“You look pleased with yourself,” Ariel said.
Hawk glanced down at Ariel and frowned. She looked flustered. He wrapped his hand around her neck and massaged. “Walk with me.” She opened her mouth, and he added a slight pressure. “Now.” She huffed but clamped her jaw shut. “I don’t know what’s got you all worked up, but now isn’t the time.”
They walked to his room. He guided her inside. “Before you get all hot under the collar, you need to zip it and take a seat.”
She looked up at him, paused and sat down on the edge of his bed.
“Pres told me your house got ransacked.”
“What?”
“They came at night and tore the place up. One of our guys happened to notice the door ajar during a drive-by and he called in backup to go inside.”
“Son of bitch.” She jumped off the bed. “I have to go clean the place up and see if they took anything.”
“You know that’s not going to happen.”
“So I should just leave it a wreck?”
“No, we’ll send someone in to clean it up. They expect you to come running so they can either grab you or tail you. Luckily we’re not that stupid.”
She balled her hands into fists. “This isn’t some game; it’s my life.”
“You think I don’t know that? Everything we’re doing right now is to keep you alive, so you’d better watch how you come at me with that mouth of yours.”
She glanced away. “I want these guys.”
He stepped toward her and placed his hands on her biceps, feeling the fine tremors going through her body.
“And we’ll get them. But you can’t rush off half-cocked and fuck up everything we’ve been working on, or misdirect your anger ‘cause, babe, I’m no one’s punching bag. You get too wild with that shit and I’ll put you in your place.”
She scowled.
“Look I’m being straight up. I’ve put more into you than any other bitch. You should remember that the next time you want to lay into me for shit I’m not responsible for.”
She dropped her head, and he grunted.
Good, that shit sank in. “I know this isn’t what you’re used to, but you been around us long enough to know what’s up. Get your mind right and gather your thoughts before we head back out.”
“What about the girls?” she asked.
“We’re bringing them into the fold. I know they didn’t like the thought of being surrounded by a bunch of rowdy men they don’t know, but this is for their own good.”
“Thank God.”
He saw the pinched expression he’d fucked away weeks ago return. Not on my watch. “Fuck that, we’re getting you wasted.”
“What?” She glanced up and waved her hands from side to side. “No, that’s a terrible idea.”
“You got somewhere to be tomorrow?” he deadpanned.
“You fucking know I don’t.” She narrowed her eyes at him and he laughed.
“Exactly.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to the door.
“You ass, don’t you do it.”
They crossed the threshold. She growled.