Page 35 of Axel (Reed Hawthorne Security #6)

Savvy

Despite all the things going on in my life right now, this night has been perfect. From the best sex I’ve ever had to a yummy dinner we ordered in. Now we are cuddling on the couch. I wish I could bottle this feeling and keep it forever.

Forever. There’s something about Hunter and the way he makes me feel that wants us to be forever. I snuggle closer.

He kisses my forehead. “This is nice,” he says.

I sit up a little and meet his eyes. “It is.”

“Being with you feels so right.” He caresses my cheek. “I want to say more, but I don’t want to scare you. Just know that you’re my one. I have no doubt.”

My entire body tingles at his words. I place my hand over his and pull it down to his chest. “I feel the same.”

He smiles and then leans in and kisses me.

We are interrupted when his phone buzzes loudly on the coffee table .

“I’ll check it later.” He leans down, pressing his lips to mine. But his phone continues to buzz nonstop. “I guess I better check.”

He leans forward, and I immediately miss his touch.

“Oh no,” he says.

I lean forward to read over his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s from Durango. I guess we should have listened to the rest of the podcast.”

“Why?”

“He claims the real puppet master is Reed. He told us to listen to it if we haven’t.”

We cue it up and listen in horror as Peter details how Reed had the cartel kill his partner, Hawthorne, and set up Stacy to take the fall. He even had a guy on there who claimed to be a former cartel member who was in on it. Of course, he only spoke as Mr. Anonymous, and his voice was altered.

“I hate to even ask this, but is there any possibility that there is any truth to this?” I ask.

“Not a chance,” Hunter says. “Stacy killed her husband to get to his money. It didn’t work, so now she’s using her brother with the promise of cash to help get her lies out there.

But Reed and Hawthorne were best friends and had been for years.

Reed would never do anything to hurt Hawthorne.

And what would be his motive? The ownership of the security group went to Stacy, and she was the one who profited from its sale to Stormy. ”

“What’s Stormy?” I ask.

“Who. He’s a part owner in another security firm outside of Seattle. He bought Hawthorne’s share. He’s kind of a silent partner, since he lives across the country.”

“You said Stacy profited? People need to know that,” I say.

Hunter scrolls on his phone. “People need to know the true story, period. Hopefully, our video goes viral.”

He tosses his phone onto the coffee table and sighs. “There isn’t much we can do about it tonight. We should get some sleep.”

He stands and takes my hand. We go upstairs and into his bedroom.

It feels more like home than my own place.

The thought scares me. We are moving too fast. Or are we?

We have been together constantly for weeks.

It’s not something I want to think about right now.

We have enough going on. I’ll worry about how fast we are moving later.

The next morning, I walk downstairs and find Hunter sitting at the kitchen table with a laptop open. He’s watching a news video. As I get closer, I read the screen. “Stacy Hawthorne’s Attorney.”

“Yes, we will be filing to overturn her conviction. We believe there is enough new evidence to support it. That is all for now.”

Several reporters shout questions at the attorney as she walks away.

“That’s not good,” I say.

“No, it’s not.” He closes the laptop and stands to greet me. “Good morning. I was going to bring coffee up, but then I got a message that Stacy’s attorney was going to make a statement.”

I wrap my arms around him. “It won’t get far. There is no actual evidence, only Peter’s lies.”

“True, but in the meantime, this is bringing up a lot of pain for Reed and Hawthorne’s daughter, Alicia.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize she was his daughter. You introduced her as Lightning’s girlfriend.”

He shrugs. “She’s both.”

“Huh.”

“What?”

“I was thinking his daughter was around the same age as some of the guys. Did anyone else date her, too?”

He laughs. “No. We didn’t even know about her until after Hawthorne’s death. He kept us all from each other. But I think he’d be happy that she’s with Lightning. He treats her well. Hopefully, he’s shielding her from most of this.”

I take a step back. “What do you mean by shielding?”

He shrugs. “You know, maybe not telling her about the podcast.”

“But the media has picked it up, so I’m sure she’ll see it.”

He frowns. “You’re right.” He types something on his phone and then sets it down.

“What did you do?”

He smiles and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “I suggested Lightning take Alicia on a hike or something.”

I’m not sure I like where this is going. “Do you think he should do that so she can be away from it all, or do you think he should hide everything about the podcast from her?”

He tilts his head. “You say it like it’s wrong. What’s wrong with keeping something from her that would only hurt her?”

“It’s dishonest.”

“Technically, but it would be to protect her.”

My hands go to my hips. “Are you being real right now?”

He crosses his arms. “Yes. She’s been through hell because of Stacy. She doesn’t need to put up with any more of her nonsense.”

“Have you withheld information from me over the past few weeks because you thought it was in my best interest?”

He opens his mouth but then closes it again.

He has. Why am I not surprised? I need space right now. I step past him and walk toward the stairs.

“Wait,” he says.

I stop but don’t turn around.

“Some things I learn are considered confidential, and I can’t tell anyone outside the assignment. It’s not personal. But trust me, I’ve told you everything I could and everything that impacted your safety.”

There are things he can’t share because of his job, and I know this. I may not like it, but it’s not going to change.

“Please turn around,” Hunter says. He’s right behind me now.

Slowly, I turn and face him.

Concern emanates from his eyes. He takes my hands in his. “Please tell me you understand. ”

I take a deep breath and nod. “I do. It just takes getting used to. I’m used to people being very open with me.”

“And I will be open about everything that matters. The only things I’ll keep to myself are about my assignments, the things I can’t tell you about.”

I nod again.

He pulls me toward him and I wrap my arms around his waist.

“I’ll hold you to that,” I say.

We stand there for several minutes.

“We should have breakfast,” he says. “What do you think about having leftovers from last night?”

“Sounds good to me.”

As we eat, I ask him questions about his job.

Ones he can answer, like how often he goes on assignments, how long he is usually gone, does he go alone or with others?

He answers it all and tells me all about the guys he works with.

It’s clear they are more than coworkers to him. It sounds like family.

“Oh, and we also work with a group out of Seattle, too. It’s the one Stormy is part owner of I mentioned earlier. You will meet them someday. They are a bit wacky, though.”

I laugh. “Wackier than the bunch here? I don’t think that’s possible.”

He laughs. “Trust me, it’s possible.”

There’s another question that’s been on my mind, but I’ve been afraid to ask. But since he’s being so open, I guess now is the time.

“How often are you in danger? I mean, real danger? ”

He stares at his plate for a moment. Then he turns his chair away from the table and toward mind to face me. “I don’t want to scare you, but it’s often. There is a reason people request former special forces military for their needs. It’s dangerous, but we are all trained to handle it.”

I lose my appetite and push my plate away. “So, any time you go on an assignment, you might not come back?”

“It’s always a risk. But then, anytime you get into a car or on a plane, there is a risk. Or show a building.” He grins.

“Sorry about that,” I say.

“Don’t be. It led to this.” He motions between us.

“I can assure you that I’m damn good at what I do, as are the guys I work with.

In all the years I’ve been working there, everyone has come home.

If this will be a problem, you need to let me know now.

Because it’s only going to get harder the closer we get if you are scared. ”

I move from my chair and straddle him. “I might be scared from time to time, but it won’t be a problem. You’re right. You’re good at what you do. I got to see it for myself.”

He scoots my hips tighter against him. “Good.”

I’m instantly turned on being this close to him. I lean down to kiss him.

“Mmm. I want to keep going, but I promised Durango I’d call him after watching Stacy’s attorney’s statement.”

“That’s all right. We will continue this later.”

I want this man again but not with any distractions. I go to move off his lap to give him privacy, but he uses his arm to hold me in place.

He calls Durango, and from my position, I can hear their conversation .

“The police are here now,” Durango says. “There is spray paint all over the outside of the building, and several windows were broken with rocks, but it doesn’t look like anyone went inside.”

“Has Reed checked the cameras?”

“He’s doing that now, hoping to give something to the officers,” Durango says.

“Okay, we are on our way.”

“No,” Durango says. “This could be a setup. You two stay put. I’ll keep you updated.”

“You’re right. I don’t like it, though.”

“I’ll let you know once I have more information.”

Hunter ends the call and sets down his phone. He rubs his jaw, and I can tell he’s torn. He wants to rush over there, to protect his team. But he also wants to keep me safe. And right now, that means staying here.

He pulls me in again, and I rest my head against his chest. “Did you hear all of that?” he asks.

“Yes. More destruction because of Peter and that damn podcast.”

This isn’t just about clearing mine and Reed’s name anymore; it’s about standing up to the lies. To Peter. To anyone who thinks they can destroy people for clicks and ratings.

“We’ll get through this,” I say.

He kisses the top of my head. “Together.”

And for the first time in weeks, I believe it.