Page 3 of Witness Protection

Vasily was dead.

That man was the only father figure he’d ever known. Now he had nothing.

Vasily had taken Hawk in when he was ten years old, raised him, taught him to fight, to protect the Morenov Empire. He owed everything to Vasily, and he had no clue what would become of his life now. He was thirty-two, and he’d never held a legal job. All he’d known was a life of crime, his focus on protecting the family. Hawk was one of the few men his boss trusted with his daughter. She’d been his full-time ward since she turned eighteen.

He remembered his passenger, looking to the side to check on Sophia. Her father was dead. Nothing he could do would bring him back. Nothing he could say would fix this shit.

One thing for certain, he’d never let anything happen to Vasily’s only daughter. He’d die protecting her.

“Sophia, talk to me.”

She stared straight ahead, not moving, not speaking. Her eyes were glazed over as if a million miles away.

“Say something, goddammit.”

Nothing.

He swerved to an alcove on the side of the highway, putting the car into park. Hawk shifted in his seat, and cupped her face with both hands, giving her a jostle. “Sophia!”

He never knew what to expect from her. Some days she was tough as nails, all strength, even challenging her father, and others she’d crumble just hearing a car honk. Growing up in one of the biggest crime families could really do a number on a person.

Her lips parted, and she slowly focused on his eyes. His heart went out to her. She was an orphan like him now, and fragile like a china doll. He half expected her to shatter in his hands.

“Hawk.”

“I’m here, baby. I won’t let anyone hurt you. I promise.” She was in shock. No tears, no fear, no panic. “Did he see you? The man who shot your father, did he see you?”

She swallowed, making eye contact again. Sophia nodded. Fuck. In their world, witnesses had a seriously short shelf life. That bastard would come looking for her. He wouldn’t stop until she was dead. Hawk had to get her somewhere safe until he could figure things out.

“Okay. No problem.” He turned around and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. No way would he freak her out and tell her how much danger she was in. He had to keep cool.

Hiding out at one of their many properties around the city wouldn’t be smart. That gunman had just taken down nearly a dozen of the city’s most renowned killers. Morenov only kept the best close to home. He’d have to use cash and get them in a high-rise hotel under a fake name. He pulled back onto the highway, heading for the city center.

“He’s dead, right?”

They’d been driving for a while. He was surprised to hear her voice. “Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

Considering Vasily’s brains were splattered all over the fucking foyer, there was no doubt in his mind. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Fuck, I’m so sorry.”

“This can’t be real. How can this be happening?”

“It’s all my fault. I should have been there,” he said. If he didn’t have to protect Sophia, he’d probably have swallowed a bullet to end his own guilt. “After everything he’s done for me, I wasn’t there when he needed me most.”

She returned to her trance, not disagreeing with him. He didn’t deserve her forgiveness, and he doubted she’d ever offer it.

Hawk drove.

When they arrived at the hotel, he held Sophia’s hand and left the car with the valet. The Morenov princess was used to the best, so they couldn’t just stay at any dive. He pushed through the glass doors and headed to the check-in desk. The massive chandeliers offered dim lighting to the spacious lobby.

“I need a room for me … and my wife.”

“How many nights will you be staying with us?” The man at reception looked to be late twenties with an English accent.

“I don’t know. At least a week. I need something high. Something private.”

The guy nodded, looking at his computer screen. Sophia held his hand in a death grip. “Is she okay?”

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