****
Hawk placed the duffle bag, he’d carefully packed with all his gear, in the Saturn’s trunk. He should have insisted Zoe and Marjorie stay on post until he’d finished his meetings with the NCIS and the FBI. But it was good they hadn’t. It was nearly seven o’clock and he was just leaving.
They’d be safe with Brett at the house.
He’d been telling himself that for the last hour and still anxiety nagged at him.
As he drove off the base, he looked northeast toward Mission Beach where he and Zoe had spent the day only weeks before. The gold ribbon of sand stretched down the coast against the backdrop of buildings that sprawled behind it. The azure blue sky extended along the horizon wisped with a scattering of clouds.
The two months they’d known one another was not enough time for him to ask Zoe to marry him. After their recent break up, she’d want him to woo her a little, and he’d have to regain her trust before he asked her for anything permanent.
Hawk rubbed a hand over his face. Damn, he was pathetic. Why would any woman in her right mind want to carry on a long distance relationship with a man who had withheld his love from her? He’d really screwed things up.
And now they had to deal with the debris left behind from Derrick Armstrong’s behavior.
Damn him!
The team members he’d sent out to hunt for him hadn’t had any luck finding him. As long as he was out there, he was a danger to himself, to Marjorie, and to anyone close to her. His stomach hollowed with anxiety every time he thought of Zoe driving around town with Marjorie while Derrick ran loose. Helping Marjorie was Zoe’s MO. And the woman had to be protected.
Hawk wove his way down several streets toward home. A block from the house, he saw a canary yellow Jeep parked on the street and slowed. He whipped into a parking space down the street from it, and leaving his car running, walked back to the vehicle. A Trident symbol on the window had his heart racing. He looked inside on the passenger side of the car. A belt and empty holster lay on the seat.
Hawk’s heart kicked into a sickening rhythm. He ran to his car and drove the vehicle around the corner and parked it three houses down from his drive. He exited the car and retrieved his duffle bag, then walked through the neighbor’s yard to the back of his house.
The lock on the rec room sliding glass door appeared intact. He leaned forward to look through the window at the attached wiring to the alarm system. Fuck! It had been cut.
He withdrew a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. Scanning the room, he eased the entrance open. The alarm system didn’t make a peep. Son-of-a-bitch. What if Derrick had already hurt someone? Cutter wouldn’t take any shit from him unless Derrick had snuck up on them and was armed.
From the duffle bag, he retrieved his Sig and a clip of ammo and loaded the gun. His movements slow and cautious, he eased up the stairs to the back porch sunroom. The cover on the hot tub was shoved to one side. A trail of wet footprints led to the glider and then to the back door. His gun up and ready, he followed them to the entrance and peered through the window.
The kitchen appeared empty until he shifted to one side to get a better view of the entire room. Derrick stood to one side, his arm around Zoe’s waist, his hand over her mouth. The barrel of a gun rested against her side.
A wave of rage and fear tore up through Hawk’s chest to his throat and for a moment it was hard for him to breath. Shit-shit-shit-If he attempted to enter the house, the fucker might shoot first and ask questions later. He couldn’t take any chances with Zoe’s safety. Oh God, please don’t let him hurt her.
Hawk’s stomach lurched, and his temples pounded. He fell back to the rec room and took out his cell phone. His hands were shaking as he flipped it open and pushed a button. Langley’s voice had him drawing a deep breath of relief. He spoke in a hushed tone. “There’s a problem at my house. Derrick’s broken in and he’s armed. He’s got Zoe. I know Brett and Marjorie are somewhere in the house. I can’t enter the premises. It might cause him to do something stupid.”
Langley swore. “Have you called the cops, yet?”
“No. If we alert them they’ll call in SWAT and somebody will get killed. We need to handle this ourselves. I need you to call Bowie and get over here. I’ll call Doc. Bring your gear.”
“I’m on my way.”
Hawk stared at the phone. If Derrick hurt her he’d kill him. But it wouldn’t bring her back. His life would be empty--empty. He had finally tasted real love, and he’d nearly blown it. He’d only had a taste of the second chance Zoe seemed to be willing to give him. He wanted more.
Stay strong, Zoe. I’m coming. I’m coming.