hawk finally let go of her arm and hurried to the door and flipped the lock. He turned back to face her. “Are you okay?”

“No, I’m not fucking okay!” She bent and braced her hands on her knees, lowering her head in hopes that her heart would jump back into normal rhythm. “Who was that? What was he talking about? What rules? Why couldn’t he tell me anything? What the hell is going on?” Her voice rose in pitch and volume.

Hawk’s hand rested on her back, but she shook him off and straightened.

He let out a long breath. “I can’t answer any of those questions, but I know a way we might be able to find some answers.”

She walked across the store and was reaching for the key the man had left, when Hawk lunged after her and grabbed her arm.

“What now?” God she was all out of fucks to give, and she let that bleed through to her tone.

“Fingerprints. I’ll ask the Callahans to run this for prints, and maybe then we can figure out who we’re dealing with and get an inkling of what’s going on. Do you have a baggie or cling wrap? I want to put the key in something without touching it.”

She curled her lips together and then went into the kitchenette. This was insane.Insane. How could her grandfather not tell her about…whatever this hell this was? He’d left her vulnerable. How could he have done that to her? She grabbed the edge of the counter as a wave of sadness took her by surprise, tumbling her emotions as if caught in a violent tide. He’d betrayed her. The one person she trusted most in the world had left her lost and in the dark. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

She grabbed a paper towel and buried her face in it. But only for a moment. Then, squaring her shoulders, she grabbed a baggie and returned to the front of the store. “What are you doing?” she said when she saw Hawk down on his knees by the tapestry.

“I’m closing the door and putting the tapestry back in place. You heard him. It’s not safe to keep going down there.”

She started to argue with him, but he cut her off. “I know you want answers, but there’s no point in endangering your life to do it. He wasn’t joking when he said he’d kill you.”

She shuddered and rubbed her arms. Suddenly, she was quite cold. “No, I got that. He was serious. I just don’t understand any of this. What was my grandfather mixed up in?”

Hawk finished adjusting the tapestry and stood. “I don’t know, but I’m going to help you find out.”

She felt a rush of relief at those words. Hawk was solid, a source of strength, someone she could depend on, no matter that she’d been taking care of herself for years, only her and no one else. The thought of being in this all on her own was overwhelming and scary as hell. She wasn’t sure how much help Hawk would be, but she just didn’t have a choice. She’d welcome all the help she could get.

CHAPTERSEVEN

Hawk handed Remy a glass of bourbon and sat down on the chair to her left. It was unsettling to have her here in his space, but his momentary inconvenience was more than offset by the relief he felt having her close and knowing she was safe. Through the glass doors to the balcony a murky thread, the Hudson River, ran through the city, shrouded in darkness, but the sight was a comfort, something old and enduring to soften the weirdness of his day.

Also, there was immense satisfaction that his SEAL instincts made him choose an apartment with no possible angle for a sniper to take aim at him, or his guest. At least, that was true on this side of the river. Less than a handful of snipers could make the shot from the New Jersey side. Always important to note. Although he was a normal citizen when he’d signed on the dotted line, a holdover adherence to training from his Navy days was something he was very thankful for at this particular juncture.

“Do you think Gus might know something?” Hawk asked.

Remy blinked and stared at him, but her eyes were glazed and unfocused and her cheeks were pale. The signs of shock were easy to recognize, and he couldn’t fault her for it. He knew just how wrenching it must be for her to realize someone she loved had lied to her for her entire life.

He’d been there.

---