Saving Serena (Hawk Security #1)

Chapter 46

CHAPTER 46

Serena (Two months later)

Duke held my hand as the court clerk called the case. It had been two months since Duke and the Hawk team had saved me from Katelyn and Johnson Spinelli.

I recrossed my legs and squirmed with anticipation. Different courthouse, but the same hard wooden bench as I’d had for Harvey Fox’s sentencing.

Duke had suggested a conservative black pantsuit for me. But being superstitious, I’d chosen the same white top, same black skirt, and same shoes that had gotten a maximum-sentence result the last time.

For moral support, my sister Kelly was in from D.C. in the row behind us, along with my parents and all my brothers except Vincent.

Vincent had taken the Covington job in Boston and couldn’t make it. He had a good reason. He was being investigated by the FBI.

The agent in charge was none other than Ashley Newton, the girl he’d regretted not chasing. It couldn’t get any weirder. Now she was chasing him, but with a badge and a pair of handcuffs—and not the fur-lined kind. Talk about drama.

Kelly leaned forward to place a hand on my shoulder. “You holding up okay?”

I nodded.

Dad whispered from behind me. “I still think this was a mistake.” He didn’t know how to give up on an argument.

“Shush now,” Mom told him.

Duke had wanted to prosecute the four for a combination of conspiracy, the two kidnappings, the attempted kidnapping, and the car bomb. Multiple charges led to longer sentences, per the guidelines. But Dad had insisted I stick with his idea of keeping any mention of a Benson kidnapping out of the news.

Dad had provided leverage with the DA. But it had been my decision, and I’d sided with Duke on pressing all the charges, which Dad had a hard time swallowing.

My decision added to whatever the problem was between him and Duke. And neither would admit what the issue was.

The judge droned on for a while before telling Tony Spinelli to rise.

He stood, along with his counsel, shifting nervously.

Agreeing to Spinelli pleading guilty to a single count had been the price of getting this behind me as rapidly as possible and avoiding a trial.

I’d submitted my victim impact statement regarding Tony in written form. It hadn’t been easy putting down on paper the horror that had befallen me at his hands. And maybe the judge wasn’t supposed to consider it, but I’d also included the trauma of watching him stab and nearly kill my boyfriend in front of me, with a smile on his face.

“Mr. Anthony Spinelli,” the judge said, “you have pled guilty to aggravated kidnapping under California Penal Code…”

I held my breath as the judge read the rest of his sentencing speech.

The defense had argued for a twenty-year sentence, which would allow him to get out in seven.

The prosecutors had argued for a life sentence.

Spinelli smiled as the judge continued. “…I hereby sentence you to life in prison?—”

“Fuck you,” Tony spat. “That wasn’t the deal.”

Seemed he’d thought the judge would go easy on him.

“Counselor, restrain your client,” the judge ordered.

“I’ll fucking kill you when I get out,” Tony ranted.

Duke’s arm came around my shoulder to tug me tight.

I smiled. This asswipe deserved every miserable year he’d now spend in prison, not just for abducting me, but for attacking my man.

“Mr. Spinelli, I wasn’t done,” the judge continued. “Your sentence is life in prison without the possibility of parole.”

I let out the breath I’d been holding. Spinelli wasn’t ever getting the chance to leave the cage he was headed for.

“That wasn’t the deal,” he screamed at his attorney. “You said I’d get twenty max.” When he punched the poor schmuck and tried to strangle him, I grasped Duke’s thigh, a silent plea for him to not get involved.

The bailiffs wrestled a swearing Tony out of the room, while the attorney he shared with his brother held a handkerchief to his nose to staunch the bleeding.

When the circus subsided, Johnson Spinelli was told to rise.

Thankfully, the sentence was the same for the pervert.

Instead of swearing at the judge, he turned around and aimed his venom at me. “I’ll get you, bitch.”

I sneered back and scratched my nose with her middle finger. Take that, asshole.

Duke glared at him. If Johnson ever escaped prison, intent on making good on his threat, he’d better hope the police caught him before Duke did.

The judge repeated the process with Pons and Katelyn. All four got life without parole.

As the three filed out the prisoner door, we stood to leave. The spectacle was complete.

“They got what they deserved, and it’s over now,” Duke whispered as my entire family stood and spoke over each other with pretty much the same sentiment.

I stayed glued to my man’s side as we left.

When we reached the corridor outside the courtroom, he released me so my family members could have a chance to hug me one at a time.

“Love you,” Mom said as she hugged me and kissed my cheek.

“Love you too.”

Kelly held me loosely. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks.”

“They deserved it,” Zach told me in a one-armed hug.

I nodded.

Dennis held me tight and whispered, “I hope they die horribly in prison.”

I certainly agreed when it came to Johnson.

Josh held me by the shoulders. “Chin up, Sis. Tomorrow is another day.”

I nodded.

Dad gave me his standard bear hug. “Now that this is over, maybe you’d like to come along with your mother and me on a Mediterranean cruise—decompress a little.”

“Thanks, Dad, but I’ve got work.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Yes, I do.” This was an old argument. He wanted me to rely on his money, and I wanted my independence. He might also be trying to get me away from Duke.

“Okay for now. We’ll talk more later.” He let me go. “Lunch is on me,” he announced. “As soon as I deal with the press.”

Now, it was time for the next chapter of my life, and that chapter would not be complete without Duke.

Duke

The sentencing hearing hadn’t been on the court calendar until yesterday. If one ever needed confirmation that advertising spending could affect the interest level of local TV news outlets, this was it.

On the courthouse steps, Lloyd Benson stood in front of the microphones of a huge press group. “I’d like to thank the LAPD and the district attorney’s office for their hard work in securing my daughter’s safety and the conviction of the men responsible.”

My teeth clenched. The asshole didn’t mention a word about Hawk Security being the ones to rescue Serena. She had warned me that her father would take credit for the rescue and to not get worked up about it. Easier said than done.

“Our city is not a safe place for criminal scum like the men and women who were locked up today,” he continued.

“Are you satisfied with the sentence?” a reporter asked.

“I would have preferred that California allow the death penalty for their crimes, but this will have to do. If the men I sent after them had been better shots, maybe today wouldn’t have been necessary… But, well…”

Seething, I turned away.

Serena stroked my arm. “It’s just messaging.”

It was messaging all right—don’t mess with Papa Benson.

Lucas turned and strode away, probably equally insulted.

“Let it be known,” Benson continued, “that if any of my extended family is threatened in any way, the perpetrator will be brought to justice. I will spend every last penny of my wealth to hunt them down, and nowhere on Earth will be a safe place for them to hide.” His tone was icy, and that sentiment was one I agreed with.

I towed my woman away. “I can’t take any more of this bullshit—better shot my ass.”

“It’s just optics,” she assured me.

That didn’t make it sting any less. Especially since Serena expected me to secure that jerk’s blessing before presenting her with the ring in my jacket pocket.

Today was not the time to approach her father, as I was likely to punch him in his smug face.

Serena

We walked to the parking garage.

I knew he’d parked the Porsche to the left, but Duke kept tugging me along until we ended up in motorcycle parking.

“Ready?” he asked as he stopped in front of that big black Harley I’d seen multiple times at his place. “I promised you a ride when this was over, and now it is.”

I ran my hand down my side. “I can’t. Not in this skirt.”

“And whose fault is that?” he asked. “I suggested the pantsuit. Snuggle close, and nobody will see a thing.”

I hesitated, sorely tempted.

“Who’s chicken now?” He grabbed a helmet and offered me a second one.

What the hell? I took it.

He flipped out the passenger foot pegs and mounted the bike.

Helmet in place, I flipped down the visor, hiked up my skirt, and swung my leg over.

Dad appeared. “Stop. You can’t go with him.”

“Ignore him,” Duke said, starting the engine. “We’re leaving.”

“No,” I yelled over the noise and dismounted, almost falling on my ass in the process. I was done with this male-ego bullshit. I was going to get to the bottom of the problem.

Duke shut down the engine. “Get back on, Tiger. We’re leaving.”

I didn’t go for the bait. “No. We’re talking to him.” I knew this wouldn’t be easy, so I pulled out the big threat. “Or are you scared?”

“You can’t go with him,” Dad pleaded. “He’s not right for you.”

Duke got off the Harley and removed his helmet with the meanest scowl I’d ever seen on him. “She’s mine. Get over it.”

I got between them. “I’ve had it with both of you refusing to talk to me. Now what the hell is the problem?”

Neither man spoke up.

“If I don’t hear an explanation in the next five seconds, I’m walking out of here on my own.” I pointed at Duke. “Not your woman.” I swung to Dad. “And not your daughter.”

“He had me arrested,” Duke blurted.

“You deserved it,” Dad insisted.

I’d never heard any of this.

“They dropped the bullshit charges,” Duke spat, his face turning red. “But the arrest cost me my football scholarship.”

“And rightly so, you pervert,” Dad said, obviously proud of himself.

“What the hell are you two talking about?” I demanded.

“I found that note,” Dad explained, “when I picked you up from summer camp.”

Duke’s face went even redder. “I never wrote any fucking note.”

“I saw you put it in her backpack. Meet me next Friday at the Starbucks on Langley .” Dad pointed at me. “My God. You knew she was underage.”

“I didn’t write that,” Duke protested.

“Hold it, Dad.” I stepped up to him. It finally made sense. “You have it all wrong. I’m the one who wrote that note and gave it to him.”

Dad’s face fell. “You wrote it?”

I nodded. “I had a little crush.” I looked over at Duke. “Even way back then.”

“I stuffed that note in her backpack because I wasn’t interested,” Duke said, now calmer than before. “At least not then.”

Dad went pale. He looked down at the ground for a long moment before finally meeting my eyes. “I’m so sorry, Munch…” He caught himself. “Serena.”

“Arrested? I can’t believe you.” My anger ramped up my volume. “He didn’t do a thing or even try.”

“You’re my daughter. I was protecting you. I’m sorry.”

That was as much of an apology as I’d ever heard from my father, but it wasn’t good enough. Shaking my head, I moved out of the way. “I’m not the one you owe an apology. Make it a good one.”

He stepped forward. “Duke, I’m sorry. I hope you can accept my apology for being so wrong about you. I got carried away. Maybe you’ll understand someday if you have a daughter.”

Duke took a deep breath and nodded. “It’s in the past, Lloyd.”

That was the first time I’d heard Duke call Dad anything but sir .

Dad smiled, the color returning to his face. “If there’s anything you ever need—anything at all I can do to make it up to you.”

Duke nodded, and a few seconds later, he pulled my father aside and whispered something in his ear.

Dad glanced my way. “You got it,” he said with a wide smile. “Now, I’ll be on my way and leave you two kids alone.”

Duke grinned suspiciously.

“What’s going on?” I yelped when he lifted me up and onto the bike’s seat.

“Close your eyes.”

“No. Tell me?—”

“Close your eyes before I paddle you.”

I gave in.

“Okay. Open now.”

I gasped. Duke was on one knee, holding up a gorgeous ring, a diamond flanked by emeralds on either side.

“Serena, you’ve made me believe that love is worth the risk.”

I teared up.

“I’ve known since you first put my brother in his place that you were the one for me. Serena Marie Benson, will you make me the happiest frogman on Earth and marry my pathetic ass so we can have little frogman babies?”

I jumped off and into his arms. “Yes. A hundred times, yes.”

“The emeralds are to match your eyes.”

I blinked back tears. “It’s beautiful.” I offered my hand, and he slipped the ring on. I was finally where I was meant to be.

We sealed it with another kiss, and only then did I see Dad off in the corner, watching with a big fat grin on his face. I cocked my head. “What did you say to him?”

“That the only thing I wanted from him was his permission to propose to you.” He handed me the helmet again. “Hurry up. I can’t wait to get my fiancée home and make love to her.”

“I like the sound of that.” But I planned to be on top.

A minute later, we rumbled out of the garage.

As Duke gunned the engine, I waved at Dad, and we sped off. I wrapped myself tightly around Duke’s hard, muscled body, flattening my breasts against his back.

The wind was in my face, the roar of the bike was loud, the vibration beneath us jolted the senses, and his body heat poured through the fabric between us.

Yes, this would be my life now, filled with new sensations, heat, and love. Duke loved me, I loved him, and I’d happily have his babies—our little frogmen.

What if we only had daughters?