Page 37 of Hawk

“No, you’re not. Who are you?”

I take a deep breath and throw caution to the wind. I know this could kill me and I know how dangerous it is to let him know the real truth about me.

“I’m Maci Tyler and I moved here because I’m a prosecutor. A few weeks ago, my life was threatened by a man I was prosecuting against and I had to leave.”

His mouth opens and drops quickly. “Are you sayin’ you’re in the witness protection program or something?”

“Something like that. Shit got really bad back at home and my daughter and I had to leave really quick.”

I feel him stiffen at hearing I have a daughter. “What?”

“I have a thirteen year old daughter named Riley. She knows everything that is going on.”

“You mean to tell me that you came here because you’re runnin’ from something with your daughter and I treated you like a common criminal?”

I shrug. “I guess so? I’m sorry. I’m not even supposed to say anything. No one is supposed to know what is happening to me or my daughter. You’re the only one who knows why I’m here.”

Hawk is quiet as he takes in what I said. This is something completely insane and I know he’s processing everything.

“You have a thirteen-year-old daughter?”

I don’t know if I should laugh or cry at the fact of him focusing on that. “Yes, I do. I had her at fifteen.”

“Shit, baby. I’m so sorry I’ve been a shit head to you.”

I put my head on his shoulder. It feels good to have someone care about me right now. Even if I’m scared as fuck.

“It’s okay,” I murmur.

I don’t know who made the first move or if there was a move that was made in the first place. In a matter of seconds, his lips are on mine.