Page 1 of Tormented Hearts

Chapter One

As an Army Ranger, Heath Hawk spent years sitting through military debriefs where every second of an operation was reconstructed from memory.

The FBI expected the same thing, only in writing.

Black Heart Security had its own ideas.

Hawk had only been with the team a couple of months. Long enough to realize his bosses’ version of a debrief focused on the highlights, not every minute detail.

He glanced at the report in his hand. “Client extracted without injury.”

Denver Malone nodded from the seat across from him at the long conference table.

“Two hostiles neutralized.”

Another nod.

Hawk went on. “Rounds expended: zero.”

Denver looked up. “For the fourteenth time, we don’t need to know how many bullets you didn’t fire.”

Hawk met his gaze. “They’re part of the report.”

Denver sat back, giving Hawk what he’d started thinking of as the Malone stare. All seven siblings had the same steel-gray eyes, and every one of them knew how to pin a person in place with a single look. The six brothers had learned it in the military. Willow had probably learned it from them, though she seemed to be the real hard-ass of the family so maybe it was innate.

Denver cocked his head to eye him better. “We brought you on because we know you’ve got what it takes. If you fire your weapon, we know it was justified.”

A second later, a striking woman walked through the door, a baby over her shoulder. Two little feet in yellow footed pajamas dangled down her crisp blue shirt.

At the sight of his wife and baby daughter, Denver pushed away from the table. Rhae breezed over to kiss him in her usual morning ritual before she went to her office.

The ranch itself was always hopping with activity. The acres nestled against the mountains had an extensive cattle ranch, a thriving horse business, a security agency office run by the brothers, the Black Heart Therapy lodge for veterans where Rhae worked and a new military training facility.

As she turned, the baby’s wide gray eyes popped into view over her shoulder. The baby stared at Hawk for a second before Rhae spun toward him with a smile.

“Debriefing, Hawk?” she asked.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I’ve told you before—we’re not formal here. Rhae is fine.”

“Rhae.” He gave her a small nod. His momma and the military had taught him manners, and old habits were hard to break.

Denver jumped into the conversation. “Hawk has been giving me an inventory of his last assignment.”

Rhae arched a brow. “And how many bullets were fired this time?”

Hawk lifted a brow in return. “Zero.”

Denver snorted. “We hired a cocky one.”

Rhae patted the baby’s back, looking between them. “And being cocky is different from the team how?”

It was Hawk’s turn to snort. “She’s got you there.”

Rhae bounced the baby on her shoulder. “I’ve seen it a time or twelve.”

The sharp little tap-tap-tap of boots on hardwood brought everyone’s attention to the doorway just as Navy, their young daughter, burst in. Two braids swung on her back and she was already covered in dust from the barn where she loved doing chores with all her uncles and friends.