Storm (Sex and Bullets 1)

“I’ll take you to the beach house,” Hawks goes on and turns to signal to one of the security guys. “Besides, unless you get to the bottom of this and put the psychopath who’s after you in a pit, you won’t be safe anywhere. I’ll call my chopper to come pick us up, take us to the airstrip.”

“Now?” Raylin squeaks.

“Well, Ms. O’Brien, since we’re all at sea,” Hawk winks because this is Hawk, and he can’t get serious to save his own life, “I guess we’d better hurry, wouldn’t you say?”

***

I make a phone call to the hospital to make sure Rook is doing okay. Apparently he’s been ordering the nurses and doctors around, demanding they let him go, and threatening to get them fired if they don’t get him some steak and whiskey.

I grin.

“How is he?” Hawk asks as I lean on him, making my limping way to the elevator. We’re heading to the hotel roof to wait for the chopper.

“He’s ordering people around.”

“Then he’s fine.”

Yeah. Relieved, I giv

e the cell to Raylin and let them both drag me into the elevator. “You coming with us, then? To Florida?”

“Damn right I am. Not letting you out of my eyesight until I’m sure you’re safe. Brat.”

“You’re only five months older than me,” I point out.

“In age. About five decades older here.” He taps his head as the doors ding open, and he steps out onto the roof, pulling out his cell phone.

“You’re getting on in years, then,” I mutter, leaning on Raylin as I half-limp, half-hop out of the elevator and onto the roof. “Probably can’t even get it up anymore.”

“Fuck you, man.” Hawk turns, gives me the finger, then starts barking orders into his cell.

“Not for all the money in the world, ugly face,” I mutter. The one person I wanna fuck is right next to me, her hold on me strong.

Her hold on me is complete, in every way.

The roar of engines and rotor blades from overhead drowns out our voices. Raylin shivers, and I clutch her to me.

Which reminds me. “Hawk, what about the triad?” I have to shout to be heard over the noise, and damn, I feel exposed, a moving target up here on the roof. Thank God there aren’t any buildings of this height around. “Did you arrange a meeting?”

“It’s tomorrow night. Meanwhile, you’ll need to secure the money. Cash, of course.”

Yeah. I wonder how feasible that is.

Doesn’t matter. I will make it feasible. “Need to call the lawyers.”

“All in good time. Let us get on the chopper first.”

That proves a bit tricky, because I am still woozy, and we need to get onto the chopper fast as the blades are still spinning. Hawk and his bodyguard who’s riding with us lift me up, and I sprawl in one of the backseats, groaning.

“Crazy bastard.” Hawk shakes his head as he helps Raylin inside. “Should be in a hospital, not doing this shit.”

“It’s my shit,” I counter, trying to find a position that isn’t making my wounds scream in pain. “I’ll shovel it myself.”

“A shitstorm’s about to hit.” Hawk winks at Raylin, making her laugh, and the sound is so sweet I forgive the asshole his shitty sense of humor.

See? I can make a funny, too.

“You’re clever for an old man,” I grunt, straightening my leg the best I can. “Not so bright, though. I mean, I had to be gunned down for you to believe someone’s after me. Doesn’t that tell you something?”