Free SEALs of Honor: Hawk by Dale Mayer Page B

final caution, “Please stay out of trouble.”
    And he was gone.
    Damn it.
    “Are you going to come back?” she called out. Then winced. Talk about subtle. Not. Where was that wish for a graceful good-bye, head high, classy finish? Snort.
    He turned enough to see her but didn’t stop moving. “Not for awhile.”
    Her face fell. Her heart sagged and her body just plain hurt.
    She turned away and saw her father awake. Bursting into tears, she raced to give him a big hug.
    “I’m so glad you’re okay,” she said through her sobs.
    “I’m so very glad you and Hawk were both there to help.”
    “You mean Hawk. He rescued both of us,” she admitted.
    “Good. Glad he did.” Her father reached up and rubbed his temple. “My head is pounding. It’s going to be days before I feel up to opening the store.”
    “Are you still going to?” she asked quietly.
    He raised an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t I?”
    “Well, your brother was shot in the store, it was ransacked, the guns were stolen and your cache at home was also stolen.”
    He shrugged. “It was all insured.”
    She nodded but inside it bothered her. “I’m not sure I like the idea of you selling guns anymore.”
    “You never did.” He pursed his lips and studied her. “Nervous now? That’s not like you.”
    “Watching those men…” She shuddered. “It did make me think.”
    He shook his head. “It’s not the guns. It’s the people–”
    “People who use them.” She groaned. “Yeah, I know.”
    “Lucky you, you’re free to leave,” he said. “What are you going to do now?”
    “As you’re fine and safe here, I’m going home. I got a pass from the doctor as long as I rest.” She stood up and reached over to hug him. “Love you, Dad.”
    “Love you too, Mia.” He smiled up at her. “This will be a bad memory soon.”
    “I hope so.”
    With a small wave, she turned and walked out. Her energy was flagging. She needed to grab a cab. Outside she realized it was late. How was it she hadn’t understood that? Just staring out at the dark night she realized she probably should have stayed for the night. But that was fear talking.
    Better to go home and face it. Now, should she go to her place or to her father’s house? No, she wasn’t going back there for a while. She needed time so she wouldn’t see her father’s body lying crumpled on the ground every time she was there.
    Outside the hospital, she stood at the front doors and stared across the parking lot. There were cabs waiting on the front curb. She walked over to one, but it drove away as she approached.
    A truck drove between her and the next taxi. She tried to walk around it but a man hopped out. She shifted out of his way.
    The man called out to her. “Excuse me.”
    She spun and looked at him, “Yes.”
    “I think this is for you.” He held out a package.
    She frowned. “From who?”
    “A guy in a black Jeep.”
    Her face lit up. Hawk. “Oh,” she said hopefully and reached out to take it. “Thank you so much for delivering–”
    She never saw the blow, never felt the air cut off from her lungs. Nor did the pain hit her awareness quickly. Instead it was like a slow motion movie as she watched her body fall into his waiting arms. She knew something was wrong but couldn’t seem to connect the weird grip on her neck with the numbness of her legs.
    His voice, concerned and helpful, called to her. “Oh dear. Are you all right? Here, let me help you up.”
    She was boosted into the back seat of the truck where she toppled forward into the foot well. Her head hit the seat cushion and bounced off to slide to the floor. She lay there, her eyes open, her brain aware, her mind no longer functioning.
    The truck engine turned over.
    “Is she okay?”
    “Yeah, for now. We’ll have to find out who she’s talked to and take care of them as well. But for the moment, the issue is contained.”
    “Can’t leave any loose ends.”
    “A couple of days are all we need. Less if