Hideaway At Hawk's Landing

The goons guarding the surgical room remained rigid, guns pointing at her.

Her finger slipped, and she bit her tongue as she dropped the instrument. The guard took a step forward, his glare a warning. If she lost DiSanti, she’d be dead in seconds.

She forced a breath to calm her nerves, then completed the row of stitches, dabbing away blood as she went.

Relieved to finally finish, she gestured toward her patient. “He’s going to need rest, ice packs, pain medication. I’ll send you with everything you need to take care of him.”

A snide grin slid onto the brute’s face. “We’re not going to take care of him, Doc. You are.”

Mila’s pulse pounded. “Listen, I did everything you asked. Now let me go home to my little girl.”

He shook his head. “Not happening yet. Not until he’s healing and we know you didn’t pull something on us.”

The shorter man’s phone buzzed. He stepped aside to answer, then spoke in a low hushed voice. Anger slashed his eyes as he hung up. “We have to move him now. The feds are on their way.”

Mila gripped the steel counter where her instruments were spread out. If the feds were coming, maybe they’d save Izzy.

The men jumped into motion. Keeping the IV attached, they rolled the patient through the hallway and loaded him into the back of their van. The bigger guy jerked her arm. “Come on, Doc. Get whatever supplies you need to take care of him and let’s go.”

She dug her heels in. “Please let me go home to my daughter. I’ll gather the supplies and you can take them with you.”

He jammed the gun at her temple. “I said move it.”

A siren wailed outside. One of the guards rushed in. “We have to go now. The damn feds are here!”

The man dragged her into the hall. She pulled back, desperate to escape. If they took her with them, they’d probably kill her and she’d never see Izzy again.

But the barrel of the gun pressed into her temple. “Fight and I’ll kill you right here.”

The siren wailed closer. No time to get supplies.

Mila fought a sob as the man dragged her out the back door.

Tires screeched. An SUV careened into the parking lot, a police car following. Blue lights twirled and flickered against the night sky.

Car doors opened, and a man shouted, “Stop, FBI!”

Two of the guards at the back of the van opened fire and men ducked for cover.

The man holding her arm lost his grip and fired back, then motioned for the two guards to get in the van. They jumped inside, while another one rushed into the driver’s seat. The engine roared to life, then shouts and bullets flew.

The big guy shoved her toward the van, but she kicked him in the knee. He cursed and pushed her again, but she dived to the side and hit the concrete. Another round of bullets pinged around her, then the big guy jumped inside the vehicle.

Mila covered her head with her hands as the FBI fired at the van. Through the back window the guards unleashed another round.

She screamed as a bullet pinged onto the concrete by her face.

Tires peeled rubber as the van screeched away. Footsteps and shouts followed. The officers were leaving. She raised her head to look around, but a tall, dark-haired man stood over her, his gun aimed at her.

“Dr. Manchester?”

She nodded, her body trembling.

He hauled her to her feet. “You are under arrest.”

She opened her mouth to protest. But he spun her around, yanked her arms behind her and snapped handcuffs around her wrists.

* * *

KEEPING THE HAWK women calm was an impossible job.

Brayden and Dexter tried everything from encouraging the girls to talk about riding to feigning interest in the plans for Honey’s nursery.

The fact that Honey didn’t want to talk about the baby’s room was not a good sign.

Charlotte paced in front of the fireplace in the den, where they’d gathered to have coffee and the blueberry cobbler his mother had baked. But no one was hungry and everyone wanted drinks instead of coffee. Except for Honey, of course.

“I wish they’d call,” Charlotte said as she made the turn at the corner of the fireplace for the dozenth time.

“Harrison has to come back okay.” Honey rubbed her growing belly. “This little boy needs his daddy.”

An awkward silence followed as her comment hit too close to home. He and his brothers had needed their father, but he’d left and never contacted them again.

“I’m sorry,” Honey said. “That was insensitive.”

“It’s the truth.” Their mother patted Honey’s shoulder. “We are not keeping secrets or mincing words. Your baby needs Harrison, and he’s coming back to you both.”

Brayden’s phone buzzed, and everyone startled.

“Is it Lucas?” Charlotte asked at the same time Honey asked if it was Harrison.

He checked the number. “Harrison.” He quickly connected, then listened.

“I don’t have much time. Arman DiSanti was at the clinic in Austin, but he escaped. Two FBI agents chased after him but lost him on the outskirts of Austin. We have an APB out for the van and have alerted all authorities.”

The women were boring holes into him with their anxious expressions. “Are you and Lucas all right?” Brayden asked.

“Yeah,” Harrison said. “Lucas arrested Dr. Manchester. We’re transporting her to the field office here in Austin for questioning. Tell Honey to go home and get some rest. I’ll be home later.”

Brayden frowned. “I will.”

As soon as he hung up, Charlotte and Honey pounced on him. “What happened? Are they okay?”

“Lucas and Harrison are safe. Unfortunately, DiSanti escaped.” Brayden glanced at Honey. “Harrison said for you to go home and rest.”

Honey released a sigh of relief. “I know he loves what he does, but I can’t help but worry.”

Charlotte put her arm around Honey. “Me, too. Every time Lucas leaves the house, I say a prayer that he’ll come back in one piece.”

Mrs. Hawk clapped her hands. “Well, now that we know our men are safe, how about that pie?”

Honey rubbed her stomach again. “I don’t think so, but thanks.”

Dexter went for it, but Charlotte declined, then cornered him by the fireplace. “What happened with Mila?”

Brayden reached for the bottle of scotch to pour another drink. He’d held off while they waited, deciding he needed to remain sober in case there was an emergency. He’d only served on the police force a year before deciding on law school, but he knew how dangerous the streets were.

“Brayden, tell me,” Charlotte said, an urgency to her voice that made him step away from the bar.

“Lucas arrested her. They’re taking her to the field office in Austin for questioning.”

Charlotte’s face crumpled. “I’m going. I have to see her.”

She rushed toward the coat rack in the foyer and retrieved her purse. Brayden hurried after her.

“Wait, Charlotte, I’m sure Lucas will call you.”

“He arrested her,” Charlotte said. “That’s not right. I know Mila wouldn’t help those men.”

“Apparently, she did,” Brayden said. “They were at her clinic.”

Charlotte shook her head vigorously. “No. There’s more to the story. And she’s going to need a lawyer.”

Brayden threw up his hands. He didn’t want to get in the middle of an argument between Charlotte and his brother.

“Please,” Charlotte said. “Go with me and listen to what she has to say.”

Her pleading tone sucker punched him. He didn’t know Mila Manchester. But he did know Charlotte, and his brother’s wife was one of the most honest, caring women he’d ever met.

He tugged his keys from his pocket. “All right, I’ll drive you. But I’m not promising anything.”

He explained the situation to the family and agreed to keep them posted, then escorted Charlotte to his SUV. Her shaky breathing rattled in the SUV as he drove from the ranch onto the road through town, then to the highway leading to Austin.

“Tell me about this Dr. Manchester,” he said as he sped around traffic.

She retrieved a photo of the doctor on her phone. His gut pinched.

Mila Manchester was a plastic surgeon—but she could have passed for a model. Well, maybe not a model. She wasn’t rail thin or gaunt-looking or covered in layers of makeup.

Instead she was naturally beautiful. Huge dark eyes stood out against ivory skin and pale pink lips. Her hair was a fiery dark color with streaks of red.

There was also a softness about her that made her look wholesome.

He jerked his eyes back to the road. He couldn’t get distracted by her good looks. Sometimes the lookers were shallow beneath.

Charlotte twisted her hands together. “I was born with a port-wine birthmark,” Charlotte said. “No one wanted to adopt me because of it. Dr. Manchester, Mila’s mother, did volunteer work and removed it for me at no cost.” She paused, her voice warbling. “I met Mila the day before the surgery. She was about my age but wasn’t turned off by the way I looked. I guess she’d seen worse at her mother’s practice.”

“Her mother sounds like a saint.”

“She was,” Charlotte said. “I owe so much to her. And Mila. She visited me every day at the clinic while I healed. She told me she wanted to be like her mother.”

Her story was getting to Brayden. “And you think she is?”

Charlotte nodded. “I’ve read about her work. She’s generous and caring and volunteers with Doctors Without Borders... There’s no way she’d help the Shetland operation hurt innocent girls.”

Brayden hoped she was right. Lucas’s wife had been through enough without learning that her friend was a criminal.

They lapsed into silence until they reached Austin and the field office. As they parked and walked in, Charlotte grew more jittery.

Lucas was probably going to kill him for bringing her.

But her description of the doctor had piqued his curiosity.

Harrison met them at the front door.

“Lucas is about to question her,” Harrison said.

“I’d like to observe,” Brayden said.

Harrison frowned but glanced at Charlotte and seemed to realize Brayden was trying to appease Lucas’s wife. He ushered them through security, then to a room with a viewing screen to watch the interrogation.

Brayden’s gut tightened as Lucas appeared, his hand on Dr. Manchester’s arm.

Damn. Even with her long dark hair tangled and escaping a haphazard ponytail, her clothes disheveled, and her face pale and exhausted-looking, she was stunning.

She heaved a weary breath and looked up at the camera in the corner as if she knew it was there. But she didn’t make a move to fix her hair or put on pretenses.

Instead her big brown eyes were haunted and filled with fear.

Fear that made him want to find out the truth about what had happened today. Was she helping the Shetland operation?

Chapter Three

Mila fought tears, but they streamed down her face as Special Agent Lucas Hawk escorted her into an interrogation room.

He’d been careful to explain where they were and that she was in federal custody.

She didn’t know what to do. Didn’t know if Izzy and Roberta were dead or alive.

Pain mingled with panic at the thought.

If she talked, those terrible men would hurt Izzy.

Agent Hawk placed a bottle of water on the hard surface of the table in the room. She’d seen enough crime shows to know that she was being watched. That they’d record whatever she said. That they’d get her prints from the water bottle.

Sweat beaded on her upper lip and forehead, trickling into her hair.

It had been hours since she’d eaten or drunk anything. Hours since those men had broken in and threatened her. Hours since she’d started the surgeries that would enable that monster to escape.

Agent Hawk was watching her with steely eyes. Another agent named Hoover stood by the door, his arms folded, expression condescending as if he’d already tried and convicted her.

Agent Hawk’s boots clicked on the hard floor as he crossed the room. He narrowed his eyes at her as if dissecting her, then removed a key from his pocket and uncuffed her hands.

She breathed out, grateful to be free of the heavy metal on her wrists so she could reach the water. Feeling dehydrated, she turned up the bottle and drank half of it in one long gulp.

Water trickled down her chin, and she wiped at it, then glanced at her fingers. Even though she’d worn gloves during the surgery, the stench of the ugly man’s blood lingered.

“Dr. Manchester,” Agent Hawk began. “You know the reason you’re here?”

She nodded, then looked up at him, but she couldn’t stand the accusations in his eyes, so she jerked her gaze back to her hands.

He slapped a photograph of Arman DiSanti onto the table. “You performed plastic surgery on this man today at your clinic?”

She chewed her bottom lip. He knew that or he wouldn’t have arrested her.

“Answer me,” he said, his tone cold.

She gave a slight nod. What good would a lie do when he’d practically caught her red-handed?

“Arman DiSanti is the man we suspect to be the ringleader of a human trafficking ring called the Shetland operation,” Agent Hawk said bluntly. “This group has abducted dozens of teenage girls in Texas this past year.”

She willed herself not to react. But Izzy’s sweet face crying as that man snatched her taunted her. Where was her little girl now?

The agent paced in front of her, then spread several pictures on the table. “These are photographs of some of the teens abducted this year. At least these are the ones we rescued.” He named each girl, then pinned her with an accusatory look as if she was responsible. “No telling how many more victims he’s had kidnapped.”

She swallowed back bile. She knew what a horrid man he was. That was the reason she’d taken Izzy from her mother to raise her.

The agent laid another photo on the table then another and another. The first one showed a dark building with a cage in it. Blood dotted the floor.

Another photo revealed pictures of chains attached to a pole. Then another yielded a close-up of the words Help us crudely etched into the wall.

“He chained them to the wall and locked them in a cage like they were animals.” The next picture showed two young teens dressed skimpily as they stood in front of what appeared to be a camera. Both girls were glassy-eyed, drugged.

“Then he sells them at an auction like they’re cattle. That’s where he got the name Shetland for his operation.” He tapped DiSanti’s photograph. “This is the man you helped escape the law today, Dr. Manchester.” He slapped one more picture on the table, this one of a dead girl, her skeletal figure decaying.

Mila bit back a gasp.

“This is a girl named Louise Summerton. She was murdered when she tried to escape the man who bought her.”

Nausea welled in Mila’s stomach.

She fought it, but her stomach heaved. Panicked, she covered her mouth, her chest convulsing. The agent at the door must have realized she was going to throw up because he grabbed a trash can and shoved it in front of her.

Emotions overcame her, and tears rained down her face as she retched into the trash can.

* * *

BRAYDEN BROKE OUT in a sweat as he watched Mila Manchester purge the contents of her stomach.

“Look at her,” Charlotte cried. “Something’s terribly wrong, Brayden. Tell Lucas to stop this right now. I want to see Mila.”

Brayden gritted his teeth. Lucas was not going to allow that, not until he was satisfied he’d gleaned all the information from Dr. Manchester that he could. He’d been trained in interrogation techniques, taught not to allow emotions to interfere when questioning a suspect.

They’d both also been taught how to read body language. And this woman’s body language screamed that she was frightened.

Charlotte reached for the doorknob, but Brayden placed a hand over hers. “Let me handle it.”

Tears blurred Charlotte’s eyes as she looked at him. “She didn’t do this, Brayden. Tell Lucas I know she’s innocent.”

Except she had operated on the man. Had given him a new face.

She hadn’t denied that.

Charlotte lifted her chin. “Tell Lucas I hired you to represent Mila.”

Oh boy. That was not going to go over well.

“I don’t want to come between you and Lucas—”

“You won’t,” Charlotte said. “But I have to do what’s right. Mila and her mother helped so many people that it’s time someone helped Mila.”

Maybe she was right.

He stepped into the hallway. Harrison met him, his expression concerned. “Deputy outside Austin spotted the van, but men shot at him, and he lost them. Looks like they’re headed west.”

“Let’s pray they catch them,” Charlotte said from behind him.

Harrison nodded. “Did Dr. Manchester give Lucas any information?”

Brayden shook his head. “Not yet.”

“I hired Brayden to represent her,” Charlotte said in a tone that brooked no argument. “Maybe she’ll confide in him.”

Harrison’s frown was exactly the reaction Brayden expected.

“Tell Lucas I want to talk to her,” he said.

“Brayden—”

“Tell him,” Charlotte said. “Or I’ll go in there and tell him myself.”

Brayden fought a tiny smile. Lucas said the woman had spunk. He was right.

Harrison grunted, then gestured for them to follow him, and a minute later, he knocked on the interrogation room, then poked his head in. “Lucas, a word please.”

Lucas joined them in the hallway, took one look at Charlotte and grimaced. “You should have stayed home.”

Charlotte folded her arms. “I couldn’t. I know Mila, and she’s innocent.”

“We have proof,” Lucas said.

Brayden cleared his throat. “Let me talk to her.”

“This is an interrogation, Brayden. We’re trying to find the man who runs the Shetland ring.” He aimed a look at Charlotte. “You do want him to be arrested, don’t you? Because he will keep trafficking young girls unless we stop him.”

“Of course I want him to be stopped,” Charlotte said, her eyes widening in anger and surprise that Lucas would suggest she didn’t.

“Maybe you should let Brayden try,” Harrison said. “She might talk to him.”

Lucas glared at Harrison. “If he speaks to her as her lawyer, he’s bound by attorney-client privilege. What good will that do us?”

Brayden squared his shoulders. “Listen, Lucas, I’ll find out the truth. If I think she intentionally helped the Shetland group, I won’t represent her.” He gestured toward the closed door. “But I was watching what happened in there. She looks terrified. She couldn’t fake that kind of reaction when she saw those pictures.”

Lucas stood ramrod straight. “Give me another minute. If she doesn’t offer anything, then you can come in.”

Brayden agreed, and Lucas disappeared inside again. He and Harrison and Charlotte returned to the room to watch the interview.

Mila was wiping her face with a paper towel. She looked pale and fatigued and on the verge of a breakdown.

“Dr. Manchester,” Lucas said in a quiet but firm tone. “We know you performed plastic surgery on DiSanti. We just don’t know why you helped him.”

Mila rubbed her forehead, a sound of anguish coming from her, but she didn’t reply.

“We understand that DiSanti will need time to recover from the surgery. He’s well guarded by his pit bulls. Where were they taking him?”

Mila’s lower lip quivered. “I don’t know.”

Lucas’s jaw snapped tight. “If we don’t stop him, he’ll kidnap more young girls.” Again, Lucas tapped the photos one by one, his tone full of disgust. “More innocent girls who will be turned into sex slaves to build his empire and pad his fortune.”

Mila stared at the pictures, ashen faced.

“Where were they going?” Lucas pressed.

Misery darkened Mila’s expression as she looked up at Lucas. “I don’t know. I honestly don’t.”

Lucas stared at her for a long minute, then swiped the photographs into a stack, jammed them in an envelope and stalked from the room.

Brayden rushed to meet him in the hall, Harrison and Charlotte on his heels.

“All right, see what you can do,” Lucas said. “Finding DiSanti is what matters. Tell her we’ll offer her a deal if she talks.”

Brayden reached for the door.

“I hope to hell you’re right about her,” he heard Lucas tell Charlotte just before he stepped inside the room.

One look into Mila’s tormented eyes, and Brayden had to remind himself to be neutral. Beautiful women lied and deceived people all the time.

He had to convince her to tell him the truth. That was all that mattered. That and putting the Shetland ring out of business.

* * *

MILA TWISTED HER hands together, fighting another wave of nausea. More than anything, she wanted to tell Agent Hawk what was happening. To beg him to send someone to her house and check on Izzy and the nanny.

But if she did and DiSanti found out, they might hurt Izzy. Her stomach knotted. What if they’d already taken her somewhere?

Panic clawed at her insides. The door opened again, and the agent appeared, but this time another man stood beside him. He was also tall, broad shouldered, muscular, with thick dark hair. They had the same dark brows.

“Dr. Manchester, this is Brayden Hawk. He’s an attorney who my wife hired to represent you.”

Mila stared at them in confusion. “Excuse me?”

“My wife is Charlotte Reacher,” Agent Hawk said. “She’s outside and insists you have counsel.”

“Charlotte—is your wife?”

“Yes. We met when she was shot by DiSanti’s men.”

Oh God, that was right. She’d seen the news story. No wonder this man was out to get DiSanti. It was personal.

But he was allowing her an attorney...

Or was it a trap?

It struck her then—the attorney’s last name was Hawk just as the agent’s was. Were they related?

She scrutinized the men’s features. Yes, they had to be brothers.

Agent Hawk gave his brother a dark look, then slipped from the room. Mila’s head was spinning.

The lawyer cleared his throat. “Dr. Manchester, I know you’ve been through hell today. I’d like to hear your side of the story.”

Mila’s lungs squeezed for air. Was he really here to help her?

Could she trust him with the truth, or would telling him about her daughter being held hostage put Izzy in more danger?

Chapter Four

Brayden studied Mila as Lucas left the interrogation room. Some clients were desperate enough to pour out their story immediately.

Others took finessing. Especially if they were afraid.

And this woman was frightened of something...

Hoping to put her ease, he claimed the chair across from her and adopted a soothing voice. “Dr. Manchester, I agreed to talk to you because Charlotte is concerned about you.” He softened his voice. “She believes in you, and Lucas and I both believe in Charlotte.”

The woman’s face twisted with emotions.

“Anything you tell me is confidential. But if I’m going to represent you, you need to explain your side of the story.”

She rubbed her forehead, then looked down at her hands on the table.

“Please talk to me,” Brayden said quietly.

Dr. Manchester sighed warily. “I already told you that I don’t know where they were taking DiSanti.”

Brayden let the silence stretch for a moment. “They didn’t mention a city or town?”

She shook her head no. “I’m sorry. I...don’t know what else to tell you.”

“Stop giving me the runaround,” Brayden said, his voice firmer. “Did you know who DiSanti was when you performed plastic surgery on him?”

Fear flashed in her eyes.

“You did,” he said, reading her reaction. “But you helped him anyway.”

She averted her gaze, then massaged her forehead again with a shaky hand.

“We know DiSanti has amassed a fortune,” he continued. “Is that the reason you did it? For the money?”