Hawk almost laughed at her irritated tone. Gabe hadn’t lied to Aric—fights were common between the brothers. After the first few times, the women had accepted it—although JJ had waded in a couple of times to smack them if they got rougher than she approved of.

JJ was saying, “While Caz fixes Hawk’s arm, can you take his suitcase to his house?”

“Sure.” Regan trotted out, slowing to frown at Hawk’s bloody arm. Fetching his suitcase from the dock, she pulled it across the courtyard and onto his deck. He winced; it probably weighed more than she did.

She ran back and past him and Gabe.

When he tossed her a two-fingered salute for thanks, she grinned before disappearing into the house.

Good kid. Tough kid.

With a bag of medical shit, Caz sat down on Hawk’s left side.

Setting a hip on the railing, Gabe eyed the long slash on Hawk’s forearm. “Knife?”

“Yeah.” Hawk stayed immobile as Caz injected a local.

Hell, guess he owed his brothers a bit more information. “Remember deVries?”

Gabe nodded. “The merc who joined a security company? He was at the sarge’s funeral.”

“Yeah, him. He was sent to worm out an informant for a client. The pilot he’d hired had an appendectomy.”

“You wanted to be gone for a while,” Gabe said thoughtfully, “or you’d have only subbed long enough for deVries to hire someone else.”

Hawk shrugged.

“Numb?” Caz tapped near the sliced-up flesh.

After Hawk nodded, the doc efficiently cleaned, stitched, and bandaged the wound.

“Done. Be more careful, sí?”

Hawk nodded. “Thanks.”

“Mind if we sit here for a bit?” Gabe asked Caz.

“Stay and talk.” After setting his bag inside, Caz headed back to the patio.

Hawk glared at Gabe. “What now?”

“Couple of things. The woman. Jazeera. She used you? To meet me?” Gabe’s jaw was tight.

Hawk nodded. Her plan hadn’t worked, had it? “You hardly remember her.” And Hawk had been fucking gone on her. Then again, it wasn’t as if he had much experience having a girlfriend.

With thumb and index finger, Gabe rubbed his eyes, then met Hawk’s gaze. “I only remember I was glad you found someone who made you happy.”

Hard to stay angry when he said shit like that. “I got taken in.”

“It’s why you quit the unit, isn’t it?”

Hawk looked away.

“Fucking-A.” Gabe pushed off the railing to pace the deck. “Dammit, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I’d never—we don’t—”

The code they’d established as teens meant they didn’t poach a brother’s girl. Jazeera wouldn’t have gotten anywhere with Gabe, even if he’d noticed her.

“Not your problem. Not your fault.” His brothers couldn’t help being good looking and able to talk to women.