“We’re going public in a week. You had to know this was coming. We need more than you to seal this thing shut. They’re out there in the wind right now with no protection. What happens if Emmit and Linden send people after them?”
“Jesus, ’cause these women haven’t been through enough,” Hilary said.
“Yes, which is why we’re ready to offer up protection until all of this is finished. I’d think they’d want this put to bed permanently as much as we do,” Hawk said.
“Fear defies logic when it’s intense enough,” Hilary said glancing down. She swirled the mug in her hands.
“They’re still scared of these guys?” Hawk said.
“Let’s just say Linden and Emmit drop gifts off now and then to let them know they’re still watching.”
“Fuck, these guys are sick.” Hawk shook his head and took a sip of his alcohol-laced coffee. “Legally can any of them actually talk?”
“There are a handful of these girls who escaped who have formed a sort of sisterhood. They keep track of one another, compare notes and do their best to move on from what’s happened to them. Which is nearly impossible with the threat of Linden and Emmit reappearing at any given moment.”
“You realize this shit is sounding like an eerie television show, right?” Hawk said, trying to wrap his head around the new information.
“I wish for their sake it was. No one should have to live like this. I keep telling them, but they won’t listen. They warned me if Linden or Emmit found out they’d hunt me down. I told them I didn’t care.” She shook her head. “This is all wrong and needs to be exposed.”
“At the cost of your life?” Hawk said.
“I’m hoping it won’t come to that. But yes. We both know they’ll never stop. My life is basically forfeit now because I know too much.” She shrugged.
He had to admire her courage. She was rock steady right now. It was a rare trait. Hawk nodded. “We’ll give them protection if that’s what they’re afraid of.”
“It might help some. But the true terror is locked away in their minds, always with them, forever tormenting.” Hilary sighed and shook her head.
“You know a lot about this kind of thing.”
“I went through this with Juliette, and I’ve formed a tight-knit friendship with these girls. Compared to some of them, Juliette had it easy.”
“You’ve been busy keeping secrets. Not a smart thing to do around here. It makes people nervous.”
“No. I was doing what I could to protect the people I love.” She narrowed her eyes. “How is that any different from what you do?”
“I got the means to back myself up, babe,” he said studying her.
Her cheeks puffed out, and she inhaled through her nose and released. “I wasn’t expecting it to go this way,” she said, speaking through her teeth.
I bet you want to cuss me out right now, don’t you? “No, but you had to know it might.”
She gave a curt nod.
“From now on, no keeping shit. You got any other bats hiding in your belfry, you’d best let them out here.”
Her eyes widened.
This ain’t my first rodeo. I know stubborn people. I come from the bear clan. He snorted. “Yeah, I’m not just some stupid biker you can pull one over on, college girl.”
“I-I didn’t say you were,” she said.
You didn’t have to. “It’s okay. I like that people underestimate me. It gives me an advantage. How soon can you arrange a meeting?”
“I’m not sure. I mean I can ask them today, but I don’t know what their schedules are like.”
“Fuck, girl. Tell them they’re in danger. I’m pretty sure that’ll clear the day calendar.”
“I don’t want to cause panic.” She shook her head.