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Fenn shot Kate a questioning glance before turning his attention back to Hawk. “You’re the one who left Kate those notes.”
Though it wasn’t really a question, Steele nodded.
“Why here?” he prodded. “Why Kate, and why now?”
Steele spread his big hands in a helpless gesture, which didn’t fool Fenn for an instant. The man knew exactly what he was doing.
Steele cleared his throat. “I knew Kate wouldn’t want her team knowing about her past. Figured she’d stay in the area to hunt down the writer.”
“And bashing me in the head?” Fenn raised an eyebrow.
“Ah, that.” The guy had the decency to look apologetic. Or he was a better actor than Fenn wanted to give him credit for. “Sorry about that. Wanted to get Kate alone. Thought if I disabled you, I’d get my chance.”
Fenn snorted. “Didn’t work out so well for you, did it?”
“No,” Steele admitted, a hint of frustration in his voice. “Once you two got back to the hotel, Kate never left your side.”
“Imagine that,” Fenn said dryly.
Steele shot him a pointed look. “Seems like you might be more than just a teammate.”
“Nope,” Kate interjected, “a teammate. As if I’d leave a team member––” Her face paled.
The anguish twisting her beautiful features whipped Fenn’s anger back into a fury. Clearly sensing his heat, Kate spread her fingers, pressing down in a universal gesture.
Calm down.
Chastened, he nodded. This wasn’t his rodeo. He was here to offer support. Defend her, as needed, and help solve this weird puzzle. He could box with his own emotions later, on his own time.
Steele seemed oblivious to the byplay between them, concentrating all his attention on Kate. “I need your help. I didn’t want to involve your team. The note was the only way I could think of to get you to ditch the rest of them,” he added, glancing at Fenn.
Fenn touched the back of his head, wincing slightly. “Yeah. Not such a great plan, dude.”
Steele ignored him, focusing on Kate. “I’ve been on the run from the Consortium since that night in Loaita Cay. I need your help to escape them, but I couldn’t risk showing my face. The Consortium has eyes everywhere. Even out here, in Endurance, I couldn’t risk contacting you directly.”
He leaned forward, his expression grave. Academy Award quality sincerity. “This works both ways. You and your team are going to need my help, too. The Consortium is aware that Jason Reilly is after them. They’re hunting him back. They’re going to come after you and your team next.”
Fenn watched the mix of emotions play across Kate’s face. She’d just taken the worst body blow he could imagine. She’d be reeling, numb and off-balance. Certainly not her normal, razor-sharp self.
He needed that Kate back.
He eyed Steele. “We need a minute.”
The man hesitated, then nodded. “Sure. I’ll step outside.”
As soon as the door closed behind him, Fenn turned to Kate, his frustration and anger bubbling over, despite his vow to tread gently. “Hawk Steele? Seriously? No way that’s the guy’s real name.”
Kate looked like she didn’t know whether to laugh or punch him in the face. “That’s really where you want to start?”
“Probably not.” He resisted the urge to dig his fingers into his hair and pull. Man, he was off his game by about a million miles.
“And yes,” she added. “It’s his real name.”
“No way. Hawk Steele is a Tom Cruise character in a Marvel Comic movie.”
“That’s a fair point.”
It sure was. But not what they needed to be discussing.