Saving Serena (Hawk Security #1)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Grace

On the far side of the room, Terry Goodwin stepped away from the group he was talking with, looked my way, and nodded toward the corner again. It was unfair that a man with such a black personality looked so gorgeous.

Rolling my eyes, I gave him another subtle head shake and looked away. This distance was perfect for me. I wouldn’t get a whiff of his sexy cologne again.

Where did that thought come from?

Terry’s last name was laughable because, as far as I was concerned, there was nothing good about that Goodwin. His sister, Deb, however, was a sweet friend.

Terry’s words to me had been as cutting as always when I’d arrived at this shindig.

“Maybe I’ll call you when I need my sock drawer organized.”

Ugh.

And, “Nice claws, Kitty.”

I couldn’t remember the last time he’d said something nice to me—not that it mattered.

My best friend, Serena Benson, had arranged this party to give medals to the team at Hawk Security that had rescued her and uncovered the hazardous-chemical-dumping scheme that threatened our local drinking water. The director of the EPA himself had handed out medals to the entire Hawk team, including Terry.

Luckily, I’d been seated at a different table than Terry for the dinner and awards. Now that we were in the stand-and-chat portion of the evening, I only had to keep my distance for maybe another half hour.

“I’m really glad you came,” Serena said, snaking an arm behind her fiancé, Duke Hawk, her hot, former SEAL bodyguard and a member of Hawk Security.

I smiled. “I wouldn’t miss my best friend’s big night.”

Serena cocked a brow, and I inwardly cringed, afraid I’d given up the surprise Duke had arranged for her.

“You look stunning this evening,” Duke said before Serena could ask me anything.

“It’s thanks to your lovely fiancée.” I smoothed my hands down the exquisite Valentino gown. “She loaned me this dress.

Winston Evers, another member of Hawk Security, wandered over, and the conversation thankfully pivoted. When I looked back, Terry scowled at me and tried his come-hither head nod again.

I settled for sticking my tongue out at him behind a raised hand. Not as classy as I should be at an event like this, but Terry deserved it after all the aggravation he’d given me over the years.

Turning, I noticed Nick Butcher, one of Serena’s coworkers, eyeing me. I pulled in a deep breath, which made my boobs almost pop out of this tight dress. If I read it right, Nick’s heated gaze meant the evening might not be as boring as I’d feared.

“Want to join us?” Serena asked. “The Hawk guys are going over to Tito’s to shoot some pool.”

I liked Tito’s, and I’d played darts there often. “Sorry, I have an early morning tomorrow.” It wasn’t a lie, but mostly I didn’t intend to chance that Terry might also tag along.

Despite Terry’s presence, I was grateful to be here this evening, and I knew how lucky I was to have my best friend still alive. Besides a car bomb attack, a sex trafficker had kidnapped Serena—twice. But she’d survived the ordeal and had come out the other side to get to her happy place, engaged to a wonderful man.

I shivered, thinking about how terrifying those days must have been for her, then couldn’t help sighing over how lucky she was to have found Duke. I’d never had that kind of luck in my dating life.

I excused myself to use the ladies’ room. When I returned, I noticed Terry had joined the three Hawk brothers, Duke, Lucas, and Jordy. Unfortunately, Nick was with them.

With Terry in the group, I instead headed back toward Serena, who was now talking with some EPA folks and Winston.

On the way, my phone vibrated in my purse. I pulled the device out and clicked the screen off after seeing the name— Tyrant , the moniker I’d given Terry years ago. It vibrated in my hand again, and I gave in, moving to the messaging app.

TYRANT: I need to talk to you.

TYRANT: It’s important

I had no problem crafting a reply.

ME: No way

“You know,” said Remy Laurent, Serena’s new boss at the EPA, “wedding planning takes a long time.”

He should know, he was planning his own wedding.

“Yeah,” Serena said wearily.

“Have you decided on a venue?” Jacques, Remy’s fiancé, asked.

Serena shook her head. “Not yet.”

Winston, a big, former FBI special agent, looked disinterested, as most guys did when a discussion turned to wedding planning.

“And you need a dress,” Remy added. “That can take a while. And your maid of honor and bridesmaids. And flowers, and?—”

Serena held up a hand. “Later. We have to set a date first.”

Remy looked heartbroken that this topic was closed. He and Jacques wandered off as I noticed Janice from work hand Terry her card.

Janice was a tall blonde, incredibly thin, on the hunt for her next husband, and not bashful about it. She figured she’d need to sleep with three or four dozen men to find the right one, or so she said. She stroked her fingers down his chest.

I turned away and half a minute later, my phone vibrated again.

Ready to kill Terry for the constant interruptions, I answered hurriedly, “I don’t have time for you.”

Only the creepy voice wasn’t Terry’s.

“We have your cousin Elliot. Do exactly as I say, or he dies.”

My blood froze as I tried my best not to cry and sought privacy behind a ficus.

“Please don’t hurt him.” I kept my voice low.

“You will bring your phone and ATM card. Meet me in the parking lot of the Starbucks on Langley. Come alone. Do you understand?”

I shivered. I thought kidnapping for ransom only happened to rich people.

“I understand, but?—”

“Be there,” the creepy voice demanded.

“Just don’t hurt him.”

I didn’t have big bucks, and obviously, they didn’t think Eliot was worth much. My withdrawal limit was twenty-five hundred, and when it ticked over midnight, I guess they could double that.

“Come alone. Bring anyone, tell anyone, or call the cops, and we’ll know. Then Elliot dies.”

I shivered. “Langley and where? I don’t know all the Starbucks.”

“Look it up. There’s only one.”

“But that’s a long way. I can’t make it in a half hour.”

The line was silent.

“Hello?… Hello?”

I checked the screen. Unknown number . And the call was over.

Serena appeared, her face concerned as she reached for my shoulder.

“What’s going on?”

I held back the tears. “Nothing.”

I couldn’t tell her or anyone.

“Who was that?”

She blocked my way when I tried to leave.

“You have to let me go,” I implored her.

“Gray, what’s wrong? Talk to me.”

I sniffled. “They have Elliot.”

“Who’s Elliot?”

I’d made a big mistake even mentioning his name. “I need to go.”

“Who’s Elliot?” she repeated.

“Uh…” I struggled for anything that wasn’t the truth. “My newest cat, Elliot Ness. I have to go.”

“Did he get loose or something?”

Seeing an opening, I nodded. “I’ve gotta go.”

The clock was ticking down on my half hour.

“Do you need help?”

“No, no. You stay and enjoy yourself.”

With that, I escaped the room.