Page 36 of Leading Conviction

“Quit talking, 813.” Callie’s glare stopped Phoenix’s retort before it began, his mouth snapping shut.

Confusion whirled in Hannah’s mind but Hawk squeezed her thigh, bringing her back to him.

“I can explain later. But he knew, Hannah. He knew about his son and even though they’d never met, he loved him enough to make the ultimate sacrifice.”

Hannah’s eyes stung and she blinked rapidly to prevent any tears from spilling as she nodded. She didn’t know all the facts, but knowing Thomas died loving his son was enough for now.

Wes cleared his throat, his eyes focused, but soft with compassion behind his glasses. “Did Vlad say anything else?”

Hannah shook her head. “No. He didn’t say anything else, and I didn’t need him to. After he threatened me, I ran to my car and drove as fast as I could to get home.”

“Makes sense. Vlad’s not really one for words,” Callie agreed.

“You got that right,” Hannah mumbled as she massaged her temples.

She could feel a tension headache beginning to take root behind her forehead. Every time she felt like she was catching up, something else threw her off, like the fact that she and Callie looked so much alike. They could’ve been sisters. Twins even.

With that thought, Callie’s words finally registered and alarm bells went off in her mind. “How doyouknow Vlad?”

Phoenix fidgeted with his hat before removing it, revealing dark-brown hair.

Callie remained statue-still as she answered, her brown eyes carefully trained on Hannah, making her feel like they were the only ones in the room.

“There’s a reason why I’m here, ready to go to battle against the General. And let’s just say it’s for the same reason you and I look alike.”

Hannah’s eyes widened and dread filled her veins like tar.

“What… what does that mean?”

“Nothing, Han. Come on, this meeting has gone on long enough as it is. Let’s go get an early dinner,” Hawk urged with another squeeze of his hand but Hannah brushed it away.

“No, tell me. What does that mean?”

Callie glanced at Tommy then around the room. “We shouldn’t talk in front of—”

“Tommy can hear whatever you have to say.”

“I don’t think that’s true, Hannah,” Callie replied firmly. Her eyes were an angry storm but the rest of her face and her voice were carefully neutral.

While Callie was the picture of calm, Hannah was anything but, so much so that Tommy slipped his hand in hers and held tight.

“You okay, Mom?”

Guilt made her wince. She’d always wanted Tommy to be knowledgeable of their situation. He at least deserved that much after she’d uprooted his life to flee the country. But she’d never intended him to be the rock in their relationship. He was the son, thechild, and yet she was the one he had to console at the moment. It was one thing to have him understand, quite another to have to share the burden.

“Yeah,avecito, I’m okay. But I, uh, I think I need a moment to chat with Miss Callie right now.”

“Are you sure, Hannah?” Hawk asked. “It’s already been a long day—”

“I need this,” she interrupted him, leaving her gaze on his so he understood how important this was to her. He nodded once, and she turned back to Tommy. “Mijo, let’s go back up to the room. We can get you an early dinner and then settled watching TV before I come back down—”

“But I don’t want to go back to the room.” Tommy frowned. “I want to be here. I get to listen. That’s what you always said.”

She grimaced at the accusation. “I know,mijo, but there are some things I need to hear first before I share them with you.”

His little frown deepened. “But Mom—”

“Hey, little man. What if we go throw a baseball around?” Hawk asked.