I had to end this for Troy and I had to do it now.
“Cabe, honey,” I called and Hawk’s body jerked around to face us. I saw his eyes were narrow, his jaw hard and his gaze slid over me to Troy.
“Fuck,” he muttered.
Hanna was staring at Troy, her eyes huge, face pale.
“Troy,” she whispered.
“I hope you have money for a cab,” Troy replied.
“Uh…” She took a step forward but I moved into Troy, turning into his side, my arms going around his middle and I pulled him a step back so she stopped. “Troy, it isn’t what –” she tried.
Troy interrupted. “Stop, Hanna, it was. Don’t add being a f**king liar to being a f**king slut.”
Hanna winced. I gave Troy a squeeze. Hawk studied Troy and when no one said anything further, his head turned to Hanna.
“I think that’s your cue to get the f**k outta here,” he prompted, she looked up at him, her pale face got whiter and she nodded.
Then she scurried toward Troy and me as I glared sharp, lethal daggers at her, none of which, unfortunately, formed and drew blood. She skirted us because neither Troy nor I moved and she hustled around the corner.
Hawk approached, his eyes on Troy and he stopped in front of us.
Then he looked down at me and asked softly, “You got this, baby?”
I nodded up at him. He lifted his chin, glanced at Troy and then walked around us on my side, his hand sliding along my hip as he did it.
See. Total alpha male possessive branding moves even when no one was around to see them!
Then Hawk disappeared.
I moved into Troy’s front, not letting him go and looked into his stony face.
“Do we need beer, tequila or a trip to the firing range?” I asked quietly and Troy’s arm around my waist gave a reflexive squeeze.
“Shit, Gwen,” he whispered.
I pressed my cheek to his shoulder and held on tighter.
“Shit,” he repeated over my head.
“Hawk’s right, honey, you can so do better than her.”
His other arm slid around me and it was his turn to hold on tight.
We held each other for awhile in silence before Troy broke it to mutter, “Maybe he isn’t a dick.”
I pressed my lips together but relaxed in his arms.
Then I lifted my cheek from his shoulder to put my lips to his ear.
“Missed you,” I whispered. “So much, Troy. So freaking much. It’s good to have you back, babe.”
Troy buried his face in my neck and I closed my eyes as I felt the heady sensation of everything in my world, everything (save my sister being in protective custody, though I focused on the word “protective” when I thought of that) turning into the absolute, most perfect daydream. Better than any daydream I could imagine and not only because it was better but also because it was real.
Then I gave Troy a squeeze, decided for him and therefore announced, “Tequila.”
Troy’s face came out of my neck, he looked at me, gave me a small, not very happy smile and whispered, “Right.”