Page 1 of Guarding Grace (Hawk Security #2)

Grace

On the far side of the room, Terry Goodwin stepped away from the group he was talking with, looked my way, and nodded toward the corner again. It was unfair that a man with such a black personality looked so gorgeous in a tux.

Rolling my eyes, I gave him another subtle headshake and looked away. This distance was perfect for me. I wouldn’t get another whiff of the sexy cologne he’d worn tonight.

Where did that thought come from?

Terry’s last name was laughable because, as far as I was concerned, there was nothing good about that Goodwin. His sister, Deb, however, was a sweet friend. It was a shame she couldn’t make it tonight. But her flight back from London had been canceled.

As a reminder of Terry’s nature, I reviewed his words to me when I’d arrived at this shindig. They’d been cutting as always. “ Maybe I’ll call you when I need my sock drawer organized. ” How was it possible he and Deb came from the same gene pool?

Ugh. He knew how hard I’d worked to build SpaceMasters, the premier organizational design firm in town.

We provided elegant solutions for organizing everything from home closets to business spaces.

Yet he still took every opportunity to cut me down.

It hurt to have my baby—the project I’d poured blood, sweat, and tears into—belittled at every turn by Terry the Tyrant.

It raised my blood pressure every time I thought about it.

Then he’d added, “ Nice claws, Kitty .”

He’d called me Kitty instead of Hellcat, Wildcat, or worse, but likely only because we were in polite company. I couldn’t remember the last time he’d said something nice to me without an audience—not that it mattered.

A few minutes later, when I looked back in Terry’s direction, Janice Cotton, one of Serena’s coworkers at the EPA, was chatting him up. As I watched, Janice slipped him her card and stroked her fingers down his chest. Terry has no idea who he’s dealing with.

Janice was a tall blonde, with incredible boobs and a waist I’d die for, on the hunt for her next husband and not bashful about it. According to Serena, Janice figured she’d need to sleep with thirty-four men to find the right one. It was some math she’d read about that nobody understood.

Next to me, Serena noticed the interaction as well. “It looks like somebody’s getting lucky tonight.”

I turned away. “She’d better be up to date on vaccinations.”

“He’s not like that,” she countered.

I used to wonder what it would be like to be a Janice—a girl with an amazing rack who got her pick of the men around.

But it no longer mattered, now that I had zero time for a man.

If I did, though, I’d be smart enough to avoid someone with as rotten a disposition as Terry, even if he was the most intensely masculine man in the vicinity. Such a waste of hotness.

The event this evening was held at Cardinelli’s, the best Italian restaurant in town by my estimation.

My best friend, Serena Benson, had arranged this party to publicly thank the team at Hawk Security that had rescued her from a fate worse than death and uncovered a hazardous-chemical-dumping scheme that had threatened our local drinking water.

Serena an I had met in trauma counseling, a group I’d attended to deal with the loss of my brother, Pete.

Hanging around Serena, I’d met all the Hawk team.

Tonight Lucas Hawk himself was here, looking as deadly as ever.

My brother had once told me that Lucas could kill a man with a single finger, and damn if he didn’t look scary, even in a suit.

After dinner, Serena had given a gracious speech thanking the Hawk team, and she’d even brought the director of the EPA himself to award medals to all of them, which included Terry. Because I was classy, I’d even clapped for the Tyrant.

Thinking of the hell Serena had been through reminded me of the last time Terry had been civil to me—a few months ago at Disneyland, when Serena had needed my help.

I’d joined her and pretended to be Terry’s girlfriend for an outing to the park.

It had all been a show so Terry could be an inconspicuous part of her security team.

She’d been hunted by a pair of madmen intent on sex-trafficking her.

Disneyland had been a surprisingly pleasant day with Terry. I’d seen a different side of him than I’d witnessed before. For a day, I’d even come to think of him as likable. No, more than that— desirable . But then the day had ended and he’d reverted to form, becoming the nemesis I was used to.

Luckily, tonight Serena had seated me at a different table than Terry. And now that we were in the stand-and-chat portion of the evening, I only had to keep my distance for maybe another half hour.

“I’m really glad you came,” Serena told me, smiling as she slid an arm behind her fiancé, Duke Hawk. Until recently he’d been her hot, former-SEAL bodyguard, and he remained a founding member of Hawk Security.

“I wouldn’t miss my best friend’s big night,” I assured her.

Serena cocked a brow, and I inwardly cringed, afraid I’d given up the surprise Duke had arranged for her.

“You look stunning this evening,” Duke said before Serena could ask any questions.

“It’s thanks to your lovely fiancée.” I smoothed my hands down the exquisite Valentino gown. “She loaned me this dress.”

Winston Evers, a former FBI Special Agent and now a member of Hawk Security, wandered over, and the conversation thankfully pivoted.

When I looked back, Terry scowled at me and tried his come-hither head nod again.

I settled for sticking my tongue out at him behind a raised hand.

Not as classy as I should be at an event like this, but Terry deserved it after all the aggravation he’d given me over the years.

Turning, I noticed Nick Butcher, another of Serena’s coworkers, eyeing me. I pulled in a deep breath, which made my boobs almost pop out of this tight dress.

Serena saw him as well and whispered, “You could get lucky too.”

“I don’t have time for a man.” That had been true ever since starting my business, and it needed to stay that way until the company was on a more solid footing.

“He’s a fun guy.”

“Pass.”

“Do you have time to join us after?” Serena asked. “The Hawk guys are going over to Tito’s to shoot some pool.”

I liked Tito’s, and I played darts there often, but I shook my head. “Sorry, I have an early morning tomorrow.” It wasn’t a lie, but mostly I didn’t want to chance that Terry might be there. Better to end things on a high note .

Despite Terry’s presence, I was grateful to be here this evening, and I knew how lucky I was to have my best friend still alive.

Besides a car-bomb attack, a sex trafficker had kidnapped Serena—twice.

But she’d survived the ordeal and had come out the other side to get to her happy place, engaged to a wonderful man.

I shivered, thinking about how terrifying those days must have been for her, then couldn’t help sighing over how lucky she was to have found a man as wonderful as Duke. I’d never had that kind of luck in my dating life.

I excused myself to use the ladies’ room. When I returned, Nick Butcher had joined the group of Hawk brothers, Duke, Lucas, and Jordy. Unfortunately, Terry was also with them.

Checking my watch, I decided it was too early to bug out and go home to work on the Sanderson design I needed to review, so I searched for Serena.

She was now talking with some EPA folks and Winston from Hawk Security.

On the way over, my phone vibrated in my clutch. I pulled the device out but clicked the screen off after seeing the name— Tyrant . It vibrated in my hand again, and I gave in, moving to the messaging app.

TYRANT: I need to talk to you.

TYRANT: It’s important

I had no problem crafting a reply.

ME: No way

“You know,” said Remy Laurent, Serena’s new boss at the EPA, “wedding planning takes a long time.”

He should know. He was planning his own wedding.

“Yeah,” Serena said wearily.

“Have you decided on a venue?” Jacques, Remy’s fiancé, asked.

Serena shook her head. “Not yet.”

Winston looked disinterested, as most guys did when a discussion turned to wedding planning.

“And you need a dress,” Remy added. “That can take a while. And your maid of honor and bridesmaids. And flowers, and?—”

Serena held up a hand. “We have to set a date first.”

Remy looked heartbroken that this topic was closed. He and Jacques shared a look .

I turned away, and half a minute later, my phone vibrated again.

Ready to kill Terry for the constant interruptions, I answered hurriedly, “I don’t have time for you.”

Only the creepy voice wasn’t Terry’s.

“We have your cousin Elliot. Do exactly as I say, or he dies.”

My blood froze as I sought privacy behind a tall ficus tree. “Please don’t hurt him.” I kept my voice low, trying not to cry.

“You will bring your phone and ATM card. Meet me in the parking lot of the Starbucks on Langley. Come alone. Do you understand?”

I shivered. Wasn’t kidnapping for ransom supposed to happen to rich people? “I understand, but?—”

“Be there,” the creepy voice demanded.

“Just don’t hurt him.”

I didn’t have big bucks, and obviously, they didn’t think Elliot was worth much. My withdrawal limit was twenty-five hundred, and when it ticked over past midnight, I guessed they could double that.

“Come alone. Bring anyone, tell anyone, or call the cops, and we’ll know. Then Elliot dies.”

I shivered. “Langley and where? I don’t know all the Starbucks.”

“Look it up. There’s only one.”

“But that’s a long way. I can’t make it in a half hour.”

The line was silent.

“Hello?… Hello?”

I checked the screen. Unknown number . And the call was over.

Serena appeared, her face concerned as she reached for my shoulder.

“What’s going on?”

I held back the tears. “Nothing.” I couldn’t tell her or anyone.

“Who was that?” She blocked my way when I tried to leave.

“You have to let me go,” I implored her.

“Grace, what’s wrong? Talk to me.”

I sniffled. “They have Elliot.”