Part 20 (1/2)
Hawk barked with laughter and she grinned. ”What do you think? Should I go like this?” She motioned to her blood stained clothing.
”It would be unique,” he said.
”But it would also be the truth. And I'm all about that.”
It was taking a chance, but if someone in that room had given the order to pull Mason back off the house and leave Hawk vulnerable to the enemy then maybe they should see that they failed first-hand.
”Don't give them any warning,” she said suddenly. ”Just tell them we'll be on time.”
”Are you sure?”
She nodded. ”Did you find out who ordered Mason off the protection detail?”
He shook his head. ”I'm asking him that now.”
”Find out before I go in, then find that man in the audience and watch him closely,” she said as they entered the security checkpoint. She twisted to look at him. ”Got that?”
He nodded. ”I got it. Mason said he's looking for him.” He was reading the next text that came in. They'd been steady for the last ten minutes. ”He's in position at the demonstration. He's standing at the back door.”
”That's nice, but I could be shot from anywhere in the d.a.m.n room. I'd rather have him beside me.”
Hawk picked up the phone and called Mason instead of texting this time. Good. He quickly relayed the message. That made her feel better. Slightly.
Knowing Mason was waiting for her, lifted her heart. She needed to see him again. To be hugged. She'd had such a s.h.i.+tty morning. And after the best night of her life. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, so hot and puffy now. She kinda blacked out at that point. She had to prepare for what was coming. It was going to be close.
In many ways.
MASON REALIZED SHE was safe if she was giving orders like she had been, according to Hawk. He could believe it. He needed to hear the details of the nightmare she'd been put through already and knew it was likely bad, but she was alive and that was what counted. She just needed to do this demonstration. And he was going to stand at her side and make sure she was safe.
Guilt ate at him. He'd hated the orders pulling him away from her. Had been working since finding out she'd been kidnapped on sourcing where the orders had come from. And why. He'd fought leaving her but on the a.s.surance that several other men were going to be there looking after her, he'd gone to make sure she'd be safe after leaving the hotel.
But instead she and Hawk had d.a.m.n near died. Again.
So much for those a.s.surances. But he was on it. And had his suspicions now. Then again Tesla's father had helped. Hawk had contacted him as soon as he knew.
The conversation still burned his gut. But at least he'd cared. After the first meeting Mason had wondered. This time there'd been no doubt.
”She's been kidnapped? Again?” The panic and incredulity in his voice had gone a long way to helping Hawk understand the man's emotions had been tightly banked before.
But not now. He hadn't wasted time with ripping Mason to pieces. He wanted details. And then gave him a little background on one of the men above Mason.
Check out...
No reason given. Just the name. Followed by, ”Find her and bring her back to me.”
When Mason had called back to let him know she was on her way home again, her father had gone silent. He'd released an emotional sigh of relief then had immediately turned businesslike. ”Is she going to the hospital?”
”She's coming for the demonstration. She refuses to do anything less.”
”Then I'll be there.” And he hung up. He'd sounded like he meant it.
Mason hoped her father made it. For her sake and maybe his. Sounded like there was some healing needed.
That Tesla had been hurt again was something Mason needed time to get over. But she was alive. They could live with everything else.
He shook his head. How many more lives did she have? She was more cat than human at this rate. His communicator squawked. ”She's entering the side door.”
Mason raced to the door to be able to open it for her. He was attracting attention, and he didn't give a d.a.m.n.
The door opened and Hawk grabbed him, shoving him back a few steps and out of the doorway. ”Mason. Man, you need to hold back when you see her.”
”Why?” That was a h.e.l.l of thing to say. He glared at Hawk. ”You look like s.h.i.+t.”
”She's been beaten. And she's got cracked ribs. And she's looking...a little rough.”
Mason's fists clenched as he realized what Hawk was saying. ”You said she's okay?”
”She is. In fact, she says she's fine.” He paused and rolled his eyes. ”And she's a h.e.l.l of a liar too. I know the ribs are cracked as I checked them myself. Her eyes are almost swollen shut and the wind coming back made them worse.”
Her eyes and ribs. He got it.
”Those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds are dead.” He turned, looking for Tesla, and caught sight of someone standing hesitantly, her back to him, in front of the entrance. Her long sweater had stretched well past her hips. Only it was ripped and b.l.o.o.d.y just like her jeans. As he got closer he could see her fingernails were b.l.o.o.d.y and torn. She turned to face him.
His fists clenched.
His gut heaved.
His heart died a little.
It was Tesla. And she'd been not just beat up. She'd been beaten.
G.o.d he was going to kill the b.a.s.t.a.r.d behind this.
Just then the announcer said, ”Now let me introduce the creator of this program. Miss Tesla Landers.”
There was a lot of murmuring going on behind him, but he was staring at Tesla, wondering what she was going to do. Then he realized what the problem was. When introduced, she'd turned and walked several feet forward to the base of the stairs leading to the podium. And stopped. She was looking at the stairs, but she was having trouble seeing them. Her depth perception was off. And she wasn't sure what to do.
Meaning she hadn't seen him.
He strode to her side, and in a calm movement, reached for her hands and held her swollen fingers in his gentle grasp. ”Let me help you.”
She gasped with joy and clutched at him. He smiled and held her close. ”I'm so sorry,” he whispered, knowing they had no time.
The gurgle of laughter bubbled up from her chest. ”Good,” she said. ”You can make it up to me later.”