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“Don’t make excuses for him,” she said by way of a greeting.
“I’m not,” Hawk said. “I won’t. I'm calling to see if you’re all right.”
“I’m completely fine except for having to deal with Logan, who proved today that he’s got the self-control of a fourteen-year-old.”
“He deserves that,” Hawk said, “but — ”
“I thought you said you weren’t going to make excuses for him.”
“He’s worried about you,” Hawk said. “I am too.”
“Well, don’t be,” she said. “I’m fine. This is how these bratva assholes operate. It’s why I called you. I thought you knew what we were dealing with.”
“That’s not fair,” Hawk said quietly. “We understand the threat. Logan has been in Chicago less than forty-eight hours. Last night we put an army on the plane to keep you and Leo safe. This one got in before we were effectively on the job. We’re on the job now.”
He was right. She was mad at Logan, his words echoing in her mind, and she was taking it out on Hawk.
Because I didn’t have to leave L.A. to prove I was worth something… maybe if you didn’t care more about your career than your life, you wouldn’t be in this position.
Both statements cut deep: one an indictment of her past behavior, the other an indictment of the way she lived now.
“I don’t know,” she said with a sigh. “Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe it’s too personal.”
“It’s definitely personal. That’s why we decided Logan would come,” Hawk said.
She shook her head. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“Ella, we didn’t trust anyone else with you.Hedidn’t trust anyone else with you. Does it make sense now?” Hawk asked.
The anger left her body like an extinguished match. Logan had cared enough to come himself, to call in an army to protect her and Leo, and she’d thrown it back in his face.
Sure, he’d been a dick. But he’d done his best with the 24 hours he’d had to organize a plan.
She sighed. “How do we do this, Hawk? Because it feels impossible. The things he said…” She heard her own words, the worst of all beingregressive. The one he’d hate most. “The things I said…”
“First things first,” Hawk said. “Let’s just let everything cool down.”
Her lips twisted in a wry smile. “Is this really Hawk McGregor telling me to cool things down?”
He laughed into the phone. “It is, and if that can happen, anything’s possible, right?”
“I guess,” she said.
“Good. What time will you leave the office tonight?” he asked.
“Now sounds good.” She was surprised to find she meant it. She never left work early. Work invigorated her. She loved it with as much passion now as when she’d been an intern.
But the adrenaline that had flooded her body in the parking garage had drained in the aftermath of the attack, which was probably why she felt like she was going to fall asleep standing up.
“Stay put for about a half hour,” Hawk said. “I’m going to send Beck and Ryker over to drive you home. They’ll have I.D. Make sure you check it. From here on out you don’t get in a car with anyone unless Logan or I tell you they’re coming and you know them or check their I.D.”
“Beck and Ryker? Sounds like the buddy cop movie no one asked for,” she said.
“Ha-ha. Let’s see if you’re still laughing when one of these guys proves he can kill an attacker twenty-one different ways with his bare hands,” Hawk said.
She shuddered. “Let’s hope that won’t be necessary.”
“I do,” Hawk said. “But just in case, these are two of our best field guys. One of them will drive you everywhere from now on and — ” She started to protest and he talked over her until she stopped. “And the other will ride with you. Another guard will be assigned to drive Leo and Bea. Logan will introduce him.”
