Saving Serena (Hawk Security #1)

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

Serena

Beep… beep .

I cracked my eyes open to the sight of wires, tubes, and machines. I’m in the emergency room , I reminded myself.

As soon as I closed my eyes again, the awful scene from the hillside repeated in my head. Black Jacket Guy had come down the hill with a lighter in his hand, while I was trapped in the car with the smell of gasoline. I’d watched enough CSI episodes to know they would have had to use dental records to identify me. I shivered in spite of the warm blanket over me.

Beep, beep, beep . The machine registered my distress at the memory.

Then, I’d seen and heard a second man. “ What happened? ” he’d called from the top of the hill.

Black Jacket Guy had put away the lighter and yelled back, “ Call nine-one-one. There’s someone in the car. She ran off the road .”

“ On it ,” my savior at the top of the hill had confirmed.

“ Where is it? ” Mr. Black Jacket had then demanded.

“ Where is what? ” I’d croaked.

“ This isn’t over .” He’d retreated up the hill.

Beep… beep . My heart rate steadied again.

The firefighters had used the jaws of life to extricate me. I’d wheezed and tried to tell them about the accident as they pulled me free.

“ Don’t talk ,” the paramedic had said as he put an oxygen mask on me. “ Relax. I’ve got you. ”

The whole time, I’d kept an eye out for Black Jacket Guy. I hadn’t seen him again. With all the time it had taken to be freed from the car and get to the hospital, I’d peed in the ambulance.

Here at the hospital, they’d CAT scanned my head, since I’d bumped it on the roof of the car and probably the window when the car rolled, and also my throat because it didn’t seem to be working. I’d tried to talk but could barely get a sound out. An x-ray of my shoulder was scheduled next. And the nurse had promised to get to the cuts on my face as soon as she settled another patient.

I glanced around my tiny space in the emergency room while I waited for the nurse to return, or better yet, for the doctor she’d promised to arrive. Through the gap in the curtain at the end of my exam space, I could see people walking by. I could hear other patients complaining, some in obvious pain, and several nurses.

Then, a man in a black leather jacket walked by. Beep, beep, beep, beep . The machine announced my distress. It’s him . Black Jacket Guy was here.

I had to get out of here. I was a sitting duck. Why hadn’t I recalled all the movie scenes before? The assassin who missed his target always went to the hospital to finish the job. If the victim couldn’t tell him what he wanted to know, a syringe of something went into the IV line, and the machines stopped beeping—game over.

He hadn’t found me yet, but as soon as he did…

The curtain opened. Beep, beep, beep, beep . The nurse entered. “X-ray has an opening for you now.”

That was my chance to get past him. I nodded and used the breathing technique that had gotten me through worse than this. Beep… beep . My heart rate slowed.

“Oxygen mask, please.” I held my hand out. “I feel a little faint.”

The nurse obliged and started the oxygen flow.

I held up a thumb and secured my hair behind my head, adjusting the pillow to hide as much of it as possible.

After unhooking the monitors, the nurse unlocked the wheels and split the curtain to wheel me out.

I draped my arm over my face.

“Are you all right?” the nurse asked.

“The lights are bright.”

Eventually, she stopped the gurney and set the brake. “The technician will be right with you. You’re next.”

I removed my arm and looked around—no sign of Black Jacket Guy.

She handed me a hospital gown. “They’ll want you to take off your top for the x-ray. You can put this on after.”

I nodded and accepted the gown.

As soon as she turned the corner, I ripped the tape off my wrist and yanked the IV needle out of the back of my hand. I didn’t care that it hurt, or that it bled.

My heart thundered as I hurried down the hallway, hoping I’d picked the right direction and wouldn’t run into Black Jacket Guy.

Ignoring the technician who called after me, I escaped through the ambulance entrance and took off in a painful run toward the street. When I reached it, nobody was following, so I slowed to a walk, although my pounding heart didn’t get the message.

I turned left and walked with my head down. No phone, no purse, no money, and no plan. I was fucked ten ways from Sunday. The TV episodes I could remember were my only guide. I couldn’t go home. I needed some place safe. Then what?

“You okay?” a man asked.

When I looked up, he wasn’t Black Jacket Guy. “Yeah,” I rasped. Realizing my appearance said exactly the opposite, I improvised. “Being the victim in acting class sucks.”

The man nodded and walked on. That’s when I saw the answer. The Covington Industries building rose up ahead. I’d find a friend there—and safety.

Once inside the tall building, I did my best to compose myself. But the looks I got said that bloody, dirty, and having peed on myself, I didn’t belong here. If they kicked me out, I was really up a creek.

I straightened. “Gus—” I addressed the security guard at the desk by his name tag. “—I need to see Bill Covington.”

“Sure you do.”

Yup, the dirt and blood on my shirt and the wet pants screamed more homeless than heiress.

I sighed. “Look, I didn’t have time to change after acting class. Tell him Serena Benson is here to see him.” I normally avoided throwing my family name around, but this was not one of those times.

He didn’t move for the phone. Instead, he pulled out his wallet and offered me a five. “Promise me you’ll use it for food.”

Time for another approach. “Call his wife, Lauren, then. She’ll vouch for me.”

He put the money back in his wallet.

This was the worst possible time to learn that appearance mattered more than substance. I hoped a personal story would convince this guy I knew the Covingtons. “We’re close friends, and Lauren told me the first time she met Bill, she spilled coffee on him in front of the elevator and didn’t even know who he was.”

Gus’s eyes brightened. “I was here for that.” He picked up the phone and dialed. “Mrs. Covington, Gus downstairs. I have a Serena Benson here to see Mr. Covington.” He hung up. “She’ll be right down.”

I nodded. “Thanks.”

“Sorry, I thought?—”

I raised a hand to stop him. “I know. It’s supposed to look realistic.”

“My God, what happened?” Lauren’s almost shriek when the elevator opened drew more attention than I wanted.

“A man ran me off the road,” I confessed, looking around the lobby.

“That’s terrible.”

“Can we talk upstairs?” I asked.

She pushed the button again and held the elevator door open as I joined her.

“Car accident,” I explained when the door closed. “I need your and Bill’s help.”

“You should go to the hospital.”

“I already did.” The door opened on the top floor.

“They didn’t do a very good job,” Lauren said as she pointed the way.

The woman outside Bill’s office—Judy, by her nameplate—smiled when she saw Lauren. “He won’t be long. He’s interviewing the candidate for the Boston job.” Her face changed when she took in my appearance. “My goodness.”

I was having that effect on everybody today.

“This is important,” Lauren said as she opened the door and ushered me in.

I silently slipped into the office behind her, then stopped in my tracks when Bill’s guest turned around.

“What the hell?” my brother Vincent exclaimed as he rushed over.

“Ouch.” I winced at the hug he gave me.

He backed off at my reaction.

“Car accident. Sorry about my voice. I got hit in the throat.”

“What happened?” Vincent asked.

“Let’s all have a seat and talk this through,” Lauren suggested, taking my elbow.

I sat down, and my leg started shaking again. I’d already mentioned being run off the road to Lauren, so there was no avoiding the discussion.

I gave my brother my best glare. “You can’t tell Dad.”

Lauren gasped. “Why not?”

Vincent shook his head, but I knew he understood the source of my reluctance.

“It’s important. We just can’t,” I said. Dad would lock me up forever if he thought I was in danger.

Bill’s brows drew together.

“A man ran me off the road,” I explained.

Vincent nearly fell out of his chair. “Why?”

I swallowed. “I’m not sure, but I found a threatening note on my car this morning.”

Vincent cocked his head. “What did it say?”

“Can I see the note?” Bill asked.

“It’s in my purse, which is… After the accident, I don’t know where it is.”

Vincent motioned for me to keep talking.

“It said, Put the USB stick under the red bush or else . I thought somebody had the wrong car.”

“What stick?” Bill asked. “Like a USB drive?”

I shrugged. “That’s my guess, but I have no idea.”

Bill shook his head. “I’m going to have to tell Lloyd.”

“No,” I said firmly. “You can’t tell my dad.” I pivoted to Vincent. “You either, and that’s not up for negotiation. I just need a safe place to stay for a while.”

“Of course,” Lauren answered instantly.

I shook my head. I didn’t dare put her and her child in danger.

“I’ve got room at the other place,” Vincent offered. “Are you sure it wasn’t just an accident?”

“Maybe you cut the guy off and he got mad,” Bill suggested. “And it has nothing to do with the note.”

I shook my head. “I’m sure. This wasn’t road rage. No way. The guy tailed me all the way from my appointment in Thousand Oaks up into the hills, where he rammed me off the road. Then, after the accident, he asked me where the stick was, and when someone else showed up, he said we weren’t done and disappeared.”

Bill steepled his hands. “And you don’t know who this guy is or where this stick is that he wants?”

I shook my head. “No clue.”

“She has to go to the police,” Lauren said.

Bill’s jaw worked. “That’s not the best idea. Without a direction to start looking, they’ll give up and move on pretty quickly.”

“I’ll stay with Zach, if Dennis isn’t around.” I looked at Vincent. “No offense, but you’re in and out of town a lot.”

Bill shook his head. “If you crack a crown, who do you go to?”

My mouth fell open. What ? I couldn’t track this change in direction.

“You go to a dentist, because he’s the professional,” Vincent said. “We love you to death, Serena, and we’d do anything for you. But you need professional protection.”

“I could leave town for a while,” I offered.

Bill shook his head. “Not at all. That wouldn’t be safe.”

Vincent’s brows drew close. “Why not?”

My leg bounced.

Bill held my gaze. “You’ll only be safe when we find out who he is and what he wants. Otherwise, you’ll be looking over your shoulder forever.”

I liked Bill’s use of we . I definitely needed help.

Lauren and Vincent nodded in agreement.

I attempted to still my unruly leg. “And how?—”

“Protection and investigation,” Bill said, cutting me off. “A security firm that has the people to keep you safe and the resources to find out if someone is after you.”

What the hell? If someone was after me? Bill didn’t believe me. I straightened. “Look, I know what happened. I didn’t imagine it. If you don’t believe me, maybe I should just go.”

“I believe you.” Vincent had always been a rock for me.

Lauren shot her husband a warning glare. “Of course we believe you. Don’t we, Bill?”

“Absolutely,” Bill agreed. “What I was trying to say…” He glanced at his wife. “…is that I know the best firm in town. Hawk Security’s crew is top-notch in every way. Their people are ex-military, Secret Service, FBI, CIA—they have it all. Lucas Hawk’s people will ferret out who this is and what they want.”

His mention of Lucas Hawk made my throat go dry. I’d met the man at my lowest and owed him my life. The chest that held those memories rattled, threatening to spill open.

“If you think they’re the best, we’ll gladly use them,” Vincent decided for me.

Be proud, be brave. I nodded. “Sure. They sound fine.” What else could I say? Lucas Hawk was central to secrets I couldn’t share. I mentally wrapped another chain around the chest.

Bill nodded slowly. “Good.”

“To be clear,” I emphasized, “we’re not involving Dad.” Getting my father involved was the one sure way to lose all my hard-fought freedom. “Or anyone else,” I clarified, looking at my brother.

He nodded.

“Understood,” Bill said. “I’ll arrange it with Hawk and make the introduction.”

I nodded and took a deep breath of relief. For now, Dad wouldn’t know.

“But if they tell me you’re being reckless and not following their procedures, I’ll have to get Dad involved,” Vincent added.

And he would too. I nodded. “I understand.” Be a good girl, Serena. Do what you’re told, Serena. I was so sick of it.

Bill picked up the phone.

“They’re good people,” Lauren assured me while Bill dialed.

“Hi, Lucas, Bill Covington. I have a top-priority job for you. A dear friend of mine has been attacked… Yeah, both protection and investigation to find her assailant… That’s great. We’ll be right over.”

Vincent stood. “I think I should come along.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Bill said, standing. “Lauren can tell you more about the opportunity while I’m gone.”

Lauren nodded. “Glad to.”

“I’ll be back in thirty,” Bill added. “We can finish the interview then.”

Uncharacteristically, my brother backed down. He clearly wanted the job Bill had available, whatever it was. We each had our own method of escaping Dad.