“And now you’d let Hil, who has nothing to do with any of this, fight your battle alone?” Hawk said.
“What is he talking about?” Lorene asked Hilary.
“I figured out who they were, and I compiled a list of their illegal activities. I’m planning on building a case against them based on the things I’ve found. It goes deeper than the abuse, but that’s what we plan to use as the last nail in their coffin. I know I can count on Juliette to testify. But the more people who come forward, the more impact it’ll have,” Hilary said.
The four women exchanged glances and leaned in whispering to one another. They pulled apart and studied Hilary and Hawk.
“What if you don’t win? Then what?” Karla said.
“We will win. But this time it’ll be different. Mayhem will protect you. You won’t be alone and vulnerable. These guys are cowards who prey on the weak. Mayhem is anything but.”
“It sounds too good to be true,” Nic said.
“You realize they may see you as loose ends and seek you out anyway,” Hilary whispered.
“So either way we’re completely fucked.” Karla slapped the table with her palm. “Damn it!”
“Whatever we do for the rest of our lives, we’ll always have this nagging fear in the back of our mind unless we know they’ve been put away,” Maddie whispered. “We have to do this.”
“And hash out everything that happened.” Nic shook her head. “I-I don’t want anyone to know.”
“So we let them win?” Lorene said pursing her full lips. “No.” She shook her head. “It’s time for us to end this.”
“Suddenly you’re the brave one?” Nic snarled.
“Stop this. Look at what you’re letting them do to you,” Hilary hissed.
The girls went silent.
Karla sighed. “You sure you can deliver the protection you promise?” she asked, meeting Hawk’s gaze.
“I don’t make offers if I can’t hold up my end of the bargain,” Hawk said. The steely tone of his voice told her the women were skating on thin ice. You start questioning a man’s integrity, it’s understandable when he gets pissed. Right now this was nice Hawk. They didn’t want to see the other side.
“Look, we’re offering this up, but we don’t need you. Regardless of whether you join us, we’re forging ahead with this, and Ariel here will remain under my protection,” Hawk said.
“You girls can do what you want, but I’m ready for the nightmare to end. I’m in,” Lorene said.
Nic gaped.
“I’m with her,” Maddie whispered. “I’m tired of waking up from nightmares wondering if the life I’ve created for myself is going to come crashing down around me when Quinn gets the urge to revisit the past.”
“Karla?” Nic whimpered.
“They’re right. It’s time. We’re not those scared girls anymore. It’s time we stop acting as if we are,” Karla said. Nic opened her mouth to protest, and Karla held up her hand. “Mr. Hawk?”
“Just Hawk,” he said with a gentle smile.
“Tell me exactly what you need from us and how we’d remain protected,” Karla said.
“We need you to write up statements and be ready to face these bastards in court. I can post men to watch your house or stay with you if you’d like. I leave that up to you.”
“We’d be safer if they were with us, wouldn’t we?” Karla whispered.
“Yeah. I got gentlemen on my crew. So if you’re worried about that, don’t be. As rough around the edges as we all are, raping isn’t on our list of fucked-up things we do.”
“You can understand our caution,” Karla said.
“Hey, you don’t have to explain anything to me. I’ve seen enough to get the picture. Are we going to do this or not? ’Cause things will be happening fast once this hits in a few days.”