Page 78 of Cryptic Curse

“Damn it!”Hawk slams his fist into the drywall with a crack like a gunshot, his knuckles tearing through plaster and leaving a jagged hole that trembles with the force of his fury.

I gasp.I’ve seen men get violent before.I don’t like it.

But already I know Hawk wouldn’t hurt a fly.Only a wall.

I grab his wrist.His knuckles are bleeding.“Let me take care of that for you.”

“I’m fine.”He glances at the wall.“Sorry for that.I’ll have someone come by and repair it tomorrow.”

“Hawk, I don’t care about the wall.I care about you.Come on.”

I lead him through my small living area to the second of my bathrooms, where I keep first-aid supplies.

I pull out the plastic box and open it.Then I start running water.“Come on, wash your hands.”

“Yeah, okay.”He obeys me, pumping soap out of the dispenser and washing his hands thoroughly.

I watch the strands of blood go down the drain.

Blood.

No matter where I go in my life, no matter what I do, I always seem to see blood.

Hawk’s hand is so large in my own.I spritz Bactine over his knuckles and then bandage him up with Band-Aids.

“Does it hurt?”I ask.

Hawk shakes his head.“When you’ve been tossed off a busting bronco, you learn to deal with pain.”

I nod.

Then he takes his bandaged hand and cups my cheek.Shivers course through me at the contact.

“I promise you, Daniela.I promise that we will get to the bottom of this.”

I nod again.“Thank you.Thank you for coming when I called.”

He burns his gaze into mine.“I’ll do whatever I have to do to protect you.I will get security on you, and I’m going to stay here until Vinnie and Raven get home.”

25

HAWK

Damn.

I almost wish I had brought Eagle with me.I could use a third wheel about now.

I could also use a shower.I’m dirty as shit from digging.

I can’t ask Daniela to let me use her shower.

I don’t have a change of clothes here anyway.Though I could probably borrow something from Vinnie.

“Daniela,” I say.

“Yeah?”

I draw in a long breath.“As you can see, I kind of need a shower.”