Saving Serena (Hawk Security #1)

Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27

Serena

We’d dropped Grace off on the way back to my place, and Duke now used his palm to unlock the door, with Terry just behind him.

I stood back, the way I’d learned was expected.

Duke stopped just inside with a raised fist. He pulled his gun.

Constance urged me back and pulled hers as well.

“We’ll clear,” Duke said. “Secure Serena.” Then he and Terry disappeared inside and shut the door.

Constance hurried me back to Duke’s SUV.

“What’s going on?”

She pushed me up into it. “It’s armored. Lock the doors,” she barked as she closed me in.

I looked around and didn’t see anybody suspicious, but that didn’t stop my leg from starting up. Constance stood by the car, constantly scanning the street and the yard. It had to be ten minutes before Duke reappeared with his bite-a-lemon face. He talked to Constance for a moment before they let me out of the Suburban.

“Call Lucas and Wellbourne. We need LAPD’s crime scene resources,” Duke told her before he took my hand.

“What happened?” I squeaked.

“I don’t think you should go inside. The house has been searched. It’s a mess.”

I pulled away from him. “It’s my house. You’re not keeping me out.”

“I figured you’d say that. Brace yourself.”

My stomach twisted as I followed him to the door. “Bad?”

“Very bad.”

I prepared myself and pushed the door open. Terry stepped aside as I barged in. My house was trashed. The cushions of the couch were torn open and all the artwork scattered on the floor. No, I hadn’t prepared myself. I bent over at the waist and almost puked.

“I warned you,” Duke reminded me.

Moving to the kitchen, I found all the drawers and cupboards open. The flour was inches deep and littered with what was now garbage. Everything, literally everything, had ended up on the floor. “Why?” was my only word.

“Two options, bad and worse.”

“Give me the bad one first.”

“Spinelli was searching for that USB drive he’s sure you have.”

The destruction was near total. He’d even torn open containers in the fridge as if I’d hide something in leftover mac and cheese.

I was afraid to ask, but I did. “And the worse one?”

Duke checked that we were alone. “This was destruction done out of hate—a message. Does Harvey Fox hate you this much?”

My hand went to my mouth as I doubled over. Five seconds of slow breathing later, the urge to puke thankfully passed.

Duke put a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

I nodded. “He does.”

“LAPD is here,” Terry called.

“Thanks. We’ll be out in a minute. You guys can brief them.”

Steeling my resolve, we climbed up to my bedroom, where the devastation continued. Prison had probably given Fox a lot of time to think of how he was going to kill me, and yes, this was the message.

“This took a while,” Duke said. “He took out the internet in the whole neighborhood to blind us.”

“You think he knew we’d be gone all day?” I asked.

“Most likely.”

“How?”

“Maybe he bugged the house, the car, your phone. Who knows? If that was it, Jordy will sort it out.”

Looking at all the destruction, I could no longer hold back the tears.

Duke took me into his arms. “It’s just things. Things are replaceable. The important truth is that you’re safe.”

But it wasn’t only things he’d ripped from me, but also the certainty that I could be safe in my own house. Now I’d hesitate to open my front door every time, afraid of what I’d find.

A half-hour later, it got worse. “What the hell?” Dad’s voice echoed through the house. “Serena?”

“He’s pissed,” Duke whispered into my hair.

“We have to face him.”

Duke retrieved tissues from the bathroom to wipe my eyes, and we started down the stairs to face the dragon.

Dad was in the front room, berating Lucas and Constance. “What the hell kind of operation is this that something like this happens? You should have put a security system in, a good one.”

Lucas stood there, looking angry, staying silent.

“We did.” Constance tried a steady, even voice with Dad.

He waved his hands around. “If this can happen without you knowing, then it sucks.”

“It’s a top-of-the-line system,” she explained. “But we lost connection with it when the internet went down in the neighborhood.”

“Why wasn’t anybody here to check?”

Duke stepped forward. “Because I decided against it.”

“Then you’re a moron. You’re fired. Lucas, fire the jerk.”

Lucas stoically ignored Dad.

Duke got right in Dad’s face. “I didn’t send someone because I prioritized your daughter’s safety over the situation with the house. Our job, my job, is the safety and security of the person or people under my protection—not stuff, people, not things. I kept your daughter safe. I did my job.”

Dad hadn’t backed up under the assault until Duke was done. Instead of responding to Duke, he attacked his boss.

“Lucas, you’re not putting enough resources on this. You’re ultimately responsible.”

Lucas fixed Dad with a deadly stare and pointed a finger. “Lloyd, as I explained, it’s not your call, but I am getting two additional people for the job. As for responsibility, yes, I’m responsible, and in my book, Duke made the right call. We protect people, not things.

I moved up to put a supporting arm around my man. The first man I’d ever seen stand up to my father like that.

My brother Vincent walked in the door. “Wow, this is a mess.”

“It’s a good thing neither of you was here,” Dad said. “And you’re both coming home with me.”

There it was, the ultimatum I’d expected.

Vincent shook his head. “No thanks. I’m going home.”

“This is your and Serena’s home,” Dad insisted. “And it’s not fit to live in. You’re both coming with me.”

“No. My other home.”

Dad’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I’m here part of the time and in Marina del Rey the rest.”

Dad’s expression morphed from confused to angry. “You were supposed to be living here, keeping Serena safe.”

Vincent pointed my way. “Dad, open your eyes. She’s not a child. She’s a grownup making her own way in the world.”

I loved my brother to death for defending me.

The detective who’d been interviewing Constance poked his head in. “Duke Hawk?”

Dad turned on me. “This is unbelievable, young lady. You’re coming home with me.” He came forward.

Duke blocked him. “She decides. Not you.”

Dad tried to move around Duke. Duke shifted to stay between us.

“Out of my way,” Dad bellowed.

Duke’s low voice was dangerous. “Again, she decides, not you.”

Duke was the first person I’d met who wasn’t affected by my father’s wealth or power.

“Serena,” Dad pleaded.

“Dad, I’m going with Duke.” I didn’t know where that was or for sure that Duke wanted it, but I wouldn’t allow Dad to lock me away again.

“This is not the end of this,” Dad said as he stomped out, madder than I’d ever seen him.

I’d broken free, but at what cost?

After Dad left, I pointed a finger Duke’s way. “This is only temporary. I’m moving back here after it’s cleaned up.” My most important truth was that from now on, I decided my destiny.

He growled deliciously.

Duke

Terry and Lieutenant Marcus Wellbourne approached after my interview with the detective. “This place is a mess,” Wellbourne said. “The guy was either very thorough in his search or very angry.”

“Or both. I’m going to take Serena to my place for tonight.”

Terry cocked a brow. “She could stay with me. I’ve got more space than you.”

I glared at him, and a growl may have escaped. No way was I letting her go with him.

He raised his hands. “It was just an offer.”

Wellbourne smirked. “I’ll keep the crime scene guys here as long as it takes.”

“Thanks.” I left them and found Constance watching over our charge upstairs.

Serena was going through clothing on the floor of her closet. “He sure has an anger issue. He ruined all my purses. I hate him.”

“Why do you think Spinelli hates you so much?” Constance prodded.

I stepped back out of sight to hear her opinion and see if she mentioned Fox.

When half a minute went by, and Serena didn’t answer, I rounded the corner. “There you are, my pretty.”

She threw up her arms, with tears escaping her eyes. “He ruined everything.”

“Remember what I said.”

She sighed and put the purse down. “Yeah, things are replaceable.”

Constance smiled. “Don’t you think they can be repaired?”

Serena shook her head and stood. “I don’t want them anymore. They’ll only remind me of this, of what he did. You can have them.”

Constance’s face lit up. “Really?”

I suppressed a smile. Men went for flashy cars, and women for purses—and God forbid, shoes.

Serena kicked the closest one. “Help yourself. I don’t want to see them again.”

It was time to break this up. “Constance, I need a few minutes with Serena.”

After Constance closed the door behind her, I sat on the bed. “We need to talk.” I held out my hand for Serena’s, and she came to sit next to me.

She hung her head. “About being my boyfriend… I hope I didn’t pressure you too much.”

I placed my hand over hers. “That’s not a problem.” It was both cute and annoying that she didn’t see how strongly I felt about her, but that could wait. “What is a problem, though, is Harvey Fox.”

Her head shook violently as she looked down at our joined hands. “I can’t talk about it. I can’t.”

With a finger, I pulled her chin up to look at me. “That’s not good enough.”

“We agreed on tomorrow,” she squeaked. Her eyes pleaded with me as her leg trembled.

To ease her fear, I wanted to give her the extra day, but I couldn’t. “We have a meeting in two hours. Fox could have been the one who did this to your house, and even if he wasn’t, your father thinks he’s a threat. I need you to give me something to tell the team about this guy. Without information, we can’t protect you.”

“Tomorrow. I promise, tomorrow.”

I stood. “If you won’t let me protect you, then maybe it’s best to take you back to your father’s compound.”

She looked up in horror. “You wouldn’t do that.”

“Try me,” I challenged.

“That’s not fair. You agreed to Monday. Or do you always go back on your word?”

She had checkmated me. “Right. Tomorrow. Now, this place isn’t safe, so you’re coming with me to my place.”

She looked around the room and nodded. “Staying here would be too depressing.”

Nothing with Serena was easy, but a little while later, we got into the car. “My place is close.”

She nodded and was silent for longer than normal.

“You’re quiet,” I noted as I turned onto Wilshire.

She looked out the window. “I’m still in shock at the needless destruction.”

I glanced over. In the light from the street, she was beautiful, and she was mine. “He really wants that drive.”

“But I don’t have it.”

I turned off the road. “We’re here.”

“Holy shit. I still can’t believe you live here.”

I parked, and my phone rang while I rushed to open the door for her. “What’s up, Terry?”

“Do you need me?” he asked. “I hate to admit it, but I’m bushed.”

“Get some rest. We’re at my place about to go inside.”

“Thanks, man. See ya tomorrow.”

“Copy that.” I hung up and grabbed Serena’s bag from the trunk.

Serena

When we parked at the monster tower Duke called his place, memories of how I thought I’d lost him made me shiver. The sound of the gunshot and not knowing if I’d ever see him again had almost made my heart stop.

“This time…” Duke opened the lockbox containing his gun. “I’m getting you upstairs safely.”

I nodded and waited until he came around to open my door for me. It struck me that in all the times I’d gone anywhere with George, he’d never been this gentlemanly.

“Thank you, kind sir,” I said, stepping out. “You know, you did get me inside safely last time.”

He pulled my bag along with us.

I giggled as we passed the spot where he’d taken down the Russian trio.

“What’s so funny?”

“I just remember the short guy saying ‘ We fix you,’ and then you took them down like a badass.”

“I am a SEAL. It’s what we do.”

True to my new nickname, I snuggled closer as we walked on. “Do you have any idea how many times today I wanted to drag you off to someplace private?”

He towed me toward the door. “Me too, and when we get upstairs, I’m going to show you just how much I missed getting my hands on you.”

“Watching you take down those goons was the hottest thing I’ve ever witnessed.”

“Are you implying you’re wet for me now, baby?”

“Drenched.” Waves of desire rolled through me. “I need you.”

“Can you be a lady until we make it upstairs?”

“I hope so.”

“Good evening, Mr. Hawk, Miss Serena,” Oliver said with a tip of his hat as we reached the door.

Duke returned the greeting.

We didn’t make it all the way upstairs. He dropped the bag and his mouth took mine as soon as the elevator doors closed.

As we kissed, I clawed at his shirt and hair in full cavewoman mode. I couldn’t get enough of him. He palmed my breast through my clothes. I wished I hadn’t worn a bra, so he could feel how hard my nipples were.

I hiked up my dress and climbed him, wrapping both legs around his waist. He’d given me so many orgasms last night that I’d lost count, yet all I could think was how badly I wanted the next one. I ground against the bulge in his pants, so happy I’d worn a sundress today. “You have no idea how wet I am for you.”

His response was a feral growl. When the doors opened, he squatted to get the bag and waddled us to his door with me still clamped around him.

I had let go so he could get to his keycard, but I was so turned on, I thought my heart would thump its way out of my ribcage. He opened the door and kicked it closed behind us.

My fingers were in his hair in an instant, demanding more kissing, more everything. Desire coiled between my legs, demanding to be sated. I needed one thing—Duke, my man. I reached down and cupped the giant bulge of Rex in his pants and squeezed.

He groaned and slid his hands under my ass, lifting me.

I had to pull my hand away from Rex to hang on behind his neck, but that didn’t keep me from wrapping my legs around him and grinding against his erection.

He carried me sideways, swiped mail off a side table, and set me on it. I pulled at his shirt, wanting to rip it off. He pulled at mine, and in seconds, we were both topless. My breasts distracted him long enough for me to work his belt buckle free.

He growled, low and guttural. “You have the best fucking boobs.”

I had trouble with the button on his jeans. “Does that mean you want to fuck my boobs?”

He pulled my breasts free of the cups. “Another time.”

I lost my hold on his jeans when he cupped my breast and leaned down, taking my nipple into his mouth. I was wound so tight, the simple torture was exquisite.

Backing away, he yanked a condom from his wallet.

I released my bra while he pulled down his pants and released the Rex monster.

“Now that’s what I want,” I breathed.

“Are you ready, baby? I won’t be able to hold back. This is going to be hard.” The hot, feral look in his eyes told me his desire matched my own.

“Oh, so ready,” I panted as I hiked up my dress.

He gripped my panties and, with a wicked yank, tore them off.

I gasped, surprised at how it turned me on. We’d left slow and subtle way behind and accelerated to Mach 1.

“Hang on, baby.” With one hard thrust, he was deep inside. The groan he made was music to my ears. My back hit the wall, but I didn’t care. I was stretched so far and filled so full, nothing else mattered.

Our gazes locked as he began a brutal rhythm. The table banged against the wall with each thrust, each delicious connection as he filled me and we became one. He delivered the relentless assault he’d promised, and I clawed at him to match his intensity.

Each push in was better than the last. “I’m almost there.”

He brought his thumb to my clit, and I exploded. I gripped him with my nails as the climax rolled over me, hard and hot. “Oh, Duke. My God, my God, my God.”

He sank in deep one more time, and his body locked with a groan. I felt the throb and captured his eyes, watching as his release leveled him. A minute later, there was only the panting of two satisfied lovers as I held onto him.

That night, Duke’s movement woke me, and I rolled toward him in bed. He shook and sobbed out “ Marilyn” several times. I realized he was having a nightmare. I shifted away. How many other women’s names would I have to hear? As I lay awake, he shuddered again and murmured, “Marilyn, why?”

Suck it up, Serena. You’re the one with him now . When he stilled, all I could do was wonder if nightmare had been the right term—or were they dreams, a longing?

I snuggled closer. I was the one with him now, and I wouldn’t give him up.