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“And Sean’s gone,” she said sadly.
“Yeah.” Hawke took full responsibility for that. He’d called the man numerous times, leaving more than one message to apologize for what had happened, hoping to absolve Serena of all blame for the secret she’d kept. So far, he’d heard nothing back.
“Serena’s going to spend some time with her family in Wisconsin.”
“What about all the intel Iris gave us? All the things we’ve gathered?”
“Serena’s people will continue to dig. There’s nothing concrete on anything. Hopefully, by the time everyone comes back, we’ll have more to go on.”
She nodded slowly and said, “Where do you want to go?”
His heartbeat picked up its pace. “Remember that little shack in Bermuda?”
Her laugh was soft, husky. “You mean the place you called the love hut?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay,” she said softly.
The heaviness he’d been carrying around for the past two years eased. He’d screwed up so badly, but if she would let him, he would do his best to make up for past sins. It wouldn’t erase the past and the hurt he’d caused, but hopefully it would help.
He sent a text to confirm what he’d set up a couple days ago. It helped to have friends in the intelligence community who didn’t blink an eye at such a request. They would have everything ready within hours of his request.
Olivia’s phone pinged with a text, and she let out a little huff of a sigh.
“What?” Hawke asked.
She held out her phone so he could see the screen.
Three things:
No need to call cleaners. It’s done.
The attorney is Lydell Stitwell. Take his call.
Live well, Olivia. Whatever that looks like to you.
I
“She’s something else,” Hawke murmured.
“She’s definitely that.”
“What do you think the attorney’s about?”
“I have no clue. Every time I think I know my mother, she shows me a different person.”
His phone signaled a text. Figuring it was confirmation of their getaway, he looked down. It was from the same number Iris had just used to text Olivia.
Hurt her again and the next time you’ll blow up for real.
Yeah, Iris Gates was definitely unique.
He texted back, Understood.
No answer. He hadn’t expected one. She’d probably already pitched the burner phone. Besides, what else could he say? He couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t hurt Olivia again—that was who he was. But he would do his best to mitigate any further pain.
Standing, Hawke held out his hand. “Let’s go see Eve and then find a place to crash for the night.”