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The question of why doesn’t concern me too much. It’s more so the fact that he was at the same place at the same time Ivy was drugged. It could be a coincidence, but I highly doubt that.
“Only one way to find out. And that’s where I get involved,” I say, cracking my knuckles with glee.
Ivy bites her bottom lip as she looks at the time. Five minutes left to send it. “If I don’t send this, they’ll think I’m somehow involved. The only way to see this through is to find out what they were trying to accomplish with it.”
“Blackmailing dirty politicians isn’t unheard of,” I say as I lean against her desk.
“No, but they’re careful to cover their tracks.” She points to the screen, and in real-time, we watch as the club goes up in flames. She stares at the blaze, and I know she’s thinking of her friend. Even if she is a fierce warrior, she’s not heartless. It must impact her in some way.
I offer her the burger again. “I’m not hungry. You can eat it.”
I nudge it toward her again. “Send your video and eat. We’ll get to the bottom of this together.”
She’s slow to take it as she looks up at me, those blue eyes twinkling with the screen that flickers with flames. “Thank you.”
“Just don’t expect me to be the brains of the operation. That’s all you,” I say lightly, flicking her forehead. She curses as she rubs the spot, and then her gaze lands on my very hard cock. I smirk. “And I’m here to work your other muscles too.”
“You actually don’t have an off switch, do you?” She rolls her eyes as she unwraps the burger and takes a bite.
“All is fair in love and war.” I wink at her as I slip out of the room to make some calls of my own.
CHAPTER 27
Ivy
The next evening, news has already broken out about Elizabeth’s and Makayla’s deaths in a suspicious fire that is being investigated. Only her father will know the extent of it all, and I feel dirty for sending him that video, but had I not, suspicions might’ve arisen about me, and that’s precisely what we don’t want right now.
Hawke’s thumbs drum against the steering wheel cheerfully, but the dark circles under his eyes suggest he’s not sleeping much. When I spoke to Billie only a few days ago, she said Ford hasn’t been coming home much at all, which tells me that something big is happening in their world as well. I want to ask Hawke about it, but I know he won’t betray Eli’s trust. I almost feel selfish for dragging him into this. Even after he came over last night and I told him I’d handle it on my own, he promised he’d see it through with me to the end.
We’re about to meet with Hope and her detective, Braxton, at an Italian restaurant. “Play nice with the detective,” I warn.
Braxton and Hawke never get along, but if I’m asking Braxton for a favor, I need Hawke to be on his best behavior.
Hawke looks at me, baffled, before parking the car, and the two of us climb out.
“I’m always nice. Besides, he’s a dick. Also, why do you still call him ‘detective’?”
I smirk. “Because I don’t give guys a nickname unless I know they’re going to be sticking around. Plus, I love pissing everyone off by reminding them that he’s a detective.” It’s highly amusing.
He stops dead in his tracks. “What’s my nickname?”
I look over my shoulder and shrug. “I don’t know. You’ve just always been Hawke.”
“Not even Hawke the Great?”
“Definitely not Hawke the Great. Oh, wait. There is something else I call you…” I tap my chin thoughtfully, and he leans in with anticipation. “Asshole. Or arrogant prick. I learned that one from my mother.”
His expression drops as Hope greets us at the entrance. I give her a hug, and Hawke does the same, holding her so tightly her feet no longer touch the ground.
“Too much,” she says as she taps him on the shoulder. “Braxton is inside getting us a table. I just wanted to see how you were first.”
I give Hawke a pointed look. He really can’t keep anything a secret.
“What? We were coming here to discuss your friend’s death anyway, so it made sense that I gave them that information first.”
I roll my eyes as I walk alongside Hope, with Hawke following us like a bodyguard. It never ceases to amaze me the reactions we get when out in public with this man. Men look at him in horror, and most women salivate as if he’s some deadly god. He looks so out of place in these settings, and his size is imposing, not to mention his monstrous laugh.
When Braxton spots us, he stands. He takes one step toward me, and Hawke’s voice slices over my shoulder. “Don’t you dare hug her.”