Page 125 of Restless Hawke

His silvery brows rise as he takes a sip of his drink and assesses me over the rim. “Are you?”

“My effectiveness has reached its end.”

He spins his cup in his hands, staring down into it. “I believe I’m the one who should make that determination. Not you.”

Under any other circumstances, with any other mark, it would be his call, but he has no idea what went down between Coen and me. He can’t possibly comprehend how impossible it would be to get within ten feet of Coen again. “He’s done with me.”

He tenses. “What happened?”

I know that look.

I’ve seen it a thousand times in my nearly thirty years on this planet, and I know what comes after it. The reason he developed the reputation that always precedes him.

He doesn’t like failure, and what I have done is fail.

Spectacularly.

I could lie to him. I could tell him things just didn’t work out, but he would see through that, see through me. The same way he always does everyone else.

“He knows the truth.”

He freezes, his hand curling around the espresso cup. “And how did that happen?”

His sharp gaze watches me carefully to ensure I won’t try to bullshit him. He wants the truth; he needs it to advance his plans.

I can’t lie to him.

I won’t ever be able to.

“I told him the truth.”

He slowly raises his cup to his mouth and sips his espresso before setting it back on the counter and leaning back slightly. “Why’d you do that?”

It’s posed as a simple question, but it’s one that doesn’t have a simple answer, nor is he as casual about it as he’s trying to make himself appear. Anger simmers just beneath the surface of his olive skin. Anger I’ve seen directed at so many people over the years but never at me until this moment.

My legs tremble, and I try to steady myself against the counter before I make this admission. “Because I care about him.”

He stills, his back stiffening.

“You do what you have to, but I’m done fucking with Coen Hawke.”

What’s left of my heart can’t handle seeing him again or being asked to push him and play him any further.

“Perhaps you shouldn’t have gotten personally involved…”

I slam my mug onto the counter, my frustration boiling over as the tears I’ve been fighting start to burn in my eyes. “I don’t know what you want from me.”

He rests his arms on the counter, leaning toward me, ensuring I meet his gaze. “Your help in securing my empire. And you know exactly why I’m doing all this.”

“It’s fucking secure!” I spread my hand out absently. “Look at the way you play everyone like they’re puppets. You already have him by the balls. He doesn’t want anything to happen to the rest of the Hawkes. He’ll do whatever you ask. You don’tneedme involved.”

He raises a brow. “Are you sure about that?”

“Yes.”

Coen will do anything to protect the Hawkes, and that includes selling his soul to this man across the counter from me.

Settling back again, he shakes his head. “I never expected this from you,bambina. I thought I could trust you.”