Page 121 of Cryptic Curse

She laughs at that.“True enough.You call me if you need anything.I mean anything.”

“I will.Bye, Ray.”

I end the call.

“What a mess,” I say to Hawk.

He reaches over, rubs my shoulder gently.“It doesn’t have to be a mess, honey.”

“I’m afraid if I tell Vinnie what’s been going on, he’ll level the state of Texas trying to protect me.”

He glances at me, his eyes burning.“You think I’mnotgoing to do that?”

I sigh.“I just don’t want to be any trouble for anyone.”

“You’re not trouble to people who love you,” he says.

My eyes widen.Did he just say he loves me?

No, he was talking about Raven and Vinnie.About Belinda.

Then he clears his throat.“So… three notes.”

“Yes.Each with cryptic messages.And the chocolates were probably poisoned—at least one of them was, according to the note.”

“And then that teddy bear,” Hawk says, “which could’ve blown up the entire block.Each gift increasingly dangerous.”He strokes his chin.“But where could they have come from?”

I shake my head.“I honestly don’t know.Maybe one of the men I entertained in Colombia?But none of them were obsessed with me.They threatened me sometimes, but my father would never have…”

Hawk’s hands are tense on the steering wheel.“None of them were obsessed?”

“Well, one was, but he’s dead.”

“Did any others show a particular interest in you?A particular fondness for you?”

I don’t answer right away.

Instead I close my eyes.I don’t like to think about them.Some of them were nice-looking enough, but they were always cruel.

And some of them…

Bloated stomachs, hairy backs, coarse tongues that they forced into my mouth, and in other places.One of them had long salt-and-pepper pubic hair, which was really gross.

But the only one who was really taken with me was Diego Vega.He was the one who insisted that I be promised to him.

I remember my father was shocked when he told me.He couldn’t believe Vega would want someone as used up as I was.

“Only one,” I finally say.

“He must’ve been really pissed when your father let Vinnie take you.”

“He may have been,” I say.“But the gifts can’t be coming from him because Vinnie had him killed.Along with my father, and Belinda’s as well.”

“And you’re sure they’re all dead?”

“I assume so.Vinnie told me they were all gone and would never bother me again.”

Hawk pauses a moment, his eyes straight ahead on the road.