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“Of course,” he answered. “I checked before we left Leena’s. None of the sensors were triggered.” He pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen. “Nothing new since then.”
Cannon jerked a nod. Hawk had a right to be affronted by the question. He worried over Devon just as much as Cannon did. More, maybe. Hawk couldn’t restrain his need to oversee the details of her situation, of their whole family. It was what he did. He’d always been protective of Cannon, but with Dev, a primal guardian had been born inside him, and it wouldn’t rest.
Hell, he was the one who checked in with Robert and Jax every week to see if any progress had been made in bringing down her stepfather.
The answer was always no. The asshole never did anything that might implicate him in the illegal activities Dev claimed he dabbled in, human trafficking being the worst of them that she knew of.
Hawk would never shake the horror that had raked through him that day at Briar’s when he’d heard Dev explain why she was hiding.
“White slavery, it’s alive and well. The guy didn’t even want me for himself. He made it clear he intended to pimp me out to the highest bidders for the debutante whore. That was his mistake—he was so full of himself and the power he thinks he has that he told me his plans before the exchange. Advised me to say goodbye to my old virginal life. I did. I ran.”
She’d tried to keep her voice flat, but a tremor of fear had threaded through her words and broken his heart. That afternoon had been the last day she’d been without his and Cannon’s protection.
They’d been at her side during the renovations on the house and stables and moved into the bedroom across from hers once they’d left Briar’s to come to Redemption.
Having her nearby barely eased Hawk’s soul, though. He wouldn’t be settled, at peace, until he and Cannon held her in their arms every night and he knew the threat against her was neutralized.
Needing to touch her, he reached over to wrap his fingers around hers for a moment. He craved any small contact and reassurance.
It just wasn’t enough.
Six
Whenever Dev was exhausted or feeling beaten down by the stress of hiding out, her home reminded her of the good things in life. Sure, the tension never really let up, no matter how long she’d been on the run with no sign of her stepfather or his associates behind her. But her house was her sanctuary.
Today, the premonition that had dogged her all week wouldn’t dissipate. As Cannon parked, she noticed the property’s security floodlights only illuminated the area in front of their home, leaving the house mostly shrouded in darkness. Why hadn’t she noticed that before?
Trepidation clawed at her, and she might have panicked if her two men weren’t with her.
“Are the lights on the back of the house burned out?” she asked.
Hawk gathered her to him. “Baby girl, they’re motion triggered, remember?”
Right. Right, she knew that.
She took a deep breath, caving to need for a moment, and buried her nose against Hawk’s chest, filling her lungs with his masculine scent. This feeling, the waiting for the boogie man who never appeared, was getting to her. But Cannon and Hawk were here. She was safe with them. Her land was safe. Her craftsman-style house, trimmed with gaily twinkling colored lights, was safe, welcoming them back.
Calming, she absorbed the sight of the pine boughs, laced with white fairy lights, wound around the railings of the wraparound porch. Inside the enormous picture window, the lit-up Christmas tree was on a timer, beckoning them to enter into their personal haven. And of course, the front door had a big, rustic wreath on it, completed by a large, red, flocked ribbon.
Some people might think it too early to decorate, since Thanksgiving had yet to arrive and was still a week away. Not her. She’d held out as long as she could, but the need for holiday joy had won out two weeks ago.
Last Christmas, they’d just moved in and everything was in disarray. This year was the first she’d been able to decorate since going on the run. Preparing for the holidays reminded her of her mom and the good times they’d had before her mother had met and married Walter Finch.
And now, Dev was making new memories with Cannon and Hawk. Kind of. They were a family of sorts, anyway. And maybe, someday…
Don’t think it, she warned herself.
But she couldn’t help it. They were her people. Her heart wouldn’t stop reminding her of that, but it only amped up her worry. She couldn’t let anything happen to them.
“I think it’s going to snow some more,” Cannon announced, glancing toward the dark sky. “Hope it doesn’t make it a bitch to travel.”
Traveling?
She straightened away from Hawk and twisted to look at Cannon. “Are you guys planning to head home to New England for Thanksgiving?”
“Heh,” Hawk grunted, chuckling. “As if. First of all, I’m sure Cannon meant trekking between here and town. Second, and more importantly, if we go anywhere, you’re coming with us. And third…ha! No fucking way.”
“Yeah,” Cannon agreed. “Home is here with you. My family back East didn’t take too kindly to us staying here.”
