Page 25 of Crowe
Gator shook his head, still grinning. “Historic day. I want it noted for posterity.” He glanced at me with something warm in his expression that he didn’t make a big deal of, which I appreciated.
“Crowe, why don’t you go outside with Hawk and get him all updated on the situation. I’ll stay in here and help Noah pack up some snacks for the road since I’m sure you won’t want to stop.”
Jackson looked at Gator and then at me, and I could tell he was thinking about arguing with him. Both men just stood there and watched him, waiting to see what he would do. Gator was so laid-back and fun that it was hard to remember that, sometimes, he was a part-owner of Three Bears Tactical and was actually Jackson’s boss. Not that I thought that would’ve mattered to Jackson if he had something to say. He didn’t, though. Instead, he just looked at me. “I’ll be back in just a minute. Be sure and take the tea with us in case there isn’t any in the apartment for you for tomorrow morning.”
I nodded, and he went out the front door with Hawk. I turned back to look at Gator. He stepped closer and wrapped me in a hug. “Seriously, I’m glad you’re okay.”
I sank into his hug for a second and then took a step back. “It was terrifying.”
He chuckled. “Which part? Crowe showing up at your job? Realizing they’d found you? Them breaking into your apartment? The car chase? Them showing up here?”
“I know, right?” I said with a smile, but then I sobered. “Honestly, all of it, Gator. It was all terrifying.”
“Yeah, but you have Crowe watching over you. He’ll keep you safe, but if you aren’t okay with that for any reason, Hawk and I will put you in that tank out there and take you straight to HQ.”
“Why wouldn’t I be okay with it?” I asked.
“Absolutely no reason at all. Crowe is one of the best. That’s why we have him teaching all the classes, but I just wanted to make sure you knew you have options.”
I chuckled. “Do you really think he would let me leave without him?”
“Not without a fight,” Gator said with a grin.
“Well, it’s a good thing I don’t want options then. I’m happy to ride back with Jackson.”
“I figured you were. So let’s get you some snackage packed up.”
Crowe
I did need to brief Hawk, but I didn’t think that was what this little show of separating me and Noah was about. We were both about to get a talking to. Sure enough, Hawk barely waited until the door closed behind me to start.
“So, you and Noah?”
I turned and looked at him. “Not yet, but maybe.”
He nodded. “He’s a great guy, Crowe, but he’s carrying around a shit load of trauma.”
“He is, but he’s seeing a therapist to help deal with that.”
“He looks really good, healthy, I mean. I just want to make sure you’re prepared for the shit that might creep up.”
“I like to think I am, but who knows. What I do know is he’s one of the strongest men I’ve ever known.”
“Mika seems to think so, too. He’s always saying how amazing he thinks Noah is after they talk.”
“Yeah, he was starting to put all this behind him and build a life in Houston. I hate that he has to deal with all this.”
“I do, too, but Kat’s on it, and she’s going to figure out who this guy is so we can deal with him.”
I liked Hawk’s confidence, and I’d tried to portray the same attitude for Noah’s sake, but I really wasn’t sure how we were going to put an end to this for him. I just knew I wouldn’t rest until we had.
“So what do you know about the two guys you have stashed in your woodshed?”
“Not much. They’re professionals, and if they managed to track us here to this cabin, they’re pretty good at their job. That and they seem determined to get Noah, but that’s about it.”
“Well”—he rubbed his hands together—“don’t worry about it. By the time Gator and I are done with them, we’ll have the information we need.”
“Good to hear it.”
